New Car Advice

[billddrummer]

Re: New Car Advice

Hi All!

As I posted in my intro post, just purchased a silver 2013 Hyundai Accent hatchback.

Love the car, great mileage, cool styling, awesome bells and whistles.

A bit of background:

I commute from Reno NV (4500 ft elevation) to Truckee CA (5800 ft elevation, central Sierra Nevada mountains) along I-80, through sagebrush and mixed conifer forest, approximately 40 miles one way. Parking at my workplace is open to the elements and significant sun exposure, tree sap, road dust and varnish overspray from material sprayed to maintain wooden office buildings nearby.

Normally, the region receives significant winter precipitation (rain, sleet, snow), and highway maintenance includes application of traction compounds (sand) during the winter months.

This winter has been mild, but it's the exception rather than the rule.

I would like to keep this vehicle looking as good as possible considering these conditions.

Another complication: I have covered parking at my apartment complex, but no facilities for hand washing. I use an automatic car wash nearby for basic wash (they use a Turtle Wax formulation in the wash bay).

I'd like some advice on the correct product mix to keep the paint on the car, and looking as good as it possibly can look.

I consider it competition.

Any suggestions are welcome.

Thanks!

bdd

[davey g-force]

Re: New Car Advice

Shame we can't see the pics..

Try hosting them on Photobucket (or similar).

[punkguins]

Re: New Car Advice

[punkguins]

Re: New Car Advice

Sorry about all the white space but between my cut and paste and the small entry window, I couldn't get a good perspective. Here's the front hood

[punkguins]

Re: New Car Advice

Here are some photos…hope these post!

[The Guz]

Re: New Car Advice

You want to ring them out as much as possible then lay them face down. Should dry in a day or 2 that way.

[punkguins]

Re: New Car Advice

The red foam pad is from Lake Country:Red UltraSoft Wax/Sealant CCS Smart Pads™ DA 5.5 inch Foam Pad.

I washed em with foam cleaner but after a week, they are still wet in the garage. Do folks let em sun dry or does that make them rougher over time (plus I want them not picking up debris)

[Murr1525]

Re: New Car Advice

I dont think the red pad is the right pad either? If Meguiars pads..

[h_bomm]

Re: New Car Advice

You are using way too much product. I got the New Car Kit that comes with a 4oz sample bottle of ULW and I have waxed 4 vehicles with it and still have some left. I usually use about 5 or 6 pea sized drops, maybe a smidge bigger than a pea for the first couple passes till I get some product in the pad then I use 3 drops. Every once in a while I will not apply fresh product to the pad but instead I will press the pad against the body to squeeze out some of the wax that is in the pad and wax with that. Then the next pass I will put 3 more drops on.

[punkguins]

Re: New Car Advice

I have a question on applying my LSP, ULW, when I was applying it with the red foam pad: I still used the PC over a 20"x20" section and did 3 section passes. After every other section, I would apply more product. I noted that the red pad was supersaturated with product and I was curious if I really need to reapply that often or if I can do larger sections. I used quite a bit of the bottle for 2 cars and was looking to adjust my "dosage" for next time…

[davey g-force]

Re: New Car Advice

Yeah, good move waxing the windshield. You can use UQW on it in the future.

As for upkeep, in those conditions you might get 4-6 months out of ULW. Just wash it regularly and use UQW while drying!

[punkguins]

Re: New Car Advice

Great to know that it works. BTW, now that the car is in an ideal state, how often do I have to reapply the ULW? I'm hoping I can just wash the car every 3 to 4 weeks and apply UQW. I'm hoping I won't have to use the PC and ULW for the next 3 to 4 months ( even longer?)…it's garaged at nite and during the day, car is parked in a structure so it is out of daylight most of the time.

[The Guz]

Re: New Car Advice

It's common to use an LSP on the windows. I typically use ultimate quick wax stand alone on all windows.

[punkguins]

Re: New Car Advice

I have to take some pics in the daytime and post. Will try next weekend. It does look great!

I also detailed the interior and decided to put 2 applications of Scotch Guard on the interior mats as well as the underlying carpet. I dressed the dash and doors with the Meguires Quick Interior Detailer and it worked great to remove passenger scuff marks on the door and backside of the front seats. After I cleaned the windows with Sprayway Glass Cleaner (using a new waffle), I decided to try this on the exterior of the windshields. I used the red foam pad on my PC and applied the ULW to the windshield (exterior only) and ran the PC on 3. Then, I wiped it with the microfiber and then did it again but the 2nd app was with Meguiars Ultimate Quick Wax sprayed on the windshield and pad…

My logic is that I've seen vids of detailers putting sealants on the windshield as a form of water repellant so I figured, what the heck…anyways, if it rains, I'll report how the windshields do. Has anyone every tried this? The windows are totally smooth and clear right now as the buffing with the cloth made them super slick (as opposed to "squeaky clean").

[davey g-force]

Re: New Car Advice

Update:

I was waiting for my latest stuff that you guys helped me pick out and this week received my 5.5" backing pad, white, black, and red foam pads along with foam cleaner and brush.

Yesterday, I washed the Lexus via 2 buckets using 2 different wool mitts. I washed the tires and rim as well. I dried the car well with a Meguiars waffle towel and then clayed using the yellow (mild) I purchased from Chem Guys, always wiping the area with a microfiber when done. I noticed very few contaminants being picked up and instead had to deal with flys getting attracted to the scent of the lube (smells like pink chewing gum). Note: I have the Meguiars waffle towel and the 1st time I used it, it dried my entire car but this time, it was too saturated and I wonder if washing it ruined it (I don't know what temp I as I didn't notice but I think it was hot water).

After claying, I used the PC with the 5.5" white foam pads and applied M205 polish and did 20"x20" sections. I did a 3 section pass each time (i would first do overlapping sections going up and down, then side to side, then up and down). I applied the product on the pads in an X pattern. I cleaned the pads after every other 20"x20" was completed and used the pad brush. After I had repeated this awhile, the foam pad was getting slightly ripped up due to me applying too much pressure on the white pads with the pad brush. So, I changed pads and when I cleaned the foam pad, I would go to setting 6 on the PC and lightly brush it ( a lot of fine mist polish will whip off by itself and this AM I am feeling it in my lungs so I might suggest a mask during the clean step). Anyways, the polishing took a long time and I did section by section, always wiping with one of 3 microfiber cloths.

I then changed to the 5.5" black wax/sealant foam pad and applied Meguiars Finishing Wax D30116. I didn't change pads as the wax seemed to go well and since the car is so clean, I just used this pad and it quickly did the entire car. I didn't really let it set and instead as I did each section with 2 passes, I would then set down the PC and wipe off the wax….did I need to let it set longer before buffing off with microfiber?

Today, weather permitting, I plan on using the red pad (softest) and applying Meguiars ULW as my sealant. I do wonder if there is added benefit since both D30116 and ULW are synthetic products. Also, do I need to let it set before buffing off?

Well done!

Firstly, how does it look in full sun? Did you achieve the results you were after?

I'm not sure why you used the D301 with a foam pad, but anyway, it won't hurt anything. D301 is a cleaner wax, so it has a little bit of cut (cleaning) properties. It's protection won't be as durable as a dedicated synthetic wax like ULW, so yes, I would definitely top it with ULW afterwards.

Then take some pics and post them up!