Most commonly encountered detailing misinformation??

[ExplorerXLT95]

The purpose of this thread is to be a quick reference to some of the most commonly held misconceptions and misinformation concerning automobile detailing, whether it be in application methods, products, or something else.

I'll start, and I'd love it if everyone could relate the most commonly encountered piece(s) of detailing misinformation or misconception in their experience. Here goes:

- The notion that late model OEM paints "breathe"



EDIT: The current list of the most frequently encountered mis-information about detailing:

1) That late model OEM paints "breathe"
2) That your LSP combo determines your shine
3) Manufacturers mis-labelling of products ( i.e. differences in "glaze", "polish", etc)
4) That all petroleum distillates and silicones are harmful to paint
5) That clay bars induce scratches
6) That you can only polish a car a few times before abading away the clear (have you ever seen wet sanding!)
7) That Dawn is a great car wash
8) That it's perfectly fine to wash your car in the sun on the hottest, sunniest days
9) People rinsing their cars with the dirty water at the Coin ops, then using a dirty old chamois to scratch it (dry it)
10) Properly done claying removes any LSP
11) "New" cars don't ever need polishing
12) Repaints can't be polished, or even washed, right away
13) Repaints are ready to wax right away
14) That polishing, waxing and even compounding are best done by hand
15) The belief that once a year use of a store bought carnauba wax is adequate protection against the elements
16) People using regular bath towels (or whatever they have around) to dry their car
17) The existence of "pure" natural "white carnuaba from secret young plants in Brazil that even botanist do not know about
18) That a single Dawn wash will ruin a vehicle's finish, seals, etc
19) That all sealants are created equally
20) That all microfiber towels are created equally
21) 100% Cotton Diapers are the best thing to use on your car
22) Waxing clearcoats removes paint
23) That you don't need to dress interior/external vinyl or leather
24) Forgetting to dress weatherstripping and/or clean door jambs
25) Leaving bras on cars during wet weather is good
26) Leaving bras on cars for extended periods of time is a good idea
27) All random orbitals are the same
28) Trying to remove bugs or above surface contaminants during the wash process by rigoursly scrubbing
29) Forgetting to clean the wheel wells
30) Waxing rims doesn't make a difference
31) Anyone can use a rotary buffer
32) Sponges are the best thing to wash cars with
33) A Porter Cable random-orbital buffer can not correct paint defects
34) You can not harm paint using a Porter Cable random-orbital buffer
35) Rotary buffers should be used at 3000 rpms to get the job done faster
36) Rotary buffers are used to get the job done quickly in general
37) Nu Finish is the best, longest lasting car wax in the world
38) The paint on new cars is very tough and doesn't need to be waxed
39) Modern clearcoats are hard to scratch
40) Porter Cable Polishers are idiot proof
41) Too much importance placed on "bonding issues"
42) Rotary buffers are dangerous and you will burn the paint easily
43) Using old baby diapers is the best way to polish
44) Swirls are a sign of a clean car
45) Golden Gallon car wash is just as good as the rest
46) That synthetic waxes that impart high shine and are exceptional at filling swirls contain no cheap silicones
47) Armor All is still very bad and will lead to vinyl and rubber failure
48) Using any dish soap on a vehicle is okay
49) Using Windex on your windows is the best
50) Using newspaper to clean windows is best
51) That automotive dealership "sealant packages" will actually provide the 3-5 yr protection they claim
52) That Teflon as an addive to detailing products makes a difference
53) That using Mop and Glow to shine up the engine is acceptable
54) That a true "detail" is only an exterior wash, polish and wax
55) You can't put wax on too thick
56) Zaino is the ONLY LSP worth using
57) Everyone who uses Zaino has been brainwashed
58) 50 layers of Zaino Z5 will eliminate all swirles and scratches
59) The more expensive the wax, the better it is (e.g. Zymol)
60) Paste Waxes can be 100% Carnauba wax
61) Getting the best shine is all about the wax
62) Those brushes at the coin-op are just fine for scrubbing down the sides of your car and the harder you scrub, the better they work
63) My car has a clear coat so it doesn't need to be waxed
64) A "miracle wax" exists that lasts 5 years
65) Simple Green is a great car wash
66) Tide with bleach is a great car wash
67) Hurrying a detail is alright
68) That clay removes acrylic sealants
69) That "Polish in winter and wax in summer" is an acceptable exterior motto
70) For best results, always follow directions on the product container EXACTLY
71) That waxing is the same as polishing
72) ALL sealants are much more durable than carnauba
73) No carnauba wax will last as long as any sealant
74) Use of dishsoap will remove wax completely
75) Machine polish should be used on a paint in very poor condition
76) That rotary and dual-action buffers are the same
77) No special treatment is needed for plastic windows
78) That people are going to believe you when you tell them all the things on this list
79) That wheels don't need anything more than an occasional wash
80) That using harsh chemicals on wheels is perfectly fine
81) Paste waxes are inherently better than liquid waxes
82) There are polish systems that will last 5 years, with no degradation
83) That using exterior detailing products on brand new paints are the best way to prove that they are the "best" or "most effective" in terms of shine, depth, etc
84) That one person has all the answers about detailing
85) Meguiar's Deep Crystal 3-step system is all you EVER need to keep a vehicle detailed, and it's the best thing on the market
86) That nothing has changed in the detailing world (application methods, products, etc) since the beginning
87) What worked "back then" will work perfectly fine "now"
88) That new paint (factory or aftermarket) will not have a noticeable improvement in appearance from a thorough detail
89) That a product cannot be adequately reviewed on new(er) paint
90) That the Meguiar's line of products are the best
91) That any "Paint Protection" will stop bird droppings
92) "I don't need a microfiber, I have a chamois which everyone know is great for paint. I have a special kind with the right amount of oils-it's imported"
93) "I like to use a good Terry towel, cheap and effective"

[dpeezy415]

1) Your LSP combo determines your shine

Before being introduced to autopia ppl ask, "What type of wax do you use to get your car to shine?"

Then when they find out all the possible choices, it's "What product combos do you use?"

To me this is the same thing, and it is more about the PROCESS, TIME and EFFORT you put into your car to get it looking its best...

[goceltics34]

What does OEM stand for?

[steck]

manufacturers labelling of products...

i.e. one manufacturers idea of 'glaze' is completely different than anothers.

i.e. what one manufacturer calls 'polish' is different from another.


misinformation: years ago I learned about 'polishing' over 'waxing'. and that 'polishing' takes out the swirls & blemishes....so I go out and buy (a popular) polish, and I polish my brains out..and still many swirls...it was much later that I learned the "polish" I was using was a pure polish and had no abrasive qualities whatsoever. (ironically it was more of a glaze!!)

[TOGWT]

Quote: What does OEM stand for?
Original Equipment Manufacturer.

I would agree that Wax, polish, glaze demarcation lines are not clear (i.e. Megs NXT Tech Wax and Wheel Wax are polymers not waxes) etc, etc

All petroleum distillates and silicones are harmful to paint
JonM

[goceltics34]

Thanks TOGWT!

[MS22]

I have a few:
- clay bars induce scratches
- You can only polish a car a few times before abading away the clear (have you ever seen wet sanding!)
- My favorite: Dawn is a great car wash

[Mosca]

Dawn.


Tom

[koko_b_ware]

People washing their cars in the sun on the hottest, sunniest days.

People rinsing their cars with water at the Coin ops, then using a dirty old chamois to scratch it (dry it).

[Accumulator]

(Properly done) claying removes any LSP.

"New" cars don't (ever) need polishing.

Repaints can't be polished, or even washed, right away.

Repaints are ready to wax right away.

[the other pc]

That polishing, waxing and even compounding are best done by hand.


PC.

[TW85 HHI]

The belief that once a year use of a store bought carnauba wax is adequate protection against the elements.