Winter Prep.
2011 Audi A5 2.0T
DPRWAG
Eurow Plush MF
2 buckets with GG
Guzzler Supreme WW MF
Tires:
Leftover DPRWAG from prior session
Stiff Brush
UTTG
Tire Sponge Applicator
Wheels:
Daytona Speed Master Brush
Opti Seal
Meguiar's Smooth Surface Clay
Meguiar's Quick Detailer/DPRWAG for Clay lubricant.
Duragloss 501 with GG DA and LC CCS white
Duragloss 601 by hand
Duragloss 105 by hand
Duragloss 105 by hand 24 hours later
Trim:
UTTG
Relatively new car that has gone through one winter already. I already had a few coats of 845 on it, but the surface was getting somewhat rough and I wanted to try some new products out.
First time Duragloss user. After clay I applied 501 by machine and it was easy. I was able to get rid of the minor swirl/scratches. I did not tape up the car. Too cold. Had no problem with wax stains on trim, though I did take care to avoid contact. Came off relatively easily.
Next, 601 followed by 105. Applied at 40 degrees. Did each step separately instead of mixing them together. I'm aware of "thin is in" and followed that rule, but both were not that easy to apply and took some effort, particularly applying 105 on top of the 601 haze. And removing it really took some elbow grease. But it did come off completely. Next day, it was quite slick.
After 24 hours, I reapplied another layer of 105 without the 601, again the temp was around 40 degrees. It went on and came off a little easier without the underlayer of 601, but still needs some elbow grease.
Next time, i will do the single application 105/601 cocktail. I wanted to try both application techniques. Will try it out again next year in warm weather because I've read that these products go on and off quite easily and I presume my experience is related to the cold air temp.
The DG products don't smell as good as other fruity products which is a feature I look forward to, allbeit certainly not technically important. The 501 smells rather like drug store cologne. The 601 smells like glue and gave me a headache in the garage with the closed door. The 105 was not as offensive.
I bought the Daytona Speed Master brush recently and used that for the wheels. It made cleaning the corners between the spokes much easier than the standard wheel brush. I also like being able to access the wheel's barrel deep to the spokes. What I didn't like about it was the backspray from the bristles which dots you with dirty water. I avoided that by positioning myself to the side of the handle brush. Overall, it did make wheel cleaning easier.
For the front grille, I clayed followed by Opti Seal. With all the nooks and crannies, mix of plastics and chrome, and the headlights, it was much easier to use than working DG through the area. I used a yellow foam applicator and just went over everything. I really like OPT OS. Its amazingly easy and quick to use, though you have to pay attention while you apply because its so transparent.
I also used OPT OS on my wheels. I find it hard to work a wax through all those angles and OS makes it really easy. For this, I used a cotton terry cloth round applicator.
For cleanup, I tried the XMT Polishing Pad Cleaner to clean off the DG 501 from my LC CCS white pad which I posted for help earlier. Thanks for everyone's advice. The PPC itself didn't really get out the 501, but what I did was additionally saturate it with LA's Totally Awesome Orange Degreaser ($1 at the dollar store) and the next day it came out quite clean save for the greenish color. A little disappointed with the PPC, but I'm aware I may be expecting too much from it as the resident experts have said it is quite difficult to remove DG products. Will try again on other products.
Thank you to the forum members for your help including richy, rwright, and pats300zx who gave me some guidance on how to use DG.
Here are the pics. Silver doesn't show well, but the paint is quite glossy and glassy:
2011 Audi A5 2.0T
DPRWAG
Eurow Plush MF
2 buckets with GG
Guzzler Supreme WW MF
Tires:
Leftover DPRWAG from prior session
Stiff Brush
UTTG
Tire Sponge Applicator
Wheels:
Daytona Speed Master Brush
Opti Seal
Meguiar's Smooth Surface Clay
Meguiar's Quick Detailer/DPRWAG for Clay lubricant.
Duragloss 501 with GG DA and LC CCS white
Duragloss 601 by hand
Duragloss 105 by hand
Duragloss 105 by hand 24 hours later
Trim:
UTTG
Relatively new car that has gone through one winter already. I already had a few coats of 845 on it, but the surface was getting somewhat rough and I wanted to try some new products out.
First time Duragloss user. After clay I applied 501 by machine and it was easy. I was able to get rid of the minor swirl/scratches. I did not tape up the car. Too cold. Had no problem with wax stains on trim, though I did take care to avoid contact. Came off relatively easily.
Next, 601 followed by 105. Applied at 40 degrees. Did each step separately instead of mixing them together. I'm aware of "thin is in" and followed that rule, but both were not that easy to apply and took some effort, particularly applying 105 on top of the 601 haze. And removing it really took some elbow grease. But it did come off completely. Next day, it was quite slick.
After 24 hours, I reapplied another layer of 105 without the 601, again the temp was around 40 degrees. It went on and came off a little easier without the underlayer of 601, but still needs some elbow grease.
Next time, i will do the single application 105/601 cocktail. I wanted to try both application techniques. Will try it out again next year in warm weather because I've read that these products go on and off quite easily and I presume my experience is related to the cold air temp.
The DG products don't smell as good as other fruity products which is a feature I look forward to, allbeit certainly not technically important. The 501 smells rather like drug store cologne. The 601 smells like glue and gave me a headache in the garage with the closed door. The 105 was not as offensive.
I bought the Daytona Speed Master brush recently and used that for the wheels. It made cleaning the corners between the spokes much easier than the standard wheel brush. I also like being able to access the wheel's barrel deep to the spokes. What I didn't like about it was the backspray from the bristles which dots you with dirty water. I avoided that by positioning myself to the side of the handle brush. Overall, it did make wheel cleaning easier.
For the front grille, I clayed followed by Opti Seal. With all the nooks and crannies, mix of plastics and chrome, and the headlights, it was much easier to use than working DG through the area. I used a yellow foam applicator and just went over everything. I really like OPT OS. Its amazingly easy and quick to use, though you have to pay attention while you apply because its so transparent.
I also used OPT OS on my wheels. I find it hard to work a wax through all those angles and OS makes it really easy. For this, I used a cotton terry cloth round applicator.
For cleanup, I tried the XMT Polishing Pad Cleaner to clean off the DG 501 from my LC CCS white pad which I posted for help earlier. Thanks for everyone's advice. The PPC itself didn't really get out the 501, but what I did was additionally saturate it with LA's Totally Awesome Orange Degreaser ($1 at the dollar store) and the next day it came out quite clean save for the greenish color. A little disappointed with the PPC, but I'm aware I may be expecting too much from it as the resident experts have said it is quite difficult to remove DG products. Will try again on other products.
Thank you to the forum members for your help including richy, rwright, and pats300zx who gave me some guidance on how to use DG.
Here are the pics. Silver doesn't show well, but the paint is quite glossy and glassy:
