Blizzard Pearl Paint

[marshal]

i can't believe you guys use dish soap.

 

[RedMagik]

Not to derail the op (too much), but I just had the truck taken in for 10k checkup and asked about undercarriage treatment. They said they don't offer a service like that and then proceeded to tell me to go to the bed liner shop down the road...I'm thinking that's not what I'm looking for, but please correct me if I'm wrong. Should I be asking for something else, in specific?

So it's called the environmental package but that includes the undercarriage coating, interior sealant, and that exterior "protectant" applied every 6 months. This is the second time I have had a undercarriage coating applied through a Toyota dealer, the first time was in VA on our old Limited. I think they are giving you the run around or don't offer it.

 

[Rmack]

i can't believe you guys use dish soap.

Only on initial wash before using a high end sealer / wax. Actually recommended by Zaino. Never wash with dish soap after a good detail, unless getting ready to clay bar and re-do the polish.

Dawn actually helps to remove a lot of contaminants and old wax. Then the clay bar does the rest. I definitely do not recommend dish soap for a routine wash.

 

[Bevo]

i can't believe you guys use dish soap.

No kidding, I just lick my plates clean.

 

[intense1776]

May be just a regional thing, but I know people / shops who recommend clay bar without even inspecting the paint job.

Put your hand in a plastic sandwich bag and slide it over the paint surface after washing. If it feels perfectly smooth, clay isn't needed. If you are waxing, and do not clay, you are sealing in, and potentially damaging the paint, if you do not clay. While waxing, you may pick up something in the applicator pad or buffer that will scratch the paint. So, its best to be safe and clean the paint before waxing/sealing.

As soon as you are done washing, your paint is getting recontaminated. Wash mitts are design to be gentle and not scratch the paint. They do not have enough (or any, really) scrubbing power to take off bugs and tar, etc. Clay lifts the contaminates off safely, and holds them away from the paint.

Also to the comment about dish soap harming clearcoat, this is the first I have ever heard of this. Is there a reference somewhere about this?

Twelve car cleaning myths - CNN.com

Number 1 on this list.

 

[Rmack]

Put your hand in a plastic sandwich bag and slide it over the paint surface after washing. If it feels perfectly smooth, clay isn't needed. If you are waxing, and do not clay, you are sealing in, and potentially damaging the paint, if you do not clay. While waxing, you may pick up something in the applicator pad or buffer that will scratch the paint. So, its best to be safe and clean the paint before waxing/sealing.

As soon as you are done washing, your paint is getting recontaminated. Wash mitts are design to be gentle and not scratch the paint. They do not have enough (or any, really) scrubbing power to take off bugs and tar, etc. Clay lifts the contaminates off safely, and holds them away from the paint.



Twelve car cleaning myths - CNN.com

Number 1 on this list.

in bold is exactly how I learned to do it. My comment was that it needed to be inspected (like you stated). I learned that through a video from Chemical Guys. I also agree with the dish soap method being harmful "IF" you are not immediately applying a sealer / wax. As far as a dish soap actually harming a clear coat by any chemical reaction, I would have to see a lot more scientific data.

I think we both are thinking along the same lines and I appreciate your comments on this board. You have obviously done your "time" on many vehicles.

 

[1engineer]

Dish soap does NOT harm the clear coat. C'mon guys. It WILL remove all that cool wax though.