Ross- Okay, got it. OCPD (or our shorthand OCD/AR) is relatively harmless and not to be confused with clinical OCD. That's why we've got you to keep us straight :-)
So am I right that many people obsess over a single subject (like their car) but fewer people obsess over a number of things and fewer still obsess over everything (in which case they'd be classified as truly OCD)?
-Frank P. (making Ross sorry he ever revealed his true identity)
I'd say that is close enough for government work. Please forgive me. I marked 98 final exams yesterday and my brain don't work so good no more. BTW, my old mentor said that when anyone asked him what he did, he said that he was a bricklayer. He claimed to have learned early in his career not to say he was a psychologist while in a bar - it ruined his drinking.
I finally fell victim to Outback Compulsive Disorder! All week I have been planning on detailing my OB on Sunday, and yesterday AM woke up at 5AM ready to go! Finally, at 6:30 I couldn't stand it anymore, so I walked the dog and got started by 7AM. Following juice's guidance a couple of weeks ago, each wheel was removed, washed with Simple Green, and waxed (front and back) with Meguiars cleaner wax. Then, using the information you all gave above, the engine bay was sprayed with Simple Green, allowed to soak, and rinsed. No dressing was applied.
At that point, it was 12 noon, and if my neighbors didn't already think I was wierd, they were convinced at that point. ("You're doing WHAT??")
10 minute pancake break, and then the wash and wax, door jams, under the hood, gas tank, etc.
I strongly recommend waxing the wheels. My wheels had 15K miles of brake dust etc. on them, and one of the front wheels had a lot of tar or something really sticky on half the wheel that took a lot of SG to break loose. I had to take a quick shower before going out (with one of the neighbors) and the wives, so no time for pics, but I need to do a second coat of wax and will post some them. Anyhow, at highways speeds, I SWEAR the steering was smoother. I wonder whether that half wheel of tar threw of the smoothness a little - thoughts???
If you do your wheels, I strongly recommend saw horses, or some other contraption to bring the wheel up to waste level so you're not hunched over all day! It helps. Also, while the wheel is off, it makes it easier to clean the wheel wells. OK, it's AR, not OCD!
FINALLY, I took the roofrack cross bars off to wax the roof, and because of time contraints, didn't get them back on. Less wind noise on the high way. I think I'm going to leave them off. I like the "sport wagon" look a little better!
I wonder how often I can spend a Sunday doing this before either my wife divorces me, or my neighbors have me committed???!!!
You might have cleaned some debris off the wheels and tires that were upsetting the balance. I once had a rather severe unbalance when ice got stuck in my old steel wheels. That's actually why I started waxing them.
Funny but true story - I had my wheels on the patio table to wax them and the wife saw me and just rolled her eyes.
Finally got the day off to clean my baby . Finally a nice day here in southern jersey . My baby hasn't been bathed in like 2 weeks and I'm very upset with myself for that . I have a question about the clay bar . You clay the car after you wash it but b/4 you wax it right ??. mike k
Wash, clay, and maybe re-wash (or at least rinse) to get the last little bits of residue from the clay job off. Don't want to rub that stuff in with the wax!
Thanks for the info .Well she got washed yesterday ,and she is so much happier . Have another question . Acually 2 ,what is the best cleaner/protectant to use on the inside . 2 when I was washing her I felt a lot of rough spots on the hood and front fenders put couldn't see anything . Looks just as clean as the other parts of the car . Ok 3 questions Is it ok to use the same wax on the alloy wheels that I use on the rest of the car . Damn seagulls just got done drying her and splat splat was I p*&&^%d started screaming at them .You should of seen the looks I got from the other people . I could imagine what they were saying , look at that idiot screaming at the sky . 2 people acually got in there car and moved away from me .ODC RULES.
mike k- "When I was washing her I felt a lot of rough spots on the hood and front fenders put couldn't see anything" That's what claying is for. You will be amazed by the difference in smoothness between the clayed and non-clayed surfaces. Re question #3... yes, you can wax the wheels with whatever you used on the rest of the car. Some one else can answer #1.
Tomorrow is my last day of work for this year, so I'll finally have some time to wash and wax both SUbies during the break...how long does claying take?
Mike: The general consensus is stay away from Armor All. I use either LearGuard, or Meguiar's "Natural Shine". The Eagle One equivalent is okay, too, or so I hear.
The "rough spots" may be pitch, or general gunk that lands on your car from trees, etc. That's where the clay bar comes in. Some clay kits have a plastic glove they suggest you put on & feel your paint before you clay it, then again after you're done, to feel the difference in the surface.
If your wax is good enough for your paint, it ought to be good enough for your wheels. If your wheels have clearcoat, all the better.
I'll try to see if the sell it in my local auto parts store . Whats a good clay bar to use ??? I use Turtle wax emerald series wax easy on easy off its a liquid not paste .
ClayMagic is the only one I've used - works fine. Good thing that you're not using the Turtle Wax paste - the stuff is as hard as nails to remove! I use Zymol on the paint... easy on, easy off, smells good too!
Zymol never heard of that one . Is it a liquid wax .I've been thinking about buying the clay magic kit off the internet . Seems like a good deal . I'm kinda limited for auto supply stores .Only have one called Advanced Auto Parts and they have crap for cleaning supplies . Closes Pep Boys 45 min ride away. Sometimes I really hate were I live . I'll stop complaining .
It's a light blue colored thick liquid. the kind I used was their cleaner wax. helped with some light swirls and scratches on our Saturn and made the Outback look good, IMO. It's a yellow carnuba based wax.
re Zymol: Got mine at Costco - 2-bottle package, about 15 bucks.
Goes on easy, comes off easy, seems to last, although I don't really test the longevity. I'm lucky where I work I have access to a heated garage for washing & waxing after hours.
You lucky dog. how I envy you, before I got hurt and had to retire I was able to wash my car every morning in the winter.
I used to go in an hour early miss all the idiots on the road and wash my car in a heated garage, I do not kid I washed every day, keeping the car clean is like therapy for me.
Pat: I wish I had the time to wash every day, but life in general won't let me. I'm off til the 27th, and I guarantee you BOTH cars will be well overdue for a cleanup by then, owing to the cruddy wet weather we've had here this last week. We've had rain/snow days floowed by overnight freezes - sometimes I park the car inside so I can dry it out - doors freeze shut!
Meguiars clay bar kit is as good as any, and is cheaper. Uses white clay, good on all colors but white. I've used Erazer and Mothers as well, artificial clay, more expensive, equal quality.
Quite frankly I believe that all clay bars are good if you use enough lubricant.
Cars had finally gotten back to being tools for transport. Then I encounter the CREW! I just finished a wash, clay, glaze, and wax process. Of course it looks good. But what's really amazing is how the surface FEELS when you close the door or trunk. Smooth and slippery. Now I understand why so many of you rave about clay!
Happy New Year to all of you. I'll spend it applying a second coat of Meguiars #26 paste.
What's an easy way to clean your engine bay? I've read about people spraying Simple Green and then rinsing with a hose. Do you need to remove the bottom plastic cover when you do this? I was careless when topping off my oil and spilled some. ;-p
SimpleGreen works fine - I get the engine just barely warm, squirt full-strength SG, let it sit about 10 minutes, then spray with a garden hose. I usually cover the alternator with a plastic bag. The water will drain without removing the cover, and I suppose it would depend on how much oil is pooled down there being a deciding factor to take the cover off.
I'm on the downhill side of a 48 hour shift - washed the car last night, going to wax in a few minutes, and hope for a quiet New Year's Eve out on the highways & byways.
Anybody used Klasse products? I ordered one of their kits and will probably wax my Bean within the next few weeks. Looks like a nice system.
The kit came with a cleaner wax and a sealer wax. The general idea is to start with the cleaner wax and follow up with the sealer. The products can also be used alone. On a new finish, I'm thinking I can probably skip the cleaner wax and just use the sealer. Any thoughts on this?
A capful of the cleaner wax can also be mixed in with water to wash the car. Maybe I will use that as step 1 and follow with the sealer. I'll probaby precede everything with a dish detergent wash to strip off any wax the dealer may have applied.
After many favorable comments here, I tried Klasse and was very pleased with ease of application and the final results. I liked the idea that the wax or sealant which got onto the rubber cleaned off with ease.
I have a 4-month-old '02 Forrester. Should I vacuum it first or wash it? I don't mean vac and then wash or wash and then vac. I just think I should at least try to do one or the other and can't decide which.
And I never mention what I do for a living - career counseling/vocational services for persons with disabilities. And talking about it in bars or at parties really does interfere with my drinking. Everybody thinks they have problems and everybody wants a new job.
I could start telling stories like the one about the man who couldn't catch the northbound bus because it meant he had to cross the street in front of his home to get to the bus stop. And when he crossed the street he worried that 'somehow' he caused a car wreck(don't ask me to explain it right now...), and then he would catch the next bus home to check on how bad the wreck was, or if there was a wreck, and of course he would miss his appointments. Nice man. Long story.
I love starting the new year with a fresh delusion. I'll add it to my collection. I empathize with the party problem. My thesis supervisor always said he was a bricklayer rather than a psychologist for just that reason.
Don: can you describe how you applied the Klasse? Dry towel, wet pad, or what? I also like the idea that it won't stain plastic/rubber trim. That is a major drawback to most waxes out on the market.
Ross, John: At parties, I have stopped telling people I work for NASA because there is always a lunatic who starts asking bizarre questions about UFOs and secret government airplanes. Sheesh. I tried having fun with it, but it's easier to lie and tell them I am a proctologist. That scares everyone away!
I've tried lots of waxes and have settled on Klasse. It isn't the shiniest of all waxes, but it provides very durable protection with minimal application effort.
Although you can use clean terrycloth to apply Klasse, I prefer to use microfiber applicator pads.
I would use the cleaner/wax first before applying the sealant glaze even though your vehicle is brand new. There may be some residual wax from the dealer as well as other fine contaminants that may prevent the sealant from adhering well to your paint.
For the cleaner/wax, you want to use a damp cloth/applicator. The moisture will help spread the product on your paint. Wipe it off before it dries completely for the best results. For the sealant, you want to use a dry cloth/applicator and allow it to dry completely before buffing it off your paint.
Craig, For the smoothest surface, use clay after washing. I used it for the first time last week and I'm still amazed at how the car feels. My $0.02. Jim
Well, I got my Legacy back from the body shop yesterday (wheelbarrow incident, you'll recall), and it looks fantastic, especially for the price. I had three areas of work done actually. The dents from the wheelbarrow, a spot on the driver's door handle where I was egged by somebody about a year and a half ago (wasn't too bad, but it slowly started to drive me crazy), and the entire hood due to rock chips (Summit County, Colorado) and where my wind/rock deflector had come loose and rubbed at two points on the outside edges. Also, the debris (pine needdles, leaves, rocks, salt, sand) that had fallen in between the wind/rock deflector and the hood had eaten away at the paint on the leading edge of the hood a bit also. My point being that three "panels" were repainted, which, to me, represents a fair amount of the car. As I left, I asked the owner how long I should wait before waxing, buffing, etc. I expected him to say three months, but, to my surprise, he said "you can do anything you want to it". Now, we recently had a discussion about "soft" paint from the factory, and the swirls that are possible. I have a warranty and a satisfaction guarantee on this work, so what am I missing? The aftermarket body shop (paint) places don't do anything better, do they? He'd have to be stupid to tell everybody to go wash/wax/buff/clay their cars immediately if he knew that a certain percentage would be back with damage. What's the most logical explanation here?
You only need to wait until the paint cures. Some body shops will heat cure the paint so that you don't need to wait. I also had one panel repainted at a local body shop and also asked about waiting to wax. They explained and showed me their heat curing process.
If in doubt, call the body shop and ask them why you can wax so soon. Hopefully, it's because they heat cure.
If you're in the Mountain states like your post suggests the weather is cold. I'd wait until you got at least a week of fairly warm weather just to make sure it's fully hard.
I know that with multiple wax coats that it lasts much longer if I wait a week for complete drying and setting. It may be dry but not completely cured. When I had a fender repainted in the summer they recommended at least 6 weeks.
Yeah, I would still wait 6 weeks before waxing. In the meantime, as Dr. Ruth sayd, "just keep it clean", and wipe of any bird droppings or tar immediately.
The Bean got its first real wash today (not counting last week's automated Car Wash job), instigated by the paint chip in the bumper which I touched up, plus the general filthyness of the car, plus a nice sunny day.
I waxed the bumper that had the paint repair, then thought I'd wax the hood just to see if it made any difference - I mean, the car's less than 1 month old & still under 1000 miles - how much of a difference could it make? So I ran my hand over the waxed hood...then over the unwaxed fender...
1-1/2 hours later the whole car was waxed, wheels were polished (I'll wax them next time when I get started earlier in the day), windows were rain-x'd, and does it ever look good!
What I learned:
1. Clay works! Amazing how much gunk you can't see.
2. There's a reason why you OCD people wax so often! It works, too!
3. Waxing is much less traumatic than it used to be (OK I admit it, it's been a long time since I cared enough about a car to actually keep it waxed - I've needed vans for business & they just didn't fit my image of somethiing I wanted to care about). I swear that waxes have improved by leaps & bounds in application ease. I used Maguiar's, btw, & it couldn't have been easier.
The Bean looks and FEELS fabulous. And I am very thankful for all you knowledgable folk and your generous sharing of info here. I love my Subie and thanks to you all here plan on keeping it in top shape.
Your Bean is less than a month old and you clayed?!? Bravo, you are worthy of OCD club admission! I think you may have set some sort of Subaru Crew OCD club record! ;-)
I know what you mean, there's a lot of satisfaction putting on that nice, smooth shine. Glad to hear from a new owner that's already maintaining and protecting the finish.
You're doing the right things immediately. In the long run it will be less work. You will be amazed at how much easier regular maintenence is each time.
Don't mean to be critical, but if your are truly OCD, it is obligatory that you get a California Duster. (Pun intended) Removing light dust when possible keeps up that just new appearance.
I also use a quick detailer a lot since I park under trees. I love birds, but they are definitely not concerned about missing my car.
I am amazed. Keep up the good work. It's full winter here No possibility of detailing for now. Oh, well great snow for the Olympics. They couldn't have picked a better year weatherwise. Subies are great on these bad streets. Snow for the next week predicted. First REAL snow year since I bought it. Love the tracking.
Hey wait a minute! I only clayed the bottom parts of the Bean - you know, the areas that really got the road gunk on them - the cladding, the front, the hood.....less than half the car. Only the areas that NEEDED it! I'm not OCD for doing what was NEEDED!!!
Right?
juice - I polished the wheels (outside only) with Meguiare's Tire Protectant Gel, because that's what came in the kit I got from Costco. Love the nice shiny clean look; we'll see how long it lasts. I'll try waxing next time. Oh, & I would think that waxing the INSIDE qualifies you for OCD; outside only you're still borderline.
Right?
mrdetailer - Ummmm, where do I get one of these California Dusters?
Jillian. A clay bar on the top gets off small iron filings that get on a new car finish during transportation. Great thing to do, and it's very quick on the sides. Always treat the roof and hood the same. Horizontal surfaces really get pollution abuse. I would clay bar the other part before you rewax in a few months.
I got my California Duster at www.autobarn.com, but I've also seen them at Pep Boys and Autozone.
Comments
-juice
So am I right that many people obsess over a single subject (like their car) but fewer people obsess over a number of things and fewer still obsess over everything (in which case they'd be classified as truly OCD)?
-Frank P. (making Ross sorry he ever revealed his true identity)
Ross (soon to go undercover)
At that point, it was 12 noon, and if my neighbors didn't already think I was wierd, they were convinced at that point. ("You're doing WHAT??")
10 minute pancake break, and then the wash and wax, door jams, under the hood, gas tank, etc.
I strongly recommend waxing the wheels. My wheels had 15K miles of brake dust etc. on them, and one of the front wheels had a lot of tar or something really sticky on half the wheel that took a lot of SG to break loose. I had to take a quick shower before going out (with one of the neighbors) and the wives, so no time for pics, but I need to do a second coat of wax and will post some them. Anyhow, at highways speeds, I SWEAR the steering was smoother. I wonder whether that half wheel of tar threw of the smoothness a little - thoughts???
If you do your wheels, I strongly recommend saw horses, or some other contraption to bring the wheel up to waste level so you're not hunched over all day! It helps. Also, while the wheel is off, it makes it easier to clean the wheel wells. OK, it's AR, not OCD!
FINALLY, I took the roofrack cross bars off to wax the roof, and because of time contraints, didn't get them back on. Less wind noise on the high way. I think I'm going to leave them off. I like the "sport wagon" look a little better!
I wonder how often I can spend a Sunday doing this before either my wife divorces me, or my neighbors have me committed???!!!
Funny but true story - I had my wheels on the patio table to wax them and the wife saw me and just rolled her eyes.
-juice
My baby hasn't been bathed in like 2 weeks and I'm very upset with myself for that .
I have a question about the clay bar . You clay the car after you wash it but b/4 you wax it right ??.
mike k
Cheers!
Paul
mike k
-Frank P.
mike k
The "rough spots" may be pitch, or general gunk that lands on your car from trees, etc. That's where the clay bar comes in. Some clay kits have a plastic glove they suggest you put on & feel your paint before you clay it, then again after you're done, to feel the difference in the surface.
If your wax is good enough for your paint, it ought to be good enough for your wheels. If your wheels have clearcoat, all the better.
Cheers!
Paul
-Frank P.
I use Turtle wax emerald series wax easy on easy off its a liquid not paste .
mike k
-juice
Good thing that you're not using the Turtle Wax paste - the stuff is as hard as nails to remove!
I use Zymol on the paint... easy on, easy off, smells good too!
Cheers!
Paul
I thought the meguiars gold class was hard to remove off bear-u! And yes, the smell of zymol is much nicer.
-Brian
mike k
http://www.zymol.com/onestp2.htm
They have other waxes and kits, and can be purchased in most auto stores around here (SE WI), including Wal-Mart & Target.
-Brian
mike k Happy Holidays
-Brian
Goes on easy, comes off easy, seems to last, although I don't really test the longevity. I'm lucky where I work I have access to a heated garage for washing & waxing after hours.
Cheers!
Paul
I used to go in an hour early miss all the idiots on the road and wash my car in a heated garage, I do not kid I washed every day, keeping the car clean is like therapy for me.
Cheers Pat.
Cheers!
Paul
Quite frankly I believe that all clay bars are good if you use enough lubricant.
Happy New Year to all of you. I'll spend it applying a second coat of Meguiars #26 paste.
Just got done going over all the Vinyl and bubber on 2001 LL Bean Wagon with 303 Protectant...
Seems to be exactly what I was looking for! Easy to put on and gave the Vinyl a nice low luster..
Made the rubber around doors look great!
Now to see if it will get loaded with dust in a couple of days...
Dosen't seems slippey at all and vinyl really soaked it up!
Tom
Ken
I'm on the downhill side of a 48 hour shift - washed the car last night, going to wax in a few minutes, and hope for a quiet New Year's Eve out on the highways & byways.
Cheers!
Paul
The kit came with a cleaner wax and a sealer wax. The general idea is to start with the cleaner wax and follow up with the sealer. The products can also be used alone. On a new finish, I'm thinking I can probably skip the cleaner wax and just use the sealer. Any thoughts on this?
A capful of the cleaner wax can also be mixed in with water to wash the car. Maybe I will use that as step 1 and follow with the sealer. I'll probaby precede everything with a dish detergent wash to strip off any wax the dealer may have applied.
Craig
I'm sure you'll be satisfied!
Don
And I never mention what I do for a living - career counseling/vocational services for persons with disabilities. And talking about it in bars or at parties really does interfere with my drinking. Everybody thinks they have problems and everybody wants a new job.
I could start telling stories like the one about the man who couldn't catch the northbound bus because it meant he had to cross the street in front of his home to get to the bus stop. And when he crossed the street he worried that 'somehow' he caused a car wreck(don't ask me to explain it right now...), and then he would catch the next bus home to check on how bad the wreck was, or if there was a wreck, and of course he would miss his appointments. Nice man. Long story.
John
Ross
Ross, John: At parties, I have stopped telling people I work for NASA because there is always a lunatic who starts asking bizarre questions about UFOs and secret government airplanes. Sheesh. I tried having fun with it, but it's easier to lie and tell them I am a proctologist. That scares everyone away!
Craig
Then it rains. ;-)
-juice
I've tried lots of waxes and have settled on Klasse. It isn't the shiniest of all waxes, but it provides very durable protection with minimal application effort.
Although you can use clean terrycloth to apply Klasse, I prefer to use microfiber applicator pads.
I would use the cleaner/wax first before applying the sealant glaze even though your vehicle is brand new. There may be some residual wax from the dealer as well as other fine contaminants that may prevent the sealant from adhering well to your paint.
For the cleaner/wax, you want to use a damp cloth/applicator. The moisture will help spread the product on your paint. Wipe it off before it dries completely for the best results. For the sealant, you want to use a dry cloth/applicator and allow it to dry completely before buffing it off your paint.
Ken
For the smoothest surface, use clay after washing. I used it for the first time last week and I'm still amazed at how the car feels.
My $0.02.
Jim
Jim
You only need to wait until the paint cures. Some body shops will heat cure the paint so that you don't need to wait. I also had one panel repainted at a local body shop and also asked about waiting to wax. They explained and showed me their heat curing process.
If in doubt, call the body shop and ask them why you can wax so soon. Hopefully, it's because they heat cure.
Ken
I know that with multiple wax coats that it lasts much longer if I wait a week for complete drying and setting. It may be dry but not completely cured. When I had a fender repainted in the summer they recommended at least 6 weeks.
-juice
I waxed the bumper that had the paint repair, then thought I'd wax the hood just to see if it made any difference - I mean, the car's less than 1 month old & still under 1000 miles - how much of a difference could it make? So I ran my hand over the waxed hood...then over the unwaxed fender...
1-1/2 hours later the whole car was waxed, wheels were polished (I'll wax them next time when I get started earlier in the day), windows were rain-x'd, and does it ever look good!
What I learned:
1. Clay works! Amazing how much gunk you can't see.
2. There's a reason why you OCD people wax so often! It works, too!
3. Waxing is much less traumatic than it used to be (OK I admit it, it's been a long time since I cared enough about a car to actually keep it waxed - I've needed vans for business & they just didn't fit my image of somethiing I wanted to care about). I swear that waxes have improved by leaps & bounds in application ease. I used Maguiar's, btw, & it couldn't have been easier.
The Bean looks and FEELS fabulous. And I am very thankful for all you knowledgable folk and your generous sharing of info here. I love my Subie and thanks to you all here plan on keeping it in top shape.
Jillian
I know what you mean, there's a lot of satisfaction putting on that nice, smooth shine. Glad to hear from a new owner that's already maintaining and protecting the finish.
Cheers,
..Mike in MD
..Mike
Have you waxed your wheels yet? ;-)
-juice
You're doing the right things immediately. In the long run it will be less work. You will be amazed at how much easier regular maintenence is each time.
Don't mean to be critical, but if your are truly OCD, it is obligatory that you get a California Duster. (Pun intended) Removing light dust when possible keeps up that just new appearance.
I also use a quick detailer a lot since I park under trees. I love birds, but they are definitely not concerned about missing my car.
I am amazed. Keep up the good work. It's full winter here No possibility of detailing for now. Oh, well great snow for the Olympics. They couldn't have picked a better year weatherwise. Subies are great on these bad streets. Snow for the next week predicted. First REAL snow year since I bought it. Love the tracking.
Right?
juice - I polished the wheels (outside only) with Meguiare's Tire Protectant Gel, because that's what came in the kit I got from Costco. Love the nice shiny clean look; we'll see how long it lasts. I'll try waxing next time. Oh, & I would think that waxing the INSIDE qualifies you for OCD; outside only you're still borderline.
Right?
mrdetailer - Ummmm, where do I get one of these California Dusters?
Jillian
Most auto stores will have them, can even get it at Target her in SE WI.
-Brian
I got my California Duster at www.autobarn.com, but I've also seen them at Pep Boys and Autozone.