Engine Detailing Tips

[JadeMonkeyStang]

Hey guys, what do you all use to detail your car? I whatever around good enough or does your baby have its own towels, shop vac, and cabinet of stuff in your garage? Products you love (Zaino pehaps)? Products you won't let in your garage(Can't stand armor all personally, prefer Boss Gloss)? From the inside to the outside, I want your tips and techniques to making your car look its best. If you know of any great websites, books, guides, etc. include those too.

-Jade

 

[GN One Day...]

More information than you ever wanted:

http://www.autopia.org

I order detailing products from

http://www.properautocare.com/

due to lack of anything good around here locally.

Products I like:

-Dawn (strip old wax)

-Clay Magic clay bar/lubricant (Auto Zone)

-Blackfire polish, all finish paint protection and car wash system (AWESOME!) Not just reflective, it's very deep, wet and glossy.

-303 for interior as well as tires. Not too glossy, looks incredible on tires and lasts a long time. Not greasy.

-Eiman Fabrik citrus engine degreaser (very strong, awesome stuff, won't kill the dog)

-3M Perfect It quick detailing spray. Can even use it when the car's still damp, very good for getting rid of water spots and deepens the gloss nicely. Easy to use.

-California Car Duster. Only for light dust, great on trips.

-MICROFIBER TOWELS! Nothing polishes like these things, and very good to keep in the glove box to quickly dust the interior. Picks up like crazy, but doesn't scratch.

-Der Wunder Towel for drying. Can dry the entire car with this one chamois, after sheeting the water off.

-Case Logic: they make a great velcro bottom square bag to keep all of this in for your trunk when traveling. Found it at some home store my wife dragged me to.

I haven't tried any topper for the Blackfire yet, but I plan to.

 

[zam70]

Amen on the Microfibers. 3M & Maquires makes the best. NO COTTON towels on the paint or for polishing aluminum...MF towels only.

I like the Zaino products. They're really not as expensive as everyone thinks and they are really east to use. comes of easier than any product I've evr used as well (even if applied in the sunlight or it sits on the car for days). Over the counter, use Maguires. All their stuff is top notch as well.

The "secret" to shiny paint is proper prep and really clean wash mits, chamois applicators and towels. Clean all of those FIRST before you even get near the car.
-Use Dawn to wash car first (strips all the old wax). Wash it twice just for good measure (rinse once at the end, but really, really good). It's important to get all the old wax and misc crap off the car.
-I dry the car with "the Absorber" (also available at your local parts store, get the big one) used them for years and have found nothing I like better. Flip it out and drag it across the top panels first to get the bulk off and then go around a wipe the car down
-If you need to clay bar the car, do it now...you can use soap and water or maguires quick detail as a lubricant...use lots.
-wash the car again. Dry and then park it indoors (if possible) over night to let it drip dry (water out of cracks and moldings)

After dry:
-USE A HAND GLAZE...this is the single most important step for shiny paint (IMO)
-put the glaze on, rub it in...think of it as polishing. rub, rub, rub...only use enough product that you can barely see it on the paint. Any more is just a waste (I use Maguires applicators) Your best bet is to apply on the panels from the direction they will be looked at I apply a quick circular pattern to get good coverage first and then go in straight lines (horizontal panels across the car, inside to outside. side panels, front to back). rub, rub, rub...Remove in straight lines only as well.
-let the stuff sit and dry...it'll come off easy enough. I make a quick pass over the whole car to get the bulk off and then go back over the whole car to polish it up.
-When in doubt, do it again.

When you're happy with the glaze job (car should be nice and shiny)
put your favorite wax on the same way as you applied the glaze.

Here's another secret. DON't put more than one coat of wax on in a week (or more) Wax actually needs to cure. Multiple applications to close to gether does nothing. Sunshine (heat) helps it cure as well. So, wait at least a week between wax coats. (and yes, with some waxes, you can put on to much)

-Engine: I steam clean it and then just spray it with some one step foaming tire stuff. (if you don't need a steam clean, use just the tire stuff) Let the tire gunk dry good and then wipe the engine down good with a think cloth (a cotton towel can be used)
-Interior: Since my interior is mainly all painted, I use quick detail on the hard panels and whatever leather stuff on the seats. Any non-greasy interior conditioner is good. I use a paint brush to get in cracks, around switches and vents.
-tires: I use the extended type stuff. No grease, it is actually dry to the touch...weird stuff, came from Germany, no idea what it's called.
-Aluminum: I REALLY like the Heavy Metal polishes. I've tried everything, and this one is my favorite. Not the fastest working stuff but the end result is brilliant.

SO - there's my run down...sorry so long