New Car Protection

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Michael M

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I have learned a ton of stuff on this forum and consider this site a tremendous resource. That being said, I am easing my way into true car care as opposed to diving in with the 37 hour detailing session.

My car is brand new (2010) and has been washed "properly - forum approved" maybe 5 times. The paint looks great to me but I would like to slather on some protection. Can I simply use a sealant like Klasse High Gloss Sealant Glaze and apply it by hand to add some protection to my paint? As the car ages I realize that I will need to clay it and go through all the steps I read about to "bring the paint back" but at the moment the paint looks and feels great - like it should for a car with 300 miles on it that is garaged.

ThanksFeed back please
 
At the minimum, I would clay the paint surface with a fine grade clay before applying any protection. Put your hand in a plastic sandwich bag, like you would a glove, and run it over the paint in several locations. Especially the hood, roof and deck lid. If it feels smoooooth as glass, great! If not, clay it.

I would say that 95% of the "new" cars that I prep, require claying. Regardless of price, make or model.
 
do the claying! i bought a new is 250 and thought the paint was near perfection, til i read how to use a zip lock bag as recommended, and discovered the paint wasnt so perfect after all, so rewashed, then clayed, then sealed.
 
Thanks Action and Molarman. I will follow your advice and clay followed by sealing - especially based on last evenings car wash. I had noticed what looked like a few water spots on my hood as it has been raining on and off constantly here in the NE. I washed last night and those spots cleared up a bit but they did not come out. A detailing spray did not help either. Maybe it's on the surface and claying will remove it. Ah, the real world of the daily driver.......... and the joys of a black car .......................

Lastly - Is there any particular sealant which is fairly easy to apply by hand or should I just pull the trigger on the PC. I know I will get one in the future but was not in any rush unless it is really the only way to reasonably go.
 
Michael M said:
I have learned a ton of stuff on this forum and consider this site a tremendous resource. That being said, I am easing my way into true car care as opposed to diving in with the 37 hour detailing session.

My car is brand new (2010) and has been washed "properly - forum approved" maybe 5 times. The paint looks great to me but I would like to slather on some protection. Can I simply use a sealant like Klasse High Gloss Sealant Glaze and apply it by hand to add some protection to my paint? As the car ages I realize that I will need to clay it and go through all the steps I read about to "bring the paint back" but at the moment the paint looks and feels great - like it should for a car with 300 miles on it that is garaged.

ThanksFeed back please
Click to expand...

There are many options in car care for those dedicated to the best paint, and those wanting a lighter route. You can indeed use Klasse SG (silver bottle) to protect and it will do a fine job. I would however suggest at least using the Klasse AIO (red bottle) as it has a chemical cleaner in it to remove old wax and contaminents and prep for the sealant. Then wash properly when possible and consider a good detail spray as desired to keep it looking good.

When you are ready you can consider claying, polishing and really specializing in each area as time permits. Most new cars wont need 37 hours of polishing, and with good wash and drying techniques likely will need on minor light polishing afterwards at scheduled intervals. Take it as you desire and you'll be more adaptive to it ...
 
Mike & Killr - Thanks for all of the advice. I ordered the Klasse combo kit and will apply both the red AIO cleaner followed by the sealant. I did include clay in my order and plan to give it a try to get the finish in great shape before applying the protection. OMG - I'm on the slippery slope!!!!!
 
you just wait .... Autogeek Anonomous awaits !

Look up my hints for application/removal of Klasse SG. Its a bear, but super durable and for months too. Look for a small travel size spray bottle in your travels around town, as you'll love being able to control its output and really helps as with SG its all about super thin and even coating.

Cannot wait to see/hear results ...
 
I have the products and the time this weekend to get most of the job done. I intend to wash my car and follow that up with claying. I will then apply the Klasse AIO. Is it possible to then wait and apply the sealant a week later or do you have to do both back to back? Lastly - How much time does it take to apply the AIO snd buff it off (by hand) to the entire car? Does the sealant take the same amount of time? Sorry for all the noob questions but I need to make sure I have enough time before taking this on.
 
you "could" wait a week, but for best results you should do them both together as possible. Sealing in your hard work.

First, Klasse AIO, is simply a wipe on and buff off process. Its rather easy to remove and remember light coating not super thick.

Now Klasse SG can be a bear ... so get a small spray bottle (think travel size) and spritz each panel, immediately buffing in, then buffing off. Its fast and effective and makes SG bearable. After 12-24 hours you'll be amazed at the bulletproof protection.
 
Well I took it on today. Started at 6:30AM and washed the wheels followed by the car. I dressed the tires and then clayed the car for the first time. I was trying to avoid this step originally as I was unfamiliar with the process and am basically worried about introducing scratches. I'm glad I took the plunge. Claying is easy and it actually seemed to improved the gloss of the finish. I then applied Klasse AIO and this product is simply fantastic. It goes on easy and it comes off easy and I thought that the car looked fantastic after this step. I could have stopped but decided to go ahead and apply Klasse SG which I was warned could be difficult to remove. I had purchased a spritzing bottle from the drug store to apply a very thin coat. The spray bottle was defective and would only shoot a stream - no spray. I dertermined this fun fact away from the car but in the heat of battle had no alternative but to apply the SG with a pad. Well it certainly goes on easy enough but getting this back off was indeed a hell of a workout. By this time it was 90 degrees and felt like about 90% RH. By going through every MF cloth I have I was able to get all of the SG off and the car really looks fantastic. Bottom line - Thanks for all the help and advice. The products worked as advertized and I am very pleased with the final result. One last question - I am assuming that it is far easier to remove Klasse SG by machine rather than hand. Is this indeed the case?
 
Michael M said:
One last question - I am assuming that it is far easier to remove Klasse SG by machine rather than hand. Is this indeed the case?
Click to expand...

Did you wipe on and then off right after 1 panel at a time as killr mentioned?
 
Michael M said:
Well I took it on today. Started at 6:30AM and washed the wheels followed by the car. I dressed the tires and then clayed the car for the first time. I was trying to avoid this step originally as I was unfamiliar with the process and am basically worried about introducing scratches. I'm glad I took the plunge. Claying is easy and it actually seemed to improved the gloss of the finish. I then applied Klasse AIO and this product is simply fantastic. It goes on easy and it comes off easy and I thought that the car looked fantastic after this step. I could have stopped but decided to go ahead and apply Klasse SG which I was warned could be difficult to remove. I had purchased a spritzing bottle from the drug store to apply a very thin coat. The spray bottle was defective and would only shoot a stream - no spray. I dertermined this fun fact away from the car but in the heat of battle had no alternative but to apply the SG with a pad. Well it certainly goes on easy enough but getting this back off was indeed a hell of a workout. By this time it was 90 degrees and felt like about 90% RH. By going through every MF cloth I have I was able to get all of the SG off and the car really looks fantastic. Bottom line - Thanks for all the help and advice. The products worked as advertized and I am very pleased with the final result. One last question - I am assuming that it is far easier to remove Klasse SG by machine rather than hand. Is this indeed the case?
Click to expand...

I do not think there is any easy method to remove that product.
 
CEE DOG said:
Did you wipe on and then off right after 1 panel at a time as killr mentioned?
Click to expand...

Cee Dog - I did not follow Killr's advice. When I was unable to spritz SG on I went with the instructions included with the Klasse products which stated to apply SG to the entire car and then buff it off. I doubt I will be using that appraoch in the future!

02CAMSS said:
I do not think there is any easy method to remove that product.
Click to expand...

02CamSS - I hear you man .......... I hear you.

You use so little Klasse SG that I probably have enough left to seal my car many many times. It would be nice to come to grips with how to make that process go easier. I will have to find a spritz bottle that really works and then try one panel at a time. If it is still extremely difficult I can just stop and shop for a new sealant. The way I went - slather it onto the entire car - there was no turning back.

On a high note - when I drove onto the parking lot here at work this morning I had some co-workers ask me how the hell did you get your car to shine like that - no prompting from me. Now, where is that bottle of Advil I keep here in the desk?

:xyxthumbs:
 
Michael M said:
I went with the instructions included with the Klasse products which stated to apply SG to the entire car and then buff it off.
Click to expand...

Oh my...

I feel your pain man. Been there, done that, definitely won't happen again.
 
I have a new 2010 GMC Savana cargo van in Silver. I applied KAIO twice and KSG once so far.
I had no problems what so ever with the KSG. I did an entire van and the KSG went on and off even easier than the KAIO as far as I am concerned. I did the upper areas with a Libman sponge mop and a micro fiber bonnet over it. I buffed off the upper areas with a Walmart MF extenable handled wash tool with a nice Walmart towel wrapped around it and bungeed.
I use a wheelchair so I can;t reach up too high. I used the blue micro fiber applicators you can get at Walmart. They worked just fine.
If you are having problems with KSG you are using too much.
Get the blue mf applicators and apply a nickle sized amount for a 3X3 area.
If you put on too much you will have many problems getting it off.
You must go very thin.
Get the Blue plush mf towels at walmart. they work great.
here is my KAIO and KSG product reviews
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...-wheel-sealant-griot-s-wheel-cleaner-etc.html

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Flyfisher - Thanks for the detailed feedback. It's good to hear that someone has had success with KSG. I am certainly willing to try and improve my technique. Next time around I will strive for ultra thin layer, via a spritz bottle, and immediate removal.
 
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