Okay, I just picked up my TL-S on 6/18. It has a mfg date on 06/07 and arrived at the dealership on June 11. What is the 'curing' period? Should I wait 30-45 days before I apply anything to the paint? What about washing it before then? 3M IHG?

Advice greatly appreciated.

 

Pics!!!!!!!!
And your maintenance should start immediately.

 

There is no cure time and the sooner you protect it, you'll be better off. Wash it, use a fine grade clay to remove any rail dust, brake dust and IFO. Use either a chemical cleaner or a paintwork cleanser (pre-wax cleaners) and follow with a sealant.

 

Thanks guys. I've never been sure if the 'cure' thing was bs.

What is IFO?

I've been partial in the past to 3M Finesse it and IHG. Not sure that I need Finesse It on a new finish yet, but will try a sealant before a wax. I'll probably try Klasse or 4 star.

Right track?

 

Paint needs to cure, its not BS. Having said that new car paint is cured in an oven at 300 degrees (this is before any trim, mouldings, etc are fitted)

Re-painted cars usually require a cure period of 10-30 + days dependant upon paint / catalyst used.

Klasse is a great acrylic polymer (was my go-to for 20+ years, now replaced wih Zaino)

IFO? Industrial fall out - emissions from power generation, manufacturing plants and combustion engines emit Sulphuric acid from their exhaust stacks etc, vehicular catalytic converters emit carbon compounds that mixed with ozone (an oxidizer) and water becomes Sulphuric acid. Nitric oxide is an additional IFO component especially around Paper Mills

 

is it okay to hand wash a brand new car 2 weeks after purchasing it?

 

Go for it. A day after I picked up my TL, I did a full exterior detail and the reason for that is I didn't know what was done by the dealer. Instead of second guessing, I went ahead and used my preferred products. The process included a wash, claybar (fine grade), pre-wax cleaner and sealant.

 

Your dealer did on delivery didn't they?


I did the whole detail thing (except mechanical polish) on my TL-S as soon as we got a cool day. About 10 days or so after purchase.

The Clay Bar was easier than I expected. If you've never done it (I had not), the instructions/DIY here are great and it is very easy to do - not a "sticky mess" like some might be thinking.

I might have been lucky, but I got very little residual contamination off with the clay - just a very little, light brown residue. Either the dealer did a good clean up or the car was pretty well protected during transport.

 

My initial clean revealed little 'IFO' - at least that I could tell. Biggest thing was the wax(?) left from the protective plastic it had been wrapped in - couldn't see it visibly, but cold tell where it was from the cleaner/clay application. Came off fairly easily though.

 

Curing period is only for freshly applied paint. Your car was done at the assembly line on that date. The panels were more than likely have been painted way before that date.

As far as washing, you should have done it as soon as it hit your driveway for the first time.