How to Properly Detail a Vehicle

This is a good reference that I always give my customers that have questions about the DIY process and order.

 

Does anyone recommend a good starter kit?

 

$100 or so. I'd probably just do a 2 bucket method. Not sure if the foam cannon would be worth the investment. Ideally I'd be detailing our two cars twice a year and washing 3weeks/monthly.

 

I think I'm going to try using soap next time I wash my truck.

 

lol

 

Woe, woe, woe!!! Why's this getting all complicated all of a sudden? Do they have an all in one cleaner like all in one shampoo? Cleans, waxes, and dries. Preferably one that attaches to the end of the hose and all I have to do is spray?

 

Like hand dry? Or drive around the block dry? And by clean surface I'm assuming I would have to wash it first? You're not helping Steve!

 

I just treat my truck like a truck...

High pressure car wash once a month.

Wax twice a year.

Several scratches and whiskey dents.... Do I give a shit? um NO

 

Since I don't have an extra 45-50k laying around to buy a brand new Platinum every few years, I am pretty OCD about keeping my truck clean and looking new inside and out. Just how I am wired.

 

Thank you for the valuable information as this is one of the very few car topics h know nothing about. I live in central Florida and my brand new truck is black is only mid Match and h could probably fry an egg on the hood of my car hell is still to come.

What do I need to do to keep this paint looking new as l just washed the truck for the first time. Truck is outside 24/7.

Last summer a sand hill crane crapped on my van and lifted the clear coat right off.
Could you outline a process for me and the products please?

 

I know the drive-thru auto washes are no bueno (the brush/pad kind).

What about just the hi pressure soap/water/sealant variety? I drive through one 7 times every 8 weeks during the winter just to rinse the salt off. It gets waxed in the spring and late fall. Any thoughts about this method?
@WarEagleSteve

 

Thank you, I'm in lutz. 15 miles north of I4 and 75

 

Thanks for the response. I was referring to the automatic wash that has a single bar that shoots water, soap, sealant out of it traveling around the perimeter of your car (and underneath too).
I finally used a spray detailer (meguiars) for the first time in my life when we got a warm spell last month. I really liked that.

 

Yeah no brushes or shammys. And I used the quick detailer after a wash with turtle wax ice wash. The qd said you could use it between washes but that sounds fishy to me and definitely doesn't fly up here.

In the summer I have a soft brush and simple green for the first wash (simple green is amazing for bugs/ sap and brake dust on wheels). Then a mitt and turtle wax ice for second wash (wheels have their own brush that doesn't touch the truck). Then hand wax a section/ panel at a time if there's any shade.
Now that I've tried this meguiars, I'll probably shine it up more frequently this summer. Normally it just get the one wax and the turtle ice when I wash it. Seems to do okay.

 

No worries. I appreciate the insight.
I should have clarified. I only use the simple green if there's a ton of bugs on the grille / bumper and the turtle wax doesn't take them off. I pretty much hit it with a pressure washer with the widest tip and use the turtle wax ice wash most of the time. The simple green comes out when the bugs are persistent.
https://www.turtlewax.com/shop/products/turtle-wax-ice-wash-wax


I only wax it once at the beginning of summer and right before winter. But I think I'll start using this meguiars more. Much easier than waxing and appears to put a nice shine / seal on it (from my limited experience/understanding).

 

I'll look into that meguiars ultimate wash. Really happy with their ultimate q.d.

Thanks again!

 

You know what was not said in this post? The shear amount of cleaning product you end up using on the first wash... lol I swear I feel like I went through a TON of tire / wheel cleaner lol

Although I did run into a problem... First time washing my truck so I wasnt sure how much time it would take I estimated about 3+ hours... I was wrong... I ran out of daylight right about finishing my first coat of polish... Would it be alright to pick right back up in the morning? or do I need to start off somewhere in the whole process again? I started the was at about 5:45 didnt get back into the house till about 9:30... and wasnt even finished T^T

 

thanks for the well written article

 

@Dave333 This is a great post! Thanks! I have a few questions...

2017 mgm in Vegas. I've owned since Sept. She won't fit in the garage unfortunately so outside she must sit. It doesnt rain here...so the biggest issues I have to worry about is dust, sun, and dust... I think the last time it rained was about 120 some odd days ago lol. I wash about once a week or so using meguiars gold class wash, pressure washer, 1 bucket, and a terry cloth covered sponge, dry with super absorber towel, clean windows with invisible glass cleaner and microfiber towels (just started using rain x glass cleaner). I've waxed once with mequiars cleaner wax by hand using terry cloth applicator pad from autozone and hand buffed off with microfiber towels. Probably gonna need another coat of wax here in the next month or so. I usually dust it off 1/2 way through the week with a California car duster and hit with the meguiars quick detailer spray and a microfiber towel.

Should I be using clay bar?
Should I be using a sealer or polish or both the next time I need to wax?
Should I be using the cleaner wax or a different kind?
Should I be using something on my window/door seals? I've heard the glass cleaners can cause them to break down faster then normal due to chemicals in them?
Can you recommend a DA I can use? I saw one at autozone that hooks to your cordless drill. I think meguiars makes it.

Also, is anything I am doing above crazy wrong? Thanks for the help!

 

Ceramic Coat your truck, we have done it on 4 vehicles, and wouldn't have it any other way. Never has a buildup, the Dealer had Sales Reps coming out looking at the truck after, because it rained the night before, the truck was outside, and the water beads up, and flies off. They compared it to a brand new one they just test drove, water still all over it. Bugs do not stick, never need to wax it. I usually use a commercial pressure washer, with one of the low pressure attachments I had made and everything comes right off. Contact Velocity Visions, the guys name is Kendall.

 

I'll take a stab at your questions....

1. As Steve said, clay bar when necessary
2. Coatings are great, but you will get excellent protection from a sealant. Consider Meguiars Ultimate Liquid Wax, which is actually a polymer based sealant.
I've topped it with Pinnacle Signature Series II Carbauba, or McKees Trademark Carnauba, for a little extra color pop
3. Cleaner waxes are okay, and Meguiar's Cleaner Wax (maroon bottle) was all I used for a long time, and still has a place on my shelf. The industry has coined
the term AIO (all in one), for cleaner waxes. McKees 360, HD Speed, Meguiars D166 and Blackfire AIO are all good options.
4. Have heard good things about 303 products (Mecum Auto Auctions) uses them, for what it's worth. NextZett and Sonax also make very good products for door
seals.
5. DA's are awesome. Depending on your budget, the Griots Garage 6" DA (known in detailing circles as the GG6), is a great machine to start with. It has plenty
of power, a lifetime warranty, and a company that stands behind their products. Local auto parts stores, like Advance and AutoZone, often carry it. Watch for
sales and/or coupons, and it can be purchased for less than 150.00.

Welcome to the wonderful world of detailing...or the obsession, depending on your level of OCD

 

thanks for the replies guys. I'm definitely taking notes. Had to search for the baggie test thing, but I think I got it figured out. If I use a sealant like the meguiars ultimate liquid wax how often would/should i be applying regular wax? or would I do something like the towel test to see if the microfiber towel slides across the hood?

 

I've gotten 3-6 months of protection from Meguiars Ultimate Liquid Wax, and the good thing is that it's available over the counter. I think it's one of the more underrated sealants on the market. If you top it with a (carnauba) wax, realize that that top layer is always the sacrificial one. I typically boost protection with a spray wax as a drying aid, so the frequency of re-applying wax is minimal for me. Longevity is dependent on the product, the environment that vehicle is in, whether or not it's garage kept, etc. To answer your question of 'how often' is a tough one.

One of the longer lasting carnauba-based products out there is Collinite 845, which is also available otc.