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Michael M

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I am new to this forum and would appreciate some newbie guidance. I have just purchased a new 2010 black Cayenne. The car has been hand washed once and dried with a blue waffle microfiber cloth. No matter how quickly I work to dry the car in the shade there are still light water spots. Question – What product should I use on a brand new black finish post washing to remove all of these very light water spots?
 
ONR could make life easier, or you can just follow up with a quick detail spray.

A good sealant or wax would help the water get off the car, and make drying easier.
 
Does anyone else use a leaf blower to dry their vehicles? I started using it on my motorcycles and then moved to the cars. Works great and allows you to dry without touching. No water spots even with hard water.
 
I'm considering doing the leaf blower option. Is it really that good?
 
dubber said:
I'm considering doing the leaf blower option. Is it really that good?
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Someone may chime in that there is a fatal flaw with it, but I've used it for a few years now without issue. When I had my Cruiser style bikes (lots of chrome) I got sick of having to polish the chrome after every wash so I started using a backpack leaf blower. No spots, no extra work, just a quick wipe down with detailing spray. I have very hard water where I live (well water) and even after a softener it still leaves spots on glass and darker finishes. Using the blower I can dry the car in 5 minutes including all the little hiding spots that you find once you start trying to wax the car. I'll let it sit for 10 minutes after blowing it dry (clean inside glass etc during this time) and then the outside is ready to do whatever....no spots.
 
Wash and dry it in the shade , especially with a black car. Dp Waterless cleaner and then a Pinnacle quick detail spray. This works for me since I have 3 black cars and one is a Porsche.
 
AlPap said:
Wash and dry it in the shade , especially with a black car. Dp Waterless cleaner and then a Pinnacle quick detail spray. This works for me since I have 3 black cars and one is a Porsche.
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What does a Porsche have to do with it? ;)
 
I use a blower to dry my car and follow up with a WW MF towel. I love it as you think about it... The least amount you touch your paint, the better off you are. It also gets in the areas you can't dry with a towel. I highly recommend it. :D
 
Is it possible the spot you're seeing are light impressions, as in water spot stain impressions already in or on the paint?

If so, it could be when you're wiping the car off you're seeing these impressions or imprints as the wiping process will tend to reveal them to your eyes at the right angle in the right light.

That is they are not brand new spots being created but an existing mark in the paint?

Just a guess, if that's the case then applying a light cleansing lotion by hand should remove these spots and restore a clear, spot free finish.

A gentle hand-applied product would be,

Pinnacle Paintwork Cleansing Lotion


These kinds of spots happened to a Corvette I used in a video and the above product applied gently with a clean, soft foam applicator pad removed them easily and restored a very clear, glossy appearance to the paint. Then I re-sealed it with a paint sealant, Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant I believe.


If they are actually spots in the clear layer and a light polishing like mentioned above doesn't work then you'll have to get more aggressive.

Some people have good luck using vinegar to wipe off mineral deposits but vinegar won't work if the paint is actually etched.


Here's an article on the topic,

What it means to remove swirls, scratches and water spots out of automotive clear coats


Here's a picture from the above article of a Type II Water Spot Etching

WaterSpotEtching3.jpg




:)
 
Flood rinse the car. It sounds counter-intuitive, but flood rinsing has the effect of sheeting most of the water off the surface of your finish. Follow that up with a leaf blower or air compressor and then use water magnets to blot up the rest. I also use small squares of Sham Wow and insert them into door handle latches and door mirror swivels to catch the trace water that always drips and leaves trails on your doors long after you thought you were finished drying the car.

Wash your car early in the morning or late afternoon just before the sun starts to set. Sunlight at an angle is not as water-spotting as direct overhead sunlight.
 
You have hard water spots. Get a water softener. Maybe some product like a car shampoo that you can mix into a wash bucket that reduces hard water spots. Try Griot's car wash it supposed to be the best. I will order it soon and try it myself.

Michael M said:
I am new to this forum and would appreciate some newbie guidance. I have just purchased a new 2010 black Cayenne. The car has been hand washed once and dried with a blue waffle microfiber cloth. No matter how quickly I work to dry the car in the shade there are still light water spots. Question – What product should I use on a brand new black finish post washing to remove all of these very light water spots?
Click to expand...
 
Thanks for all of the excellent advice. The leaf blower idea is interesting but I am too terrified with a new car to unleash the Stihl on it! I'm sure I can get there after the honeymoon is over. It sounds like I need to go with a post wash detialing spray like FK425 or Pinnacle quick detail spray. Just the sort of product direction I needed.

Mike - thanks for they very thorough response but I believe that these are new water marks. The car was immaculate one week ago when I received it from the dealer. After I washed and dried the car I did not do anything to the windows. When I drove that evening to dinner I could see in the right light how the windows were covered with water spots. Glass cleaner took care of that but that is when I noticed the same issue with the paint. I have extremely hard well water.

Last question - What do folks use to wipe out the door jams after a wash if they are basically 90% clean? Damp microfiber wipe?
 
Michael M said:
Thanks for all of the excellent advice. The leaf blower idea is interesting but I am too terrified with a new car to unleash the Stihl on it! I'm sure I can get there after the honeymoon is over. It sounds like I need to go with a post wash detialing spray like FK425 or Pinnacle quick detail spray. Just the sort of product direction I needed.

Last question - What do folks use to wipe out the door jams after a wash if they are basically 90% clean? Damp microfiber wipe?
Click to expand...

Unless you hit the paint with the Stihl, you can't do any damage. lol. I guess you would have to be careful blowing debris from the driveway onto the paint... But that is easy to avoid. If you try it, you will never go back...

For the jams, I go over the areas with a QD and a MF towel... Dont forget the underside of the doors and around the storage area as well.
 
My routine:

1. Two bucket wash method IN THE SHADE. :)

2. Final rinse, sheet water with a hose and normal stream. A lot less water left on the paint.

3. Remove majority of water with a leaf blower(love this)

4. Mist each panel with a quick detailer as you completel dry with a quality microfiber towel.
 
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