Bought a 2016 Black Denali for a DD. What Should I use?

Ford Fest

Ford Fest

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After owning our last Denali for 9 years, we dicided to replace it this weekend. Not exactly sure what I was thinking switching from champagne to black paint for a daily driver. I plan to utilize the two bucket hand wash method until winter. Also on the agenda is to have a clear bra type product applied to the noise, mirrors, a-pillars, rockers, and behind the rear tires. This will be a first for me, but I can see the noise catching a lot of debris.

What do you recommend for protection, maintainence, etc?

In my line up I have the following . . .
Pinnacle compound, swirl, polish, cleansing polish, soverign, Black Label sealant
A few brands of detail spray and waterless wash.

in regard to protection, is the sealant suitable or should I use a coating? I used cleansing polish and then applied BL sealant to the roof and the door jams today. I used standand Pinnacle cleansing polish instead of the BL cleansing polish. Anyone know if that is an issue? Also, do I need to use BL shampoo on the sealnt or will any shampoo do the trick?

If sticking with the sealant, is it good to use on the wheels, glass, chrome etc? It looks like all of the chrome is plastic chrome including on the wheels. The car is garaged if that helps making a decision between coating vs sealant.

I'd like to take advantage of the current sale and pickup a few things.

Any advise is appreciated
 
I would go with a coating for a little more scratch resistance. I use Gtechniq Crystal Syrum and EXO. You still have to be careful washing, but you won't scratch or mar the paint nearly as easy. Also this combination is very hydrophobic. Helps dust blow off easier. Not sure about Crystal Serum on the bra...
 
The GC and EXO combo looks like some serious stuff. I did a little reading after you recommended it. The Pro version required 1500 grit to remove it? Not sure my skills are good enough for something that permanent.
 
Congrats on the new Denali! That thing is beautiful! You bought the right color. Lol

I too suggest putting a coating on it for ease of maintenance down the road. Another option would be CarPro CQuartz and Reload.
 
I'll add a third vote to a coating. The properties of many coatings will make the vehicle much easier to clean. The less you're cleaning, the less potential for inducing swirls.

Rather than jumping into the deep end of the pool with some of the "heavy duty" coatings like the GTechniq or Carpro products, you might consider something like the new McKee's 37 coating. Paint Coating

For $30, the bottle should be able to cover your vehicle, even one that large. I would be a good "training" coating that is very easy to apply be all accounts. You can learn with this coating and after a year or two, polish it off and go with a more advanced product when you are more comfortable. I'm always a fan of learning on a cheaper, simpler product and then stepping up to the "big league". I may be going the same way with my black vehicle this winter.
 
Nice looking truck! Looks like the Secret Service vehicle that tails the President! I would also suggest a coating and especially for that color. The least amount of any friction passes over that paint the better...long term.

Now, i am in a different camp at the moment. I made the mistake of purchasing too many LSP's over the past couple of years and am trying to use up them all. Given that situation, if i had some Sovereign and BL sealant i would probably want to use those up on it first. Given their durability vs. a coating it might give you a chance to dial in some frequent correction techniques on that GMC paint so you know what works well. After perfecting your abilities to flatten out that paint lay down a coating and be done for a while.

I wouldn't worry too much about any incompatabilities between polish and sealants. I also wouldn't worry about soaps used. Just don't overuse too much in your mixes. I currently am using my sealants on my wheels and, again, because i have it on hand. I don't apply it to glass and use a dedicated glass coating for that. I have experienced some hazing on glass in the past with using a paint sealant on glass but completely accept the fact it may have been my fault. I would absolutely apply sealants to chrome...i just don't have any on my vehicle.

That's a beautiful truck Ford Fest! Congratulations and i wish you the best of luck with it. Don't worry about the color...look at it like i did. I bought a black car to complete my Doctorate thesis on detailing! Your skills will improve.

(although it is somewhat ironic that "Ford Fest" bought a Denali j/k)
 
Thanks for the complements and tips!

I'm going to try to have the clear bra type product installed next week and then plan to use the BL sealant just because I have it. Prior to winter I plan to try the 37 coating as I've no had any experience with coatings.
 
The McKee's 37 Paint Coating is incredibly easy to use. One of the easiest coatings to apply.

Just follow the directions and you will be fine. At a minimum I would polish the paint with McKee's 37 Fast Polish when it comes time to coat the vehicle. This will remove any minor wash/drying induced marring occurred over the summer. Then follow up with the McKee's 37 Coating Prep Polish and then Coat with the Paint coating.

Here is a recent BMW I coated with the McKee's 37 Paint Coating.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...lic-3-series-sedan-mckee%92s-37-makeover.html
 
Mike@DedicatedPerfection said:
The McKee's 37 Paint Coating is incredibly easy to use. One of the easiest coatings to apply.

Just follow the directions and you will be fine. At a minimum I would polish the paint with McKee's 37 Fast Polish when it comes time to coat the vehicle. This will remove any minor wash/drying induced marring occurred over the summer. Then follow up with the McKee's 37 Coating Prep Polish and then Coat with the Paint coating.

Here is a recent BMW I coated with the McKee's 37 Paint Coating.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...lic-3-series-sedan-mckee%92s-37-makeover.html
Click to expand...
agreed nice easy to use coating.
 
Mike@DedicatedPerfection said:
The McKee's 37 Paint Coating is incredibly easy to use. One of the easiest coatings to apply.

Just follow the directions and you will be fine. At a minimum I would polish the paint with McKee's 37 Fast Polish when it comes time to coat the vehicle. This will remove any minor wash/drying induced marring occurred over the summer. Then follow up with the McKee's 37 Coating Prep Polish and then Coat with the Paint coating.

Here is a recent BMW I coated with the McKee's 37 Paint Coating.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...lic-3-series-sedan-mckee%92s-37-makeover.html
Click to expand...

Thanks for the link to your write up. That white paint really pops!

I need to find out what is involved using the coating and having Xpel clear bra installed.
 
Congratulations on the new Denali. Beautiful vehicle. Go for the coating.
 
I had a clear bra installed on my new car, I just coated the rest of the car and left the ppf alone. If you feel upto it, out a layer of the pbl sealant on the clear bra areas just to make the entire car bead but coatings are definitely the way to go. I used cquartz uk and didn't find too bad of a learning curve but ymmv.
 
those things are nice a friend has one that a 2012 or something.. I also have a black ford f350 crew cab.. I would do like the others have suggested and put something on it that makes it easy to maintain.. black is a great color but its a full time job.. between me living in sw fla where it rains almost everyday down here this time of year and my tires stick outside of my truck its full time job to keep a black truck clean down here this time of year
 
It's a lot of area to cover and being black sure makes you work for it :)

I'm going to schedule the clear bra ASAP so I can put the coating on. I don't like not having any protection on the paint.
 
I love those trucks. Tahoe/sub, denali and escalades are best in black... too bad they are GIANT and the hardest ever color to clean.
 
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