Pride In Your Ride
#21
Elite Member
iTrader: (13)
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Taos, New mexico
Posts: 6,595
Total Cats: 555
I live in a low lying area that has a lot of dust in the air at all times and moisture in the air in the early morning. This means if I wash my car I wake up to it being dusty, this is especially notifiable on a dark green car. Can't wait to get my white NA out here.
#22
That doesn't matter much, try living in the desert 3 miles away from a mining operation...my car always has silt on it after I wash it.
The thing is though is that your car is clean under that fine layer of sand/silt. Your car is always going to be dirty is some way or another, the important thing to remember is that you car has protected paint under that silt/sand.
Washing a car isn't enough, that just means the paint is clean. If you take 20 minutes(seriously that is all it takes) to wax your car after you wash it, the paint stays protected for 3-6months. 20 minutes for 3-6months of protection is amazing. Then all you have to do is wash you car and dry it off.
But that is the OCD talking, so I may be weird like that.
If you really want to know how good your paint is, clay bar it. A rough sandpaperish paint can be restored to soapy slick smooth with clay barring your car twice a year. Takes all the **** that washing your car doesn't remove. Rail dust, iron deposits, overspray, bug guts, etc. etc.
Oh well, as I've stated before, different strokes for different folks, if YOU are happy with how you treat your car, that is all that matters. I just try to tell people how good their paint can be or is underneath all the crap that is built up on it.
If you have a random orbital buffer or rotary buffer it makes everything 5x quicker too.
Also say no to rubbing compound. Menzerna FG400 with a medium pad on it will make your paint gloss like never before.
The thing is though is that your car is clean under that fine layer of sand/silt. Your car is always going to be dirty is some way or another, the important thing to remember is that you car has protected paint under that silt/sand.
Washing a car isn't enough, that just means the paint is clean. If you take 20 minutes(seriously that is all it takes) to wax your car after you wash it, the paint stays protected for 3-6months. 20 minutes for 3-6months of protection is amazing. Then all you have to do is wash you car and dry it off.
But that is the OCD talking, so I may be weird like that.
If you really want to know how good your paint is, clay bar it. A rough sandpaperish paint can be restored to soapy slick smooth with clay barring your car twice a year. Takes all the **** that washing your car doesn't remove. Rail dust, iron deposits, overspray, bug guts, etc. etc.
Oh well, as I've stated before, different strokes for different folks, if YOU are happy with how you treat your car, that is all that matters. I just try to tell people how good their paint can be or is underneath all the crap that is built up on it.
If you have a random orbital buffer or rotary buffer it makes everything 5x quicker too.
Also say no to rubbing compound. Menzerna FG400 with a medium pad on it will make your paint gloss like never before.
#24
True confession:
I've never, ever waxed a car. When I was about 15, I helped my (then) brother-in-law detail his truck and he showed me how to use the buffer (which basically meant fussing at my every 5 seconds about not burning through the paint).
Since then, I just use the Turtle Wax liquid car soap that has some kind of wax finish mixed in. I know it's not the same at all but it makes me feel better.
I've never, ever waxed a car. When I was about 15, I helped my (then) brother-in-law detail his truck and he showed me how to use the buffer (which basically meant fussing at my every 5 seconds about not burning through the paint).
Since then, I just use the Turtle Wax liquid car soap that has some kind of wax finish mixed in. I know it's not the same at all but it makes me feel better.
#26
It's not for everyone. I was never happy with the results I got. So that led to buying and trying better products, then getting a cheapo orbital, to getting the Porter Cable, to people wanting to pay me to give them similar results. I turned my buddies pinkish grad prix back to red...
#28
Rubbing compound is something I use a month after painting something if the paint didn't come out perfect.
Polish is something I use to clean up the paint on the Miata once every several years.
With that being said, I've let the exterior of the car go to crap in the last two years. I take pride in my car, but I take more pride in my home. If I've got an hour of spare time, I'm probably building/fixing/improving something on my home. If I'm spending time on the car, it's probably under the hood. I have slipped into the expectation that one day I'll simply buy a car from the salt-free half of the country, bring it home, and swap in the rollerskate. The car has experienced 20 years of salt, and there's only so much you can do with a turd body...but the mechanicals - they do good work.
Polish is something I use to clean up the paint on the Miata once every several years.
With that being said, I've let the exterior of the car go to crap in the last two years. I take pride in my car, but I take more pride in my home. If I've got an hour of spare time, I'm probably building/fixing/improving something on my home. If I'm spending time on the car, it's probably under the hood. I have slipped into the expectation that one day I'll simply buy a car from the salt-free half of the country, bring it home, and swap in the rollerskate. The car has experienced 20 years of salt, and there's only so much you can do with a turd body...but the mechanicals - they do good work.
#29
I recently sprung for a Cyclo buffer, after years of using a rotary, and it's great. While they claim that it's "impossible" to burn your paint with it, I still take the usual precautions (tape your edges, stay off creases). I can get better results with the Cyclo in a few hours than I got in twice the time before. I little pricey, but built like a tank and a dream to use.
#32
Are you kidding me? They get 40 mpg. With the price of fuel the market has gone up a ton on them. Especially when they are in good shape.
Same with older diesel Jetta wagons, even more for manual versions. I can sell my 2010 Jetta for only 3k less than what I paid for it. People want cars that get 45+ MPG highway.
Same with older diesel Jetta wagons, even more for manual versions. I can sell my 2010 Jetta for only 3k less than what I paid for it. People want cars that get 45+ MPG highway.
#33
Newb
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: South Georgia
Posts: 22
Total Cats: -3
That's why I'd really like to build my own house. Bit more troublesome and expensive, but personal opinion I'd say it's worth it if the funding is available. More time to do other things instead and no listening to a significant other ask about when you're gonna fix the back door...
#34
I went full crazy on the ST back in January. 3 full afternoons. Wash, buff, and wax. Got a DA and then chemicals from ChemicalGuys. Couldn't be happier. Forgot to take other pics after. The little tapes on the hood are from where I need to touch up chips already. **** that car has more chips in 6 months than 10yr old cars. They've been doing road construction on the highway the wife takes to class/work for over a year. Every time I wash it I find new ones and want to murder the road crew. One another note I hand washed my daily for the first time in as long as I can remember
#39
You must live or frequently drive on a gravel road. Surprised you didn't hose it out before installing the TSE radiator. There is nothing worse than having **** fall in your eyes while wrenching. My car is anything but clean, but **** man. Working on a filthy car sucks.
I hope you sealed the radiator gaps after taking that picture. What's the point of a fancy radiator if all the air bypasses it.
I hope you sealed the radiator gaps after taking that picture. What's the point of a fancy radiator if all the air bypasses it.