So I took a different turn down the rabbit hole today...Ivan Lacroix specifically

So, listening to YT at work I was listening to Ivan L, the guy that created ONR?
Had, some interesting opinions or whatever you wanna call them on detailing methods and would like some of the other detail gurus thoughts. I do know he makes money from his products and all that but it almost seems that listening to him, he doesn't recommend his products but seems to "weed out" the products that would be an alternative..felt like I was listening to a "life coach" in training or some shit...like I looked up motivational vids and started to listen to Tony Robbins!

APC-not needed, leaves film or product, must be neutralized or will reappear after it dries and whatever you were trying to clean will either return or everything will collect dirt etc. I do get the whole least aggressive to to the job approach but I don't think ONR will clean a filthy ass steering wheel with years of oils and grime on it alone.

Prep solution- stay in the manufactures line if they have a prep solution and sell a coating. They are made to go together. This makes sense but in the same thought he says not to become a backyard chemist. Then says an IPA basically does nothing to prep paint for a coating, solvent based solutions and compounds shouldn't be used because they swell/add gloss type enhancement to paint and or make it soft when used. Then at the end of that subject he gives a recipe for a paint prep....lol.

Soap- basically does nothing when washing but leave a film and he hasn't used it for 20 years. Prerinse, but not too close as you may harm paint by pressurizing small dirt particles etc. into the paint @ 1500psi. this makes sense but also seems like it's all strategically done to use a rinseless instead. I am still on the if it's filthy as fuck it's getting rinsed and foamed train before a contact wash. He doesn't seem to think that soap or foam does any good. Just NO.


These were my biggest WTF's? What y'all think?

 

It may help if you linked the video since things can be misconstrued.

No Ivan didn't create ONR. Dr. David Ghodoussi did. Ivan was basically a salesman / outreach spokesman for OPT, the company that produces ONR.

RE: APC. APC has its uses. I doubt he is claiming that ONR can clean everything and anything but it is a pretty good multipurpose cleaner especially since you can dilute it to different ratios. It does a great job at emulsifying dirt but it has limits to how much dirt it can "capture". Dirtier surfaces may take more than one pass if we are talking about steering wheels. I think his philosophy for detailers is to keep it simple and no need to stock 100 different products to clean a car.

RE: Prep spray. It may be true of some product lines that the prep spray helps the product bind to the paint surface but I don't think it is true of all product lines. Most of the consumer grade products are the same things with slight different reformulations and packaging. Again some product lines are formulated for use with their other products but that is not true for all product lines. You'll see this with compounds with fillers that leave behind a ceramic to allow coating to bond easier. One of the OPT coatings worked this way from what I remember. With coatings you typically want a bare surface unless instructed otherwise. The other end of comment is prep spray is basically IPA and water which is cheap to make and he can't sell you a product if you make your own.

RE: Soap. Depends. Prewashing with higher PH soaps can help remove grime, there are some demos using Bilt-Hamber and similar products that show this. Prerinsing is fine if you are blowing off big chunks of dirt otherwise it is a waste of time. Some soaps can leave a residue behind, like waxes and glossifiers but it depends on the soap. Reset is a good example of a soap that doesn't leave behind anything.

 

https://youtu.be/gz8gnqIOFcI about 5 min mark for steering wheel...

https://youtu.be/UN8Ta0Vh6S4- solvents

https://youtu.be/WzD1vJtx8kc soap

 

Last two links are dead for me. Relinking for others that want to listen to the commentary:

Prep
https://youtu.be/UN8Ta0Vh6S4
Soap
https://youtu.be/WzD1vJtx8kc

RE:Steering Wheel cleaning. There is nothing controversial in what he is saying. In the first video he starts off saying do more will less by cutting down on products. When he gets to the steering wheel he says start with the least invasive/mildest solution first. If that doesn't work step it up to something else. Basically you don't need an APC for every job. You have to remember the purpose of his videos is to help people start a detailing business so these recommendations are cost cutting measures.

RE: Prep. It's an interesting test he proposes for evaluating compounds and polishes. As far as making your own prep solution I don't see any issue unless the manufacture of the coating recommends using a different product within their line. He literally recommends a prep spray formula if the manufacturer doesn't provide one. I take it his concern is IPA solutions wont remove all solvents grease and waxes but it does a good job of removing moisture.

It is true of the OPT products that you want to use their products together. Generally it won't make a huge difference if you don't. I can't think of any products that you must use together in that manner but in most cases if the products work together you'll probably get the best results using them that way. I think his main point is to use the system especially if it is a coating with a warranty. This only applies for professional settings which is the point of the video.

RE: Soap. I think there is a place for soap and a place for rinseless. I call BS on his test using your hand to compare the two. Soap will interact with paint differently than with skin, since skin can absorb certain solvents. It doesn't mean the same interaction is happening with paint.Again pick a good soap that doesn't leave anything behind. Reset from CarPro is a good one.

I agree with his comment most foam soaps are a waste of product, it is a good way to apply soap to a panel but you'll still need contact to remove grime in most cases. However, there are some exceptions like in this video were you can see the foam did remove some dirt from the panel:
https://youtu.be/CI_sKLufqVE

 

Thanks, just what I was looking for, what others think and how they took what he says.
The claims about the soap not lifting any sort so to speak kinda leaves a rinseless as the remaining option, conveniently enough. But what about things like road film? I don't see a rinseless removing stuff like that but then again I've not tested. Good input!

 

I use some rinseless in my soap bucket.

 

I've used Onr on occasion after a trip through the local coin-op and it seems to do the job but generally use Reset. I've heard of adding Onr to a bucket of soap but does it cut back on the sudsing action?

What I don't like about Ivan is how he can wash a car in a bowtie and not work up a sweat, lol.

 

Reset is what I use. The ONR doesn't mess with the suds but I just use a small dash of it like a 1/4 or less of a cap.

Ivan's been doing this for a while so I bet he has a fairly good system to get around a car.

 

Obviously, I've not been at this as long as Ivan....but one thing I've learned....there's more than one way to get a vehicle clean. I've seen the method he described using a DA and a microfiber pad.....watched a guy clean a headliner that way. Gonna give it a try on the leather seats in my wifes Yukon....will see if it's good enough to lift denim dye out