Recommended for Plastic Body Panels?

[Millenium3]

Just bought a new Prius. A Cool car. I want to treat her right from the very start. I'm new to this detailing stuff and have sifted through a lot of posts.

I've got my G-100 on order, bought some Meguires detailing supplies, and I'm ready to wash, clay, Speed Glaze and wax. I figure the finish likely picked up stuff:

1. at the factory,
2. on the boat from Japan,
3. at the dealer's lot, and
4. during delivery to me.

That is why I'm doing the whole route--including cleaning. It is not super smooth so I think this process makes sense. My question is what to do about plastic body panels? The car has some rather large plastic panels:

at the lower front,

wrapping around the lower front side,

and at the back.

These panels exactly match the color of the body paint--a medium blue (with those little silver flakes in the paint that all the maufactures seem to be using these days). I assume the body paint is clear-coated. For all I know the plastic panels may also be clear coated. Is it ok (or even necessary? to clay, clean, polish and wax these panels? Is it ok to use the G-100 on them? Would the heat from friction at the DA head cause any problems with the plastic?

Any advice will be welcome to this newbie!!

[Murr1525]

The G-100, and #80/#83, etc will be fine for these panels. You care treating the paint, not the plastic underneath.

If you had a rotary, then there may be some care needed.

[Millenium3]

So these panels are painted and clear coated?? Wow, I wasn't sure about that. I guess that's why they match the body paint so well.

Thanks for the response. Of course, until I'm sure, I'm still gonna treat these panels softly and in a place a bit out of direct sight so I can see what each product does.

Thanks again.

[Murr1525]

Well, much like Saturns, which have plastic panels, they can be treated like any other surface. They may or may not be clear coated - (almost certainly are) - but single stage paint can be treated the same with the G-100 and same products.

Nothing wrong with starting out of the way. Dont use the any product for the first time in the middle of your hood.

[Monk]

Please wait for one of the old pros to chime in here, but I am not so sure you should be claying a new paint job. Clay is to remove contaminants that have become bonded to the paint. There is a thread here somewhere about how to care for a new car. Don't know why you would need #83 either, but I will be anxious to hear the answers in case I have it all mixed around.

[Murr1525]

Monk,

You are absolutely right, #83 hopefully wont be needed or a new car. I just gave it as an example of a safe product, and you never know. Sometimes new cars come in horrible shape though, so you never know what might be needed.

However, claying a new car is completly safe, and highly recomended. As Millenium said, the car has been exposed to lots of pollution and rail dust, which a paint cleaner may or may not remove. And if a paint cleaner/pad does pick it up, it could do more damage.

May as well start off with a perfect surface, so clay right away....