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Comments
-Brian
Cheers Pat.
Cheers!
Paul
TLC += Performance;
Alan
98 OBW Ltd
-juice
(And who the hell talked me into a black car, dammit!? Frank!? It's all swirly already!! Gaaaah!) :-))
All cars get swirls they are impossible to avoid, dark colours show them more and black is the worst.
Cheers Pat.
-Dave
I know JVB has its detractors, but it is unique!
IIRC, 3M has a decent swirl remover. Haven't tried it though, even though my Winestone paint has a few areas that could use a little of it.
Pics in my profile were shortly after getting AIO'd last year. I used Zymol Spray detailer after washing as well.
-Brian
Did you go the extra step and use the high gloss sealant from Klasse? It adds a bit more shine but what it really does is make for an even more durable finish.
If the swirl marks do bother you, you can wax OVER Klasse, just not under it.
Ken
I'm pooped. Used griot's machine polish #3 one more time along the path of the pinstriping after giving it a good wash. Then I decided for the first-time Klasse treatment to do it by hand. Easy to do, but still it's a lot of sheetmetal. Then I did the windows, the interior, and the rocker panels. Then the mats and then a vacuum.
Cheers Pat.
This stuff: http://www.premiumautocare.com/klasseglaze.html
Klasse AIO = acrylic sealant + cleaning products.
Klasse High Gloss sealant = acrylic sealant ONLY
Also, I use this stuff in between waxes:
http://www.autopia-carcare.com/son-200.html
Happy OCDing!
Ken
-Dave
MNSteve
-Dan-
I timed the AIO application on the Outback. 24 minutes from start to finish; the trick to speed is to use no more than an ounce per car.
Mike
Ken
When done, don't machine wash the applicator and buffing towels. Hand wash in some dish detergent and hang dry.
-Brian
I'd washed them last weekend so we caught up on the interiors this week. The whole fleet looks good now.
-juice
Cheers Pat.
Steve
I rinse first, that alone get 80% of the dirt off. Then I use the detergent attachment to dispense a soapy film all over. Then I use a wool mitt to wipe it down, then rinse again.
You could skip the wool mitt part and it would still get 90% of the dirt, like when it's really cold (but not quite freezing).
-juice
Greg
-juice
Greg
The Mr. Clean Auto Dry is supposed to make car washing simple by providing a unique all-in-one washing device that when used properly, does not require hand drying. The starter kit came in a nicely design box that housed the washing device, a special Mr. Clean Carwash liquid and a filter cartridge made by PUR that goes into the device. The product claims to leave no water-spots from air-drying if one follows the directions using the special carwash liquid and rinses with the filtered water.
Yesterday evening I finally had some time to put this system to the test on my Forester. Since my Forester is black, it would be a very good test to see if the system truly holds up to it’s claims. The first thing I did was fill the device with the carwash liquid and then load the PUR filter. Next, I screwed the device on to the end of my garden hose using the built in thread.
First, the pre-wash rinse: I set the oversized dial on the device to the rinse symbol flick the switch by my thumb and a nice stream of water comes out the end. The stream is somewhere between the “Gentle Shower” and “Soaker” settings typically found on adjustable garden hoses. Not too narrow and intense, not too broad. The device is light but a little bulky – about the size of a large iron – and was a bit awkward when trying to rinse in the wheel wells. It would have been nice if the garden hose coupling was allowed to rotate freely. People with smaller hands would also find it a little difficult to use. The switch that turns water on and off does make it easier than gripping a typical garden hose trigger.
Next, the wash: I set the dial to soap, flick the switch and out comes a spattering of the carwash liquid in a fan pattern. The device mixes in water so the soap is already pre-diluted. I start with the roof and work my way down using my usual washing mitt. The Auto Dry instructions don’t point it out, but I had a separate bucket on the side to swish my mitt between panels. The soap used in the kit is designed to help water sheet – it certainly does not lather up like traditional carwashes. Instead, it foams up a little bit and has a strange, clumpy look to it. If my car were very dirty, I wouldn’t feel very good about using this carwash formula. However, the instructions warn the customer to not use any other formula to prevent clogging the device. While I don’t see how that could happen, I’m sure the carwash has stuff in it that helps to sheet water. With my standard hose and carwash, I typically just drop the hose to the ground while I’m working on a section. Unfortunately, the device being largely hollow and plastic does not seem like it would fare well so I need to keep placing it on the ground.
Next the rinse: After working down the vehicle, switching mitts for my wheels and tires, I’m ready to rinse. Since it was cool and in the shade, I did not rinse after each panel. I turn the dial back to rinse and hose down the car from top to bottom. Again, I’m wishing that the device had a free-rotating hose adapter to allow for a greater range of motion. As the suds move away, I can already see the sheeting action taking place. The water pulls away in a thin film over the paint.
Finally the filtered-water rinse: With all the soap off the car, I set the dial to the third position: filtered water. After a few seconds of the filter priming, a very fine flat spray comes out the end of the device. Again, I move from top to bottom making sure that I cover the car with the filtered water. The water continues to sheet off with very few drops left behind. It looks promising.
And that’s it. According to the instructions, I do not need to hand dry. I fight all my urges to grab my California Car Blade and just let my Forester air-dry in the garage overnight. The total time to wash my car was about the same as if I had gone the traditional route. Was it any easier? Hard to tell given that I was still learning to use a new system.
The verdict: This morning, I turn on the lights to my garage and so far, so good. I can’t see any water drops. I back out into the sunlight and lo and behold – no water spots as advertised. It worked as claimed!
My impressions: The product worked for me, however the water in our area is relatively soft. Folks with hard water probably will not find it as effective (or will need to replace the filters more often). I’ll need to try it a few more times, but I think it’s a good alternative to regular washing for those “quickie” washes when one’s vehicle is not very dirty. A few things that could improve the product would be 1) allowing the hose attachment collar to rotate 2) reduce the size of the device – no self-respecting OCD car washer would go between panels without rinsing their wash mitt. I’d forgo the convenience of the built in soap-dispenser to have a usual bucket with carwash solution. And 3) add some quick-disconnect couplings so I don’t have to keep unscrewing my garden hose attachment every time I want to wash my car. Final comment on cost – P&G estimates that the per-wash cost over the life of the product is $1. I’ve heard that local stores sell the kits for $20. For that price, I might be enticed to have a kit around for the times when I just want to do a quick wash.
Ken
Craig
Cheers Pat.
-Brian
-Frank P.
Craig
Jim
Steve
Question for those who use Klasse, do I have to remove the Mother's stuff already on the car when I switch over to Klasse or can Klasse go right over it? just want to figure out what kind of car wash liquid I should use when I switch.
Thanks y'all!
Mike
I wonder if they'll just come out with a seperate car wash concentrate since I already use my pressure washer to dispense the soap.
-juice
Mike
When I switched to Klasse, I just used an off-the-shelf paint cleaner (Meguiar's Step 1). Klasse All-in-one has a cleaning agent in it so it alone will remove old wax so no need to worry about getting it all off.
A good claying is probably the best thing you can do.
Ken
Mike
Some Pics.
Cheers Pat.
-juice
OCD Club is in trouble ;-)
-Dave
Went skiing twice last week & had to drive thru a couple mudholes to get to the parking lot, so not much point then, either.
2 weeks vacation coming up - spring wax time, if the weather cooperates.
Cheers!
Paul
-juice
Cheers Pat.