Wash or Wipe after Rain?

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Wash or Wipe after Rain?

Moved to Hot Topics

Tagged wtih Rain

[eric_son]

Re: Dealing With Rain

BTW if this is your first black car you will learn fast that black will show every flaw in the paint. So my advice is to only touch the paint when you are washing/drying. Only wax or polish when you know it is clean or you will start to see alot of swirls develop.

I agree. Unfortunately, in some places where I park, there are people who have absolutely no respect for other people's things.

Those people seem to have a very keen eye on shiny black cars that are dirty. When they spot a shiny but dirty dark colored car, their fingers start to get possessed by the devil and compels them to scribble "Kinis" (that's "smooth and shiny" in our language) and "Please clean me" on my paint.

So if it's a choice between consistent ColorXable swirls and etched "Kinis"/"Please clean me" writings that requires ScratchX, I'd choose the lesser evil.

[davey g-force]

Re: Dealing With Rain

...to be quite honest, I'd prefer an LSP that doesn't bead very much...

Me too! Is there such a thing? Whilst still giving the protection and shine of say, NXT?

[Pocket_Aces]

Re: Dealing With Rain

I would not QD after a rainstorm (but then again I never QD) Storms kick up alot of dirt and debris which end up on the car. While small these will definitely scratch a cars finish if not sprayed or sponged off.

BTW if this is your first black car you will learn fast that black will show every flaw in the paint. So my advice is to only touch the paint when you are washing/drying. Only wax or polish when you know it is clean or you will start to see alot of swirls develop.

Black will show all signs of dust and dirt on you car so you will be tempted often to wipe it down with a cloth or QD it between washes. Seriously fight the urge and just wash it or wait til you wash it. Otherwise you will induce alot of noticeable microscratching.

[tguil]

Re: Dealing With Rain

Rain happens and to be quite honest, I'd prefer an LSP that doesn't bead very much. So why do folks "love" #16?

Look at it this way, rain isn't as bad as hail, right?

Tom

[eric_son]

Re: Dealing With Rain

The ironic thing is that well waxed cars bead up more and thus leave more (and worse) water spots behind when the rain dries.

Just can't win I tell ya!

Arrgghhh!!! This is exactly what is happening right now!
The rainy season here in the Philippines is a nightmare. It rains or rather... drizzles.. for 10-20 minutes. This is just enough to capture all the pollutants and dust and transfer them to my car. It also wets the road long enough to liquefy the dirt and cause road mist that stick to my doors like spray adhesive. And to top it off, after the short rain, the sun start burning a hole through the overcast clouds long enough to bake in the beaded water on the car. THEN after the sun did its dirty work, it hides behind the clouds again and thus starts another 10-20 minutes of rain.

[davey g-force]

Re: Dealing With Rain

The ironic thing is that well waxed cars bead up more and thus leave more (and worse) water spots behind when the rain dries.

Just can't win I tell ya!

[bt2580]

Re: Dealing With Rain

All of this over a lil old t-storm??? LOL Try facing the fact that for the next 8-9 months there will be MANY more rainy days than non. Add to that that on the days that are sunny, temps here in northern WA are not all that conducive to wanting to stick my hand in water to wash a car. I HATE RAIN... Only good thing is that for the most part, it rains SO much here that airborne pollutants are highly minimized.

Best answer I have found is to keep the vehicle waxed at all times. That way the wax does its true job of being a 'sacrificial' layer on the surface of the car.

[eric_son]

Re: Dealing With Rain

I don't mind strong or torrential rains. What I hate are the light drizzles followed by burning sunlight. Such is the typical weather we have here in the Philippines during the rainy season. It will rain just enough to moisten up the layer of dust on your car but not wash it away. Then the clouds will open up to let the sun through to bake in the water droplet/dust combo.

What's worse is driving on a wet road after the rain. When I get home, the side panels of my black car become completely beige with a thin film of caked on dirt.

During the rainy season, I just wax more often. If I'm lucky, the worst I get are TypeI water marks.

[eyezack87]

Re: Dealing With Rain

Today's thunderstorm was quite something huh? It made me QD my car with Last Touch and I ordered a gallon of ONR to use on these annoying days. The rain just couldn't last for a whole day...that way I could've take beading pics of Rubbish Boys OE and Collonite that is on my car right now

[Sal329]

Re: Dealing With Rain

I do not worry about the rain too much. After it rains I clean my windshield. If I get 20 free minutes (usually a day or 2 after the rain) I use ONR and wash the car.

[davey g-force]

Re: Dealing With Rain

Rain, wind and the weather in general can be my worst enemies. I think it's because it's one of the few things in life I can't control.

...Not from a lack of trying though...

[HealthyCivic]

Re: Dealing With Rain

Thanks a lot guys.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Dealing With Rain

Dirt Spots/Water Spots after Rain

Washed my truck on Friday, so it wasn't freshly washed before it rained, it had been 2 days, (took these pictures on Monday). but the truck wasn't what you would call dirty, just dusty.

Here's some photos of the dirt spots on the hood after a light sprinkle early in the morning.

Original pic #1

Original pic #1 resized to 800 pixels wide


Original pic #2

Original pic #1 resized to 800 pixels wide


Close-ups...



Now some of the dirt on the hood could have been blown onto the hood via the wind and then heavier deposits of dirt accumulated on the water puddles/spots. Even so, the end result is dirt on the water spots after the rain because where your car is parked, if it rains it could also be windy.

From the looks of the last two close-ups, it looks like it would be safer to rinse the car really well and then wash it, not wipe it down.
Personal preference.

I'll try to wash the truck later tonight and if it rains again try to capture a few more pictures of the results.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Dealing With Rain

Took some pictures of the dirt spots, will add them to this thread...