As we are in the midst of the snowy season here in CO my truck has been getting even more beat up than usual. The salt, magnesium chloride, and gravel have not been kind to my finishes. Since some product testing was needing to be done anyways today I figured what better time to give my truck its 'mid winter' cleaning and renew the protection to get myself thru to spring. As you can see the truck is still sporting a little coating of snow at the start... temps were in the 30's when I started and products on the shade side of the truck kept freezing to the surface while I worked... but no frozen foam was gonna stop me from cleaning off the gunk! PROCESS: The engine bay was actually still very clean so it only got a light wipe down with waterless wash. Tires were attacked with All Purpose Cleaner & Deep Clean Tire Brush Wheels were cleaned with Deep Wheel Cleaner, Lug Nut Brush, and Boars Hair Brush. Inner hoops were addressed with Wheel Woolies. I went with my 3 bucket wash process since the paint was extra gritty. Used our shop pressure washer with foam cannon using Adam's Car Wash Shampoo. Ultimate Merino Wool Wash Mitt was used for the upper 2/3rds, a jumbo wash pad was used for the lower 1/3rd. A separate 9x9 wash pad was used for the grill where more grit had accumulated. Drying was done with a Great White Drying Towel, Master Blaster Dryer, and New Formula Detail Spray. The entire exterior was clayed with Detail Spray and Adam's Clay Bar. Spot corrections were performed with the Flex PE14-2 rotary and prototype pad/polish combo. The bulk of the correction was handled by the Flex 3401vrg, white Gen4 Pad, and Fine Machine Polish. I added a pass of Revive Polish with the Gray Gen4 Pad to clean the paint up (I love this combo for light cleanup and sealant prep) Paint, headlights, tail lights, and glass were sealed with Quick Sealant. Front billet bowtie was corrected using 4" blue pads and Metal Polish 1&2 combo. Same combination was used to correct mag chloride stains on rear chrome bumper. Exterior trim was treated with Super VRT, In & Out Spray, and block sponges. Wheel wells were dressed with a liberal spray of Invisible Undercarriage Spray. Tires were dressed with a prototype tire coating. Interior was completely vacuumed with the Metro Compact Wall Mount Vac N' Blo.(the more I use this vac the more I love it) All interior surfaces were cleaned and dressed with a prototype interior quick detailer. BEFORE: Note the amounts of salt/mag chloride buildup Thank goodness for weathertech mats! Wheels got a liberal dose of APC and a good scrubbing Next the deep wheel cleaner with assorted brushes Blasted the truck down, rinsed wheels, then foamed up After the 3 bucket wash, busted out a pool rinsing attachment I've made from an old scrap of hose... hmmmm... new product idea? Pulled in to dry Using the PE and prototype compound for fixing some marring and scratches introduced by a 'clay alternative' On to the 3401, white pad, and FMP Topped off with a pass of Revive on a Gray Pad to clean up the paint. Everything removed using Double Soft towels Trim treated with Super VRT, In & Out, and Block Sponges The mag chloride on the roads does a number on the rear chrome bumper... leaves kind a weird copper colored water spot that won't come off with washing, clay, etc. Metal Polish 1 & 2 plus a 4" blue metal polishing pad to the rescue! BOOM! Success!! Same issue on the billet bowtie up front... this was after washing, claying, and a DS wipe down Taped off half to show the change then went to work TA-DA! After both Metal Polish 1 & 2 had been completed Pulled the weathertechs and gave them a quick rinse, then scrub with APC and fender brush Vacuuming the interior out... lots of goldfish cracker crumbs... those with kids know the deal. Interior Quick Detailer (prototype at work) Little side by side testing Really liking the look this product leaves. Not very shiny, just a touch darker, no greasy residue or shine. Great for a clean and dress all in one product. Applied to weathertechs too for a 'slippery feel' test. Time to restore the Quick Sealant coating to the outside Wheels got a coating too Early prototype tire coating being applied Outside just in time for some great sunset shots! Thanks for looking! Hopefully this one will tide me over till the weather warms up!
Nice work. I love weathertechs, I have had 4 sets, but man I have how they curl up in the corners, and I wish they made some sort of mounting solution for the pass. front, always slips around and the corner gets warped.
I always make a point to leave mine sitting in the sun for a day or 2 when the weather is nice to soften them up/relax them. Planning on putting them on the back deck when I finally pull them out for the season (spring) and switch over to my lloyd mats.
Problem is where I live it can get to 120 in my car during the summer, so it warps them. Still love them
this is cool: right now i'm using a shut off valve with the hose end. nice idea for the extended hose and curved at the end.
I HAVE A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THIS THREAD It is titled, "mid winter detail" BUT, we are in March, I sure as hell hope I am more than 1/2 way done with my winter... I'm done with the white crap and cold for a minute Nice work!
I wish... we got dumped on recenlty, and we're expecting another big hit of the white fluffy stuff this weekend... I'm planning on leaving my truck tucked away in the warehouse for Saturday and Sunday so my hard work isn't flushed away so soon.
Nice work, that truck is SWEET! Now, for those not liking winter - spread that wealth around, send some snow to California, we need it!
Dylan, nice work. Im with ya on the weathertech's. Have them in my wife's Tahoe. They need to put the little dimple spikes on the bottom of them like Husky does. Then they wont move at all.
