Question On Washing/Waxing/Drying/Car Cover

[Vinnie27]

Just bought a GN recently, and the paint job was around $10k. I was told by my mechanic, not to put a car cover on it. As it could collect unwanted dust under there, when you uncover it, and you put it back on, it could scratch the paint. What do you guys recommend for covering the car? Whats the safest products to wash/clean/dry and wax it with? The paint job is beautiful, and I would hate to screw it up. Thanks!

[rmar]

There is a link around here for an Air bubble car cover .
kinda cool in a Howard Hughes sort of way.....

[Little6pack]

If you are storing the car in a garage you don't need a car cover.

What I found that works well is heavy blankets if the car is in a garage. this will keep the dust off the car during winter hibernation.

If you are storing the car outside I have no answers for you other than get it inside or get a porta garage.

[turbojitsu85]

To wash my car I use a little bit of Dawn and warm water this cuts threw the bug grime and other road junk then I use Zaino Bros step by step system to polish and wax with 100% cotton towels the higher the thread count the better. As far as a cover I don't use one. But I still have the stock paint on the car. Your best bet might be finding the people that did the paint job and ask them what they recommend.

[Dabigguy]

Just my .02, I do not use any type of household cleaner. It tends to strip off any wax that you have applied. Wash your car with a high quality car wash. I use a microfiber mitt and rinse the mitt in a seperate bucket of clean water before dipping it in soapy water. It may take 3-4 buckets of wash solution to wash, clean soapy water at all times.

I wouldn't over use any polish. when you polish your car, you are taking a thin layer of paint. Polish only when necessary and use a quality wax as needed.

I used to use micro fiber towels to dry, but I have started to use my leaf blower and no more spots or streaks from water seeping from the nooks and crannies.

Everyone has their own way......just use what works for you. Remember....dirt=scratches

[Vinnie27]

Thanks fellas!

[BLACK6PACK]

Yeah, don't use dishwashing detergent. It will dry out plastic and rubber parts. If you want to strip the wax off and start new, go with a 50/50 mix of alcohol and water. For my GTO i use Meguires #7 and #26 after a wax strip and clay bar step.

Meguiar's #7, by Mike Phillips - Autopia.org

[rmar]

http://www.carcapsule.com/ORDER_the_CarCapsule.htm

[aminga]

I put a cover on mine once in the garage because I was welding and grinding. Came back to it the next day and the cover had trapped moisture. The whole car was damp.

[blackmonte]

If your using the Zaino products for the first time they say to use dawn dish soap to remove wax , then follow other steps

[DCVING 6]

Originally Posted by rmar

kinda cool in a Howard Hughes sort of way.....

[Turbo6Smackdown]

Whatever stuff you use, here's the deal. I'm a detail obsessed freak..
When washing the car, use a 5 gallon bucket. Put the little grate in the bottom that's sold at autogeek.net. It lets all the crap settle on the bottom below the grate, and doesn't get picked back up in your washing cloth.
Anything other than microfibre is CRAP, and it WILL scratch your car, eventually. Some of the nice stuff like the cotton, diapers, chamois etc etc just takes longer, but it does eventually scratch the paint.

If you drop your microfibre on the ground, it just became the rim cloth now. Get a new one. I have 3 different microfibres. One for the main sections of the car, one for the front clip, and one for below the molding line. I never mix em.
If you wash an especially dirty section of your car with the towel, then go to say, your deck lid, now you've just spread that crap around. Yes, I'm obsessive. Make sure, you use lots of water, and rise the towel thoroughly before switching to the next panel.
Never wash in the sun. NEVER!!! That old myth about burning in those water spots? Let me tell you that ain't no myth. They are HARD to get out man, and that's no lie.
Warm water cuts old wax buildup better, but dries quicker too. So that's an adjustment you gotta make per your conditions at the time.
Start with the top, and work down. I don't have to tell you to use separate towels for the rims/tires right?
Make sure you don't use anything too harsh, that strips the UV protectant coating off of your tires... Yep, it is a reality. Wanna see my bmw's new tires?
If they're clear coated T wheels, make sure your cleaner is rated for clear coated wheels, otherwise, they won't be when you're done. Though, the harsher stuff is slowly leaving the shelves. When waxing, you can wax your rims, and glass as well. MUCH easier to clean the crap off of your glass, dust off of your wheels, and rubber off your rear quarters
For wheels, use the stuff made for your car. Purposely built car wash in a bottle. Just use a scrub brush for the rubber, and a towel for the rims. That usually is good enough.

When waxing, I know it's a pain, but try not to go in circles. That's obsolete logic. It creates more swirl mark affects. Try to go back and forth.

DO NOT USE armor all in your interiors. The old plastics didn't have the protectants our new stuff does, and eventually, it builds up, and I don't know how to explain it, but it gets "gummy"? I don't know what it is, but I could NOT get it off of my old hand me down T bird my uncle gave me a long time ago. I mean, I would have to scrape it off with a knife, and it kept going. It was deep. It's almost like it was eating the plastic. Use water in a mister bottle, and a microfiber and that's it.

If you have to keep your car in the sun for a while, use the sun protectors that you shove in the window. UV rays play HELL on our dashes. I have a custom dashmat from Godashmat. Not a bad gig for storage.
Ever wonder how the interior of your windshield is foggy, and you just cleaned it yesterday? Outgassing of the plastic I was told. UV rays.
The best way I've found to clean your glass, is with a microfibre, a bottle of Invisible Glass, and a streetlight in the night time. You can see EVERY streak this way.

When you're done, dry it immediately. Don't forget to take your air hose (from the compressor) and blow off all the water within the headlight areas, the dew strips next to your passenger and drivers side windows, and all the water that leaked down into your engine bay.

Also, if you run with no rubber hood weatherstripping, by the dash cowl, like I do (to let the heat get out) remember to replace before you wash the car.

As far as storing it. If it's a dry place, there's nothing wrong with a high quality cotton cover. There are some pretty high end covers out there. As long as there's no moisture in your storage area, you should be ok with one of those. As far as covering it outside? DON'T DO IT. The wind will whip that cover over your paint, and all the edges of your roofline, will have scratches allllll over it. Ask me how I know that....

If you have moisture in your area, you may not want to cover it at all.

If you store it inside, and rarely drive it, use a natural carnauba wax. It's deep and glossy, but doesn't last long. It will if you never drive your car though.
If she's a driver, and gets a lot of road time, try a paint sealant. It's a harder coat, and lasts a lot longer. If your paint is outstanding, you may just be ok with a sealant. Me? I need carnauba to look good.

And clay bars? WOW. What a freakin miracle. I wish I had found out about them years ago...

[Black3]

Turbo6Smackdown pretty much nailed it for anal car care. When I wash I actually do the lower body, bumpers, wheels and tires, and other "dirty" areas first. Then start over with a fresh bucket and cloth and go from top down. This way the whole car is not wet while you're doing the wheels and tires. The air compressor is awesome for blowing water out of the nooks while drying. Since I don't always have the time to wash and don't want my car wet all the time, I also use the compressor after I use the car to blow dust off of the body and wheels. Then I very gently use a California duster and a then a soft, loose fitting cover goes over it in the garage. For real grimy areas Simple Green works good and safe. As far as "waxes" go I reluctantly tried the Turtle Wax Black Box kit on my GNs hacked paint job and I am very pleased with it. I've got a shelf full of $$$ waxes and polishes that work awesome on my newer vehicles and for anything with really nice paint but for my less than perfect black Buick the Black box works really good.

[GNBRETT]

Originally Posted by Vinnie27

Just bought a GN recently, and the paint job was around $10k. I was told by my mechanic, not to put a car cover on it. As it could collect unwanted dust under there, when you uncover it, and you put it back on, it could scratch the paint.

That's retarded. A well made car cover that fits snug will keep dust out. A black car left uncovered will show more dust on ur car in one hour then a covered car in 10 years....

[VADER]

Nice job smackdown.

[rmar]

Are you saying you do not want your car to sleep in the comforts of a hyperbaric chamber.....

[turboc87gn]

Originally Posted by turbojitsu85

To wash my car I use a little bit of Dawn and warm water this cuts threw the bug grime and other road junk then I use Zaino Bros step by step system to polish and wax with 100% cotton towels the higher the thread count the better. As far as a cover I don't use one. But I still have the stock paint on the car. Your best bet might be finding the people that did the paint job and ask them what they recommend.

DAWN !!!!!!???? That will stri all the wax off... Ive used zipwax car wash for years and my dad has too and his car was in autorama for a few years plus hes got a ton of trophys and he painted it with laquer in 1982( i was three at the time) and had Dr Rue stripe it in 1987 lol the paint held up till about 5 years ago..Whatever you dont use a sponge and invest in a california car duster they work great

[blackmonte]

That's the point Zaino wants you to get rid of all that junk wax , so Dawn strips all that crap off.Been using Zaino products for years and still think it's the best.

[GNBRETT]

Originally Posted by rmar

Are you saying you do not want your car to sleep in the comforts of a hyperbaric chamber.....

It worked for Michael Jackson.... Well, maybe not....

I was entertaining one of those over the winter when I store my car for like 10 months..... Connecticut will get probably (2) months of nice weather this year....

[need boost]

Ok as a owner of a paint shop let me tell you what I tell my customers, IF you store the car inside a car cover is fine as long as it is CLEAN! One piece of sand on the inside of the cover and you move it wham you got a scratch. NEVER put a cover on outside in my opion, just a little bit of anything under it on the cover OR the car itself and the wind blows you are just sanding the car and scratching the heck out of it! If you store it inside make sure the car is clean before you put the cover on and learn how to do it as well as taking the cover off. It should NEVER touch the floor. Fold it towards the middle of the car front to back then fold long ways. Sort of like folding a flag but not in a triangle lol. A car cover is a catch 22 deal, clean car, clean cover, and a place where the wind will not make it flap on the car its a good deal, otherwise its a big piece of sandpaper on your car. Daniel Ray
Dreamscape Kustom Paint

[Turbo6Smackdown]

Originally Posted by Black3

Turbo6Smackdown pretty much nailed it for anal car care. When I wash I actually do the lower body, bumpers, wheels and tires, and other "dirty" areas first. Then start over with a fresh bucket and cloth and go from top down. This way the whole car is not wet while you're doing the wheels and tires. The air compressor is awesome for blowing water out of the nooks while drying. Since I don't always have the time to wash and don't want my car wet all the time, I also use the compressor after I use the car to blow dust off of the body and wheels. Then I very gently use a California duster and a then a soft, loose fitting cover goes over it in the garage. For real grimy areas Simple Green works good and safe. As far as "waxes" go I reluctantly tried the Turtle Wax Black Box kit on my GNs hacked paint job and I am very pleased with it. I've got a shelf full of $$$ waxes and polishes that work awesome on my newer vehicles and for anything with really nice paint but for my less than perfect black Buick the Black box works really good.

That's the same order I do mine in as well.

[xcessiv]

Here is the way to keep your Buick nice and clean after 23 years I have finally fiqured it out. If the car has been repainted what paint did they use, one step, clearcoat.
I Drive my car alot to the track BG, Columbus, Pigion forge.
To start off the year I was the car with Dawn to remove all oilresidue and cleaners to get a base, then clay bar the car. I do not use wax. My paint is orginal Lacquer and enamel on Hood and trunk lid. If you have scratches, now is the time to get rid of them with what every you like useing. Some times I will use a 3M glaze to remove scratches and haze. I like to use a Polmer or Dry wash product. I never wash the car just use a detailler for a uniform look.
I have gone to car shows were it has rained on the way there and it is dry by the time I get to the show the water just beeds off it.

[Turbo6Smackdown]

3m glaze HIDES scratches, it doesn't get rid of them.. and by the time you get home, it's gone too. I was in the glaze period, and realized that it's worthless. Now you can wax over your glaze for a nice shine, but I'm not totally convinced the wax really sticks good to the paint, if theres a glaze over it.