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Old 06-06-2003   #1 (permalink)
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Auto Detailing 101 from a Pro

http://www.corral.net/forums/images/...s/grinking.gifShow-N-Go: Cut the Grime and Bring Home a Trophy

Hey everyone, I just thought I'd share some good info with everyone. Everyone loves Zanio, well its a great product but as we know it costs $$

But have no fear, there are cheaper less pocket book hurting solutions to giving your car an awesome show shine and bringing home a trophy or a few hotties at the same time.

Most car owners avoid cleaning their engine like the plague - fearing they'll do something that will do irrevocable harm to their car. Thankfully, that's not the case, providing you take a few precautionary measures and take your time.

Alright, so some products of choice I recommend.

1.) STEAM
2.) Castrol Wheel/Rim Cleaner
3.) Mothers Back to Black
4.) Simple Green
5.) Cheapo Tire Spray
6.) Steel Wool


First off, we need to protect water-sensitive electronics and air intake by covering them with plastic. Easy way to do this, wrap your alternator in a plastic grocery bag, and cover the end of your air intake with a plastic bag and your battery terminals and the fuse box as well. Now you are ready to get dirty.

Following the directions on the back of the STEAM can, start your car and warm it up to operating temperature. Then shut off the car, and vigorously apply the STEAM. Its safe on connections and what not, so no need to worry. It won't damage wires.
As the directions say, allow to sit for -5-10 minutes. Then rinse with water, all you need to do is turn on the hose and gently rinse the motor, be careful of the intake. until everything is cleaned off. From top to bottle, tranny pan too!

Now you need some towels, try to dry off key areas.

Now we can use some simple green on anything that is still alil dirty and start using some elbow grease. Once your satisfied with your results you can move on to the front of that engine and the Alternator. Castrol Wheel/Rim cleaner works great on the metal that the front Cover and Alternator are made from. You can also use some steel wool on these to help shine them up.
Back To Black works great on all the black plastic parts in the engine bay. Cheapo tire spray works great on adding a shine to hoses and belts. But I wouldn't do it regularly cause many contain acids. But for car shows its alright every now and then.

Now we can move on to the car itself.

Here is how I detail my car, from start to finish...

1.) Dawn Soap Wash Yes DAWN dish soap, acts a stripper for old wax and squashed bugs and tree sap, etc. Will not hurt paint

Wash the car throughly every square inch of it!

2.) Mothers California Gold, Clay Bar Kit Follow directions, clay bar the whole car, then rinse off with some soapy water till the residue is gone

3.) Mothers California Gold, Carnauba Cleaner Wax Apply1 Base Coat

4.) Mothers California Gold, SEALER and GLAZE (phase two) Apply one base coat of this product as well

5.) Two Coats of Mothers California Gold, Pure Carnauba Wax (phase three) Apply two coats

6.) Four Coats of Mothers Reflections Premium Polish Well you can apply as many as you like at this point, but if you want a real mirror glossy finish..... 4 coats is the trick

7.) Removed each wheel and apply Mothers MAG & ALUMINUM POLISH After you clean the crap out of the wheel. Don't use that spray on spray off . It has acid in it which will pit and ruin your rims over time

8.) Mothers Back to Black for trim pieces

You can figure out the rest. Use 100% Terry Cloth Cotton Towels ONLY!!!

Another good tip, RUB the WAX into the car in a circular motion then rub it in striagth lines, going in the same direction. You want the wax to haze in a striaght line.

If you do this two the teeth, in the shade, on a cool day. You're car should look brand spanking new! But it might take you most of the day, so get an early start!

And good luck and success. I've won a few car shows from this procedure.
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Old 06-06-2003   #2 (permalink)
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Pretty good, i must say.

But..ZAINO requires just as many steps as Mothers to get the best result, the difference is Mothers is tougher to get off

Why not call this topic the WAR OF THE WAXES ?
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Old 06-06-2003   #3 (permalink)
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PRICE COMPARISON:

Zaino: (retail)
ZFX Flash Cure Accelerator Additive $19.95
Z-2 Show Car Polish for Clear Coated Car Finishes $12.95
Z-18™ ClayBar $16.95
Z-6™ Ultra Clean Gloss Enhancer Spray $9.95
TOTAL: $59.80

Mothers: (retail)
Mothers California Gold Clay Bar Paint Saving System: $16.95
Mothers California Gold Carnauba® Paste Cleaner Wax (12 oz.) $12.95
Mothers California Gold® Sealer and Glaze - $5.99
Mothers California Gold Carnauba Wax $9.99
Mothers Reflections$9.99
TOTAL: $55.87

Its a $4 dollar difference !!!
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Old 06-06-2003   #4 (permalink)
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Wow...thats a lot of stuff to wax your car. I guess I am the cherry here cause I just use Maguires in the bottle...hmmm, go figure.
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Old 06-10-2003   #5 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally posted by GTRaptor
PRICE COMPARISON:

Zaino: (retail)
ZFX Flash Cure Accelerator Additive $19.95
Z-2 Show Car Polish for Clear Coated Car Finishes $12.95
Z-18™ ClayBar $16.95
Z-6™ Ultra Clean Gloss Enhancer Spray $9.95
TOTAL: $59.80

Mothers: (retail)
Mothers California Gold Clay Bar Paint Saving System: $16.95
Mothers California Gold Carnauba® Paste Cleaner Wax (12 oz.) $12.95
Mothers California Gold® Sealer and Glaze - $5.99
Mothers California Gold Carnauba Wax $9.99
Mothers Reflections$9.99
TOTAL: $55.87

Its a $4 dollar difference !!!
Mothers California Gold Clay Bar Paint Saving System: $11.95 @ Walmart
Mothers California Gold Carnauba Cleaner Wax They give you a bottle in the Clay bar kit
Mothers California Gold® Sealer and Glaze - $5.99
Mothers California Gold Carnauba Wax7.99 @ Walmart
Mothers Reflections 11.99, well at least around here it is...

37.92 is usually what I pay
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Old 06-11-2003   #6 (permalink)
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I can't find Mothers products around me except at NAPA and they don't have the reflections polish. I can't find it at all. Any suggestions?
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Old 07-10-2003   #7 (permalink)
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Ya you check out my post and use Meguiars!

http://www.allfordmustangs.com/forum...threadid=17510

Marc
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Old 07-10-2003   #8 (permalink)
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5.) Two Coats of Mothers California Gold, Pure Carnauba Wax (phase three) Apply two coats

6.) Four Coats of Mothers Reflections Premium Polish Well you can apply as many as you like at this point, but if you want a real mirror glossy finish..... 4 coats is the trick

OH NO! There goes your finish after a day or two. Use that Four Coats of Mothers Reflection before you WAX!!!
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Old 07-10-2003   #9 (permalink)
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I have been wondering what to use on interior pieces, like the arm rest, that still look dirty after you clean them. I have the sadle/tan interior and the arm rest won't get any cleaner looking. The dirt is buried in the grain. Also the door panel and speaker grills have some black scuff marks that I can't get out either. I have tried alot of things and scrubbed them ect...I do have a steamer and will try that this weekend. I guess i could just get a new armrest and grills, but then I worry about them looking too new against the rest of the interior! Any interior tips guys?
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Old 07-10-2003   #10 (permalink)
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What products are you using to clean them?
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Old 07-11-2003   #11 (permalink)
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I have used some cleaners like 409 and Orange. I saw some stuff at the boat store thats made to clean dirty vinyl on boats, I may try that. I also picked up that 303 Protectant you mentioned, I want to try that on the tires and engine hoses.
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Old 07-13-2003   #12 (permalink)
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I use 303 on my interior, but have had good results with Meguiars interior products. Stay away from 409 and orange. If you need something more aggressive pick up Meguiars heavy duty cleaner, its called like Extra or something like that.
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