Detailing Thread [For Newbies][ARCHIVED]

[supercar10]

Before you do anything to fix those scratches, you should solve your cat problem first. Like it or not, your cat has already designated your innova as its home. Aakyat yan ng aakyat, at mamanchanan at gagasgasin.

If you fix those scratches now, the following day, pwede ka muli magka-scratch because of your cat.

Get a car cover or find another way to dissuade your cat from climbing the car.

Then that's the time you should consider repairing the damage.

problem solved! we made siopao. yummy! no more cat scratches!

can you recommend what car wash products to use to clean and protect our shiny black car pls.?

[madkatz]

hey guys any advices and tips on how to detail flooded cars? lets help those flooded victims of ondoy on how to DIY detail or what to immediately do to prevent further damage to their cars, lets try to make an outline or a list of steps

[madkatz]

here are some advises from my friends in the auto and racing industry

1. remove the battery terminals, although chances are you won't get grounded anymore since your battery is already shorted, still try to wear a glove or use a dry rag to keep your hands insulated when removing the battery, when removing the battery remove the ground cable first, usually the black one

2. Remove any part of the car's interior that can easily be removed and put back, separate the seat covers if you have them, and let them dry out in the sun, the suns UV rays should do the trick in killing molds and most fungal problems, this will also help a lot in removing the awful smell. but if its really flooded all the way to the roof, better get big berts to do it for you.

Also some people suggested rubbing baking soda in your carpet and seats scrubbing it with a soft bristle brush and then spray a little white vinegar with equal parts of water and let it kill whatever fungi, mold or bacteria there is, another one suggested using plain car shampoo diluted with water and for one pail add 2 cap fulls of zonrox (preferably the one thats more gentle on fabrics) I honestly have never tried these stuffs and there are concerns with my friends as to whether these procedures can change the color or remove the color of upholstery and carpets, but since we're left with no choice we're gonna try it tomorrow morning and let you guys know what happens, also it would be nice if someone can confirm if this is a good practice, these are just suggestions from other friends and some car detailing shops we went to a while ago that unfortunately was unable to accomodate us

3. With the battery safely removed, as stated above, clean and hose down the car with running water and dry it with a blower or a clean dry cloth, and then spray the electrical components with contact cleaner, and this is just an added tip i got, you could also try to wipe the rusted dirty and greasy parts ( not painted surfaces! ) with kerosene, this is supposed to be a good cleaning agent at the same time it can provide the car with a small layer of oil to prevent further rusting. You could also use some vacum cleaners with a reverse function where it can be turned to a blower to dry your engine bay.

4. For those flooded to the roof, its always better to have the professional check your car either at home or have it towed, but if your car wasn't flooded all the way to the top or flooded over the engine and air filter and if you are feeling a bit confident that your car can start and is planning to give it a shot, try these things, check your engine oil dipstick, pull it out to see if it has bubbles of water, if it has water, better have it towed to the nearest gas station and chances are you're in at least for a change oil, check your air filter, check if the filters are clogged with dirt and mud especially if you see the lower part of your air filter thats discolored, chances are water has got inside, again have it checked, next find a make shift dipstick to check your fuel, same style with checking your engine oil, if you see water upon checking, have it towed to the nearest gas station and have it professionally changed. if everything looks ok and if you still wanna give it a try, go ahead its your car, although i strongly suggest you have a professional check it, a friends neighbor in talayan tried to start his car and it went from bad to worse, what we did was hire a mechanic and drove him around my friends houses to check each one if we can start it.

5. In the recent surge of customers towards kasa's car shops, and detailing shops, i would strongly recommend that you go to those places that are known for their services, i would personally prefer to spend a little more and wait a little longer and have reputed people to do the services for me rather than some shop which i don't know, chances are there are some opportunistic shops out there that just rush jobs to get a faster customer turn over in short you end up with a "Minadali na trabaho" which could in the worse of scenario's leave you unhappy and worse just waste your money. So its sometimes better to leave it to the really good professionals not just those that get paid for mediocre services

[groucho]

I was told to spray Lysol on the floor and the carpet of the car, on the areas that got wet. That way, you address the problem of mold and mildew, which actually give the bad odor.

[Para Ordenance]

Need comments on my step by step detailing.

1. Wash car w/ shampoo
2. Dry
3. Clay w/ Quick Detailer
4. 3m Imperial Hand Glaze
5. Mother's Showtime

---------------
Ganyan ang ginagawa ko nitong nakaraang mga linggo. Ano po maganda ipang-last step. Mother's pure carnuba or yung mother's top coat?

Ok na ba yung 3m IHG, hindi ko na ba kelangan yung Mother's Sealer/Glaze. Mura lang kasi yung IHG and may sachet sya at satisfied naman ako sa results.

[madkatz]

In my Opinion

1. Wash
2. Dry
3. Clay
4. 3m IHG or Moms Step 2
5. 3m SCLW or Moms Step 3 or any other LSP

You could use either Mothers Step 2 or 3m IHG, i guess it depends on your preference, for me 3m IHG has more shine but a lot harder to remove though especially when left to dry, Mothers Step 2 has a little less shine but has filling properties than can mask and conceal swirls and very light scratches.

What i do is first use Moms Step 2 to hide the swirls, and then if its good i go straight to LSP, if im not happy with the results however ( not enough shine ), i put on IHG or Megs 7. After a month or so, if the swirls are still masked and hidden i skip Moms Step 2 and go straight to IHG or Megs 7.

As for the LSP's, If you're gonna use the 3m IHG i would recommend you also use the 3m Show Car Liquid Wax, since they work quite well together and it also comes in sachets at the same price as the IHG in Ace the last time i bought mine. If you're gonna use Moms Step 2, then better go get the a Moms LSP since its also made to work with each other.

As for your topcoat or carnuba concern. That would depend on how much time you have, how often can you wax your car, and how well pampered your car is being one factor. And for aesthetics, whats your car's color being another factor.

If you have enough time that you can wax your car, 1.) Once every 2 weeks, if its a daily drive without parking area cover, OR 2.) every month if you car is parked in a covered parking area and well maintained since you use Showtime, then i would recommend using Moms Step 3 Pure Carnauba. Moms Carnauba works well in giving a very wet look to your car but the protection it offers is shorter than compared to Top Coat. Works well with yellow-orange, yellow, red and blue cars.

If you have a daily drive without parking area cover and only have time to lets say apply LSP every month especially with the weather nowadays. I would recommend you use Top Coat. Top Coat gives a very clean mirror like crisp shine, but its looks is very synthetic though not as wet as Moms Step 3 (its synthetic anyway). Top Coat works well with very dark paints, especially black and Dark Grey, it will give you that sleek shine especially if its spanking clean in broad daylight. Based on my experience, Top Coat usually lasts about up to 2 weeks longer compared to Moms Step 3.

If you have a preference over Mothers Products, i would also recommend you get a FX Spray Wax (Lighter Colored Car) or a Reflections Advance Spray Wax (Darker Colored Car). Use a little after your weekly wash and dry routine and buff with a MF towel. A bottle of this goes a very long way, i use only 2 sprays per panel 3 on the hood. This would really extend your LSP's protection and durability especially nowadays with our weather, enhance the gloss of your paint and give it that newly waxed feel. And then just use Showtime for quick detailing touch up and clean ups during the week.

Hope this helps.

[Para Ordenance]

Woah, thanks.

My car is bright red in color btw.

Try ko muna yung 3M IHG paired with 3M SCLW combo. Then I'll see if the results satisfy me.

After maubos siguro nung mga sachets, then i'll give a try kay mother's S/G and pure carnuba when my allowance allows me.

I do wax my car at least every 2 or 3 weeks depending on my free time, minsan weekly kapag walang school.

[theveed]

Para, is that your car in your avatar? OEM BMW Red? If so, your car has a single-stage paint, try to achieve depth instead of just gloss. I recommend finishing it up with a rich wax like Meg 26

[Para Ordenance]

Yes, stock paint pa sya ng BMW.

I think I need a simple lecture on this.

What is a single stage paint? Isang lang ang paint nya (1 coat lang) so wala din clear coat?

What's the difference between depth and gloss?

Thanks in advance.

[PareKoy]

Hi mga sirs,

I need your help badly. There are some white stains on my hood and hood only. I'm not sure if this is the paint fading or kung may mantsa lang. Texture is still smooth though not as smooth as other parts of the car. I'm guessing it has something to do with the heat since sa hood lang meron. At first parang nawala lang ang kintab but lately it's gotten worse. Parang may white mantsa na! Halp pls hehe

Here are the pics:





Thanks mga guru!

Edit: I just read the thread on the 1st page about paint oxidation.. Is this the case?