Nissan Xterra Revisited

ScottB

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Most will remember a detail post we did back on this truck almost a year ago. Since then truck has been washed every so often, waxed maybe twice, and no other car care. It sits outside 24/7 and considering the hot Florida sun is in nice shape. So it was time for a detailing session:

1. Wheels --- P21S Gel
Wheels were not in bad shape to begin with, so a quick spray, a couple minutes and a stream of water with no agitation was needed.
calender_006.jpg


2. Paint Verification ---
Prior to washing we took some time to look at the paint up close and decide on formal plan for prep. Because paint had some water etchings and some contaminents it was decided that the entire process was needed. Reflection was not deep (partially because of severe Nissan orange peel) so we would polish with Menzerna in hopes of better outcome.
calender_008.jpg


3. Washing/Claying --- Nts7 Wash / Foam Gun / Pinnacle Ultra Clay
We loaded up some Nts7 (Sonax) wash into the gun and presoaked the car. We then washed the entire car and came back to clay (Pinnacles finest) and used some Poorboys Spray/Rinse for lubrication. Nice and easy and then onto drying with leaf blower and Absorber (his not mine).
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4. Polishing / Sealant --- We decided to hit the car with a large waffle Edge pad and some Menzerna Nano polish. (always a delight to see a 1st time user with this polish) Poor old Ernies hands are still itching from the vibrations at full tilt but his new PC7424 is broken in. We removed the polish with an Edgeless Cobra Towel. We then added a paint sealant (Werkstatts Acyrlic Sealant -- ouch competitor) and it should be noted this puppy is just as finicky as its cousin the Klasse Twins. After two hours in sun, and moments before first rain we added a coat of Optiseal. Likely adding another coat for additional gloss/protection this week as possible.

Some Pinnacle Onyx Tire Gel, Stoners Glass Cleaner, Dp Plex All and Armor All Foamy helped in areas commonly noted. (see reflection on hood)
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We found the paint correction to have advanced well with the removal of almost all rain etchings and contamination. We could not remove orange peel without likely wet-sanding but happy with outcome. Unfortunately Ernie polished so well he found a crease in panel that some loser in his apartment complex added to truck when throwing door open carelessy. I wish camera would have better represented the final gloss as almost wax like.
calender_015.jpg
 
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Nice job there, love the houses on the back ground....just look at the size and the trees man reminds me of back home.

OKay back to the detail, vehicle looks nice. Really like the reflection you got out of it....oh I enjoyed your write it up as well.

Thank you for sharing oh and shame on you for using a cmopetitor brand, wher's a Mod when you need one...hahahaha just teasing ;) actually I thought it was nice of you to post it.
 
Scott, have you changed your mind about Optiseal? I still like the look it gives.....it's different;) It has nice durability as well. The Xterra looks sweet!
 
Xterra looks great! I like that Opti-Seal look on the X.
 
That X looks great. Very nice detail. I remember the last post when you detailed it. I had an X before my Tacoma so it stuck in my head.
 
Scott, have you changed your mind about Optiseal? I still like the look it gives.....it's different;) It has nice durability as well. The Xterra looks sweet!


best results are using it very sparingly ... but compared to that "other" product (used underneath) this is now a cakewalk. I would however lie if I still did not give Clear-seal the nod as it much more forgiving but results on both are nice and durability appears similar too.
 
Never seen a sealant making paint looking so good. Must be that Opti-Seal...I still haven't tried mine...
 
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