Hey guys, newbie here

M

mwemaxxowner

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Hey folks.

I find myself here because I just bought a 2016 f150...in black. I have always just done regular cleaning and waxing with my vehicles (only really had two. I keep em forever). I'd wash with whatever I picked up in the auto aisle, then wax once a year or so. Wasn't too crazy about it, and my old truck still looked nice when I sold it with 350,000 miles.

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But, it was white. I'm sure there was light scratching all over it, it just didn't show. It also had 200,000 miles when I bought it. Damage was already done.

Well, I don't need to explain the challenges that black presents, but this will be my first opportunity to care for a vehicle from new, and do my best to keep it looking that way.

There is already a ton of light spiderweb scratching from careless washes at the dealer that can be seen if the light hits just right. I'm sure you guys know what I'm talking about.

I want some guidance on selecting the right wash mits (Ibam using a microfiber from Walmart right now), and the right products to polish this thing up and get rid of all that, and then keep it washed and cared for and minimize the reappearance of those in the future.

I have already washed, clay barred, polished with meguiars polish by hand, and used mother's gold cleaner wax. It is certainly better, but not perfect. This was my first attempt at clay barring. Not sure if I did that well or not. I had a hard time using the detail spray and keeping the surface lubed enough, and getting it wiped before it dried. So, I set the water hose on mist and used a constant light mist of water to lube the surface. It went better after that.

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These are the products I used.

I have been thinking of going through the process linked below, with the products they used. I don't want to buy a polisher. If I'm going to go that far, I'll take it to a professional. Because I'd hardly ever use that.

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forum...s-Benz-club-at-Meguiar-s!/page3&s=&perpage=10

Thanks guys and gals,
Mitchell

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There are a ton of products out there, and I'm sure that folks with a lot more experience than me will chime in. If you prefer stuff you can buy at your local store (Autozone, WalMart), then IMO Meguiars would be a line to stay with. From your photo, one thing I see thats missing is a clay lube. Autozone and Pep Boys sell some Griots Garage products, and they may carry Speed Shine, which would serve you well as a clay lube. I would opt for Meguiars Gold Class car wash as opposed to the one you have. I think it provides better cleaning power and lubricity.
 
The clay bar kit included the lubber spray. But I had a hard time with it. Dried too quickly, didn't feel I had enough lubrication at times, etc. That's why I just started using water and kept the whole area wet. I'm not opposed to ordering things. But if I can get the job done with locally available stuff, that's great too.

Also, I found some turtle wax car wash in the cabinet, which I have been using and want to use up. Then I'm going to go for something else.

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Thank you both! Keep it comin'! Lol

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I'm sorta proud 😋.

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The process and products I think I want to try, all by hand, is wash with a simple wash, clay, work with Meguiars ScatchX, then Meguiars Deep Crystal Polish, then some sort of finishing wax. Or maybe Rejex.

Also, are all microfiber cloths and mits created equal? I'm almost scared, it's soooo easy to put fine scratches on this black that show in direct sunlight!

And what of wool mits vs microfiber? It seems like the microfiber mits really hold onto junk. I have lots of trees. I'm aways fighting leaves and tree sperm, and they are hard to get out of the mits and cloths! But anyway if I need to spend more on better cloths for polishing, waxing, and buffing I will. Otherwise I'll just stick with stuff from Walmart.

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I also think I want to look for a foam cannon that will work well with my baby pressure washer. It's rated at 1.7gpm and 1400psi. It isn't much, but it was free to me, and it's really perfect as a car washing aid.

Would the mtm unit for lesser pressure be good? Or is there one even better suited to low power washers?

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You are at a crossroads. You are here with the potential to learn a ton about how to care for that black truck. In 5 years with OTC product by hand it will be swirled up and you wont be able to reverse it without a machine.

If it were me with a new ride and no machine I would decon, eraser, and put a coating on it. I would without question learn how to use optimum no rinse and be diligent with my wash technique.
 
I always use two buckets, and spend quite a bit of extra time rinsing out my mit after washing a panel before I rinse it in the bucket and dunk it back in the wash bucket. I don't have a problem ordering supplies, mits, towels, etc.

Anyway, it seems to me that it can certainly be possible to keep it up by hand. If diligence and proper technique are employed? I am finding stuff sticks into the microfiber mit, and wonder if I need to look at a wool mit.

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When it comes to a no rinse, does it actually offer any sort of protection, or does it just make it shine a bit between real washes?

I work at a lumber yard, where sawdust and dust from gravel roads abound. After a day or so of that, I'm not sure a no rinse would be a good idea. I'm afraid it would grind stuff in?

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I have a friend who owns a DA polisher that I can either use, or have him use on the truck. Since the paint is new and just has some light swirls and such that I want do away with, I'm thinking a very gentle polish will do it. I don't think much aggression will be necessary?

I bought the digital download by the way. I'm a few pages in now.

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I commented on your other thread. I own a 2013 F-150 crew cab that's blue jean metallic. I just spent the money on a PC polisher and 12 pads. My truck hasn't be done yet, but I did my wife's car (see the thread in shine n show). If it's easy enough for me to do, and not screw it up, you can do it. Just make sure you have plenty of pads because they do their best work when clean and you have a lot of body to clean up. The machine did quadruple the work, in half the time. I used McKee's 360 because I got it with a "mystery box" promotion a couple months ago. I liked it, and liked the results. I'm sure the truck will be looking a lot better after this Thursday, too.

The kit I bought came with Mike's book and it's fantastic, as is this site. you'll find a ton of opinions here, but almost everyone is respectful and you'll have to find what works for you. I, for example, like clay. Others prefer nanoskins and whatnot.

You just spent a ton of money on your truck. If you plan on keeping it, and keeping it looking good, do it right. If you have an ecoboost, buy a new washing device of your choice and relegate the old one to exhaust duty. Trust me on this one Im the MAN
 
Lol. It is. 2.7 ecoboost. It's a BEAST of a little motor. I look forward to hearing your experience with that product. What pads did you buy? Or, better yet, do you have a thread?

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You deserve to be proud; that's a gorgeous truck! I drove the new version of what I have, the MKX, with that motor....hmmmm. That is going to be my next vehicle for sure!
 
It's awesome middle ground. Tows very well with some surprising capacity for a half ton. I get 22-24 mpg depending on how I drive and conditions. I haven't really been in any straight city traffic. That would surely be less. It rides well too.

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How silly would it be to do it a bit at a time? Wash polish and was maybe the bed one day. Next free day the cab, next the hood and front fenders. Etc.

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I have a 13 with the 3.5 EB. It's a monster. Runs great. Tows great. I get around 18mpg combined which I'm happy with out of a crew cab 4x4. It's a huge improvement over my 05 ram quad cab in almost every way. One thing to remember about the ecoboost engines: They're either eco, or boost. Not both :)

When I got the truck last fall, I stumbled on this site. I ended up buying some griots paint sealant, Mega Applicator Combo Kit, applicator pads, tire swipe, wax pad and got some microfiber towels and a can of DP Max wax as a free "gift". I bought the griots because several friends use it and swear by their stuff. It's good. Way better than I've used in the past from various parts stores. For the first time in years, I washed and waxed my truck and didn't feel like my arm was going to fall off. I've applied wax once, back in February, and rain still beads fairly well. I've driven crap cars most of my life, and this is the newest, nicest one I've owned. It's also dark blue. I want to take care of it because I intend on driving it into the ground. My previous truck was the first vehicle I've not had at least 250,000 miles on when I got rid of it. With the miles I drive, I should own this truck for the next 15 years.

Once or twice a year, AG runs a "mystery box" sale. There is so much stuff on here, that I really didn't know where to start. All I knew was that because my truck doesn't fit in the garage, and gets driven every day I know I won't have "show" quality on it. I want durable protection that doesn't take two weeks to do. I ended up getting a bottle of McKee's 360 AIO (all in one) in the box. Ok, I have the product, now I need the polisher. Which one to get? After asking on here, and reading 6465789949 threads that mention you can never have enough pads, I decided on this kit. Lake Country - Porter Cable 5.5 x 7/8 Inch Foam Pad Kit FREE SHIPPING and another 6 pack of pads. I have 5 orange, 5 white, 2 black and 2 red pads. I used it for the first time this weekend on my wife's car, and it was a learning experience. I'm happy with the results, but I probably should have used the orange pad on the hood because there are still swirls. Her paint was in worse shape than my truck, so I'll do test spots to see what works best first, then go at it. It took about 4 hours to polish the wife's rouge. I'm guessing about 6 for the truck. I used a pad on the hood of her car, a pad on the roof, a pad for each set of front and rear doors, the front fenders and one for the quarters and hatch. 5 for her car. I figure the truck will take 2 or three more. Clean pads work better, and I quickly saw that.

Regarding the comment about the exhaust: Direct injected motors like to spit some raw fuel and oil smoke when they're cold. The exhaust tip is by far the hardest piece of chrome to keep clean on the truck. I'm considering trying some wheel coating on it after I polish it to see if that helps. After a week it looks like crap. A coworker with the 2.7L has the same problem.

As for my truck bed, I have Line-X in it. I wouldn't do it any other way. The stuff is great.
 
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