body shop washdown

[Custodian]

I have a 2011 Ford Focus with 2500 miles on it. The day after delivery in Nov. I applied a coat of Meguiars Mirror Glaze #20 polymer sealant... & a second on a warm day in January. The only washes I did were rinse only wand washes followed by Meguiars Quik Detailer & MF.

Last weekend, I had the rear bumper surround damaged by a shopping cart in a high wind rainstorm. My comp policy covered the damage with a rental included... the repair looked good in the cloudy weather this evening when I picked up the car. The interior had body shop dust in it so I went to the wand wash bay, quick detailed the interior, & sprayed off the wheels & wheel wells. I finished off my time by rinsing off the body lightly.

When I arrived a few blocks home, I detailed the body with Meguiars QD & MF as usual... but noticed no more tight beading & no more buttery slick surface from the #20.

Does a bodyshop wash down the entire car for delivery with a wash product that strips your LSP?

 

[BobbyG]

Hi Patrick,

Car washes in the winter can be an oasis but the detergents they use will strip the bark off an oak tree let alone the protectant's we apply to the finish. If you need to use your local car wash then bring your own premixed car wash solution in a covered 5 gallon bucket and a use their "rinse" water only, no detergent.

Try using something like DP Rinseless Wash & Gloss or Optimum No Rinse car was. These work very well leaving the wax protection you applied where it does the most good, on the paint.

I like to apply a sealant prior to applying a wax protection.

Sealant

I like Menzerna Power-Lock Paint Sealant.

Menzerna Power Lock Polymer Paint Sealant, Menzerna auto sealant, car sealant, paint sealant protectant

Wax

Give Collinite 845 a try, I'm sure you'll like it.

Collinite Liquid Insulator Wax #845, liquid wax, heat-resistant wax, car wax

 

[Setec Astronomy]

If it was in the bodyshop and had dust inside...it had all kinds of stuff all over it, overspray, etc. Sounds like you need to do a good wash and clay, then reapply your LSP.

 

[Custodian]

BobbyG... I only use the "rinse" in the wand bay.

What I am wondering is if the bodyshop stripped off my #20 polymer sealant... I have no beading & no slick surface anymore.

 

[BobbyG]

BobbyG... I only use the "rinse" in the wand bay.

Yes, I caught that after I re-read your opening statement and edited mine. :doh:

I don't think they wash the entire car if they were working on just the bumper. That means they wasted time and materials where they weren't needed.

To be honest Patrick I've never been a big fan of Meguiar's sealants and waxes because they never seemed to last all that long, not more then a couple of weeks. They're OK but after a couple of washes they seem to vanish.

Other here may swear by them but the ones I recommended are legendary in their performance and protection.

 

[dad07]

More than likely your car was washed prior to you picking up the vehical.If the inside had dust and dirt in it the outsisde was covered in it from siting in the shop.So my answer would be yes they removed your lsp by washing the car.

A good wash and clay would be the wise choice as to remove any overspray and other contaminants then reapply the lsp of your choice.

And to add I have several friends in the body shop biz and their car wash of choice is Dawn dish soap!

 

[Matt]

If your car was dirty then they probably did wash it. If a dealer washes it when in for a service then why wouldn't a body shop wash it, when their objective is to make the car look better (with the repair and all).

I know that most body shops around here give their cars a quick wash down, sucks, but most people actually like the free swirl wash because it "looks clean".

 

[Custodian]

And to add I have several friends in the body shop biz and their car wash of choice is Dawn dish soap!

That is my favorite for stripping down to start from scratch with a new brand of products.

 

[dad07]

My one freind in the biz actually washes the panel that needs repair before starting to make sure that there is nothing on the paint masking imperfections. He has also told me that he saves on sanding disks this way,because wax and or sealents gum-up the first few...makes sense to me,but seams like waisted time to me.Everyone has their own way and his results are very much on the outstanding side.

 

[tag4car]

They might have sprayed the car down with a slime film, its a soap based mask applied to areas to protect from overspray

 

[BobbyG]

Many here bring up some important points about washing your entire car.

When I mentioned washing, I was referring to a chemical I used to use called DuPont Prep-Sol 3919. This is a special body-wash specifically designed to:

"Prep-Sol® 3919S™ is a cleaning solvent specifically designed for initial surface preparation before painting. Prep-Sol® 3919S™ works well on the following difficult to remove elements: wax, grease, silicone, dirt, tar, insect remnants, road film and tape adhesives."

This is relatively expensive and is used only on those areas that need to be repaired.

It is very possible that your car was washed prior to your receiving it. Spend a few hours and reapply your favorite products and you should be good to go..

 

[Custodian]

That is what occurred... the entire car was washed prior to delivery... removing my 2 coats of MG #20. Looks like the weather will allow me to apply a coat today... just not to the bumper surround... I need to let it cure for 60 days.

 

[C. Charles Hahn]

When I mentioned washing, I was referring to a chemical I used to use called DuPont Prep-Sol 3919. This is a special body-wash specifically designed to

Sorry to contradict, but Prep-sol is NOT a body-wash solution. It is a cleaning solvent that can either be sprayed on in aerosol form, or wiped on with a cleaning cloth.

 

[BobbyG]

Sorry to contradict, but Prep-sol is NOT a body-wash solution. It is a cleaning solvent that can either be sprayed on in aerosol form, or wiped on with a cleaning cloth.

DuPont Prep-Sol was / is referred to as body-wash in all of the Autobody shops where I worked. Whether or not the term body-wash is technically correct is a trivial point. What I made clear is it's intended use specifically prior to painting as required in the original post.

DuPont Prep-Sol is available in quarts, gallons, 5 gallon and 55 gallon sizes for commercial shops. While it can be sprayed through a gun it's generally used by wiping with clean towels and cloths.

Meguiar's does make something similar to what you describe called Body Solvent which works very well at softening tar, tree sap, and stubborn bug bug splatter.

From Meguiar's

"To use Body Solvent, pour a small amount onto a cloth and apply it to the spot you wish to remove. If you have a long spray nozzle, you may find it easier to spray the spot. Let it soak for 30-45 seconds while the solvent breaks up the contaminant. Wipe the area with a dry towel. For tough spots, you may wipe the area with a solvent-soaked towel and then with a dry towel."

Meguiar’s Body Solvent, 1 Gallon, removes tar, wax, and stubborn grime from exterior car surfaces. Concentrated cleaner safe on exterior surfaces.

 

[C. Charles Hahn]

I'm familiar with what DuPont Prep-Sol is, and am also well aware that it is similar to PPG's Prep-Sol, DupliColor's Wax and Grease Remover, and to some extent Meguiar's Body Solvent (as well as a number of other paint manufacturers' surface prep lines).

In any case, I've never once seen or heard of a shop "washing" an entire vehicle in prep solvent -- that was the whole point I was getting at.

 

[David Fermani]

Does a bodyshop wash down the entire car for delivery with a wash product that strips your LSP?

Here's your answer:

More than likely your car was washed prior to you picking up the vehical.If the inside had dust and dirt in it the outsisde was covered in it from siting in the shop.So my answer would be yes they removed your lsp by washing the car.

A good wash and clay would be the wise choice as to remove any overspray and other contaminants then reapply the lsp of your choice.

And to add I have several friends in the body shop biz and their car wash of choice is Dawn dish soap!

Body shops are known for skimping on detailing chemicals. They more than likely used a cheap soap that not only stripped your wax, but they probably micro-marred your paint too. And, if they sanded/buffed your bumper they probably left buffer swirls in the fresh paint also which may not appear until spring(maybe). Let's not even get into the likelihood of them getting overspray on your car!!

Sorry to contradict, but Prep-sol is NOT a body-wash solution. It is a cleaning solvent that can either be sprayed on in aerosol form, or wiped on with a cleaning cloth.

Exactly. It's used in the paint booth by the painter to prep the panel just prior to refinishing.

In any case, I've never once seen or heard of a shop "washing" an entire vehicle in prep solvent -- that was the whole point I was getting at.

Me neither, especially when the only thing they were painting was the bumper cover.

 

[Custodian]

We had some cloudy but dry weather today, & I was able to wipe down the car again to apply a coat of MG #20 polymer sealant. I did not feel any overspray ( I believe the shop removed the bumper surround for repair & left the car in another area)... & I have a buttery slick surface again. Thunderstorms are forcast tomorrow afternoon, so I may attempt a second coat in the AM. Here is before & after repair...