Humbled enthusiast. Please help

D

Dav015

New member
Joined
Nov 19, 2011
Messages
7
Reaction score
0
I have researched your forum for the last two days and I am humbled by the attention to detail that is contained by the members. I came to your forum for an answer to a problem, but the more I read the more I realize there is no answer only compromise.

I am young and just purchased my first new car and I am very proud of it. I want it to look as nice as I can. Unfortunately I am of limited funds and live in an apartment with on street parking in a northeastern climate. I have no real choice but to use an automatic car wash. I am willing to do what it takes other wise to limit the damage that I do. I would like suggestions on what I can do.

My plan is to use a spray detailer as often as possible. When the inevitable auto car wash is used I will use the highest quality one I can research and find. I then intend to not allow them to towel dry my vehicle. I will park to the side and wipe the vehicle down myself. I can then use a spray on wax or detailer each wash.

I understand that I am way beyond my pay grade in this forum but I hope you are willing to help and give advice to the average (or less than average) man on the street with a daily driver. My questions are:

What Can I do to my new paint to help protect it from the "terror of the auto wash"? (paint sealers etc)

What Can I do in between washes to keep my new care nice?

What products should I use immediately after the wash?

In your product suggestions please limit them to products that could be obtained by the general public. I am willing to invest time and as much money as I can.

Thank you in advance in helping me take pride in my first car.
 
Knowing what I do now, if I were in your position, I would want someone to tell me to get the car well polished out (if possible) then opti-coat it (Opti-Coat 2.0) and then simply use touch-less washes for your routine maintenance. OC2.0 is a resin based coating that is very permanent and will easily survive years of touch-less washes and help protect your paint, while also giving you a layer you can polish off later as you acquire more products. Application is not difficult, but search and read up on it first. Heck except for a few drips which can be touched up with a waterless wash afterwards, you car will look almost perfect with a touch-less wash if you are using OC.

In-between washes you will want two products, a waterless wash and a no-rinse product. Waterless wash is fine for dust and general cleaning. No-Rinse would be used if the car has seen moisture and the contaminates have a stronger bond to the paint. My personal favorites are Ultima Waterless Wash + (UWW+) and Optimum No-Rinse.

This is a pretty minimal start that will get you very well protected. I am trying to give you advice targeted at the resources that you describe will be at your disposal.
 
Where are you located? Perhaps there is a forum member living near you that can give you a hand.
 
I agree with Bill. He mentions touchless washes and that is an important distinction. Do not go to the ones with moving brushes.
 
Welcome to Autogeek Online first off!

I live in the Northeastern part as well, and my personal car is outside all the time. Try to stay away from using a spray detailer to wash your car. It is a bad habit to get into.

A couple products you would benefit from is,

Optimum No Rinse- Optimum No Rinse Wash & Shine 128 oz.
Microfiber Chenille Wash Mitt- Supreme Micro-Chenille Wash Mitt, microfiber wash mitt, washing mitt
The Guzzler-The Guzzler Combo Kit
Wolfgang Poly Clay-( It's on BOGO so you get twice the amount for the shown price) Wolfgang Elastic Poly Clay Bar, wolfgang car care,wolfgang clay lubricant,clay lube,clean water spots,remove water spots from car,compound car,clay For clay lubricant you can dilute No Rinse to a clay lube dilution and it works great.
Some Microfibers- Super Soft Deluxe Blue Microfiber Towels, microfiber detailing towels, buffing towels, micro fiber towel, detail cloth
Mango Breeze Microfiber Towel, mango buffing towel, microfiber towel, detailing towel
Paint Sealant-DP Poli-Coat Paint Sealant, polymer paint sealant, auto paint sealant, DP Policoat paint sealant, paint sealer
Spray Wax- Optimum Car Wax is a spray wax made with real carnauba and synthetic paint sealants for protection & shine! high-grade carnauba wax and silicone

I know I just threw a lot at you. But those should get you started. You would also need some foam applicator pads to apply the sealant.
 
Welcome to AG :)

Thank you for your wonderful introduction post.

Bill gave you the very best advice you could receive for your situation. The 3 products he mentions are exactly what I too would recommend for you as well.

After the paint is decontaminated, clayed, polished to perfection, and then stripped of any polishing oils it's time for the Opticoat.

Opticoat is not the easiest product to use for someone new to all of this but with research reading threads of trustworthy members you should be prepared for the job.

Now since you are never doing conventional washes when you use no rinse and UWWP on your car over time you will inevitably add some very fine scratches occasionally assuming your car is probably getting too dirty for their typical use. STILL this is by far the preferred solution over going through any kind of car wash that has those nasty brushes beating the crap out if it or the typical drive up car wash doing it.

The good thing is those scratches should be in the layer of OC that you add. So you will polish the OC with a fine polish 6 months or a year later and remove the scratches without removing much of your clear coat. Instead you will be cutting into the layer of OC to remove the fine scratches. Using those products properly you should not see these scratches build up very fast and if the vehicle is garaged and not driven in rain then you shouldn't see those scratches at all.
One other thing. Quality microfiber towels are key.
 
Thank you for the replies so far. I assume Legacy GT is Bill. I was mildly surprised to hear the advice of using the touch less car washes. From what I read the acids used were to harsh. Is there something I can do directly after the touch less wash to help the process. I guess I feel like if I do something "detail" after using the auto touch less wash it would be by penance for the sin. Anyone have experience with the microfibers sold at SAMs Club? I am in the Pittsburgh area and would be willing to pay for the experience of working with a forum member to lay the foundation to help protect my new ride.

Ps Bill. The new ride is a new Outback in graphite gray.
 
Yes, they may chew off your LSP but you can reapply that. The brushes will cut into your paint causing swirls. Much harder to reapply or fix that.
 
CEE DOG said:
Welcome to AG :)

Thank you for your wonderful introduction post.

Bill gave you the very best advice you could receive for your situation. The 3 products he mentions are exactly what I too would recommend for you as well.

After the paint is decontaminated, clayed, polished to perfection, and then stripped of any polishing oils it's time for the Opticoat.

Opticoat is not the easiest product to use for someone new to all of this but with research reading threads of trustworthy members you should be prepared for the job.

Now since you are never doing conventional washes when you use no rinse and UWWP on your car over time you will inevitably add some very fine scratches occasionally assuming your car is probably getting too dirty for their typical use. STILL this is by far the preferred solution over going through any kind of car wash that has those nasty brushes beating the crap out if it or the typical drive up car wash doing it.

The good thing is those scratches should be in the layer of OC that you add. So you will polish the OC with a fine polish 6 months or a year later and remove the scratches without removing much of your clear coat. Instead you will be cutting into the layer of OC to remove the fine scratches. Using those products properly you should not see these scratches build up very fast and if the vehicle is garaged and not driven in rain then you shouldn't see those scratches at all.
One other thing. Quality microfiber towels are key.
Click to expand...

CEE DOG was us UWWP?
 
Dav015 said:
Thank you for the replies so far. I assume Legacy GT is Bill. I was mildly surprised to hear the advice of using the touch less car washes. From what I read the acids used were to harsh. Is there something I can do directly after the touch less wash to help the process. I guess I feel like if I do something "detail" after using the auto touch less wash it would be by penance for the sin. Anyone have experience with the microfibers sold at SAMs Club? I am in the Pittsburgh area and would be willing to pay for the experience of working with a forum member to lay the foundation to help protect my new ride.

Ps Bill. The new ride is a new Outback in graphite gray.
Click to expand...

You got it, my real name is Bill. Welcome to the forums by the way.

I do have experience with the yellow MF's bulk pack sold at CostCo, which are probably close to the same thing. They have sewn in tags which can scratch, and they also lint a lot (even after a few washes). You will end up with a bunch of 1mm fibers especially on glass.

I can't wait to see pictures of the Outback :Picture: I just polished out a metallic graphite grey '08 Legacy GT (and opti-coated [technically opti-guard]) and it looked amazing.

Opti-Coat (and a few of the other coatings) are one of the few things that can hold up to the touch-less washes. I pretty much have to touch-less washes during the winter due to the extreme conditions and salt/sand buildup. I wouldn't recommend regular touch-less washes without a durable coating such as OC, but with one they can provide great value. During the winter I will usually go through the touch-less (or hand sprayer) then come home and fire up the heater and do a no-rinse.
 
Does anyone know of a detailer in the pittsburgh area that would prep and apply OC to a new vehicle. I found one detailer that advertises a new car package that uses sts 3000. Any comments in that product Since I posted early this evening I have researched the OC app and I think I can handle it. It is the prep steps that are holding me back. I am not sure what type of "detail" was done on the Subie before I picked it up yesterday.

Bill I will post pictures soon. I just put in weather tech floor liners and purchased rally armor flaps.
 
Thank you all for the help. I found a detailer in Pittsburgh that uses opticoat. I am having it applied today. My plan is to use uww+ as a QD when ever possible. When the dirt is beyond QD I will run the car through the touch less auto wash then follow up with UWW+ directly after the wash to make sure all the containments are taking care off. My questions are this.

With opticoat applied can I use a waterless wash on a dirtier vehicle than one with out opticoat?

Is using the waterless wash after the touch less wash a good idea, bad idea, or over kill?

Should I use a spray sealer or wax after the wash

Would you recommend any presoak on the dirtier areas before I use the touch less auto wash? I thought I may hit the dirtier areas with UWW+ before I enter the wash?

What about using something stronger like a citrus degreaser on the bad areas before entering the wash? Will the opti-coat protect the paint from a stronger cleaner?

Any experience using a pressurized type spray bottle for the UWW+?

What about UWW+ for the interior? If not what is your recommendation?

Sorry for all the questions. Thanks
 
Opti-Coat is harder than clear so, yes - but don't go overboard.

No issues with it. May be overkill but so what.

Optimum Car Wax is recommended with Opti-Coat.

UWW+ is OK. With Opti-Coat, it does free you to use stronger stuff like OPC (Optimum Power Clean).

No issues with garden sprayer, if that is what you mean.

Probably could but something like Megs QID or 1Z Cockpit Premium would be better.
 
LegacyGT said:
Knowing what I do now, if I were in your position, I would want someone to tell me to get the car well polished out (if possible) then opti-coat it (Opti-Coat 2.0) and then simply use touch-less washes for your routine maintenance. OC2.0 is a resin based coating that is very permanent and will easily survive years of touch-less washes and help protect your paint, while also giving you a layer you can polish off later as you acquire more products. Application is not difficult, but search and read up on it first. Heck except for a few drips which can be touched up with a waterless wash afterwards, you car will look almost perfect with a touch-less wash if you are using OC.

In-between washes you will want two products, a waterless wash and a no-rinse product. Waterless wash is fine for dust and general cleaning. No-Rinse would be used if the car has seen moisture and the contaminates have a stronger bond to the paint. My personal favorites are Ultima Waterless Wash + (UWW+) and Optimum No-Rinse.

This is a pretty minimal start that will get you very well protected. I am trying to give you advice targeted at the resources that you describe will be at your disposal.
Click to expand...
Bill is a very smart man! Take his advice to the bank!
 
When using touchless wash select a mode that does not include wax, spotless rinse, or finish protectant. Just use soap and water. spotless rinse will stop your car from beading. And the other stuff will just crap over your OC. I found that after a full "featured" touchless wash I had to do a Dawn wash and soak to get my OC finish back to normal.
My .02
 
dougaross said:
When using touchless wash select a mode that does not include wax, spotless rinse, or finish protectant. Just use soap and water. spotless rinse will stop your car from beading. And the other stuff will just crap over your OC. I found that after a full "featured" touchless wash I had to do a Dawn wash and soak to get my OC finish back to normal.
My .02
Click to expand...

Thanks dougaross. I was thinking the same thing. Do you find the touchless wash gets the car clean after opticoat or do you still need to wipe it down with a waterless wash after
 
Dav015 said:
Thanks dougaross. I was thinking the same thing. Do you find the touchless wash gets the car clean after opticoat or do you still need to wipe it down with a waterless wash after
Click to expand...
The OC will help with dirt release dirt and act as a sacrificial barrier between nature and your clear, I would try CarPro ReLoad as a booster since it has hydrophobic properties similar to OC.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top