Hey guys, i need some help with what products to chose, this forum is massive and there is so much information it just confuses me. Im looking to do a entire detail on my car. wash/clay/remove swirls/seal/wax restore leather and all rubber seals engine bay wash plus all the regular vacuum, carpet wash etc i have a acura rsx (soft honda paint) and will be using a pc 7424 with LC green orange and yellow pads. To strip anything on the paint ive seen DAWN soap used. Q1) Should i wash with anything after this or leave it at that? Q2) ill be ordering Chemical Guys Maxi-Suds II ~SUPER SUDS SHAMPOO for regular washes any other recommendation? After the wash i will clay the entire car, Q3) should i get Riccardo clay (40$ with detail spray) or Mothers (20$ with spray) Then Menzerna PowerGloss POS34A --> Menzerna Intensive Polish PO91E --> Menzerna Micro Polish PO87MC with respective pads. Q4 anything wrong with this combination? or any reason to stick away from menzerna? Q5 Now the difficult part, should i seal and then wax, or wax and then seal and what waxes/ sealants are good? For the leather and rubber seals i will use Leatherique Prestine Clean. Also i have some stains on the headliner, i will be ordering Poorboy's All Purpose Cleaner but i thought a more dedicated fabric cleaner would be better. Q6 should i get either 303 Cleaner & Spot Remover or Chemical Guys Lightning FAST CARPET+UPHOLSTERY STAIN EXTRACTOR CLEANER & STAIN REMOVER...or any other recommendations? And for the engine bay wash, ill use the APC and possibly dawn if there is alot of grease. Thanks
Dude you could spend so much on product and still have lots left to buy... I personally love Jetseal as an LSP...
Q1- I wouldn't worry if you use Dawn soap once on a car. Just don't get in the habit of doing it. And after everything is stripped, you don't have to re-wash it. Q2- Personally, I really like Majestic Solutions Ultragloss for a maintenance shampoo. Q3- If it's just for your car, Mother's. One clay bar should do your entire car, that is if it is not too contaminated. If it feels like sandpaper, get an aggressive clay bar. Riccardo is easier to mold, but 40 dollars!? I just bought 3 bars for 20 w/ shipping included in that price. Q4- You probably won't need the powergloss. It cuts like a monster and is probably overkill for your soft paint. Try the least aggressive first, then move up. If you didn't already buy Power Gloss, then I wouldn't get it. You should be able to knock back anything on your car without it. And Menzerna is the best polishes IMO. Q5- Seal then wax. Personally, I just seal cars because I like the look better, it gives it a brighter look instead of a darker look like some waxes do. I use Gloss-it Concouso Gloss, it is my favorite LSP, I love it. However, the durability is only 2-3 months when used alone.
I follow darkstar's lead Q1: You can use dawn, but like darkstar said don't get in a habit of using it. In fact, I would recommend getting Chemical guys citrus wash clear. You can use this as a LSP stripper or as a maint. wash depending on the concentration. Q2: see one Q3: Mother's clay. It's good enough for me. I don't see the point in buying expensive clay. Q4: Don't bother with powergloss. Go for Powerfinish (PO203). It has good bite, dependent on the pad, and finishes off very nice. You can then go over with either PO85 or 166 to get some really good gloss. Q5: Chemistry won't allow you to put a sealant over a wax. Always start with a sealant base coat, then layers as much wax as you want :lol: not really, but 2 coats should do fine, depending on the wax
1. Dawn will be fine for a single wash to strip old LSP. 2. The CG soap will be fine. I like the CWC and CWG they make, a lot. 3. Use the mother's clay kit. That will be ok, and it's cheaper than the Riccardo. 4. IP with orange pad, then micro with green pad. if you have a blue or black pad use that instead of the green. You shouldnt need to go anymore aggressive that the IP on Honda paint. I know, I used to have a Honda. 5. Seal then wax. My favorite sealant is Wekstat Acrylic Jet Trigger. I have a few different waxes I like, but a good one to use over the sealant is Wet Obsession. This combo is very slick and very shiny 6.. The CG carpet stuff should be ok. You could try Folex as well, which you can get at Lowe's or Home Depot. 7. Most APC's at 10:1 will be ok on fabrics. As far as the headliner, but spray anything directly on it. use a MF towel to apply the cleaner. You dont want to loosen up the adhesive that holds it in place. 8. Rubber seals, you can use shin-itsu grease (honda should carry it), or 1Z Gummi stick. leather, get some 1Z leather care. great stuff, easy to use, and work clog the pores in perforated leather. 9. Use the APC on the engine bay diluted 4:1. That should be good enough. hope this helps, and take plenty of before and afters of the detail. good luck!
