Car Detailing - What products are your go to?

[DFB FGXR6]

Gyeon Can Coat EVO topped with Gyeon Cure, topped with Armour Detail Supply Amplify as a drying aid.

[DFB FGXR6]

Yuk!

These Bridgestone's are a year old and almost certainly never cleaned. I'm using Shine Supply Wise Guy below, mixed at the suggested 1:1 ratio.



In this case, I repeated the process twice, any more than that and you end up working against the grain.

Tyre browning or "blooming" is caused by a combination of factors. The most obvious being from dirt, road grime and old dressings. Residual manufacturing and release agents are also a factor. The most prevalent though is the UV inhibitors that rise to surface of the rubber, which is by design when exposed to sunlight. And this is where so many go wrong.

The common belief is to keep repeating the scrub and rinse process until the tyre cleaner stops turning brown under agitation. However, doing that also triggers the release of more anti-ozone and UV inhibitors, which in turn means your tyres turn brown again or keep turning brown within a short period. Eventually, you will deplete these agents and ultimately cause the tyre to prematurely age and deteriorate. So, not only are you wasting your time completing pass after pass on a regular basis, you are also ruining your tyres.









In cases like above, repeat the scrub process two or three at the max, but stop there. If you still think the tyre looks brown after its been dried, you can then progress to Stoner's Tarminator as an occasional reset treatment. I stress occasional as Tarminator is harsh.





The amount of times I've come across people complaining they can't get their tyres clean or keep them clean, that then go on to blame the product or brush they are using or state they have "tried everything". When in actual fact, the cause is from the user not understanding what they are doing. I will grant a grand prize for the first person to name the country of origin relating to these complaints.

[Trendseeker]

USA?

Another approach for those tyres would be to hose them down and then paint them with Kitten Tyre Black. The owner is just going to get them dirty again soon enough.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Trendseeker

USA?

We have a winner!

[Top_Ghia]

First proper wash of the Dark Horse Mustang today after the initial detail and ceramic coat was applied 3 weeks ago. After 900km the wheels were coated in more brake dust that I would like. I sprayed them with NV Purge and left that for a few minutes while I set up the buckets and pressure washer. I then foamed the car with NV Snow and then rinsed it all off, paying attention to the wheel arches which were a bit grotty from some wet gravel roads.
The car seemed pretty clean after that but got a contact wash with Snow to get rid of a bit of bug splatter.
Then I got to use my new Big Boi Blowr Pro+. The jury is still out on this. I’m not sure buying the top model is any better than the basic unit. The exception would be the 9m hose which is the primary reason I got the top model. The unit works well and is pretty good at getting rid of the trapped water from grills, door handles, door jams and badges. $700 good? Probably not.
Once the car was dry I applied NV Lustre. The car was already super glossy so I couldn’t see much difference but it certainly feels slick.

Cleaning the wheels on this car is going to be a pain as there is only about 3mm clearance to the massive calipers. No brush is going to fit to clean the barrels. And it looks like they are going to need super regular cleaning. I’ll also have to invest in some bulk wheel cleaner. Any suggestions? I’ll probably buy a 4 litre bottle.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Top_Ghia

First proper wash of the Dark Horse Mustang today after the initial detail and ceramic coat was applied 3 weeks ago. After 900km the wheels were coated in more brake dust that I would like. I sprayed them with NV Purge and left that for a few minutes while I set up the buckets and pressure washer. I then foamed the car with NV Snow and then rinsed it all off, paying attention to the wheel arches which were a bit grotty from some wet gravel roads.
The car seemed pretty clean after that but got a contact wash with Snow to get rid of a bit of bug splatter.
Then I got to use my new Big Boi Blowr Pro+. The jury is still out on this. I’m not sure buying the top model is any better than the basic unit. The exception would be the 9m hose which is the primary reason I got the top model. The unit works well and is pretty good at getting rid of the trapped water from grills, door handles, door jams and badges. $700 good? Probably not.
Once the car was dry I applied NV Lustre. The car was already super glossy so I couldn’t see much difference but it certainly feels slick.

Cleaning the wheels on this car is going to be a pain as there is only about 3mm clearance to the massive calipers. No brush is going to fit to clean the barrels. And it looks like they are going to need super regular cleaning. I’ll also have to invest in some bulk wheel cleaner. Any suggestions? I’ll probably buy a 4 litre bottle.

NV Purge is the best of the iron-remover type, decently priced compared to similar options. If you are struggling to get access to the barrel, Purge is going to be the most effective without contact.

Otherwise, an alkaline wheel cleaner will be the go, and less stinky too.

Megs Non-Acid Wheel Cleaner seems ok, but as usual for Meg's in Australia, finding some is hard, or its vastly overpriced to discourage an order.

The Ethos version is too expensive, the Adam's version discontinued.

https://autobuff.com.au/products/eth...44599064297697

Shine Supply Wise Guy is now listed as a Wheel and Tyre Cleaner, previously it was for tyres only. This stuff can be pretty aggressive, even diluted as suggested. A 3.78 lt bottle will make up 7.56 lt of product.

https://www.waxit.com.au/collections...30236506259545

But, I would just do Brake Buster. For $60, its great value and can be used neat (heavy duty wheel cleaning, tyres) or diluted (regular washing). I use it in a spray bottle for tyres, and have an extra foam cannon to apply it to wheels, the pressure washer doing the dilution for me. It also has a corrosion inhibitor.

https://autobuff.com.au/products/p-s...aner-3-8l-1gal
https://detailingshed.com.au/collect...18503701233721
https://www.detailstore.com.au/produ...cef82033&_ss=r

[fordomatic]

Trying to order a few new gauntlet towels but want the 50x75, no one has them in stock, very annoying.

Anyone bought anything compareable? I don't like big and heavy drying towels

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by fordomatic

Trying to order a few new gauntlet towels but want the 50x75, no one has them in stock, very annoying.

Anyone bought anything compareable? I don't like big and heavy drying towels

Check out the Microfiber Madness Chipmunk XL 60 x 80cm. I've been using the Junior 40 x 40cm version, it's just as good if not better than the Gauntlet.

https://store.primefinish.com.au/col...0cm-x-60cm-new





Do you need the larger size though? Using a blower first, I find the medium 38 x 60cm Gauntlet is more than sufficient, and without having to deal with so much bulk.

https://detailingshed.com.au/product...32869715017867
https://autobuff.com.au/products/the...d1a575cf&_ss=r
https://www.detailstore.com.au/produ...31741227991095

[fordomatic]

Thanks heaps mate, will grab a couple. I don’t really need the larger size but I do like them as I can wipe quicker by using the whole towel.

[CyberWasp]

Ok, Ok I have now seen it all.
A lot of us have a 4x4 or Dual Cab with a Chassis.

Well are any of you cleaning the inside of your Chassis?

There is a kit that installs inside the rails to flush out mud ect from inside the rails.
They also have there own Si02 type liquid to squirt through there.
Seems to be an Australian Made Product with their own protection products.

Demo Video off the link below.

https://4wdetail.com/products/chassi...tection-system

[fordomatic]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Do you need the larger size though? Using a blower first, I find the medium 38 x 60cm Gauntlet is more than sufficient, and without having to deal with so much bulk.

https://detailingshed.com.au/product...32869715017867
https://autobuff.com.au/products/the...d1a575cf&_ss=r
https://www.detailstore.com.au/produ...31741227991095

I ended up getting a couple of the gauntlet 38x60, you are the voice of reason mate.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by fordomatic

I ended up getting a couple of the gauntlet 38x60, you are the voice of reason mate.

Nice one, hopefully it suits your drying style.

Do you use a blower before towel drying? I find larger towels harder to manage in terms of keeping them folded how I like during use. Because I'm removing 95% of the water with a blower, I find that I only need a single 40 x 40cm towel to get around a car. I'm mainly using the medium 38x60cm Gauntlet for rinse-less wash drying, and for larger vehicles like a dual cab Ranger.

[fordomatic]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Nice one, hopefully it suits your drying style.

Do you use a blower before towel drying? I find larger towels harder to manage in terms of keeping them folded how I like during use. Because I'm removing 95% of the water with a blower, I find that I only need a single 40 x 40cm towel to get around a car. I'm mainly using the medium 38x60cm Gauntlet for rinse-less wash drying, and for larger vehicles like a dual cab Ranger.

Yep, I use the blower before drying. I find it helps a lot and I also use it afterwards when drips come from mirrors or sills etc.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by fordomatic

Yep, I use the blower before drying. I find it helps a lot and I also use it afterwards when drips come from mirrors or sills etc.

In which case, the medium will serve you fine. Would like to hear your thoughts on how you get on.

[DFB FGXR6]

Short video on leather cleaning and repair from Koch Chemie. For those that don't know, Koch Chemie bought out ColourLock late last year.

[DFB FGXR6]

I posted this earlier, but I was curious how Pan would go about the continuation of his channel now that he has a financial stake in the industry. As in, how would he continue making product review videos when he now has a very firm bias.

Well, his 2024 Awards video went live in the last day, I guess we now know.............................................



Naturally, he is going to positive about his own products, but the inclusion in this years awards just comes off as a giant marketing advertisement timed to align with his brand launch. And I suppose that is his job now, no longer reviewing other brands products, but advertising his own. He is of course right to do so, but to do it so soon, it's very hard to see any integrity in his actions.

I'm not the only one to feel this way, the 1000+ comments under the video above are tearing him to shreds. For a long time now, many have questioned his integrity, especially after trying to cover up a 5 figure paid promotion of Turtle Wax range. Well, this stunt is cementing that sentiment.

This was always going to happen. And the reason why he waited until he had the 1 million subscribers.

I suspect I know who will be partnered to distribute these products, but I really don't want to be involved.

[DFB FGXR6]

Did a little shopping today..........................



While some of those I already had in the cabinet, some are additions that will be used for review purposes -
https://www.fordforums.com.au/showth...04#post6921704

It would be at least 22 years since I used the blue ArmorAll Car Wash. Now, ArmorAll offer a range of soaps these days, but the classic blue Car Wash is the common and is always stocked in supermarkets and automotive stores. For under $9.00 for a 1000ml bottle, I thought it was worth a trip down memory lane.



Removing the cap for a quick whiff, I was instantly transported back to my teenage years. On weekend summer evenings, I would be out in my thongs, bucket and sponge in hand washing my parents cars in the driveway. I had no idea what I was doing, or that it would lead to an extremely expensive and all-consuming hobby in adulthood.

From the product description -

Your car’s delicate finish is too important to trust to household products like dish soaps, which may contain harsh surfactants that can strip your vehicle’s wax protection.

And yes, I was using dish soap prior to using this product.

Also interesting to see that for foam cannons, ArmorAll recommend using 200ml of soap to 800ml of water in the cannister. So, it will be interesting to see what sort of foam it produces. For context, I can get shaving cream foam from 80ml of Carpro Reset or 100ml of NV Snow.

But that scent! It's not a scent I can describe, or one that I would say is transcendent like Reset or GSF either. But the blue ArmorAll Car Wash so vividly recognizable to me, a scent that transports me back to my teenage years washing cars.

We have seen an explosion of choice when it comes to detailing products over the last 20+ years, not to mention the advancements made in chemistry technology. But here we are in 2024, and this ArmorAll Car Wash is remarkably unchanged from the stuff I was using all those years ago. The scent, the bottle design, the price, even the label is basically the same!

[Top_Ghia]

Meguairs pink soft wash gel was my go to back in the day. I always thought it outperformed gold class wash.
But maybe that was just because it was cheaper and I am tight.
I certainly have used Armour All blue wash without any issues.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Top_Ghia

Meguairs pink soft wash gel was my go to back in the day. I always thought it outperformed gold class wash.
But maybe that was just because it was cheaper and I am tight.
I certainly have used Armour All blue wash without any issues.

I actually ordered some Megs Soft Wash, the local Repco doesn't carry it.

[prydey]

I can't recall what I used when I first started washing my parents cars or even my own cars but I'm pretty sure polyglaze wash n wax was regularly used.

Actually my first introduction to washing vehicles was washing my dads trucks. Used CT18 mixed up in a garden pressure sprayer to spray down the wheels and chassis and then pressure wash off. The cab was done with a bucket and sponge but with truck wash still and then the tautliner curtains with a broom on an extendable handle.

Yes, it took ages.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by prydey

I can't recall what I used when I first started washing my parents cars or even my own cars but I'm pretty sure polyglaze wash n wax was regularly used.

Actually my first introduction to washing vehicles was washing my dads trucks. Used CT18 mixed up in a garden pressure sprayer to spray down the wheels and chassis and then pressure wash off. The cab was done with a bucket and sponge but with truck wash still and then the tautliner curtains with a broom on an extendable handle.

Yes, it took ages.

This stuff? Looks exactly like the ArmorAll stuff.

https://www.bunnings.com.au/selleys-...c4LEv60-dLmI3o

[prydey]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

This stuff? Looks exactly like the ArmorAll stuff.

https://www.bunnings.com.au/selleys-...c4LEv60-dLmI3o

Not sure. I seem to remember it in a black bottle rather than a clear one. The name is right though.

[prydey]

Looked through an old photo album and found this. It would be circa mid to late 80's.



Can see my brothers head up above the wind deflector (party hat) up on top. Used to climb up there to clean the roof etc.

My old man ran 2 semis and thankfully they were rarely both home needing a wash.

[Trendseeker]

I’ve never used the Armorall car wash, but back in the day, I would overuse their shield protector product on the dash and trim. For the exterior wash I used those little sachets of Turtle Wax wash ‘n’ wax.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Trendseeker

I’ve never used the Armorall car wash, but back in the day, I would overuse their shield protector product on the dash and trim. For the exterior wash I used those little sachets of Turtle Wax wash ‘n’ wax.

Yeah, I used it too. Sadly, that stuff ruined more interiors and dashboards than it saved.

[onemanempire]

Hi guys,
I've been meaning to mention this for a while.
As there are thousands of posts here, I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned this stuff, if they have, sorry in advance..

I have been using 5 Star Bug and Tar remover for a long time now.
It's is my "go to" cleaner for just about everything.
Wheels, carpet, engine bays, seat belts, consoles, seats (not leather) etc.
It does "bite into" acrylic paint pretty aggressively if left for to long, be careful with that.
Cheap as, and the fun fact is, I've never used it for what it's designed for.
Back story..
I had a Nissan Maxima A32. The engine bay was horrible, and I had tried everything (back in 2001) known to me, to get rid of the factory yellow rust type protection crap they spray on the engine bay.

A friend suggested this 5 star tug and bar remover (as I like to call it). It was the only thing that worked. Sprayed it on. Hosed it off, not using a high pressure cleaner, just a normal garden hose with a spray, not a jet stream, and I shit you not, it came up mint. No scrubbing, no wiping. Made the underside of the bonnet mint also.

Give it a go. At 5 bills a can, what have you got to lose?



One Man

[prydey]

Thankfully I never really got in to ArmorAll. I used it a couple of times on the dash, and the resulting film it left on the inside of the windscreen soon put me off.