Swirls and Micro-scratches Inevitable?

S

Signess

New member
Even when washing per the "two bucket method" and using either a micro-fiber or 100% cotton towel I still see straight micro-scratches and some swirling.
This is a new runner, mind you. I don't let the dealer wash it either as I am sure it would be 100x worse than it already is.
Any advice or should I just accept the inevitable?
 
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I used to detail cars part time. Depends on color. Black, forgettabout it.

Now that I am older I just go white/silver.
 
Once I got my first giant door ding in the driver's door only a couple of months after I bought it I decided light scratches and swirls weren't all that big of a deal.
 
spetka said:
I used to detail cars part time. Depends on color. Black, forgettabout it.

Now that I am older I just go white/silver.
Click to expand...

Ha, fair enough. I am still waiting for mine. Believe it or not the WRX I traded in I had for almost 4 years and not a single door ding. This required walking half a mile after parking at the grocery store, though.

And Spetka, I have a white 4runner. I can only see them in direct sunlight, but it still annoys me big time but I am OCD.
 
I actually just had mine detailed by a professional shop because of how bad the angel hair swirls on mine had gotten and I use the two bucket method. I'm super picky though.

They told me that it's inevitable, especially with the soft water-based paint everybody uses now. They did a two step on mine with an orbital buffer using cleaner wax then regular wax. It made a big difference.

They told me to keep it washed frequently and waxed every 90 days.

104ma76.jpg
 
Signess said:
Even when washing per the "two bucket method" and using either a micro-fiber or 100% cotton towel I still see straight micro-scratches and some swirling.
This is a new runner, mind you. I don't let the dealer wash it either as I am sure it would be 100x worse than it already is.
Any advice or should I just accept the inevitable?
Click to expand...


Did the truck start out as scratch/swirl free? If so, you may want to revisit your method. using the 2 bucket method doesn't necessarily mean you'll prevent scratches.

Do you plan to go off-roading? if so, you'll need to live with scratches on your truck.

I do light off-roading and ceramic coated the truck myself. This seemed to lessen the pinstripes I get from the trail.
 
People are complaining about swirl marks?! lol

I've had multiple people console me about the scratches on my truck. They are so bad it looks like someone keyed it. These are trucks, get them dirty and have some fun.
 
Some level is inevitable and a periodic clay/polish should be expected. But I have had mine for 2 years now and scratching from washes is barely visible and only when really looking with certain lighting. I use a two bucket method with a grit guard in the dirty bucket and only high quality microfiber, but I am not super persnickety about it otherwise. There are some using a 3 bucket method, which should be even better. Autogeek.net has some great tutorials. Ceramic or similar coatings can be done which should minimize how aggressive you have to get with your washes (and may allow for foam gun/pressure wash only sometimes) and probably a little more durable than your clearcoat. Most will say not to worry about it. Totally up to you. Maintaining a vehicle in like new condition is a grind, and just is not worth it to most people.
 
Xtremluck said:
People are complaining about swirl marks?! lol

I've had multiple people console me about the scratches on my truck. They are so bad it looks like someone keyed it. These are trucks, get them dirty and have some fun.
Click to expand...

:thumb:
not everyone buys a 4runner for what they were designed to do or spend 40k plus to deliberately get them all scratched up while offroading. I for one had to eventually learn how to live with having new scratches/pinstripes everytime I went out and enjoyed the truck for what it was intended to do.
 
Signess said:
Ha, fair enough. I am still waiting for mine. Believe it or not the WRX I traded in I had for almost 4 years and not a single door ding. This required walking half a mile after parking at the grocery store, though.

And Spetka, I have a white 4runner. I can only see them in direct sunlight, but it still annoys me big time but I am OCD.
Click to expand...

You think you're OCD...read this...:lmao:
Toyota 4Runner Detailing
 
Signess said:
Even when washing per the "two bucket method" and using either a micro-fiber or 100% cotton towel I still see straight micro-scratches and some swirling.
This is a new runner, mind you. I don't let the dealer wash it either as I am sure it would be 100x worse than it already is.
Any advice or should I just accept the inevitable?
Click to expand...

Watch Larry at AMMO NYC. You'll learn a lot about washing and detailing. Just because you're two bucketing it, doesn't mean you'll be scratch free. There are so many variables that can cause love marks (what type of microfiber towels and the GSM, are you using grit guards in your buckets, what kind of wash mitt are you using, are you using lubrication when drying?, etc, etc). I'm pretty picky about washing my truck and use all the right products/techniques, I still have minimal love marks. I'd recommend staying away from cotton towels.

Keep in mind that every time you touch your paint (no matter how great of products or how careful you are), you risk scratching it. No way around it, but you can minimize it!
 
inevitable? no. inevitable without being obsessive about your cleaning/detailing/polishing method? yes.

this is the biggest reason to just say no to black cars. i bought mag grey so i can use whatever carwash i want and not worry about it.
 
When I got my 4R it came with a tube of paint sealant. I had some swirls and decided to put that dealer-supplied paint sealant on it. Used a microfiber cloth and followed the instructions. It worked like a charm. Prior to using the dealer stuff, I tried a Macguire’s and a 3M product and neither of those worked.
 
Yeah just drive it through some bushes and trees branches and they'll take those micro scratches right out !

Funny thing; I drive mine off trail through woods and have sratched the hell out of it but I won't drive it through an automatic car wash. I don't want it to get swirls on it. lol Go figure.
 
I don't sweat it on the 4Runner. It's a off-road vehicle.

I do take care of it, hand wash, seal and wax, but I don't obsess over it like it's a sports car.

What I don't like is how easy it scratches, but I'm sure that will bother me less and less as I add them up off-roading.
 
I used to detail years ago and it kills me not putting the effort in and I off-road, so I'm fully aware that its an oxymoron but I'm a little ocd lol.

My truck is white but i see everything - a good sealer (marine ones are good) helps pinstrips for sure, I literally wash bugs off with outside hose pressure (once a week).

I use a foam cannon and one bucket with a grit guard. I pre wash, foam, lightly wash with a micro fibre mitt and power wash followed by drying with an electric drier. (machine polish once every 6months)

Sealer wise i used REJEX and leave it on for 12hrs every 2-3months and the truck is smooooth
 
Great, thanks for all of the suggestions.

I probably won't care about it near as much in a year or two, but given the fact that it is not even 2 months old makes me obsess over it.

I don't trust myself with polish or machining, but I think my plan going forward is to wash once per week using three buckets with a good soap w/ wax beads while using a quality microfibre towel. Every 3-4 months I will wax. Every 4 years I will bring to a detailer to polish professionally. If anything negative comes of it I will blame on the car gods.
 
Most swirls are put on by drying.
MF towels? Great. But how do you wash them? with the rest of your laundry and on heated tumble dry?--not that great in the long run.

Key is actually touching your vehicle the least amount possible. In my case, it so happens to also be the "laziest" option.

I clay and put a wipe-on, walk away sealant on it in spring. And a spray on, rinse off sealant before winter. (Opti-Coat from Optimum, and the hydrophobic sealant from Mckees; both are cheapo but wicked effective products)
Minimal handwashing, and run it through the touchless car wash twice a month on the wife's car. Same thing on the 4runners, but they all had swirls to begin with, and I cannot be bothered to machine polish such a big vehicle.
 
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