Cleaner polish - which is best for my case?

[silverjag]

Hi guys, I have been reading around for quite some time - this forum is great, and I really appreciate everybody's help. I've looked around for this particular question but did not really find any clear cut answer.

I have a black, 2001 eclipse.

I've fully detailed my car with Meguiar's products before but am unsure of what cleaner polish to use. For the past couple (3-4) details I've used ScratchX 2.0 to bring back the reflection of the black paint, and loved the results. Is that safe to use every time I detail? Will it eventually deteriorate the clear coat? The same question goes with SwirlX because I know it is less aggressive, but still aggressive enough on the CC if used every time I detail?
Will ColorX give me the same deep, wet, nice reflection that ScratchX 2.0 gives with the added capability of using it everytime I detail (I detail pretty often)?

Thanks a lot for everything guys.

[the_invisible]

Re: Cleaner polish - which is best for my case?

Black is always tricky. Especially on the Eclipse of 2001. If your car is properly maintained, I think you will do fine with SwirlX. Depending on the condition of the paint, you should use a product that is suitable for your needs. If the paint is severely dulled with oxidation and weathering, then perhaps ColorX or Ultimate Compound would be what you want to use. If swirl is the problem, then SwirlX may help achieve your desired results. With that in mind, you will want to start with the least aggressive compound because, as you have correctly discerned, polishes wil diminish the clear coat with continous use.

Products like ScratchX are designed for isolated blemishes and scratches. However it can be used on the entire vehicle. With polishes and cleaners like SwirlX and Ultimate Compound I do not see why you would need use ScratchX on the entire car.

[Eddie6th]

Re: Cleaner polish - which is best for my case?

Deep Crystal,step 1 and 2 might be you're looking for.I believe step 1 is going to be replaced soon from what I've heard.I use these on black and I think the results are really good.

The step 2-Polish,is a pure polish.I think you can buy them individualy.I can here.So you might prefer to use GC or NXT instead of step3-carnauba wax.

[Murr1525]

Re: Cleaner polish - which is best for my case?

Assuming there are no swirls/scratches to be fixed, there is really no need to use ScratchX every time.

SwirlX or DC1 would be better for you, and ColorX would also be a good option, and is milder than SwirlX.

1. Wash
2. Clay if needed
3. ColorX
4. Wax

1. Wash
2. Clay if needed
3. SwirlX
4. Wax
5. Wax

[silverjag]

Re: Cleaner polish - which is best for my case?

Hey, thanks for the quick responses.

I already do all that stuff - clay, polish, etc. I use Step 2 every time I detail but what I am really asking is what would be the best product that is safe for continual usage that is in between the clay and the pure polish steps. I have no swirls/scratches - I just use scratchx 2 and swirl solely for the nice wet look it gives on my car.

I switch off between Gold Class and NXT 2 for my waxes. Love both.

the_invisible, it seems you are aware of the 01 issue - I do have CC failure on the roof and hood, I know there is nothing I can do about that and it breaks my heart but I'm trying to keep the rest of the car in great condition.

I will try ColorX for continual usage in the hopes that it can provide a deep, wet look (that doesn't continue to diminish the clear coat) as swirl and scratchx 2 has been doing so far; thanks Murr1525.

Any other ideas?
All is appreciated.

[Poki]

Re: Cleaner polish - which is best for my case?

Sounds like you keep your car's finish looking real good with lots of work of course. Have you considered using UQD or Quick Wax to maintane the look? These both are MUCH easier than a detail with more polish or wax and both provide a great look between your polish/wax works.

[silverjag]

Re: Cleaner polish - which is best for my case?

I use UQD religiously and love the results.
Haven't had a chance to use UQW as I can't find it locally anywhere but I don't mind UQDing then spending a little time to either use GC or NXT once in a while.

[Markus Kleis]

Re: Cleaner polish - which is best for my case?

I personally wouldn't reach for anything stronger than a cleaner wax like ColorX or M66 if you do it "fairly often" as you say.

If you want your paint to last a long time you should stick to a couple polish sessions a year, and even those should be light. For example, I plan on M205 twice a year for my car.

The key is a sound wash technique that prolongs the need for polishing. If you are needing to polish really often you may want to look at your washing process and see if it can be improved.

[silverjag]

Re: Cleaner polish - which is best for my case?

Thank you - so either Step 1, which I hear is milder than or ColorX.

I've read up a lot on proper washing techniques... I think (hopefully) I got it down:
2 bucket method
MF wash mitt
GC/NXT shampoo
I've also seen Mike Phillips' video on how to car wash and I make sure I don't stray away from the given advice.

Maybe it's just me, but every time I do the entire car with either swirlx or scratchx the paint looks so much better. I will try to avoid that as I already have CC problems (paint defect).

So in conclusion, using ColorX 1-2x a month is safe in terms of diminishing an already iffy CC?

[akimel]

Re: Cleaner polish - which is best for my case?

Follow Mark's advice!

The simple fact is, we cannot maintain a perfect show car finish on our daily drivers. We may wish to, but we can't--thus is the universe arranged. All we can do is our best ... and perhaps not even our best.

The most difficult thing to do, after we have been bitten by the detailing bug, is to adjust our expections, hopes, and desires and conform to the harsh realities of reality. We black car owners cannot maintain a swirl-free finish. It's impossible. It can't be done, not in the long-term. All we can do is maintain and fight the long defeat.

How do we maintain and fight? Incorporate a cleaner wax into our detailing regimen, like Cleaner Wax, ColorX, or M20. See Mosca's article on cleaner wax.

Good luck!

Cheers,
Al

[Markus Kleis]

Re: Cleaner polish - which is best for my case?

If you are waxing 1-2 times a month I would use NXT 2.0 on a regular basis and then throw in the cleaner wax once every other month. Twice a month is a bit excessive.

Like Al pointed out, it just isn't reasonable to maintain 100% flawless paint 24/7 on a car that leaves the garage.

The fact that you need polishing that often does lead me to believe there still might be something going wrong in the wash process.

Just to cover a few key details, make sure you never scrub the paint with your wash mitt. The idea is to allow it to gently slide over the surface essentially under its own weight. If there is a specific issue like bird droppings or something of that nature try making a few light passes, and if it persists, GENTLY use the back of your finger nail to push it away. It should be soft and not bond well if the surface is regularly waxed.

Another thing to watch for is setting any towels or wash mitts on the ground or leaving them where dust or dirt may accumulate. This is very important.

Also put effort into rinsing from the top, down if using a traditional wash method. I find the initial rinse to be of the utmost importance.

If the vehicle is particularly filthy, divide the car in half and use the first set of bucket water to wash the top, then rinse it out, and finish the bottom. At the very least, wash the upper 2/3s of the vehicle first and then the dirtiest (usually) bottom 1/3rd last. This minimizes dragging the filth from the bottom up over the rest of the car (the more visible area, too!).

When drying, make sure the surface is truly clean and well rinsed. If your drying towels are picking up a lot of dirt and gunk then you may not have rinsed it well enough and thus are dragging these contaminants across the paint and inducing swirls.

Also make sure the drying towels are properly washed (liquid detergent, no fabric softener, no granule based soaps), and put some white vinegar in the rinse cycle. You should also use minimal pressure during the drying process as well.

That should about cover it...

Hope this helps!

[the_invisible]

Re: Cleaner polish - which is best for my case?

the_invisible, it seems you are aware of the 01 issue - I do have CC failure on the roof and hood, I know there is nothing I can do about that and it breaks my heart but I'm trying to keep the rest of the car in great condition.

Yup. MANY cars produced in the early Y2K have paint problems. There's not a single automotive forum during the year 2000 without people complaining about the paint on their cars!!!

Although clear coat failure cannot be repaired without costly solutions, oxidation as a result of clear coat peeling can be repaired with products such as Meguiar's Ultimate Compound. Proper maintenance using protective sealants could also preserve the rest of the clear coat. Because the roof is exposed to direct sunlight all the time, it is always the area where paint failure is first detected. With that in mind, you should be able to devise a solution that can effectively maintain and perserve the finish of your car.

[Caress Detailing]

Re: Cleaner polish - which is best for my case?

I'm with akimel, a cleaner wax is your best bet. My fiancee's car is black, and no matter how hard I try, swirls will eventually rear it's head over time. Although it's against the "must correct everything" creed of most detailers, this is where some fillers play a big role in keeping a black daily driver looking best.