best way washing really dirty car?

[flatlinerz]

hey guys

been a few weeks since I washed my car due to storms we been having...whats the best way to be prepping a dirty car? I don't have a foam gun, should I presoak the car with ONR diluted or use some OPC?

thanks

 

[vman]

A thorough rinse is the most important step IMO. A pressure washer is more important than a foam gun when it comes to really dirty cars.

 

[c8n]

I just came back from camping so you can imagine how dirty my car was. I took the car down to the local self car wash place and hosed her down with the pressure washer for a good thorough rinsing to get all the heavy crap off. She' now ready for some rinseless wash which I was too tired for.

I would foam het down and use pressure washer to get all the heavy stuff off and the use your normal wash method.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

I took the car down to the local self car wash place and hosed her down with the pressure washer for a good thorough rinsing to get all the heavy stuff off.


I would foam het down and use pressure washer to get all the heavy stuff off and the use your normal wash method.

I agree.

If you don't have a pressure washer, most cities/towns have a do-it-yourself car wash and the wash bays offer a fairly strong spray from their wands and you can use this to knock the really heavy stuff off.

That's how I used to start the wash job on my old 1971 Chevy after a day of mudding...

 

[vet]

For serious dirt, the coin wash. For ''road dirt'', I use the hose on high pressure to rinse first, then do the ONR.

 

[jimjc]

I`ll make it unanimous the pressure washer is no doubt the key. You must get off all the grains of matter before rubbing on your paint. Once removed then a good quality car soap and wash will do it.

 

[Pureshine]

Foam,Pressure wash and then 2 bucket method

 

[AeroCleanse]

hey guys

been a few weeks since I washed my car due to storms we been having...whats the best way to be prepping a dirty car? I don't have a foam gun, should I presoak the car with ONR diluted or use some OPC?

thanks

It depends on what you mean by dirty. Hard to know without photos. If its just from road use then just an ONR wash would be plenty.

 

[memphisraines26]

I agree.

If you don't have a pressure washer, most cities/towns have a do-it-yourself car wash and the wash bays offer a fairly strong spray from their wands and you can use this to knock the really heavy stuff off.

For serious dirt, the coin wash. For ''road dirt'', I use the hose on high pressure to rinse first, then do the ONR.

Is this necessary for only heavy soiled cars? We just had rain for a week on our daily driven car and washed last 3 weeks ago. I rent a home and want to use the rinse-less wash. Would this be safe for the paint? I need to polish this car after having it a year and get a good wax on it asap.

 

[kevincwelch]

Foam,Pressure wash and then 2 bucket method

Do you rinse before doing a foam?

Why not just 2 bucket wash with all the foam on the car? (Skip the pressure wash after foaming.)

I've been rinsing, foaming then washing without rinsing the foam off. Not ideal?

Thanks.

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[c8n]

Is this necessary for only heavy soiled cars? We just had rain for a week on our daily driven car and washed last 3 weeks ago. I rent a home and want to use the rinse-less wash. Would this be safe for the paint? I need to polish this car after having it a year and get a good wax on it asap.

Rinseless is fine and they are effective but in my opinion, there is a limit on what they can do. Lubrication is key and you have to ask yourself, "will this product remove the dirt without damaging the paint."

Do a walk around on your car and look at the dirt on the car to make the assessment.

I wash my car once a week and as long as I don't go off-roading, rinseless works well for me.

 

[c8n]

Do you rinse before doing a foam?

Why not just 2 bucket wash with all the foam on the car? (Skip the pressure wash after foaming.)

I've been rinsing, foaming then washing without rinsing the foam off. Not ideal?

Thanks.

Sent via Tapatalk.

Anything you do to get the dirt off without touching the paint, is a good thing.

 

[slimnib]

Anything you do to get the dirt off without touching the paint, is a good thing.

Logic would dictate that you should get as much as the dirt off without rubbing the paint as possible. You need to be careful using a pressure hose on a car.

I do not use waterless or no rinse a realing dirty car. I am afraid. Use a lot of suddisy soap. Lots of lub.

 

[kevincwelch]

You need to be careful using a pressure hose on a car.

Because of physical damage due to the high pressure, getting into cracks and crevices or is this related to knocking the dirt off (or something else)?

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[David@DCSPrecision]

Because of physical damage due to the high pressure, getting into cracks and crevices or is this related to knocking the dirt off (or something else)?

Sent via Tapatalk.

I think he's talking about the potential for damage from the water pressure itself on the paint and/or trim. Also, in repsonse to your earlier post, I feel the most effective method is foam it, let it dwell, rinse, refoam without rinsing, and straight to the two-bucket wash. In my logic, it seems like the least potential for dragging dirt across the car with your wash mitt.

 

[Theo_Auto_Fines]

Physical damage due to a pressure washer? What car have you used it on A Yugo?? I have a 2100 psi pressure washer that I use everytime and I have never encountered a vehicles paint chipping due to my pressure washer.

 

[flatlinerz]

thanks for the replies guys

I didn't mean rinseless with ONR...I meant was diluted with water spray around the car and use pressure washer

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Is this necessary for only heavy soiled cars?

Nope. You can use a pressure washer on a lightly dirty car too...

Cars driven areas of lots of rain get "Road Film" on the paint, that's an oily, dirty film sprayed onto your care repeatedly by the cars driving in front of you. The oily film comes from all the oil and other fluids all the cars and trucks on the road drip as they drive. It mixes with the water and gets sprayed onto your car.

A pressure washer will peel this road film right off.

The major area to be concerned with when washing a car with a pressure washer is usually around the hood or front clip, avoid blasting any rock chips for too long or with a direct hit. I think it's possible to get some water pressure under the paint and possibly cause some of the paint to lift. Probably more of a problem with a repaint than a factory paint.

Anything you do to get the dirt off without touching the paint, is a good thing.

Agreed. That's because modern clear coats are scratch sensitive, they scratch easily.

thanks for the replies guys

I didn't mean rinseless with ONR...I meant was diluted with water spray around the car and use pressure washer

That will work too... the longer you can let ANY cleaning agents, whatever they are, dwell on the surface before blasting with water will help to soften the dirt/road film and also help it to release off the paint surface.

 

[neat e34]

Do you rinse before doing a foam?

Why not just 2 bucket wash with all the foam on the car? (Skip the pressure wash after foaming.)

I've been rinsing, foaming then washing without rinsing the foam off. Not ideal?

Thanks.

Sent via Tapatalk.

I don't always rinse before foaming (although it doesn't hurt) but I always rinse after foaming, before bucket washing the car.
My reasoning is I am using the foam to loosen & soften any stubborn contaminants on the paint & I want to wash these away before physically touching the paint.
If there is grit that the foam has loosened up it is probably still there, it's just encapsulated in foam, but can still cause swirls.

Regarding damaging paint with a pressure washer, it is possible so you need to use common sense.
Obviously any damaged areas (stone chips, flaking paint or clearcoat, etc) are most at risk

 

[memphisraines26]

Nope. You can use a pressure washer on a lightly dirty car too...

Cars driven areas of lots of rain get "Road Film" on the paint, that's an oily, dirty film sprayed onto your care repeatedly by the cars driving in front of you. The oily film comes from all the oil and other fluids all the cars and trucks on the road drip as they drive. It mixes with the water and gets sprayed onto your car.

A pressure washer will peel this road film right off.

The major area to be concerned with when washing a car with a pressure washer is usually around the hood or front clip, avoid blasting any rock chips for too long or with a direct hit. I think it's possible to get some water pressure under the paint and possibly cause some of the paint to lift. Probably more of a problem with a repaint than a factory paint.

So for a daily driven car, rinse less wash is not ideal? I don't have a lot of shade or covering to wash my car at my rental home. I just want the least aggressive wash for the car.

Want is the best scenarios for the rinse less wash? garage kept or classic cars that are stored?