Should I give up?

Ford Fest

Ford Fest

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Not sure where to go with this as frustration has hit. I was fortunate to be able to purchase a 2016 Yukon Denali back in May. I broke one of my own rules by picking black as a DD. I convinced myself that I could deal with it, but it is making me crazy.

As most on this forum, I have spent hundreds on premium wash mits, pads, MF, washes, WW, detail sprays, drying aids, coatings etc that are only used for this car. I have used the 2 bucket method for every wash, using one mit for the body above the door trim and another for below the trim. I followup with blow drying and using detail spray as a drying aid. I only use the front to back wash pattern to wash or to remove light dust. I truly thought I have taken every precaution, but as I was walking back to the car in the parking lot I saw swirls; a lot of swirls. If it's this bad with the washing methods, coating etc that I have used, how bad would it be if I used an automatic car wash?

Got any recommendations?


 
Were they on when you bought the vehicle?


Sent from my iPhone
 
Eldorado2k said:
Were they on when you bought the vehicle?


Sent from my iPhone
Click to expand...

Nothing noticable, but corrected just to be sure prior to coating. I've never used coating so I went with McKees. I think I applied it correctly.

Jay's 128i said:
Try the Garry Dean Wash method
Click to expand...

Not sure what this is, sorry.

When washing I typically make a pass at the top of the panel working may way down. After making 3-4 passes, I flip the mit over and wash that same area again. Then I rinse the mit and start the process again. For example: 3-4 passes only covers the glass, rinse mit; then the door to the trim.
 
Ford Fest said:
Nothing noticable, but corrected just to be sure prior to coating. I've never used coating so I went with McKees. I think I applied it correctly.
Click to expand...

Did you use the Mckee's Coating Prep Polish prior to the coating?

What did you polish it with to correct it prior to the coating?
Which soap do you currently use? And which detailing spray and waterless wash?



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Was it Mike P that said "black vehicles are a full time job"? I swear my dads black maxima gets more swirls every time the wind blows. Even with perfect technique and the best of products, it can be tough to keep a black vehicle [relatively] swirl free. Do you own a DA polisher? Maybe hit it with an AIO a couple times a year? If it's never been machine polished, that would be a good start. And then after that initial clean-up, maybe you'll be able to focus in on exactly which part(s) of your detailing regimen could use adjustment.

I find that I need to alter my longer-term expectations with black vehicles. It's just part of the deal. But they sure do look good after a polishing session.
 
And why is your name Ford Fest, but you bought a Yukon Denali? Lol. J/k


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Polish just the hood until it is perfect then wash how you always do for the next few washes.After each of these washes check for any defects to determine if it is your wash method. If it is your wash method then study which part of your method creates the marks.In my case I was removing bugs to aggressively and using detail spray when I should have used waterless wash. I took a full year too realize that sometimes it is better to leave the paint dirty until I have the time to clean it with the method best suited for the level of contamination. Now I have gone 6 months defect free and have used two bucket with soap, two bucket rinsless,waterless,and zero detail spray. I have replaced my detail spray with a waterless spray and two towels one wet and one dry.Good luck finding a new system for your nice car it will be very satisfying when you do!
 
Jay's 128i said:
Try the Garry Dean Wash method
Click to expand...
This works best on my black 4Runner. If you don't know what it is, go read up. Will take 5 mins, max. You'll need to get some good microfiber towels. A lot of them. I'd start with a dozen. That's not enough, but until you try it and than have to wash them you won't believe me that you need more.

My approach is to get as much dirt off it as I can before I wash it. Hose, pressure washer, brushless car wash - whatever you can use. Then use MF towels with Garry Dean method. I unless the car is very clean I do one pass down a vertical panel and then that section of towel is done. It's a little tedious and you'll wash a lot of MF towels. And you won't eliminate the scratches, you'll just minimize them.

I used to think 2 buckets (or 3) with mitts and grit guards HAD to be good enough. Not for black paint, esp soft black paint. Every little bit of dirt that's still trapped in that mitt looks like a mini-boulder to your black paint, and those particles are hiding there, like invisible sandpaper, just waiting to screw up your paint. Doesn't matter how much dirt you see in your rinse bucket. It's all the dirt you CAN'T see in your mitt that's causing the problem. (At least that's the conclusion I reached. I could be wrong.)

Trying to keep a black car looking good is an evolution. You have to find good-enough and be willing to live with it.
 
Ford Fest said:
Not sure where to go with this as frustration has hit. I was fortunate to be able to purchase a 2016 Yukon Denali back in May. I broke one of my own rules by picking black as a DD. I convinced myself that I could deal with it, but it is making me crazy.

As most on this forum, I have spent hundreds on premium wash mits, pads, MF, washes, WW, detail sprays, drying aids, coatings etc that are only used for this car. I have used the 2 bucket method for every wash, using one mit for the body above the door trim and another for below the trim. I followup with blow drying and using detail spray as a drying aid. I only use the front to back wash pattern to wash or to remove light dust. I truly thought I have taken every precaution, but as I was walking back to the car in the parking lot I saw swirls; a lot of swirls. If it's this bad with the washing methods, coating etc that I have used, how bad would it be if I used an automatic car wash?

Got any recommendations?


Click to expand...

you gotta get a buffer and some compound or swirl remover. forget about the washing aspect thats fine. i feel for u bro mines black that denali is huge too, lots of surface area.
 
Ford Fest said:
Nothing noticable, but corrected just to be sure prior to coating. I've never used coating so I went with McKees. I think I applied it correctly.



Not sure what this is, sorry.

When washing I typically make a pass at the top of the panel working may way down. After making 3-4 passes, I flip the mit over and wash that same area again. Then I rinse the mit and start the process again. For example: 3-4 passes only covers the glass, rinse mit; then the door to the trim.
Click to expand...

maybe either u just didn't notice the swirls or maybe the swirls are in the coating? sometimes u can only notice swirls with the perfect lighting the sun to be at the exact right angle. how long ago did u coat it? are your microfiber towels any good or do u have old cheap ones?
 
RippyD said:
This works best on my black 4Runner. If you don't know what it is, go read up. Will take 5 mins, max. You'll need to get some good microfiber towels. A lot of them. I'd start with a dozen. That's not enough, but until you try it and than have to wash them you won't believe me that you need more.

My approach is to get as much dirt off it as I can before I wash it. hose, pressure washer, brushless car wash - whatever you can use. Then use MF towels with Garry Dean method. I unless the car is very clean I do one pass down a vertical panel and then that section of towel is done. It's a little tedious and you'll wash a lot of MF towels. And you won't eliminate the scratches, you'll just minimize them.

I used to think 2 buckets (or 3) with mitts and grit guards HAD to be good enough. Not for black paint, esp soft black paint. Every little bit of dirt that's still trapped in that mitt looks like a mini-boulder to your black paint, and those particles are hiding there, like invisible sandpaper, just waiting to screw up your paint. Doesn't matter how much dirt you see in your rinse bucket. It's all the dirt you CAN'T see in your mitt that's causing the problem. (At least that's the conclusion I reached. I could be wrong.)

Trying to keep a black car looking good is an evolution. You have to find good-enough and be willing to live with it.
Click to expand...
if you are going to do any of those things then you shouldn't need a rinseless wash? doesn't doing any of those three things defeat the purpose of a rinseless wash?
 
An automatic "soft cloth" car wash would beat it up much worse than that.
 
I'm sorry, was the truck off the showroom, you said 16 but was it previously owned. Also we have to learn at a point to say " you know what that's good enough ". But you have the bug where you will see swirls in your sleep. Enjoy that you're able to ride/own a beautiful truck. I've deswirled my car and been in a parking lot at night and poof swirls. And it's interesting because I use all the "correct " tools products etc when maintaining my ride and sometimes light swirls appear, even though I NEVER wipe anything ever in a circular motion, hmmm crazy. So you're not alone.
Steve
 
Ford Fest said:
Nothing noticable, but corrected just to be sure prior to coating. I've never used coating so I went with McKees. I think I applied it correctly.



Not sure what this is, sorry.

When washing I typically make a pass at the top of the panel working may way down. After making 3-4 passes, I flip the mit over and wash that same area again. Then I rinse the mit and start the process again. For example: 3-4 passes only covers the glass, rinse mit; then the door to the trim.
Click to expand...
Bottom line no matter how careful you are with black it's always gonna need some work.I remember when you bought that truck.The safest way to wash is to flush and wipe with your mitt at the same time.you will use a lot of water but probably the best method.make sure all The tags are ripped off your microfibers.1 or 2 passes is need per section washing.Get yourself the blue optimium sponge there cheap and soft and don't hold dirt like a mitt.I use eggcrate sponges no mitts.
 
I use to be worse than you taking care of black paint.my ocd enthusiasm has decreased a bit as I'm getting older and do this everyday for a living.So yes I take my car through the tunnel wash and when it really gets messed up I can just fix it Within 6 months of tunnel washing.But my car is white now so it deosnt show everything.you can try that or just hire someone that really knows what there doing for X amount of money per month.
 
GSKR said:
So yes I take my car through the tunnel wash and when it really gets messed up I can just fix it Within 6 months of tunnel washing. you can try that.
Click to expand...

...Don't take your brand new Denali through the tunnel wash, it'll obliterate your black paint.



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It was asked, buy never answered, DO you have an orbital? Or are you doing this all by hand?.

This is my 2nd black Camaro. I learned A LOT about keeping a perfect finish on my 1st one (bought when I was 23) and now at 50, I've learned a LOT about tolerance. I've decided that if I have to be at an exact angle in the exact right light in order to see swirls etc, then I'm not going to let them force me to 1) Get all my detailing equipment out and remove them, or 2) force me to take a sedative in order to "deal" with them.

I've learned to do the best job I can, and be happy with that. Of course that doesn't make it OK to half-way do a job and settle with mediocre results.

Take a few minutes and really LOOK at the defects ... are they ACTUALLY swirls, or are they SMEARS? Like it's been said over and over, "Black shows EVERYTHING." So if you DON'T get all of the excess wax, sealant or coating off the car when you buff, it WILL smear and it can appear to be swirls. I often test this on a car I have just finished, by taking Meguiars D115 (diluted 8:1) and misting it on the panel and buffing it off. If it removes the defect or changes the direction of the 'swirls,' then it is just smearing and a good, CAREFUL wash will remove them. If they remain unchanged after the D115 application, then they ARE swirls and will need to be mechanically removed (LIGHT abrasives).

Lastly, try to develop the attitude that: "It may not be perfect, but it's still better than 99% of the other black cars out there."
 
I'm against tunnel washing as well it makes life easier sometimes.If you find the right tunnel wash that is clean and pretty new and less abrading cloths there not that bad.90 percent of scratching and marring comes from the prep guys slamming there wash brooms against the paint.
 
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