Rookie Here - Blotchy Film on New Car After Washing - What Did I Do Wrong?

[dalemccl]

I'm new to DIY detailing. I got a new car a couple months ago. I put a base coat of Turtle Wax Hybrid Solutions Graphene Infused Flex on it right away, and have washed it a few times since, using chemicals, tools, and techniques I picked up in this and other forums, and in youtube videos. I was using water from my outside spigot which measures 135 on a TDS meter. At the end of each of those washes, I towel dried it. All was well. Paint was slick and shiny, and few if any water spots.

I just got a Griot's Garage De-ionizer this week. I verified that it can reduce my TDS reading to zero.

I did my first wash this evening with the de-ionizer included in the process. At the end of the process, my car was covered with a blotchy white-ish film, both paint and glass. It was very hard to remove - a lot of elbow grease and Invisible Glass on the windows, and a detail spray on the paint. As I was using microfiber cloths in the film removal, there was a lot of drag on the cloth until I got most of it removed from a panel, then it was a little slicker. I ran out of daylight before I could finish removing all of it. Only got about 20% done.

Wondering what I did wrong. My steps were:

1. Pressure rinse the car with hard water (i.e. the 135 TDS water)
2. Foam it with a pressure washer foam cannon and Adam's Mega Foam, using hard water
3. Contact wash
4. Pressure rinse well with de-ionized water from the Griot's unit.
5. Then a step I hadn't done before in previous washes: To top off the TW Flex base coat, I sprayed more Flex on the panels while it was wet from the de-ionized water rinse, then rinsed it again with de-ionized water to spread the Flex out. The instructions say you can do that, but it does say to towel dry after doing it. But I figured with the de-ionized water, I didn't need to towel dry it.

When done, I saw the blotchy film. I wondering if using the Flex without towel drying it could cause the film. Or perhaps I let the soap dry on the car while I was contact washing it (it was 88 degrees out and the soap was drying quickly.)

Anyone have an idea of the cause of the film? And what do I do now to get the rest of the film off. Would washing it again (without the TW Flex step) remove it?

Thanks.

 

[Don M]

I've used the Flex Wax pretty much since it came out and have never had a problem like you mentioned, HOWEVER, I have always dry-applied it, I have never tried the spray on / rinse off method. The Flex Wax (as are most of the "new" spray sealants/coatings) are very rich in active ingredients so not much is needed, so if you didn't get the FW spread thin enough rinsing it off, and then didn't towel dry it it very likely could have left the film you are experiencing. You could try the 'Drying Aid' method rinse off the car and then mist the Flex Wax onto the surface and TOWEL DRY the car. The combination of the water and the fresh Flex Wax might be enough to dissolve the film on the car. If that doesn't work, you may have to polish the paint with a light polish and start over.

 

[Coatingsarecrack]

I think the towel drying helps spread product left on paint after rinsing. To remove spots I would try to add flex wax and buff. It if it is left over flex wax usually same product will help level out.

Next time try with the towel dry to see if you still have spots.


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[PA DETAILER]

Have not had issues either with the flex wax. But i never used the spray on, rinse off method. Only the dry application. And after that as a drying aid.

 

[dalemccl]

Thanks, all. Before seeing your replies, I washed it again tonight, trying to make sure the soap didn't dry before I had a chance to rinse it off. I didn't use Flex this time, just foam cannon, contact wash, rinse with deionized water, and this time towel dried using a quick detailer as a drying aid (was out of Flex). It is 90% better (although it was dark when I finished, so will have to look at it in the daylight tomorrow to confirm that most of the film is gone). I think another wash should get the rest of it.

I think the film was caused by the soap drying, because the film was on the window glass too. I only sprayed Flex on the painted panels, although some overspray could have hit the windows.

It is possible though, as someone mentioned above, that I may have overdone it when I sprayed on the Flex during the wash that ended up with the film. The Flex bottle was more than half full after originally applying the base coat to dry paint a couple months ago. I hadn't used it since until the wash that left the film, when I used up the rest of the bottle. So that was probably too much.

 

[Don M]

It is possible though, as someone mentioned above, that I may have overdone it when I sprayed on the Flex during the wash that ended up with the film. The Flex bottle was more than half full after originally applying the base coat to dry paint a couple months ago. I hadn't used it since until the wash that left the film, when I used up the rest of the bottle. So that was probably too much.

You are definitely using too much, when I apply it dry, I only use a couple of ounces if that. Using it as a drying aid or as a rinse wax, you should only use A LITTLE BIT more than that.

 

[Coatingsarecrack]

I'm new to DIY detailing. I got a new car a couple months ago. I put a base coat of Turtle Wax Hybrid Solutions Graphene Infused Flex on it right away, and have washed it a few times since, using chemicals, tools, and techniques I picked up in this and other forums, and in youtube videos. I was using water from my outside spigot which measures 135 on a TDS meter. At the end of each of those washes, I towel dried it. All was well. Paint was slick and shiny, and few if any water spots.

I just got a Griot's Garage De-ionizer this week. I verified that it can reduce my TDS reading to zero.

I did my first wash this evening with the de-ionizer included in the process. At the end of the process, my car was covered with a blotchy white-ish film, both paint and glass. It was very hard to remove - a lot of elbow grease and Invisible Glass on the windows, and a detail spray on the paint. As I was using microfiber cloths in the film removal, there was a lot of drag on the cloth until I got most of it removed from a panel, then it was a little slicker. I ran out of daylight before I could finish removing all of it. Only got about 20% done.

Wondering what I did wrong. My steps were:

1. Pressure rinse the car with hard water (i.e. the 135 TDS water)
2. Foam it with a pressure washer foam cannon and Adam's Mega Foam, using hard water
3. Contact wash
4. Pressure rinse well with de-ionized water from the Griot's unit.
5. Then a step I hadn't done before in previous washes: To top off the TW Flex base coat, I sprayed more Flex on the panels while it was wet from the de-ionized water rinse, then rinsed it again with de-ionized water to spread the Flex out. The instructions say you can do that, but it does say to towel dry after doing it. But I figured with the de-ionized water, I didn't need to towel dry it.

When done, I saw the blotchy film. I wondering if using the Flex without towel drying it could cause the film. Or perhaps I let the soap dry on the car while I was contact washing it (it was 88 degrees out and the soap was drying quickly.)

Anyone have an idea of the cause of the film? And what do I do now to get the rest of the film off. Would washing it again (without the TW Flex step) remove it?

Thanks.

Yes WAY to much. Per TW 2 sprays per panel. Aslo says to towel dry.

Even has instructions for streaking (wipe with damp towel) which I would guess that it has issues with.

I would not use any drying aid or spray and rinse product unless you want to towel dry.

I get wanting to go as touchless as possible. I would recommend a blow dryer and then apply a QD. Flex wax every 1.5 to 4 months as needed.

Try the Ego blower with a shorty nozzle.


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[dalemccl]

Thanks for the additional comments. I will towel dry from now on when (if) I spray Flex on the panels, and will use much less product. Lesson learned.