Am I on the right track?

[GLOCKer]

I'm taking off of work this Friday to detail my car! This is my plan (first time detailer here): First I'm going to clean my engine bay using a motorcycle engine detailer a good friend recommended, and then dry it with a leaf blower. I'll then wash the car, one panel at a time, from the top down using Mequiar's car wash. I'll do the wheels next so not to contaminate my bucket. Then I'm going to clay bar the car using the Mequiar's clay bar kit. Then I'm going to DA polish it the Mequiar's Ultimate Polish. And to finish it off, I'm going to use the Mequiar's Ultimate Liquid Wax. The car is a black 2014 Mustang GT that I bought new on April 18th, but the car had sat on a lot in Baltimore for several months being exposed to the elements. I had to use it as a daily driver for a couple of months, and where I had to park it for work caused a couple of little black sap balls to land on it. I was told that clay barring the car while it was this new was stupid, but I feel there is some junk to get off of it! So, am I on the right track? Thank you!

[Murr1525]

Re: Am I on the right track?

Yeah, sounds like the right plan.

Clay can help with sap, but some glass cleaner could be good first.

[szladob]

Re: Am I on the right track?

I love most Megs product, and use very few others... But the one I really get to like is Iron X, to decontaminate the paint before claying. My car is light, so may not be so critical on a black car, but I could see many little rust looking spots in the paint when I wanted to carry out my full 5 step process.. Started with the claying, but clay was getting dirty in no time, and struggling with these rust spots... Plan B - after using Iron X (and also Tardis - another decontaminant for tar and organic stuff), the car was "bleeding" everywhere with purple little streams of the dissolved iron. After the decontamination, claying took like no time, as it was only picking up some very minor stuff... Then went on with the program... Just a thought...

I wonder if the more experienced people have a view on using (harsh?) chemicals with little touch vs. rubbing clay against the paint that is picking up bits which continue to be rubbed against the paint...

[The Guz]

Re: Am I on the right track?

Sounds like a good plan. The only thing I like to do prior to washing the car is washing the wheels and tires first and then procedd to washing the car. Of course I use 3 buckets. 1 for wheels and 2 for a standard 2 bucket wash. Just an optional tip that always seems to work nicely.

[davey g-force]

Re: Am I on the right track?

Your plan sounds generally good.

Just don't expect UP to do much defect removal, since it is a finishing polish (not sure if you have many/any defects to deal with).

I was told that clay barring the car while it was this new was stupid

Ignore them. Usually the car should be clayed as soon as you get it home. As you said, they usually sit on the lot for weeks or months and do accumulate contaminants.

[Xracer110]

Re: Am I on the right track?

I did almost same thing to my new truck 2days after I got it, wash,clay,Meg's 205, with Meg's 26 wax
the differnce was amazing!!!!!

[Murr1525]

Re: Am I on the right track?

Yeah, IronX or Trix before washing is good. Or wash, then IronX/Trix, then wash again.

[Jarhead0754]

A few years ago I noticed my girlfriends new jeep had what I thought at the time was rust, so I thought we have to take it back since its under warranty, but before doing that is when I discovered this is common and called rail dust. I have yet to try iron x but I've seen so many good things about it. It should definitely b added into the detailing plan.

Having a new black car doesn't mean it's defect free just cuz it came off the lot. Take sum close up pics for us and we can tell u if u need to add sum ultimate compound to the mix. But it's def a good plan and ur on the right track.

[Eldorado2k]

@szladob. Your advice makes alot of sense. Especially after I had to spend nearly 45min. claying just half the hood on my brothers 2004 CTS this past weekend.. I couldn't believe how much gunk was coming off of it. Even after flooding the surface with Quik Detailer it still felt like there had to be a better way.. I think your advice is where it's at! Thx.

[GLOCKer]

Re: Am I on the right track?

I appreciate the advice guys! Any advice on detailing the motor???? I'm going to use a product called S100 for motorcycle engines. A coworker suggested it; said lightly mist the motor with water, spray on the S100, hit it with a sponge, and lightly rinse it off before using a leaf blower to dry the engine bay.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Am I on the right track?

It's hard to say if Ultimate Polish is going to be enough to correct any defects in the paint that currently exist. It is very mild with regard to defect removal, so you may find that Ultimate Compound will do a better job for you, followed by UP.

Age of a car has absolutely zero to do with what you should, shouldn't or might do to it. Condition is all that matters. You said this car sat on a dealer lot for several months before you purchased it, and that alone tells us that it could likely benefit from claying and a light compounding. Ultimately, the process you do on this car will depend upon A) the current condition of the paint, and B) what your end goal is. Claying, UP and wax will certainly make it look better, but is better good enough for you? Or do you want to take to a whole new level? That will take a bit more time and effort.

As for the engine bay cleaning, that should be pretty straightforward and simple on a modern car that is this new. Virtually any all purpose cleaner or degreaser will work. Let the engine warm up a bit (not hot, just warm), spray the cleaner all over the engine and throughout the bay and let it dwell a bit. Agitate the dirtier areas with an old towel or brush as needed, then rinse with running water. Pressure washing is likely not needed on this car, just a shower from the hose should be sufficient. Dry with your leaf blower as intended, then simply spray on a water based dressing like Hyper Dressing or even Natural Shine, close the hood and walk away.

[LastStep]

Re: Am I on the right track?

How bad is the engine that you already need to wash it?
How about WD40 or rubbing alcohol for the sap?

[GLOCKer]

Re: Am I on the right track?

How bad is the engine that you already need to wash it?
How about WD40 or rubbing alcohol for the sap?

The motor wasn't that bad, but I wanted it to look good for car show purposes. I actually got it knocked out last night in just a couple of minutes. Before:
And after: The grime under the hood looks like dust and mostly was lke dust, but some of it was really worked into the textured plastics under the hood. The cleaner worked pretty well and was simple to use. I sprayed it on the surfaces, hit it with a soft sponge, and then sprayed it off the motor with a light mist from the hose. Some areas of the motor required more water than others, and I was careful about the amount of water and where I put it. I'm pretty happy with it! On an unrelated note; how come I can't hit "Enter" to create a new paragraph or drop to a new line.

[davey g-force]

Re: Am I on the right track?

Nice job on that engine bay!

[BillE]

Re: Am I on the right track?

[QUOTE=GLOCKer;... On an unrelated note; how come I can't hit "Enter" to create a new paragraph or drop to a new line.[/QUOTE]

See if this will help, http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums...lity-with-IE10

Good job on the engine room! What did you use to 'protect' it?

Bill