How perfect do you aim to keep a daily driver

Accumulator said:
I go through a *LOT* of FK425. I just don't use it as a between-wash QD. I especially like it for use after a wash- I get most of the water off and spritz the FK425 on before I dry. That oughta work well with your ONR regimen too.
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Do you do this as a way to reduce the risk of marring or you like the look of doing so better than traditional qd'ing a dry surface?
 
Dsoto87 said:
I've completely stopped doing in between wash QDs. Makes me wonder why I bought a gallon of 425.

I'd rather just wait a few days more until I can ONR it.
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Accumulator said:
I go through a *LOT* of FK425. I just don't use it as a between-wash QD. I especially like it for use after a wash- I get most of the water off and spritz the FK425 on before I dry. That oughta work well with your ONR regimen too.
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bert31 said:
Do you do this as a way to reduce the risk of marring or you like the look of doing so better than traditional qd'ing a dry surface?
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I guess I have to rethink how I've been detailing. I mean I use QDs, but I guess I don't "quick detail" in between washes. I view everything from OTC QDs to Z6 to FK425 to OID to OCW and Z8 as aids in drying or additionally after as a gloss enhancer or LSP booster following said QD/drying aid.

If I really needed to touch up my car I'd either just wash it normally or ONR with a QD/drying aid.
 
Accumulator said:
I go through a *LOT* of FK425. I just don't use it as a between-wash QD. I especially like it for use after a wash- I get most of the water off and spritz the FK425 on before I dry. That oughta work well with your ONR regimen too.
Click to expand...



Do you blow most of the water off then follow up with 425 and a standard microfiber or are you using the 425 in conjunction with your drying towel?



I like using some QD with my drying media but i feel that in the long run the QD has become in bedded in the drying media reducing the effectiveness.
 
bert31 said:
Do you do this as a way to reduce the risk of marring or you like the look of doing so better than traditional qd'ing a dry surface?
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Primarily as a means of reducing the risk of marring, and it's also a little quicker/more efficient. No real diff in looks compared to doing it to a previously-dried surface and no other issues related to the slight dilution of the FK425/etc. either.



..to get the back of the wheels, do you take the wheels off each wash or just use a tool to get in and around the spokes? Right now I am using this to get inside my wheels..
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Oh good heavens NO! Perish the thought ;) I would rather let the wheels go than take 'em off at every wash. My washing is tough enough as it is.



When I run steel wheels where I can't get to the backs (like I had on my Caprices and the last Crown Vic and also my MPV's winter wheels) I just let the backs get bad until I rotate/change wheels for the season.



I don't like the look of that brush...wouldn't it mar wheels with soft CC? On my 5-6 spoke wheelsI reach between the spokes with something (often my little sheepskin mitt from Griot's made for wheels or else swabs).



I sorta make a point of having easy-to-clean wheels these days :D



If I ever get the M3 back into service (BBS RGR wheels) I'm gonna get one of those stick-things you spin with a cordless drill. And if that doesn't do it to my satisfaction I'll just get different wheels (seriously, life's too short and I probably wouldn't buy the BBS wheels again if I could do it over).



.. about twice a year I take the wheels off and really scrub..
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I'll clean the backs properly when I rotate the tires otherwise I just do 'em once a year when I mount the snows. With the wheels I have (M3 and the steelies excepted) I'm able to keep things quite nice by reaching through the spokes.



what do you use for dog hair? A special type of brush?
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Honestly, I just use preventive measures; I keep things covered in the dog-compartments. Beaucerons do have double-coats, and they shed, but they're not really bad, not like my German Shepherds were. I used preventive measures with those too, but I also used "pet hair sponges" and even adhesive tape (gotta be careful about adhesive transfer) besides the normal vacuuming.



Note that the current two dog-haulers are purpose-set-up for that, even to the point of removing 2nd/3rd row seats.



Duke727 said:
Do you blow most of the water off then follow up with 425 and a standard microfiber or are you using the 425 in conjunction with your drying towel?
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Yeah, I blow off most of the water with the AirWand, then go around spritzing with the FK425/etc. and drying what remains.



I like using some QD with my drying media but i feel that in the long run the QD has become in bedded in the drying media reducing the effectiveness.
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My WWMFs seem to lose a bit of effectiveness anyhow (see any of the countless threads on the subject) but the QD doesn't seem to make things appreciably worse. Note that I wash my WWMFs in *HOT* water with a MF detergent.
 
I keep our daily drivers in good shape, but not perfect. They live outside, as the garage is occupied by more important machinery, and there's only so much that I'm willing to do without driving myself crazy. I completely agree that proper washing/drying is crucial, but then there's my wife whose car gathers marring of all sorts while in her hands. I don't know how she does it. <sigh>
 
I keep mine about 95%, and I live on a college campus. Proper washing, glazes, and a friendly relationship with the PDR guy keep it that way. I also manage to keep a minimum of passengers in the car, you'd be amazed at the destruction a couple of college kids can wreak after a night out.
 
I spend about four hours doing a full wash, wax, polish all the chrome, interior vaccum and amorall and whatnot every two or three weeks. Last time I did it was Saturday.
 
As nice as I can, but I can't really spend all the time I'd want to keep it perfect. This isn't my main job and I have to try and live a life among all this.



Tonight I broke my eyeglasses. They fell and I stepped on them. 600 $ down the drain. for the next few weeks I will have to keep expenses down, which includes detailing stuff. That can be a costly hobby... the car and wallet will suffer.
 
Right now, I'm just trying to get my DD back into a respectable shape (it was sorta neglected). I want deep shine, gloss, and excellent beading. I don't need anything more for fear of the car being damaged (I park on campus and seemingly NONE of these kids know how to park!).



How do some of you wash your undercarriages and engine bay? I'm sure mine needs both done to it....
 
Accumulator said:
I don't like the look of that brush...wouldn't it mar wheels with soft CC?
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Surprisingly no. That or my wheels have extremely hard CC. I was timid at first to use it but I have heard others talk about them and how they didn't have a marring problem so I built up some courage and gave one a try. Haven't looked back since.
 
hey guys i have a question

i work at a detail shop inside BMW.

i own a daily/hobby car as im a college student, its a 98 240sx.

anyways anyone care me to explain what i should do?

i try to wash it every week mostly with no soap but just pressure washer.

in the events im doing a full detail to my car, i wash with a wool mitt, meguiars gold class, then pressure wash taht off, clay while the water is on there with clay spray, then dry that off with microfiber and blow all the cracks out with water,

then i do polish, and permaplate.



now is claying the car too much bad?same with polish and permaplate?
 
mrgrape said:
i try to wash it every week mostly with no soap but just pressure washer.
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You are really not getting the car clean only spraying it off and if you are towel drying it afterwards, you are probably rubbing particles all over the paint marring it. If you are not drying it off afterwards, you are probably causing waterspots.



mrgrape said:
in the events im doing a full detail to my car, i wash with a wool mitt, meguiars gold class, then pressure wash taht off, clay while the water is on there with clay spray, then dry that off with microfiber and blow all the cracks out with water,

then i do polish, and permaplate.



now is claying the car too much bad?same with polish and permaplate?
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Claying the car often is fine unless you mean you are claying it like every week, that would be a little overboard.



As far as polishing too often, what type of polish are you using? If you are using a pure polish you are fine. If you are using a polish with abrasives in it, you could be removing excessive clear coat. I assume permaplate is a sealant? If so, applying sealant often is harmless.
 
I really sympathize with those of you still in school, especially those living on-campus.



For undercarriages, I use my undercar wand for quick rinses but to really get things clean I jack it up (don't forget the jackstands...[stuff] happens) and clean with brushes/mitts/etc. Clean it up *really* well once and then it's easy to keep it that way.



Engine compartments seem to stay pretty clean once you do the initial, big cleanup. I don't dress things under the hood on my drivers, I just *clean* them a little bit at every wash, primarily with small BHBs aqnd regular shampoo mix. I towel-dry things under there as best I can, using a bit of QD to add a little sheen. But just like the undercarriage, the big thing is to clean it up *really well* one time. Get rid of all the grime and oxidation (alternator cases seem to always oxidize) and then the routine cleanups will only take a few minutes.



Note that when you keep undercarriages/engine compartments clean it's easier to spot little problems before they become serious. Seems like I'm always finding early signs of impending trouble- this can be more important on daily drivers than it is on the garage-queens; which car is more likely to be providing transportation late at night?



Heh heh...those of you with passenger/spouse/etc. issues...well, I dunno what to tell ya :nixweiss I educated Accumulatorette when we first got together and she's done the same with everybody who gets in her car. One of my pre-school in-laws once said "daddy's car is kinda like yours, but we're allowed to touch it" :chuckle:
 
I'm ashamed to say that my interior never matches the exterior. It one of those 'be'n meaninta' kinda things. Also have never done an undercarriage (think I mentioned that here or in another post). Don't know if I'm up to the full detail of it :|
 
Accumulator said:
I really sympathize with those of you still in school, especially those living on-campus.



For undercarriages, I use my undercar wand for quick rinses but to really get things clean I jack it up (don't forget the jackstands...[stuff] happens) and clean with brushes/mitts/etc. Clean it up *really* well once and then it's easy to keep it that way.



Engine compartments seem to stay pretty clean once you do the initial, big cleanup. I don't dress things under the hood on my drivers, I just *clean* them a little bit at every wash, primarily with small BHBs aqnd regular shampoo mix. I towel-dry things under there as best I can, using a bit of QD to add a little sheen. But just like the undercarriage, the big thing is to clean it up *really well* one time. Get rid of all the grime and oxidation (alternator cases seem to always oxidize) and then the routine cleanups will only take a few minutes.
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I'm assuming that you cover the alternator with plastic, right? I think just about everything else wouldn't really care about water...
 
Im looking to get my white daily driver as swirl free as possible with a good polish session and then use a cleaner wax every 3-4 months to keep it looking good.



try to do weekly washes or rinseless washes, and quick details.
 
I USED to strive for a swirl free DD. Now I accept a certain level of marring as "ok."



I generally polish out my car once a year (spring/summer) and then as others have said, try and be safe with my washes.
 
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