Sealant help!?

[TheVin]

Hi All:

I took home my awesome 08 just about 2-3 weeks ago, and I have been having non-stop fun learning its ins-and-outs and working slowly up to its limits. Amazing car. People who think US automakers are 'dead' and can't create a 'top notch car' should take one of these home for a week.

Anyway, not the point of this thread. The point is I followed the detailing info here Sunday. I used a car wash (Doubled up on the soap to lubricate the Terry Cloth and prevent contaminant scratches), and went over the car about 4 times. Then I dried with a microfiber, used a clay bar on about 80% of the surfaces and then used a meguires artificial wax/sealant. Amazing results!

Now, my question is: I only had a chance to do one quick coat of sealant. I would like to ideally have 2-3 coats on there before winter. If I want to do sealant next week, would a quick wash and detailing spray (like Mothers showtime) be sufficient before the next layer of polish? I don't think I'll have time to clay-bar it again, and if I did, I would probably remove the first coat of sealant in the process? How should I prep the car for the next round of sealant?




I used: Black Magic car shampoo (2.5 times the soap mix), followed by water hose rinse, followed by Mothers clay bar on everything but the rear and cabin top (which were just show-timed spray-and-wiped.. was running out of time), followed by Meguires synthetic wax / sealant.

Also: I did notice a very few spider-web scratches when the sun was setting, hitting the car just right. I have no idea if they were there before (like when the dealer wiped down the car). I used just cheap 100% cotton terrycloth to do the wash and a microfiber towel to dry. I couldn't find a lambswool wash mitt. So could they be the culprits that made the scratches? The few scratches are ultra-fine and hardly noticeable- but put enough of them in there every time I wash and it could be a problem. Any advice on what to use or not to use?


Vin

 

[ScottM]

It sounds like you are on the right track! Definately try to find a lambs wool mitt to wash with, I think that will help with the spiderwebbing. Also, I know it's a pain, but use 2 buckets to wash with. One to rinse, the other to keep your soapy water in, that way, you're not dumping your grit and stuff back in to your water when you rinse your mitt.

As far as when to apply more sealant, I would wait 24 hours to apply the second coat to give the first coat time to bond to the paint and cure fully. After that, apply away. Now, you can use a quick detailer and a microfiber to wipe the car down, before applying some more sealant, but I would only do that if it was a day or 2 past the first coat. Even if the car looks clean, there is probably dust and fine road debris that you might not be able to see very well. I kind of feel like the quick detailer might not provide enough lubrication while wiping it down to prevent that dust from clotting up and sliding against the surface. Basically, if I'm going to put either more sealant or wax on and it's been more than 2 days, I'm going to wash it again, even if I don't spend a lot of time out there doing it. With your car being black and having the ability to show spiderwebbing better than almost any other color, I would be a little more cautious.

Whoops, I just went back and read your post again and you said "WASH and detail spray", I would do a wash by itself with no detailing spray if you are going to put a coat of sealant on after you dry it. I wouldn't want any shine enhancing chemicals left behind by the detailing spray effecting the bonding of the sealant to either the paint or previous coat of sealant. It probably wouldn't hurt it, but it really isn't needed after a wash especially with a coat of sealant going on afterwards.

You definately don't need to clay bar it again that quick though. Along with it removing previous coats of sealant/wax, that one time removed the contaminates that regular washing couldn't get. You only need to clay bar after quite a few missed washes (as in months), or when the car still feels "gritty" after all waxes and sealants have been stripped. If your car is strictly an outside car that isn't garaged, maybe sooner, but it definately shouldn't be a weekly or bi-weekly process. I might do mine every 3, 4, or 5 months, depending if I'm going to polish it.

I wouldn't be suprised one bit if the cheap towells caused the slight scratches you have. Also, when drying the car, don't press down to hard, it doesn't take much pressure to dry a car. If your microfiber isn't picking up water very much, throw it to the side (not on the ground ) and get a new one. Washing and drying is where almost all swirls and spiderwebbing come from. Another good idea is to

Again, black is one of the worst colors for showing imperfections in the sun, but if you're careful when you wash and dry it, that will keep them down big time! Again, this is just a process I use and how I take care of my Alloy, along with the rest of the families cars and it seems to work pretty well for me. Most people say I'm pretty crazy when it comes to my car, but it doesn't have any swirls and shines like crazy when I'm done!

Sorry for the long winded novel!

 

[TheVin]

It sounds like you are on the right track! Definately try to find a lambs wool mitt to wash with, I think that will help with the spiderwebbing. Also, I know it's a pain, but use 2 buckets to wash with. One to rinse, the other to keep your soapy water in, that way, you're not dumping your grit and stuff back in to your water when you rinse your mitt.

As far as when to apply more sealant, I would wait 24 hours to apply the second coat to give the first coat time to bond to the paint and cure fully. After that, apply away. Now, you can use a quick detailer and a microfiber to wipe the car down, before applying some more sealant, but I would only do that if it was a day or 2 past the first coat. Even if the car looks clean, there is probably dust and fine road debris that you might not be able to see very well. I kind of feel like the quick detailer might not provide enough lubrication while wiping it down to prevent that dust from clotting up and sliding against the surface. Basically, if I'm going to put either more sealant or wax on and it's been more than 2 days, I'm going to wash it again, even if I don't spend a lot of time out there doing it. With your car being black and having the ability to show spiderwebbing better than almost any other color, I would be a little more cautious.

Whoops, I just went back and read your post again and you said "WASH and detail spray", I would do a wash by itself with no detailing spray if you are going to put a coat of sealant on after you dry it. I wouldn't want any shine enhancing chemicals left behind by the detailing spray effecting the bonding of the sealant to either the paint or previous coat of sealant. It probably wouldn't hurt it, but it really isn't needed after a wash especially with a coat of sealant going on afterwards.

You definately don't need to clay bar it again that quick though. Along with it removing previous coats of sealant/wax, that one time removed the contaminates that regular washing couldn't get. You only need to clay bar after quite a few missed washes (as in months), or when the car still feels "gritty" after all waxes and sealants have been stripped. If your car is strictly an outside car that isn't garaged, maybe sooner, but it definately shouldn't be a weekly or bi-weekly process. I might do mine every 3, 4, or 5 months, depending if I'm going to polish it.

I wouldn't be suprised one bit if the cheap towells caused the slight scratches you have. Also, when drying the car, don't press down to hard, it doesn't take much pressure to dry a car. If your microfiber isn't picking up water very much, throw it to the side (not on the ground ) and get a new one. Washing and drying is where almost all swirls and spiderwebbing come from. Another good idea is to

Again, black is one of the worst colors for showing imperfections in the sun, but if you're careful when you wash and dry it, that will keep them down big time! Again, this is just a process I use and how I take care of my Alloy, along with the rest of the families cars and it seems to work pretty well for me. Most people say I'm pretty crazy when it comes to my car, but it doesn't have any swirls and shines like crazy when I'm done!

Sorry for the long winded novel!

hey, No problem! More info the better! Yep, I used the two bucket method. And yeah, I think you are probably right about the spiderwebbing coming from the cheap towels... But I also strongly suspect the dealer wipe-down... It was covered with a lot of gritty dust from the haul up, and if they were not too careful on their wash, then that would also explain it. But, a lambswool mitt won't hurt, and after blowing all that $$$ on the car, why hesitate with the cost of a mitt!?

So cool, looks like a fast wash this weekend followed by another coat of wax.

Okay, what about the wheels? Is their a sealant for the polished aluminum factory stock wheels?

Vin

 

[ScottM]

hey, No problem! More info the better! Yep, I used the two bucket method. And yeah, I think you are probably right about the spiderwebbing coming from the cheap towels... But I also strongly suspect the dealer wipe-down... It was covered with a lot of gritty dust from the haul up, and if they were not too careful on their wash, then that would also explain it. But, a lambswool mitt won't hurt, and after blowing all that $$$ on the car, why hesitate with the cost of a mitt!?

So cool, looks like a fast wash this weekend followed by another coat of wax.

Okay, what about the wheels? Is their a sealant for the polished aluminum factory stock wheels?

Vin

You got it! I know what you mean about the dealers though, I actually requested the dealer not wash my car when I bought it so I could take a little extra care of it! It felt weird buying a dirty car, but hey, like you said, that's a lot of money and then have to contend with swirls!

I actually use the sealant I use on my car on my wheels after I use chrome/metal polish on them. I've found I don't have to use the polish but once every 4 or 5 washes, if that. To be honest, it probably isn't necessary, but I think it looks great and I have zero problems with break dust. When I wash my car at the end of the week, or maybe after 2, the only thing really there is dirt for the most part.

 

[wytstang]

Here's my 2 penny's
1) get a quality soap and stick to the recommended dose. If it says 1 ounce to 1 gallon of water then thats what you use. Doubling the amount only makes for a stronger detergent not a safer soap solution. This can weaken the sealant/wax used, Megs Gold Glass or Duroglosses #901 Cherry car soap (Napa/O'Riely/Car Quest sell durogloss) are both great soaps available OTC.
2) Clay barring only needs to be done once maybe twice a year depending on you area. ClayMagic has a nice kit that I like over Megs and Mothers.
3) Having a black car your towels will need to be plush to avoid webbing/marring head over to target and pick up some VROOM brand microfiber towels.
4) Wally World sells a really nice very large MF drying towel for under $6 I believe Microtech is the brand (buy 2 incase you need it). *TIP* before you start to dry your car give it one last rinse. Start by removing the nozzle and letting the water flow under it's own power (no pinching the hose or anything), this causes the water to puddle and then "sheet" most of the water off the car. It leaves behind less water beads and they are much smaller allowing you to dry the car faster and reduce water spots. Having a black car you may want to write this down lol**
Thats all I can think of right now......

 

[ScottM]

Here's my 2 penny's
1) get a quality soap and stick to the recommended dose. If it says 1 ounce to 1 gallon of water then thats what you use. Doubling the amount only makes for a stronger detergent not a safer soap solution. This can weaken the sealant/wax used, Megs Gold Glass or Duroglosses #901 Cherry car soap (Napa/O'Riely/Car Quest sell durogloss) are both great soaps available OTC.
2) Clay barring only needs to be done once maybe twice a year depending on you area. ClayMagic has a nice kit that I like over Megs and Mothers.
3) Having a black car your towels will need to be plush to avoid webbing/marring head over to target and pick up some VROOM brand microfiber towels.
4) Wally World sells a really nice very large MF drying towel for under $6 I believe Microtech is the brand (buy 2 incase you need it). *TIP* before you start to dry your car give it one last rinse. Start by removing the nozzle and letting the water flow under it's own power (no pinching the hose or anything), this causes the water to puddle and then "sheet" most of the water off the car. It leaves behind less water beads and they are much smaller allowing you to dry the car faster and reduce water spots. Having a black car you may want to write this down lol**
Thats all I can think of right now......

Great tips! I never use a nozzle on my car and it drives my wife nuts!

I will add as far as claying goes, I might clay mine more than that if I didn't wash my car but once a month, which in that case, I might clay it every 3 to 4 months. If you wash your car regularly and take care of it, you're right though, you shouldn't need to do it more than twice a year.