Detailing a Brand New Car

[TireMeltingRSX]

Ok, here's a little background, I will keep it short...

When I turned 16 I bought a 1998 Ford Ranger with chrome rims and the flairside bed. It had the new car smell for the whole first year I owned it. I washed it all the time and kept it waxed (3-4 times a year). When I traded it in 3 weeks ago the dealer couldn't believe what great shape my paint was in.

Now I have a 2005 Nighthawk Black Pearl Acura RSX Type S. As I said I've only had my new car for 3 weeks, however it was at the dealer longer than that, and was shipped from Japan.

Here's what I'm thinking of doing this weekend, let me know any problems I have in there... with my truck I used to just wash/wax.

1.) Wash with NXT Gen Car Wash
2.) Claybar with Quik Clay Detailing System
3.) Wash again with NXT Gen Car Wash
4.) Polish with Deep Crystal Polish
5.) Wax with NXT Gen Tech Wax (2 coats, paste)

My questions are, is it too early, will I damage anything with the above steps?

I have to do a normal carwash after claybaring, before polishing correct?

Would adding a coat of Gold Class Paste over the NXT help at all?? What about High Tech Yellow Wax (#26)??

I'm just looking for that black glass clean...

Click the link in my profile, or below for pics of my car after I picked it up from the dealer (not 56k friendly)

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Detailing a Brand New Car

Hi TireMeltingRSX,

Welcome to Meguiar's Online!

Originally posted by TireMeltingRSX
My questions are, is it too early, will I damage anything with the above steps?

No. It's never to early or soon to start doing the right thing and the right thing in this situation is to set this new car up on a regular maintenance program using high quality products applied with the human elements of care and passion.

I have to do a normal car wash after clay baring, before polishing correct?

No. Check out the 6th post in this thread...

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7191

Would adding a coat of Gold Class Paste over the NXT help at all?? What about High Tech Yellow Wax (#26)??

I'm just looking for that black glass clean...

Some people like to layer either Gold Class or M26 over NXT and other waxes for a deeper, darker, wetter look. Here's an article that talks about topping NXT and how to go about it if you decide to do this.

Topping NXT or other products

[g35]

TireMeltingRSX,
I'm going to do almost the same steps as you below on my new g35 but with only one wax application. Currently, I'm waiting for the e-store to be back online before ordering. However, I"m still uncomfortable about step 2 of the 5 step car care cycle. I can't seem to get a clear answer. However, a recently post about using scratchx and then applying wax to protect your paint or it would be left unprotect made me feel more uncomfortable using the claying system and scratchx. If I was to use a paint cleaner product, does it mean I'm removing that clear coating from my car manufacture that was supposed to protect my car paint. Sorry, I don't have a clear understand of the clear coating that comes from a car manufacture. Can someone explain? I just want to understand what I am doing that's all.

1) When purchasing a new car, that glossy look is the clearcoat which is protecting that paint below?
2) If that clearcoat is supposed to protect the car paint, using paint cleaner products will remove the clearcoating and wax have to be constantly apply to protect the paint?
3) If I was to use a paint cleaner product and not apply wax, will my paint fade faster and lost of that filmy look, since it is explose to contamination?

Thank for the tips everyone. I would like to be educated about what are the effects and results of each step. Having a better understanding would allow me to use these products with more confident.

[SVT Lightning]

Clearcoat is paint....it's just clear. Paint cleaners will not remove it. Paint cleaners WILL remove wax though.

[Mike Phillips]

Originally posted by g35
I"m still uncomfortable about step 2 of the 5 step car care cycle. I can't seem to get a clear answer.


However, a recently post about using ScratchX and then applying wax to protect your paint or it would be left unprotected made me feel more uncomfortable using the claying system and ScratchX. If I was to use a paint cleaner product, does it mean I'm removing that clear coating from my car manufacture that was supposed to protect my car paint. Sorry, I don't have a clear understand of the clear coating that comes from a car manufacture. Can someone explain? I just want to understand what I am doing that's all.

A clear coat paint system is a two part paint system consisting of a color coat and a coating of clear paint over the color coating to give the color coat its beauty and also protect it. Clear coat paint is just paint without pigment or color.

Clear coat paint must be treated the same way we treat non-clear coat paints, that is we,

Wash
Clay
Clean
Polish
Wax

If you do nothing, your clear coat will go down hill just like a non-clear coat finish. Clear coat paints are quite durable because typically they are fairly hard when compared to paint used in the old day, such as the paint used on a 1965 Mustang for example.

1) When purchasing a new car, that glossy look is the clearcoat which is protecting that paint below?

Yes.

2) If that clearcoat is supposed to protect the car paint, using paint cleaner products will remove the clear coating and wax have to be constantly apply to protect the paint?

No. The clear coat is the the car's paint. You only use a paint cleaner if you want to remove a scratch or swirls. When you do this you do remove a little paint as that is the only way known to man to remove a swirl or scratch without repainting the car. Manufactures take into account that you, or a detailer is going to work on the paint, (as in use a paint cleaner), and include enough clear coat to be removed while still leaving enough to last your car for the expected service life of the car if properly maintained with regular washing and waxing.

3) If I was to use a paint cleaner product and not apply wax, will my paint fade faster and lost of that filmy look, since it is exposed to contamination?

Yes. A paint cleaner is not a paint protectant, (thus the use of the word cleaner and not wax or protectant), after cleaning the paint you should apply a coating of wax to seal the surface and leave behind a sacrificial barrier coating to take the brunt of wear and tear so your clear coat doesn't have to. You should do this even if you never use a paint cleaner because clear coat paint is still paint and needs to be maintained just like a non-clear coat paint.

Thank for the tips everyone. I would like to be educated about what are the effects and results of each step. Having a better understanding would allow me to use these products with more confident.

Meguiar's has been around since 1901 making cleaners and polishes, you can trust the Meguiar's name. Hundreds of thousands of people use our paint cleaners, polishes and waxes every year and the majority of the time they are raving about their results to their friends and neighbors. Problems are the exception, not the norm.

Read this thread and you'll see a paint job that was saved by our ScratchX... followed by polish and wax.

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7011

Hope this provides you with a more clear answer about paint cleaners and what clear coat paint is.

[g35]

Thank you Mike for the info.^^; Your explanations and the online community are so friendly and helpful. Now that everything is clear up, can anyone tell me if the below procedure, which I will perform is correct?

1) NXT car wash - Drying the car after wash for step 2
2) a) Claying - I inspected my car paint, and I notice brown bumpy tiny spots that I think are rail dust. To clay, I cut the bar into 2-3 and mold a piece into waffle. I spray QD onto an area; and while holding the that molded clay in my palm, I slide that clay back and forth until that area is dry. I move onto another area and repeat this process. Is it necessary to wash or use NXT speed detail before step 3?
b) Paint cleaner - Use tech applicator pad, put the paint cleaner on the pad and apply it onto an area and quickly use a MF towel to remove it before drying. Wash or NXT speed detail before step 3?
3) Polish - Use new tech applicator pad, put polish onto the pad and apply it onto an area and quickly use a MF towel to remove it before drying? Wash or NXT speed detail before step 4?
4) Wax - NXT tech liquid wax applied on a new tech applicator pad, apply onto an area and let it dry ( test it by swiping on the surface and no streaks are left behind. I should see a clean paint surface). When dry, use a MF towel and wipe it off.
5) Maintain - NXT speed detail it daily or wash if necessary. Spray wax. Repeat the 5 steps montly or every 2-3 months.

Are the procedures above right?

Also, washing MF towels together with detergent like Tide then machine dry it is safe? What about the tech applicator pads? Can I clay my chrome or metal window trim to remove some rail dust and use NXT metal polish on it?

Thank you =p.

[Mike Phillips]

Originally posted by g35
Thank you Mike for the info.^^; Your explanations and the online community are so friendly and helpful. Now that everything is clear up, can anyone tell me if the below procedure, which I will perform is correct?


1) NXT car wash - Drying the car after wash for step 2

Yes.

2) a) Claying - I inspected my car paint, and I notice brown bumpy tiny spots that I think are rail dust. To clay, I cut the bar into 2-3 and mold a piece into waffle. I spray QD onto an area; and while holding the that molded clay in my palm, I slide that clay back and forth until that area is dry. I move onto another area and repeat this process.

You don't clay till the area is dry, you clay till the paint is smooth, then wipe off the excess QD with a clean microfiber and move on to a new section.

Is it necessary to wash or use NXT speed detail before step 3?

Not if you wipe of the excess quick detailer as you move around the car.

b) Paint cleaner - Use tech applicator pad, put the paint cleaner on the pad and apply it onto an area and quickly use a MF towel to remove it before drying.

You apply to one section and then work the product against the finish until it turns more or less clear, but there is still a wet/liquid film of product on the finish and then wipe it off. You need to work this product against the finish in order to force the microscopic diminishing abrasives into the paint to take little bites out of it in an effort to remove a little paint, in an effort to remove swirls, scratches, oxidation etc. You don't however work it until it is dry. If you finish is in new or very good condition then you can apply it and work it very gently and then remove. The aggressive working of the product is for removing defects.

Wash or NXT speed detail before step 3?

No. Not if you do a good job of wiping off any excess residue as you work your way around the car.

3) Polish - Use new tech applicator pad, put polish onto the pad and apply it onto an area and quickly use a MF towel to remove it before drying?

More or less. You want to work the polish into the finish like you would apply a skin lotion to your face or arm. Not aggressive, but thorough. Then remove before it dries.

Wash or NXT speed detail before step 4?

No. Not if you do a good job of wiping off any excess residue as you work your way around the car.

4) Wax - NXT tech liquid wax applied on a new tech applicator pad, apply onto an area and let it dry ( test it by swiping on the surface and no streaks are left behind. I should see a clean paint surface). When dry, use a MF towel and wipe it off.

Yes. Two thin coats insure uniform appearance and uniform coverage.

5) Maintain - NXT speed detail it daily or wash if necessary. Spray wax. Repeat the 5 steps monthly or every 2-3 months.

No. You only repeat the claying step if the paint has above surface bonded contaminants, (feel the paint after washing it), and you only use the paint cleaner if you see below surface defects like swirls and scratches, (Inspect with your eyes in good in good lighting after washing).

Also, washing MF towels together with detergent like Tide then machine dry it is safe?

Yes. This is what we do.

What about the tech applicator pads?

You can through them in the washing machine too, they clean better if you physically squeeze and rinse them by hand using a detergent soap in the sink first and then through them into the washing machine as the washing machine will not squeeze the them like your hands can.

Can I clay my chrome or metal window trim to remove some rail dust and use NXT metal polish on it?

Yes.

[g35]

Cool. Thx for the tips^^;

[TireMeltingRSX]

Mike,

Thanks for the help. I just wish it were Saturday so I could get out there and do it! I'll post some pics when it's done.

[clickster34]

I don't think I'll ever give up my Ranger

Sounds like we had the same trucks, and the same washing and waxing habits.

[TireMeltingRSX]

Clickster34,

Nice truck, I sent you a PM. I'll have to show you pics of my ranger!

[jwrsxts]

To test if the wax is dry and ready to be wipe off, I tried the finger swiping on the surface and an oily film is always there. Seem like NXT Gen Wax never dries completely. Even after waiting an hour in 70 deg temperature. Is this true or am I not waiting long enought?

[Murr1525]

Mine dries all the way through... how thick of a coat are you applying? You really should be just seeing translucent white, not like a thick layer.

[jwrsxts]

I used a very thin coat and it seem like it never dries completely. It leaves an oily film. When I slide my finger through it ,it leaves an oily film on the paint.