Steam cleaning car paint

[daves120]

A friend of mine recently asked me to help clean a car. I usually don't mind lending a helping hand, or offer advise. In this case it is a 1988 Oldsmobile Delta 88 that has been basically sitting outside for the last nine years. Normally I would not take on this type of project but I wanted to test out products and skills on this horrible mess. By the way, it is also a freebie.

My first thought was to soak the car for a few hours using the sprinkler and then start the wash process. Since it rained last night I decided to skip this part. Next was a wash using Dawn and a couple of ounces of Optimum APC in the water. Folks, the stuff on the paint did not even budge.; it just laughed at me.

The first set of pictures shows the car's paint after two washings. Since I had my streamer out to work on the interior, I thougt I would try using it on the paint.

First I sprayed a section with Optimum APC at 50/50 and let it dwell for a minute or two. Then a microfiber rag was wrapped around the triangular steamer brush. Using about 70 psi I proceeded to scrub the paint back and forth and side to side. Immediately it started breaking up and the green towels turned black. I use this brand of towel beacuse it holds up well to the steam. Since it is not sold by Autogeek I will refrain from mentioning the brand.

All in all it took about three hours to clean the horizontal surfaces of the car. After steaming, the car was washed with Pinnacle XMT gel shampoo and conditioner. Just an ounce for two gallons of water and suds aplenty.

One thing I did learn. While steaming I did not rinse each section after using the APC. This is not the thing to do. While rinsing the car to wet it for the wash it the APC started sudsing up and kept going for several minutes and was not stopping. I went ahead and washed and rinsed the car, and still had the same issue. It was time for lunch so I set up the sprinkler and rinsed the car with it for abour half an hour...and it was clean. Next time I will be sure to rinse each panel before starting a new one.

I am not sure how to put pictures in the message yet so they are attached. Sorry about that folks.

 

[oldmodman]

That was quite a chore.
But it does look like the filth protected the finish for all those years.
Have you test polished a section of the finish yet?
Be interesting to see how the paint corrects.

 

[Blackthorn One]

This looks like what Meguiar's Heavy Duty clay was made for. I think it's fair to say that this car will need at least the basic medium clay.

 

[daves120]

I have the DP paint clean clay and CG's professional heavy duty clay and will test both tomorrow. I also will use Optimum's polish starting with a white pad on a test spot.

The motor is also loaded with crud and I will try to clean it. I have a good friend who owns his own mechanic shop and has told me horror stories of people steam cleaning motors. With this in mind, I will be very weary of causing damage and will take my time.

The upholstery is in fairly good shape. Someone on the forum told me about Folex for carpet and I have had great results in the past and will use it again tomorrow. Everything else will be sprayed with OPC and steamed.

I will post more pictures tomorrow.

If anyone has suggestions for products to be used, I would greatly appreciate if you would share it with me.

 

[ScubaCougr]

I wanted to test out products and skills on this horrible mess. By the way, it is also a freebie. Since I had my streamer out to work on the interior, I thougt I would try using it on the paint.

Wow...I'm amazed at the results. Never thought to use a steamer on the exterior but it appears to have been the ticket.

Looking forward to more pictures. Thanks for the writeup.

 

[jamores23]

becarefull using chemicals when steaming because it will be diffusing along with the steam and become airborne which you will be inhaling!