Newbie from Nashville... a few questions

[BitterGreg]

I am new to the detailing game. I have always had older cars, and would take them to a car wash or a decently priced detail shop down here for my past cars. I just bought a 2014 Sonata Limited Turbo. This is obviously not a show car, and will be my everyday car. I am going to do a few updates, mainly to de-chrome the car. Change the grill, and wrap the chrome strips and emblems on the back with black vinyl. 

 

I have lurked for about the last week gaining as much information as possible the 20+ videos and the forum. Below is my plan, and a few questions I wasnt able to get a clear understanding on. 

 

I also forgot to mention I had the Simoniz Glasscoat treatment applied at the dealership. I know this is probably looked down upon by most of you guys, but I didnt know much about any of this at the time. Truthfully I have been very impressed with the results. It is beading perfectly and has made getting the bugs off so much easier. I can see a huge difference between where it was applied, and the few spots in the corner of the windshield and bottom of a few panels that were missed. I will be taking it back to have those touched up though.

 

• Clean tires and wheel wells with All Purpose
• Clean wheels with Green Wheel Cleaner
• 2 bucket wash, spray with Detail spray and Dry
• Dress tires and trim with VRT, seal with Quick Sealant
• Vacuum and use Leather and Interior Cleaner
• Clean All glass with Glass cleaner and apply Glass Sealant

This is where it gets a little harry and confusing for me. With the Simoniz do I want to seal, polish, and wax, and if I do does the Quick Sealant go on before i hand polish and wax or after, or does the Quick Sealant replace the waxing? As long as it beading, is there really any need to polish and wax?

 

Polish: If needed, and  with a brand new car would you guys recommend the Brilliant Glaze or Revive Polish?

 

Wax: Same as above would Buttery get the results or is Americana needed?

 

There seam to be no hand applicators that are used in the videos for sale. Mainly the one for the tires, and the hex one used with the Quick Sealant and other items. Where can I get those?

 

I plan on wiping it down with Waterless Car wash a couple times a day. How often do you guys wash and detail your cars, and how often do you polish and wax?

 

I know this long, and I appreciate the feedback or critiques. I will be ordering my supplies in the next day or so, but money is a little tight right now, and only want to get the essentials right now.

 

A very fuzzy picture of the new car, dont mind the finger.

 

Thanks,

 

 

 

 

[mc2hill]

First off, Welcome!

 

It the car already has a coating from the dealership, ask them what you can do to it and what they require to keep the warranty in effect.  Often adding wax over a coating is only wasting the wax - it will not stick long enough to look any different.  They will probably not recommend machine polishing, as that should remove the coating.  Revive Hand polish could be used, as it is primarily a paint cleaner.

 

 Your list looks good, but I would make a few tweaks

• Clean tires and wheel wells with All Purpose   A 50/50 mixture of APC & water will work after the first few cleanings
• Clean wheels with Green Wheel Cleaner        If the wheels are maintained, Car Wash Shampoo  or diluted GWC should be sufficient  
• 2 bucket wash, spray with Detail spray and Dry
• Dress tires and trim with VRT, seal with Quick Sealant  Wheels should only need QS every few months
• Vacuum and use Leather and Interior Cleaner    After the initial cleaning, TID will work too
• Clean All glass with Glass cleaner and apply Glass Sealant

With most of the products you want to use the least aggressive method first.  Make a bottle of diluted APC and try that before moving on to full strength APC.  Same with GWC - try a 60 % GWC to 40% water mixture first.  This is what I use on my own cars, as they are 'maintained'.

 

Doing a WW a couple of times a day seems a little excessive, but we are all a little OCD here! 

[Rich]

I recommend that after you use the Leather Cleaner that you treat the leather (and vinyl) with Adam's Leather Conditioner.  The cleaner will strip any wax or product that was on there before and you need to replace that "moisture" to the fabric.  Once you apply the conditioner, if you notice it streaking, it simply means that it's absorbing the product at different rates. Keep reapplying until you get a uniform appearance.  Wipe it down after each application with a microfiber. You don't have to use a special applicator to apply it.  A soft cloth, microfiber, or even your hand will work just fine. 

[BitterGreg]

First off, Welcome!

 

It the car already has a coating from the dealership, ask them what you can do to it and what they require to keep the warranty in effect.  Often adding wax over a coating is only wasting the wax - it will not stick long enough to look any different.  They will probably not recommend machine polishing, as that should remove the coating.  Revive Hand polish could be used, as it is primarily a paint cleaner.

 

 Your list looks good, but I would make a few tweaks

• Clean tires and wheel wells with All Purpose   A 50/50 mixture of APC & water will work after the first few cleanings
• Clean wheels with Green Wheel Cleaner        If the wheels are maintained, Car Wash Shampoo  or diluted GWC should be sufficient  
• 2 bucket wash, spray with Detail spray and Dry
• Dress tires and trim with VRT, seal with Quick Sealant  Wheels should only need QS every few months
• Vacuum and use Leather and Interior Cleaner    After the initial cleaning, TID will work too
• Clean All glass with Glass cleaner and apply Glass Sealant

With most of the products you want to use the least aggressive method first.  Make a bottle of diluted APC and try that before moving on to full strength APC.  Same with GWC - try a 60 % GWC to 40% water mixture first.  This is what I use on my own cars, as they are 'maintained'.

 

Doing a WW a couple of times a day seems a little excessive, but we are all a little OCD here! 

Thank you for that info. I will definitely dilute those products.

 

I know I typed a couple times a day, but what I meant was a couple of times a week.  

[Chris@Adams]

 What color is your car? That will determined your plan of attack.....if it's a dark color it will pay you to polish, BG then apply sealant followed by wax. If it is a light color like say white, it won't pay you to do the extra steps you would just want the  clay then apply protection of sealants and wax.

[Chris@Adams]

I see that it is white by your sig........Sorry

[BitterGreg]

 What color is your car? That will determined your plan of attack.....if it's a dark color it will pay you to polish, BG then apply sealant followed by wax. If it is a light color like say white, it won't pay you to do the extra steps you would just want the  clay then apply protection of sealants and wax.

Why do you say that? I enjoying doing work like this, so I will be doing some friends and family members on the side, and they are all different types and stages of breakdown.

 

I know there is alot of information on here, but it is kind of sporadic and sometimes difficult to find. Is there a manual type setup that gives detailed information on types of products, or lists problems and different ways to fix them?

[BitterGreg]

I recommend that after you use the Leather Cleaner that you treat the leather (and vinyl) with Adam's Leather Conditioner.  The cleaner will strip any wax or product that was on there before and you need to replace that "moisture" to the fabric.  Once you apply the conditioner, if you notice it streaking, it simply means that it's absorbing the product at different rates. Keep reapplying until you get a uniform appearance.  Wipe it down after each application with a microfiber. You don't have to use a special applicator to apply it.  A soft cloth, microfiber, or even your hand will work just fine. 

Thanks for the advice. Will definitely be doing this.

[Beemer]

 

I know there is alot of information on here, but it is kind of sporadic and sometimes difficult to find. Is there a manual type setup that gives detailed information on types of products, or lists problems and different ways to fix them?

 

The videos are the best place to start.  That will give you the basics and get you started with most of the products.  After that the best teacher is experience.  You'll find the more you do it the more it all starts to make sense to you.

 

Of course ask specific questions here but understand tha you will get a lot of different opinions because we all have different experiences.  There's rarely only one answer.

[378 Pete]