Shopping List Help: Pre-Wax Cleanser and Sealant

**Accumulator** · 08-09-2015, 12:12 PM

I`ve never had a LSP degrade when in storage for a one-winter period.

There are always lots of BF suggestions...but I didn`t really like it. Darkened (silver) paint too much for my taste (that effect might be perfect on another color) and didn`t last long enough for me (even some waxes last longer). Mine sits on the shelf while I use other stuff. I`m not slamming the choice, but I do wonder what people like so much about it.

**Accumulator** · 08-09-2015, 12:15 PM

Originally Posted by Pats300zx

I like Pinnacle Paint Cleaning Lotion as a good paint cleaner..

Nice to see somebody still uses the PCL! That`s one of my all-time favorite paint cleaners. I like it *MUCH* better than the P21s GEPC for instance. I`d probably choose an AIO for use under a sealant though, only seem to use PCL under waxes.

**Pats300zx** · 08-09-2015, 12:15 PM

Originally Posted by jeepngli

Again, seems like Blackfire is pretty popular. Think that`ll hold well with the car sitting in the garage all winter?

I use carnuabas on all my garage queens. Never had an issue with "degredation". As long as they are not exposed to the elements I doubt you are going to have any issues with a sealant it carnauba.

**jeepngli** · 08-09-2015, 01:07 PM

Originally Posted by Accumulator

Nice to see somebody still uses the PCL! That`s one of my all-time favorite paint cleaners. I like it *MUCH* better than the P21s GEPC for instance. I`d probably choose an AIO for use under a sealant though, only seem to use PCL under waxes.

Thanks for the info on Pinnacle. Why wouldn`t a PCL work after clay barring and before sealant?

**Accumulator** · 08-09-2015, 01:23 PM

Originally Posted by jeepngli

Thanks for the info on Pinnacle. Why wouldn`t a PCL work after clay barring and before sealant?

The PCL leaves some stuff behind despite leaving the surface "squeaky clean" so it might interfere with bonding in some cases. Shouldn`t be a problem with products like BF (which can be applied after their similar product, which also leaves stuff behind) but might be with some other stuff.

For some reason, probably just me being stuck in my ways, I just think of it as a pre-WAX-cleaner. Now somebody prove me wrong!

**Setec Astronomy** · 08-09-2015, 02:46 PM

Originally Posted by jeepngli

That`s interesting you say it doesn`t degraded. Last year, I used a sealant then two coats of Lava. That was in end of October. By January, I was in the garage and I notice it wasn`t as smooth. By the spring it was definitely off. I have emailed multiple companies to see what they thought and they all agreed that even in the garage the products will eventually degrade after a few months, most even said a few weeks for the summer months with the heat. I would have called bs too if I hadn`t seen it. We had a pretty rough winter so that didn`t help.

First of all, Lava was your LSP, I`ve never heard anything good about Lava. Second, it sounds like your "degradation" is some dust and dirt...no LSP is going to help with that.

**jeepngli** · 08-09-2015, 02:50 PM

I guess I`m not saying it right. By degradation, I would mean whether or not there is still wax there. So if I apply fresh wax, the car beads/sheets water well and very glassy to the touch. After X amount of time, the beading/sheeting diminishes and the paint becomes less glassy(more rough). Thats what I meant by degradation, not normal dust.

EDIT: I know a lot of people don`t like LAVA. Some people sweat by it, but more seem to not like it. I like the glow it gives off, but I don`t use it any more because its a PITA and I`ve found better. I know some people have reported durability issues so maybe my problem was the wax itself. We`ll see this year.

**Setec Astronomy** · 08-09-2015, 11:19 PM

Originally Posted by jeepngli

I guess I`m not saying it right. By degradation, I would mean whether or not there is still wax there. So if I apply fresh wax, the car beads/sheets water well and very glassy to the touch. After X amount of time, the beading/sheeting diminishes and the paint becomes less glassy(more rough). Thats what I meant by degradation, not normal dust.

I don`t see how it could possibly degrade sitting in the garage. And how would you know about the beading/sheeting if the car is in storage?

Is there something we should know about your garage--like it has no door, or no walls?

**ShaneB** · 08-10-2015, 01:32 AM

As dust settles on your car (unless your car is stored in a paint booth, sealed up and constantly running) it`s going to lose its slick and shiny properties. Are you by chance washing the car in your garage with something? Have you tried washing the car to get the dust off of it before judging the beading and slickness?

something isn`t adding up here

**jeepngli** · 08-10-2015, 01:57 AM

The garage is a normal, unfinished garage( no insulation and inner sheetrock). Nothing out of the norm for new England. Not washing it off while in storage. I do my final clean up in say end October then she doesn`t come out until the snow is gone and a few rain cycles have washed the salt away from the roads. In the case of this year, it really waste until mid to late April that I took her out for her first wash of the spring.

Appreciate the help guys and suggestions. Maybe my prep wasn`t good in the fall. Either way, she looks great now and I just want to keep that way

**Angus** · 08-10-2015, 07:19 AM

You should see a difference in LSP activity using BF Wet Diamond Paint sealant. I had it on my garage queen over winter topped with BlackIce and when it came time to its first spring wash the beading/ sheeting was just as strong as day 1.

**Accumulator** · 08-10-2015, 02:49 PM

Some garages have a lot of insect activity, or go through a lot of temperature/humidiy fluctuations. Maybe that factors in.

Last fall I parked the Crown Vic *without even washing it* and never got around to it until a couple of weeks ago! Yikes, brakedust coated wheelcovers, bugs left on the paint for nearly a year, it was a bit of a mess (last wash was 9/22). Fortunately the FK1000P protected it just fine- one normal wash and it`s back to "just-detailed" condition. Not even any etching from the bugs, lucky me. Don`t think I`ll make a habit of that kind of neglect though.

**jeepngli** · 08-10-2015, 02:58 PM

I think you hit the nail on the head. Being that there is no insulation and based on the weather in the south shore area of Boston, I think the large temperature and humidity swings are a big factor. That or my prep wasn`t very good.

Based on what you guys have said and what I`ve read, I think Wet Diamond is gunna be a nice choice. I was planning on topping it off with Supernatural after the wet Diamond has fully cured.

Thanks again!!

**RPPM** · 08-10-2015, 06:01 PM

HD Polish with a black finishing pad, hit it with some Carpro Eraser to remove any remaining polishing oils, then one coat of Sonax Polymer Net Shield for your sealant, and you are done. Could even drive it in the winter with SPNS and it will still be there.