Cleaning old mud off paint

[tncumminsguy]

I'm about to buy a new project off a friend to be my new dd/ hunting truck/ light wheeling rig. The 4 runner was repainted about 5 years ago professionally with clear coat etc. The runner has been sitting in his garage for about 2 or 3 years now covered in mud and I'm concerned that it will leave stains. I plan to do a giant clean up with heavy duty soap and some de-greaser possibly but I want to really clean it up and bring it back to this

Have cleaned plenty of muddy trucks before, but not ones that have sat this long with mud on them. Any advice for me

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

First,

Welcome to Autogeek Online! :welcome:



I've gotten my trucks dirty before but I always wash them that day...

Chances are any staining will be topical, that is just on the upper surface of the paint and you will be able to easily remove any staining using a compound or polish.

Do you have any type of electric polisher or buffer?

 

[tncumminsguy]

dewalt rotary buffer but I'm looking at moving to a porter cable DA. I have a cheap pep boys random orbital.

Also worried about the vinyl top and carpets.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

dewalt rotary buffer but I'm looking at moving to a porter cable DA. I have a cheap pep boys random orbital.

Also worried about the vinyl top and carpets.

The rotary buffer will remove any stains but it's not the easiest tool to always leave a 100% swirl free finish in all paint systems. You won't know till you try but it's a good start.

Getting a DA Polisher would be a great addition to the rotary buffer especially for the final polishing work or machine applying a wax.

 

[tncumminsguy]

I personally don't like using the rotary so a DA is a must soon.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

I personally don't like using the rotary so a DA is a must soon.

My first how to book covers DA Polishers and I have a ton of how-to articles and videos on how to use this tool...


There are actually more than these under different categories on my article list...




Dual Action Polishers

Below you will find a wide variety of articles on the topic of using DA Polishers like the Porter Cable 7424XP and earlier versions, the Meguiar's G110v2 and earlier versions and the Griot's Garage DA Polishers to remove swirls, scratches, water spots and oxidation plus how to machine apply waxes and paint sealants.


I recommend everyone read this article first - before you need to troubleshoot

DA Polisher Trouble Shooting Guide

Video: Mark your backing plate to make it easy to see pad rotation

NEW - Factors that can cause a pad to stop rotating on a DA Polisher

Video: How-To do a "Section Pass" when Machine Polishing with a DA Polisher

Step-by-Step How-To use the Porter Cable 7424XP
(Very in-depth how-to guide that covers every topic related to using a DA Polisher like the PC, Meguiar's or Griot's tools)

The short how-to guide for using a DA Polisher
How to maximize the ability of the 1st Generation Porter Cable Dual Action Polishers

The long and in-depth guide for using a DA Polisher
The Definitive How-To Article for using DA Polishers - Includes Videos
Includes: Removing Swirls, Scratches and Water Spots Using a Porter Cable 7424XP, Meguiar's G110v2 or Griot's Garage Polisher

The Compression Washer

How to prime a foam pad when using a DA Polisher

How much product do I use with my DA Polisher?

Wet Buffing Technique

DA Polisher Articles - Help for Newbies to Machine Polishing

The Free Floating Spindle Assembly - The Story Behind The Story...

Handle? Or No Handle? - Using DA Polishers Without the Handle

How to bolt on the Porter Cable Plastic Head Cap

DA Polishers - Stick Handle - Hoop Handle - Or no handle at all?

How-to Machine Apply Wax using a DA Polisher

How to Apply Dodo Pastes Waxes by Machine

How To Apply Mothers California Gold Carnauba Paste Wax by Machine

How to use a microfiber bonnet to remove dried wax by machine

The white foam pad that comes with a Porter Cable Polisher

Tip: Rubber Nut to protect threads and safeguard compression washer

Griot's Random Orbital Polisher

Meguiar's G110v2 - 2nd Generation G110 Dual Action Polisher

Griot's Garage 3" Mini Polisher - Extreme Demo - Warning!

3" Mini Polisher- 2nd Generation Griot's Garage Mini Polisher

Can an air-powered DA Sander be used to polish paint?

Show Car Garage Video: How To Remove Swirls, Scratches and Water Spots using a PC 7424XP, Meguiar's G110v2 or Griot's Garage 6" Random Orbital Polisher



:xyxthumbs:

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Video: Mark your backing plate to make it easy to see pad rotation

Here's a quick video that show how and why to mark your backing plate to see and monitor pad rotation while doing any correction or polishing steps.

[video=youtube_share;QM8PnDooZP8&hd=1"]How To Check Pad Rotation on a DA Polisher -...[/video]​

It's also important to maintain pad rotation with PC style tools when using a one-step cleaner/wax or AIO type product on neglected paint.

It's not vital to maintain pad rotating when applying a finishing wax or finishing paint sealant to a finish that you've just buffed out.

Note: Finishing Waxes and Finishing Paint Sealants would be of the type that don't offer any cleaning or abrading ability.


See my article here,

The Difference Between a Cleaner/Wax and a Finishing Wax
Subtitle: How To Choose The Right Wax or Paint Sealant for your Detailing Project



Also see these videos...

Video: How to remove shallow RIDS and how to machine apply both a paint sealant and a finishing wax


Video: How to buff tight areas plus concave and convex curved panels by machine


Video: Tips for using a Rotary Buffer and the Flex 3401 on vertical panels



:buffing:

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Video: How to buff tight areas plus concave and convex curved panels by machine

How to buff out concave and convex curved panels by machine
[video=youtube_share;SMsNg1iCoTU&hd=1"]How to buff out concave and convex curved panels...[/video]​

In this video you'll see tips and techniques for buffing out tight areas, convex and concave panels using a variety of tools including,

• Porter Cable 7424XP
• Griot's Garage Random Orbital Polisher
• Griot's Garage 3" Mini Polisher
• Flex PE14 Rotary Buffer

On Autogeek.net

Porter Cable 7424XP Dual Action Polisher

Griot's Garage 6" Random Orbital Polisher

Griot's Garage 3" Mini Polisher

Flex PE14 Rotary Buffer

Optimum Double-Sided Rotary Adapter

Double-Sided Pad Rotary Adapter
4" CCS Spot Repair Pads

Lake Country 5.5" Hydro-Tech Pads

4" Hydro-Tech Pads

3" Hydro-Tech Pads

Brinkmann Swirl Finder Light

3M Automotive Performance Masking Tape 3 Pack

3" Flex-Foam HD Rotary Backing Plate

Meguiars W63 Rotary Backing Plate

2 7/8 inch Rotary Buffer Flexible Backing Plate

Meguiars Professional Masking Tape Combo



:xyxthumbs:

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Video: How to remove shallow RIDS and how to machine apply both a paint sealant and a finishing wax

In this video, you'll see how to inspect and remove RIDS or Random Isolated Deeper Scratches using 4" Spot Repair Pads on a Porter Cable 7424XP DA Polisher.

How to remove shallow RIDS and how to machine
apply both a paint sealant and a finishing wax
[video=youtube_share;3xJH_MGgbLw&hd=1"]How to remove shallow RIDS and how to machine...[/video]​

This how-to video also covers,

• RIDS - Random Isolated Deeper Scratches
• Removing watches and any jewelery
• Using a DA Polisher without the handle
• Placing cord over shoulder
• Priming the pad on a DA Polisher
• Speed settings for removing isolated defects
• Downward pressure needed for removing isolated defects
• How to clean a pad on the fly
• Where and why to mark your backing plate with a black mark
• Rotating the body of the tool to keep the pad flat to a panel
• Why to allow the pad to stop spinning before lifting the pad off the paint
• How to swap backing plates from a 3.5" to a 5"
• Machine waxing using 5.5" Hydro-Tech Crimson Finishing pads with Menzerna Power Lock
• The "Kissing the Finish" Technique
• How to do the Swipe Test to check if a wax or paint sealant is dry
• How to remove dried paint sealant using a microfiber bonnet on a dry pad on a DA Polisher
• How to clean a microfiber bonnet on the fly with your fingernails
• How to apply a paste wax by machine - Souveran Paste Wax
• How to carefully wipe a WOWO wax off by hand using Microfiber Gloves and plush Microfiber Towels
• How and why to fold a microfiber towel 4-ways to wipe wax off
• How to break-open a coat of wax and then creep out to carefully wipe off a coating of wax
• How to do the "Final Wipe"

Screenshots

On Autogeek.net

Porter Cable 7424XP Dual Action Polisher
Pinnacle Advanced Finishing Polish
Pinnacle Advanced Swirl Remover
Lake Country 5.5" Hydro-Tech Pads
Pinnacle Souveran Paste Wax
4" CCS Spot Repair Pads
Indigo Microfiber Bonnets
Microfiber Gloves
Brinkmann Swirl Finder Light
Menzerna Power Lock
4" Hydro-Tech Pads
3" Hydro-Tech Pads



:xyxthumbs:

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Info Resources

Paperback



E-book
(Displayed on iPad - iPad not included)

:xyxthumbs:

 

[tncumminsguy]

Thanks for all of the help, wish my family still had a place in stuart so I could attend a class

 

[RhetoricMixes]

TONS of info and reading for you there OP. And as far as the staining goes, if the paint doesnt have tons of swirls a medium or light polish will definitely get rid of those stains. Even if it is mud i highly doubt that it will "soak" into the paint and like Mike said its probably just topical.

 

[BulldogAuto]

Curious on how this turned out. I just started cleaning up my Wrangler washing away all of my winter B road fun and noticed some stains on my paint. I hit it with my PC and some low cutting polish and pad. Was able to get some of it. I am waiting till it gets warmer before I fully attack it it with my arsenal.

 

[carpetcleaning]

dewalt rotary buffer but I'm looking at moving to a porter cable DA. I have a cheap pep boys random orbital.

Also worried about the vinyl top and carpets.

I always try to make use of pressure cleaning to clean my vehicles. It is effective technique but I want to know which is the best cleaning solution you all guys use. I am not able to find a suitable one.

 

[oldmodman]

Since that mud has dried to concrete like consistency you have to get it off before worrying about any polishing.
Park it on your lawn and put a couple of sprinklers around it and lets them wash the truck for half a day or so. You might even put on under the vehicle to wash the mud off the chassis.
Once it is fully softened then wash the truck to remove any residue.
this method will get the mud off without much (if any) chance of scratching the paint by ripping the mud off with a pressure washer.

 

[carpetcleaning]

I always try to make use of pressure oven cleaners gold coast to clean my vehicles. It is effective technique but I want to know which is the best cleaning solution you all guys use oven cleaners brisbane. I am not able to find a suitable one.

really thanks for your tips but can you tell any reliable chemical solution for cleaning.

 

[BulldogAuto]

Have you tried to clay it? If you did how much of a impact did that make?