SM_ATL's Carrera S Journal
Registered User
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,806
From: Dallas
Rep Power: 176
Could use a bit of detailing advice...
I am a complete noob when it comes to detailing. After a week of bad treatment (rain, dirt and track duty), I have some kind of dark dirt layer that seems 'baked' into the paint -probably the wax I guess-. Very little success with regular shampoo unless I scrub very hard and am worried I would scratch the clearcoat.
I know they are a bunch of detail wizards on the forum. Would one of them chime in and recommend what cleaning product I should use?
Here's a pic of my rear wing. I forced the contrast of the photograph to make the dirt more visible.
Thanks a lot for any suggestion ou may have!
I am a complete noob when it comes to detailing. After a week of bad treatment (rain, dirt and track duty), I have some kind of dark dirt layer that seems 'baked' into the paint -probably the wax I guess-. Very little success with regular shampoo unless I scrub very hard and am worried I would scratch the clearcoat.
I know they are a bunch of detail wizards on the forum. Would one of them chime in and recommend what cleaning product I should use?
Here's a pic of my rear wing. I forced the contrast of the photograph to make the dirt more visible.
Thanks a lot for any suggestion ou may have!
ChuckJ
Could use a bit of detailing advice...
I am a complete noob when it comes to detailing. After a week of bad treatment (rain, dirt and track duty), I have some kind of dark dirt layer that seems 'baked' into the paint -probably the wax I guess-. Very little success with regular shampoo unless I scrub very hard and am worried I would scratch the clearcoat.
I know they are a bunch of detail wizards on the forum. Would one of them chime in and recommend what cleaning product I should use?
Here's a pic of my rear wing. I forced the contrast of the photograph to make the dirt more visible.
Thanks a lot for any suggestion ou may have!
I am a complete noob when it comes to detailing. After a week of bad treatment (rain, dirt and track duty), I have some kind of dark dirt layer that seems 'baked' into the paint -probably the wax I guess-. Very little success with regular shampoo unless I scrub very hard and am worried I would scratch the clearcoat.
I know they are a bunch of detail wizards on the forum. Would one of them chime in and recommend what cleaning product I should use?
Here's a pic of my rear wing. I forced the contrast of the photograph to make the dirt more visible.
Thanks a lot for any suggestion ou may have!
Go by and see David Whitlock at Atlanta Auto Salon, http://www.atlantaautosalon.com he is one of the very best. He is located in Roswell, very close to Henessey. If he can't help you it most likely it cannot be cured. People win national concours when he details their cars.
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,499
From: New York
Rep Power: 93
Serge - another thing you might try, if Money's method does not work, is to try Tarminator by Stoner. I have used it many times to get rid of stubborn stains that other methods have failed to deliver on. As an example, I had some newsprint that bleed onto my paint (long story). I tried all kinds of cleaners and it would not come out. However, Tarminator did the trick. I was happy.
http://www.autogeek.net/tarminator.html
Good luck.
http://www.autogeek.net/tarminator.html
Good luck.
Could use a bit of detailing advice...
I am a complete noob when it comes to detailing. After a week of bad treatment (rain, dirt and track duty), I have some kind of dark dirt layer that seems 'baked' into the paint -probably the wax I guess-. Very little success with regular shampoo unless I scrub very hard and am worried I would scratch the clearcoat.
I know they are a bunch of detail wizards on the forum. Would one of them chime in and recommend what cleaning product I should use?
Here's a pic of my rear wing. I forced the contrast of the photograph to make the dirt more visible.
Thanks a lot for any suggestion ou may have!
I am a complete noob when it comes to detailing. After a week of bad treatment (rain, dirt and track duty), I have some kind of dark dirt layer that seems 'baked' into the paint -probably the wax I guess-. Very little success with regular shampoo unless I scrub very hard and am worried I would scratch the clearcoat.
I know they are a bunch of detail wizards on the forum. Would one of them chime in and recommend what cleaning product I should use?
Here's a pic of my rear wing. I forced the contrast of the photograph to make the dirt more visible.
Thanks a lot for any suggestion ou may have!
Serge: you can pick up a bottle of Nu Finish in Walmart, etc. Make sure the wing is clean and there is no grit or dust, then gently apply the Nu Finish in small circular motions (there is no need for excessive pressure).
I also use a lot of the higher-end cleaning and polishing products, but I find myself reaching for the Nu Finish to remove those stubborn tar and dirt stains.
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 80
From: Orange County, CA
Rep Power: 16
Have you tried compounding it?
Auto parts store should have it (pick up 3m). Add some water and just rub lightly. That will clean the surface. You will need to re-wax/polish the area afterwards though.
Auto parts store should have it (pick up 3m). Add some water and just rub lightly. That will clean the surface. You will need to re-wax/polish the area afterwards though.
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 80
From: Orange County, CA
Rep Power: 16
Sorry, I should have given more explanation so you can make a better educated decision Serge. I hate it when I'm given advice without any explanation where it was derived from.
Your car has primer, base coat color paint, clear coat, wax, then polish (in that order of layering).
Most of the times "dark stain" is superficial and is just on the polished surface. Usually a polish cleaner will clean this.
If you neglect your car without re-polish and re-wax after every season (wax and polish is washed away by traditional car wash facilities), stains can get into the base clear coat. This lends to the old saying "protect you paint finish with wax and then make it shine with polish". Also why some bird poop eats through paint easier because wax has been thinned out through washes.
If the "dark stain has embedded into the polish and wax, a compound cleaner will clean all the way down to the clear coat, but remove the wax and polish with it. Thus you will need to re-polish and re-wax.
Hope that helps.
Ps. Sorry for the long winded post guys
Your car has primer, base coat color paint, clear coat, wax, then polish (in that order of layering).
Most of the times "dark stain" is superficial and is just on the polished surface. Usually a polish cleaner will clean this.
If you neglect your car without re-polish and re-wax after every season (wax and polish is washed away by traditional car wash facilities), stains can get into the base clear coat. This lends to the old saying "protect you paint finish with wax and then make it shine with polish". Also why some bird poop eats through paint easier because wax has been thinned out through washes.
If the "dark stain has embedded into the polish and wax, a compound cleaner will clean all the way down to the clear coat, but remove the wax and polish with it. Thus you will need to re-polish and re-wax.
Hope that helps.
Ps. Sorry for the long winded post guys
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 797
From: PNW
Rep Power: 103
Why not?
My experience has been quite the opposite vs other high end solutions.
It's worked for me many times & my cars get babied to the max.....
My experience has been quite the opposite vs other high end solutions.
It's worked for me many times & my cars get babied to the max.....
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 671
From: The Villages, FL
Rep Power: 67
Sorry, I should have given more explanation so you can make a better educated decision Serge. I hate it when I'm given advice without any explanation where it was derived from.
Your car has primer, base coat color paint, clear coat, wax, then polish (in that order of layering).
Most of the times "dark stain" is superficial and is just on the polished surface. Usually a polish cleaner will clean this.
If you neglect your car without re-polish and re-wax after every season (wax and polish is washed away by traditional car wash facilities), stains can get into the base clear coat. This lends to the old saying "protect you paint finish with wax and then make it shine with polish". Also why some bird poop eats through paint easier because wax has been thinned out through washes.
If the "dark stain has embedded into the polish and wax, a compound cleaner will clean all the way down to the clear coat, but remove the wax and polish with it. Thus you will need to re-polish and re-wax.
Your car has primer, base coat color paint, clear coat, wax, then polish (in that order of layering).
Most of the times "dark stain" is superficial and is just on the polished surface. Usually a polish cleaner will clean this.
If you neglect your car without re-polish and re-wax after every season (wax and polish is washed away by traditional car wash facilities), stains can get into the base clear coat. This lends to the old saying "protect you paint finish with wax and then make it shine with polish". Also why some bird poop eats through paint easier because wax has been thinned out through washes.
If the "dark stain has embedded into the polish and wax, a compound cleaner will clean all the way down to the clear coat, but remove the wax and polish with it. Thus you will need to re-polish and re-wax.
With today's baked on clear coats (super hard) hand polishing is basically a waste of effort. You really need a machine to get decent results.
The only problem with WD-40 is that it will leave a residue. Just follow with IPA, and it should be fine. I agree Stoner's may help with the initial heavy stuff, but claying will get that embedded dirt out properly.
Grab yourself a sandwich bag, put it on your hand, and swipe it across the cleaned paint. If it doesn't feel silky smooth, you'll still have more claying/autoscrubbing to do.
Last edited by Money2536; Apr 2, 2014 at 09:25 AM.
Thanks a lot to you all guys, I feel a lot smarter at once 
Between the products and techniques you described and the address of a pro for complementing my own efforts every once in a while, I should have the car back to a pristine condition easily.... Just in time for the pollen season
Between the products and techniques you described and the address of a pro for complementing my own efforts every once in a while, I should have the car back to a pristine condition easily.... Just in time for the pollen season
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 637
From: Toronto
Rep Power: 49
Serge, you track it a lot, get the car Opti Coated or use CQuartz.
Makes after track clean up much easier I have found, do your wheels too. Initial cost is a bit higher, but makes your life easier in the long run.
Makes after track clean up much easier I have found, do your wheels too. Initial cost is a bit higher, but makes your life easier in the long run.
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 594
From: Milwaukee
Rep Power: 54
Marc