Vehicle Cleaning Product Recommendations (& Ones to Avoid)

[-TC-]

Originally Posted by Jude

Invest in some decent microfiber towels!

Learning proper cleaning techniques is probably a lot more important than the brand of stuff you use.

so true...

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by TheyCallMeBruce

Any ideas on how to clean tree sap/tar like black dots off of car paint? I'm running out of ideas.

Autosmart Tardis.

[Hevishot]

Originally Posted by TheyCallMeBruce

Any ideas on how to clean tree sap/tar like black dots off of car paint? I'm running out of ideas.

Methyl Hydrate

[Table 5]

Clay baring is great for removing those black dots. Just remember to use a lot of the lubricant.

Speaking of which, I ran out of my regular (Wolfgang) clay stuff, and had to go to the local auto parts store to get some more, and since it was all they had, I bought a Meguiars clay-bar/lubricant kit. I would definitely NOT recommend that stuff. The bar felt plasticky (instead of soft and sticky) and would constantly come apart in my hands, and there were little rubber bits all over the car.

If you're going to clay your car (which you totally should), stick to the good stuff like Wolfgang or Pinnacle.

[Dion]

Any recommendations for getting door ding paint off your vehicle?

Someone left a nice sized ding on my passenger door along with thier red paint.

Also looking for recommendations for spray on touch up wax?

[Northendzone]

Use some rubbing compound and rub gently. That should take off the other vehicles paint.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I get all my vehicles Opti-Coated.

Do you do it yourself, or have it done somewhere? Considering it's permanent, I'm a little hesitant to do something like myself as I know it will pretty much lock in everything that's below it.

[Burninator]

www.carzilla.ca/

Anyone been to this place? Looks like they have some higher end products than the only other place in town I know of to get detailing supplies (Canadian Tire).

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Do you do it yourself, or have it done somewhere? Considering it's permanent, I'm a little hesitant to do something like myself as I know it will pretty much lock in everything that's below it.

It all comes down to how much experience you have detailing cars. If you have worked with polishes and sealants in the past and can do a car without leaving streaks or unfinished areas you can probably do Opti-Coat 2.0 which is the consumer version. IMO the hardest part is the time put in to properly prep the car as you need to ensure the finish is flawless prior to application. The paint has to be completely stripped down and decontaminated to the clear coat so you have to in the proper sequence:

-properly wash (two or 3 bucket if you wish)
-Iron X (removes all rail dust and contaminants that aren't visible to the naked eye)
-clay bar
-polish (remove swirls or other paint imperfections)
-follow with full IPA (isopropyl alcohol to remove any polish residue or other left over waxes)

Once this is all complete you are ready to apply the Opti-Coat. You apply it very thinly with the applicator and after 3-5 minutes with a microfiber towel wipe very gently (you don't want to wipe off the coat) over any high spots (you need to do this in a well lit garage or bay) as if you let the high spots dry they will become permanent and you will have to power polish it out. I can do Opti-Coat 2.0 no problem and could probably even apply the professional version but it's not for everyone and after doing one car I got my wife's new car done professionally as it was too much work for a car that isn't mine lol.

There is a guy in town that works out of Davenport Motorsports that does the Opti-Guard application which is the professional version. He's done my wife's car as well as a few of my brothers and does a lot of the Corvettes and other muscle cars for Davenport. Opti-Guard is more concentrated and dries much faster which is why it's professional use only. If you aren't very experienced or don't feel comfortable attempting Opti-Coat 2.0 application I would go through him as he will do all the proper prep and application but he will need your car for a weekend. PM me if you want his contact information.

I have found by the end of winter the Opti-Coat will lose some of it's hydrophobic properties but that's not because it's wearing off (some people freak out and think this) but because it's been covered by a lot of the road debris from salting and sanding. All it takes is a two bucket wash (I do a full Iron X in the spring to remove rail dust from snow plows) and the car will look like the day it was Opti-Coated and the hydrophobic properties restored. Over a year after having my car done after a good wash and dry it looks like it just fully detailed. It really is great for the person that hates waxing but wants to keep their car looking good or the person that's lazy with washing their car as it makes washing even dirty cars with a pressure wand wash much easier. When it comes to washing remember that touchless car washes don't do a very good job at removing dirt especially near the bottom of the doors and never, ever, ever use the tire brush in wash bays as it will swirl your paint. Nothing makes me more sad to see a person in the next bay using that brush on their new BMW as the guy before probably just used that on his filthy truck and the dirt particles stay in the bristles and scratch the heck out of your clear coat. Just by simply want washing only and two x 2 bucket washes a year my car has zero scratches or swirls as the less you touch your paint the better.

[Table 5]

Does anyone know where to get clay lubricant spray in Calgary?

I have a huge mail order of cleaning goods coming in the mail, but it unfortunately didn't arrive in time for me to get my dads car ready for the European Classic show tomorrow.

I've only see the kits that come with the bars, but I have plenty of bars. There's gotta be some place in town that sells some of the higher end stuff that you can get on Autogeek or Eshine, no?

[Canehdianman]

When I need to use some clay lube, I just mix up some Optimum No Rinse. Works great.

Not sure where could get that in Calgary (I ordered mine from eshine.ca), but it only takes a 1tbsp per litre or something.

[Table 5]

Yeah, unfortunately I need something that I can get in the next couple of hours, so eshine wont do. Actually have about 200 bucks of cleaning products in the mail (stocking up for the long-term!)...it just didn't get here in time.

[Canehdianman]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Yeah, unfortunately I need something that I can get in the next couple of hours, so eshine wont do. Actually have about 200 bucks of cleaning products in the mail (stocking up for the long-term!)...it just didn't get here in time.

If you want a few oz of ONR, you can swing by my place tonight and pick it up.

I'm in the SE near Anderson and Deerfoot.

Originally Posted by Table 5

Yeah, unfortunately I need something that I can get in the next couple of hours, so eshine wont do. Actually have about 200 bucks of cleaning products in the mail (stocking up for the long-term!)...it just didn't get here in time.

[Northendzone]

could you not get some of this lube at Can Tire? if not, perhaps call a detailing shop and see if you can buy some directly from them.

[Table 5]

That's very nice of you to offer Canehdianman, thank you, but tonight would be a little too late. I might just have to suck it up and by the crappy Mothers kit from Partsource.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Table 5

That's very nice of you to offer Canehdianman, thank you, but tonight would be a little too late. I might just have to suck it up and by the crappy Mothers kit from Partsource.

May be too late but I have some Wolfgang Clay Lubricant you can use if you can pick it up in the NW today.

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Does anyone know where to get clay lubricant spray in Calgary?

I have a huge mail order of cleaning goods coming in the mail, but it unfortunately didn't arrive in time for me to get my dads car ready for the European Classic show tomorrow.

I've only see the kits that come with the bars, but I have plenty of bars. There's gotta be some place in town that sells some of the higher end stuff that you can get on Autogeek or Eshine, no?

Originally Posted by Burninator

www.carzilla.ca/

Anyone been to this place? Looks like they have some higher end products than the only other place in town I know of to get detailing supplies (Canadian Tire).

I haven't been there (ending up ordering online from AutoObessed) but give them a call?

The mothers kit comes with instant detailer as the clay lubricant. You could just buy a bottle of that instead of the whole kit. Autoglym makes one too.

http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/au...l#.U8lp2rGGef8

[Table 5]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. The Autoglym should do the job...didn't realize it works as a lubricant as well. The Mothers ones only seem to come in the kit (atleast at the store near me).

The Wolfgang Clay Lube is awesome....that's typically what I use as well.

[CRXguy]

Originally Posted by Burninator

www.carzilla.ca/

Anyone been to this place? Looks like they have some higher end products than the only other place in town I know of to get detailing supplies (Canadian Tire).

Yup. Bit of an odd location though. The guy running the place is very knowledgeable. I should go back and pick up some more supplies.