Neither Quick nor Easy

**tguil** · 12-10-2006, 02:46 PM

This is not a cricism of QEW. I like the stuff a lot for winter washes. BUT I certainly would not say that it is either "quick" or "easy". All in all, it is more time consuming that a regular wash. When used by the RV folks for whom it was intended, it probably is "quick" and "easy". However, if you are person who practices extreme care in using this product, you are going to take a lot of time getting a vehicle washed, especially if it is a big pickup.

My standard QEW procedure is to get the big and/or nasty stuff off at a coin-op carwash. Then I either use QEW at the carwash or drive my truck home and finish the job in my garage. I use two buckets when I use QEW. One bucket is a rinse bucket for my wash mitt. I use the same amont of QEW in both the wash bucket and the rinse bucket. I follow the application of QEW by drying the truck with two microfiber towels. I do not use a QD after I wash my truck.

All of this takes time, but by following this procedure, I have put only minimal swirls in my truck`s finish. Probably no more than by doing a regular bucket wash.

QEW is a great product, but it does take time if you are an Obsessive Compulsive Detailer.

Tom

**Bigpoppa3346** · 12-10-2006, 02:49 PM

ONR isn`t all that quick either. I`d say it takes about as long as a normal wash. The thing I hate about it is that you can`t blot it or pat it dry, it forces you to rub, inducing marring.

**deadlock32** · 12-10-2006, 03:11 PM

http://autopia.org/forum/detailing-p...?highlight=qew

Following a similar process as this guy... i have acheived very fast times. like 35 minutes washed and DRIED!

**shortspark** · 12-10-2006, 05:32 PM

The problem is that most people do what the product instructions say - to do one panel at a time. I fudge a bit on the sides. I do the roof, glass, rear, hood and two sides (an entire side at a time), finally tires.

I spray my truck down with a QEW solution (and a couple shots of Poorboys SW) in a pump type bug sprayer to loosen things up a bit and then go at it with two buckets, good sheepskin mit and a couple big Cobra WWs over each shoulder. It does not take a whole lot of time but I agree, it is not quite as "quick and easy" as they claim and I`ve tried many of them including QEW, ONR and DP 4 in 1. Basically, they all use the same method and take the same amount of time. There really is no good way of getting around it.

**Dan** · 12-10-2006, 06:06 PM

The first few times I used it I thought the same. And if you are going to the coin-op, thats a really unfair comparison. I have gotten to trust the product and am getting rather bold with it.

I`ve somewhat modified the procedure from what everyone else seems to be doing. I like to hit an area first, a rather large area.

Then I follup up that area with the next mitt. Since that mitt is usually very clean, I move down to a dirtier area. Then let the mitts stew and dry off the first area. The first area is so clean it doesn`t even get the WW dirty.

The time killer for me is the wheel wells. Even with a garden sprayer, it takes several passes to get them really clean.

**thesacrifice** · 12-10-2006, 06:09 PM

Originally Posted by Bigpoppa3346

ONR isn`t all that quick either. I`d say it takes about as long as a normal wash. The thing I hate about it is that you can`t blot it or pat it dry, it forces you to rub, inducing marring.

What? that is absolutely false.

1. You can blot or dry

2. If you`re using propper drying towels, how would it induce marring? unless you didnt clean good enough

ONR takes no longer than a normal wash, and for most of us takes less time and we`re able to do a better job at cleaning because you dont have to try and look through the suds to see the condition of the paint.

**gmblack3** · 12-10-2006, 06:10 PM

I do both of our cars in the garage, including wheels, drying and Z8 in under 90 mins. I use MFs and wash the whole car at one time then I dry. Like said above I use a QEW pre-treat if the lower panels are real bad. 1oz of QEW to 12 zo of water in a spray bottle. I don`t put any QEW in the rinse bucket, but I do use 3-5 hits from a spray bottle of any QD in the QEW bucket.

**velobard** · 12-10-2006, 06:14 PM

If I feel the car needs a first rinse I just pull out the garden hose, but most of the time that really isn`t necessary. I do one or two panels at a time with a sopping wet wool mitt, then dry with WW. Why add ONR/QEW to the rinse bucket??? I see no advantage to that, other than the company you`re paying for the product.

**Bigpoppa3346** · 12-10-2006, 06:30 PM

Originally Posted by thesacrifice

What? that is absolutely false.

1. You can blot or dry

2. If you`re using propper drying towels, how would it induce marring? unless you didnt clean good enough

ONR takes no longer than a normal wash, and for most of us takes less time and we`re able to do a better job at cleaning because you dont have to try and look through the suds to see the condition of the paint.

Blotting ONR dry never worked for me. Proper drying towels? I use Pakshak Waffle Weaves, and I still get marring on soft paint.

**beastie** · 12-10-2006, 06:36 PM

My biggest beef with QEW is that wheels/tires/wheelwells don`t get as gooda cleaning as a regular wash. But, i can cut down my times from 35-40 for a regular wash to about 12 minutes (if my wheels/tires are decent) with QEW. 20 minutes if I have to do QEW my wheels/tires. I use a couple of microfiber.

BTW, I have a Miata

**gofastman** · 12-10-2006, 10:31 PM

Originally Posted by beastie

BTW, I have a Miata

I`m sorry :chuckle:

**RCBuddha** · 12-11-2006, 01:08 AM

I think ONR is much quicker than a traditional wash, I can do my 4Runner in about 20mins, sans glass cleaner on glass. I cheat a little bit too, I usually do half the car, then dry.

**35TH LE** · 12-11-2006, 01:19 AM

Im gonna try ONR + water blade.... maybe.

**Envious Eric** · 12-11-2006, 01:19 AM

do 1/2 then dry and its faster....onr is slicker in the end and looks better

**fdizzle** · 12-11-2006, 04:06 AM

Originally Posted by 35TH LE

Im gonna try ONR + water blade.... maybe.

DUDE . . . just did that today on my ladys brand new jetta........

just a one bucket method with grit guard, gold class soap with a capful of ONR as a lube inducer . .

When drying i said f* it, and got out the water blade. I sprayed a distilled water/ONR mix on the water blade and the car while making my passes to dry.

NOT ONE SWIRIL, and what a wonderful shine. .:heelclick

Anyway, sorry to deviate . .

My personal expieriences with ONR on midly dirty vehicles using a two bucket method really didnt go much faster than a regular wash, however - when its super cold i can ONR in the garage . . . and that is key, cause im a ***** when it comes to cold weather and detailing. I havent tried putting the ONR in the rinse bucket, it may or may not be an advantage, im just tired of having to buy products so frequently, the less i can use the better . . .