View Full Version : Freshly painted quarter panels....
rixter67
10-07-2008, 07:26 PM
How long should I wait to wash the car if it has been freshly painted and clearcoated?
:nixweiss
Thanks
BigJimZ28
10-07-2008, 07:59 PM
wash as soon as you want
IIRC the water will help the pant cure
Accumulator
10-08-2008, 09:50 AM
Heh heh, I sometimes think shops say "don`t wash it" because they don`t want the customer to wash off all the glaze and see what`s really there ;) It`s almost certain that the shop already washed it...and polished it, and maybe even wetsanded it.
I was told to hold off on the wax for 2-3 months after mine was re-painted
milani
10-08-2008, 10:04 AM
Most shops say that you can wash it immediately, but to wait 60-90 days for the paint to finish curing before waxing or polishing... Dunno if it`s true or not, but every time I have been to one, that`s what they have told me.
Accumulator
10-08-2008, 10:21 AM
Yeah, we`ve discussed the wait-to-wax issue a zillion times. Opinions (and I presume experiences) differ, and we`ve agreed to disagree.
Short version: I wait 90-120 days as per what the paint manufacturers all said when MirrorFinishMan queried them directly and this is what my two painters also recommend. I`ve experienced (first-hand) how much even baked paint can continue to harden up after a couple of months, and no way would I want to interfere with that.
Flashtime
10-08-2008, 10:48 AM
Becareful of leaving water spots; etches easily on fresh paint. Wash it with Dawn dish
washing soap and wipe dry with a microfiber towel. And, as others have stated, it`s
best to a wait a few months before apply wax/sealant.
milani
10-08-2008, 11:07 AM
I don`t know if I would recommend using a harsh detergent like Dawn, though...
David Fermani
10-08-2008, 12:08 PM
Dawn isn`t really harsh. Nothing to worry about. You can also use mainstream soaps with "gloss enhancers" without a problem too.
Flashtime
10-08-2008, 12:47 PM
It`s not harsh at all. Doesn`t leave a residue and you can practically eat off the panel.
Dawn is a good wash before and after any body/paint work.
Accumulator
10-09-2008, 09:11 AM
Yeah, IMO the paint everybody uses these days is pretty tough stuff, even when it`s fresh. It`s not like PrepSol/etc. damages it, and solvents like that are kinda harsh (at least compared to stuff you can wash wildlife with ;) ).