If you want to know how to detail a car the right way, go to www.bmwexperience.com and then go to 'TIPS'. Enjoy! I recommend Zymol wax for everything, kicks @ss!

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'98 Dakar Yellow ///M3
www.BMWExperience.com

'02 TL-S Soon!

 

Hey all, this is my first post. Just HAD to reply to this one. I went to look on the link posted, and under "Washing your Car" it said to use DISHWASHING LIQUID!!!

Never, EVER use dish soap of any kind on your paint! Why? Dishwashing liquid has additives to cut grease from your dishes. Guess what that does to the wax on your paint?? Yup...cuts that too. The only time you should consider using dishwashing liquid on a car is if you are going to do a full detail with a 2 or 3 step wax job (i.e., cleaner, glaze/polish, then wax). This is when you want to remove any traces of old wax before you apply a fresh coat.

Always use a product made specifically for washing a car, such as Mother's, Meguiar's, Zaino. If you live in an area of very hard water, use Armor All since the suds will stand up to the water.

Just my .02

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2001 CL, Nighthawk Black, Parchment Interior

 

I 2nd that caveat about dish washing detergent...at least any I've ever used (to wash dishes ).

Sal, of Zaino Bros. fame, says to use something like 'Dawn' (DEFINITELY a dish washing liquid detergent concentrate) but ONLY as a preparation wash before a full-on, from-scratch Zaino treatment (ie. clay, et al).

If you happened to drop a whole rack of ribs on your trunk lid while balancing your mini-keg of beer with the other hand then it MAY be an option...for the trunk.

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'01 Acura CL-S Black/Ebony, Nav-free

 

Remember - dishwashing liquid is designed to remove organic based products (i.e.: grease, etc.) from non-porus fired ceramic surfaces (plates, bowls, etc.). The reason that you would use it as a prep product is that it does an excellent job of removing any "wax" products prior to starting Zaino or some other set of products with which you want to start on top of clean paint.

Otherwise, I would NEVER use dishwashing liquid to wash my car as it is VERY alkaline, will strip wax as noted above and isn't any good for rubber, plastic or anything similiar (dries it out due to wax/emoillent dissolution). The Z got washed twice with Dawn(R) (as with my previous 'Stang) to remove ALL waxes, etc. that the dealership may have applied. It was then clayed and Z1/Z5'ed. From now on, Z7 only for washing!

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when you're ready to succeed!

 

The part regarding the dish washing detergent is most for people with older cars. I also own a Camry and wouldn't want to waste my time or money buying a cleaning agent from a auto store for that car. If you have a car like a new Acura or BMW in my case, you SHOULD use a brand name car wash, you don't have to be a genious to know this. I have used different dish detergents on my Camry and my other cars previous to this and have had no loss of shine or nothing. No problems, but I wouldn't touch dish washing soap to a new clear coated Acura!

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'98 Dakar Yellow ///M3
www.BMWExperience.com

-Race it to the bone...
-Race it to the ground...
-Just don't try it with me!

'02 TL-S Soon!
Future mods:
Headers, CAI, Supercharger?!?!

 

Folks, I hate to knit-pick here, but I read on in that same article. There is no mention of using dish soap on older cars. The author goes on to state that you should "never wax over a freshly painted car" and that the paint "could take six months to cure completely". Huh??? Maybe 25 or 30 years ago when they were using lacquers, but today's acrylic enamels and clearcoats are fully cured within days, usually well before the car arrives at the dealerhsip (I verified this with a friend of mine who works as a chemical engineer for DuPont). Paint needs to be protected from oxidation and airborne contaminants right off the bat, and a quality carnauba wax and polish will NEVER directly or indirectly cause damage your paint. Adding a dishwashing rinsing agent to a rinse bucket??? There are solvents in rinsing agents that are designed to dissolve remaining soap on your dishes. I don't think I'd want to put that kind of chemical in contact with my paint under any circumstances (maybe that's why he puts in a disclaimer, huh?). Give me a hose and a good synthetic chamois or US made cotton towels and some elbow grease any day.

I put myself through college by detailing cars, and I know there are no shortcuts. For really good, accurate detailing information, go to the websites of Mother's, Meguiar's, Zaino, etc. Yeah, they are self-serving in that they want to sell you their product, but so what? They all make a quality product and there are certain "do's and don'ts" that they all follow.

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2001 CL Type S, Nighthawk Black, Parchment Interior, no Nav.

 

If your point is: to never use dishwashing soap on a car -- I disagree (Dawn is OK for a stripper)

If your point is: to never use dishwashing soap on a car for regular washes, I agree.

I was taught to paint with Acrylic Lacquer by a guy who was taught by DuPont and did cars at Auto Museums. He has passed away. I am not in the painting business, so I have not used one of the new paints. I trust, Sal Zaino. He has not told me one thing that has not matched-up with my detailer or other info. He said you can treat the paint, right a way.

There a lot of people out there, that are passing around info that comes from or is:
1. Stale.
2. From Ignorance.
3. A result of the "I just can't say I don't know"


So, If you want to "strip" a car like "Prepsol", then Dawn is fine. If you are going to wash the car, get a good car wash from any of the guys you mentioned (NO DISHWASHING LIQUIDS).

Finally, all of the people you mentioned make good products. I like TS Clear Coat (for my wife's car) and Zaino for mine.

I have used a number of carnuba waxes since I was 13 (I made spare money detailing too). They are fine, but I don't think they will hold up as long as the Zaino and TS Clear Coat.

BTW -- You have a good point, regarding having a look at all of the main sites. By finding the "common ground", it helps to see what everyone DOES agree on. Research helps to get good solid answers (until something new comes along)...

(my $0.02)


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2001 Satin Silver Cl-S w/ NAVI

• Mud Guards
• Wheel locks
• Toyo 235/45ZR17-97W* T1S Proxies on 17x8" SSR Competition rims (~48lbs lighter)
• (pre-SSR wheels time) --Gtech 1/8th tank 40F ~=6.1
• Zaino magic
• Sways, headers, CAI comming soon

 

Eric...I guess you didn't see my post dated 12 March where I said that dish soap should only be used as a prep to a good waxing (a la Prepsol).

Yeah...there is bad info out there, and I'm sure Zaino makes a quality product. Like anything else, what you use on a car is very subjective and depends on personal preference. I'd just hate to see someone inadvertently screw up their paint finish by going about it the wrong way.

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2001 CL Type S, Nighthawk Black, Parchment Interior, Non-Nav, Rear Wing, Tint

 

Yes, I did see ALL your posts. I'm making the point that it is OK to use Dawn to "strip" a car in preparation for a Zaino treatment.

I made the point that it WAS NOT ok to use dishwashing liquid as a day-to-day car wash, since it removes all of the wax on the car -- thus removing the protection.

Since I've already done the DAWN, clay, and rest of the Zaino steps AND the car looks great and has resisted some abuse that other finishes wouldn't have, I can conclude that Sal Zaino knows what he is doing.

BTW -- Sal has very specific instructions on how to prepare the car. If someone doesn't want to spend the time to research what they are using on their car, it is their problem


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2001 Satin Silver Cl-S w/ NAVI

• Mud Guards
• Wheel locks
• Toyo 235/45ZR17-97W* T1S Proxies on 17x8" SSR Competition rims (~48lbs lighter)
• (pre-SSR wheels time) --Gtech 1/8th tank 40F ~=6.1
• Zaino magic
• Sways, headers, CAI comming soon