I noticed a lot of white stuff after the snow/ice melted on my car today. What the hell is that, salt? Anyway, it is looking pretty bad. It badly needs a wash. I am completely new to cars in general. Is there like a guide for dummies specifically for black '08 TL's? At the acura dealership, they used several 3M products. One was called perfect it III?, a swirl mark remover, and I think there is a wax also. Would you guys recommend these or not?

All I have at the moment are some Shamwows and a small dirty microfiber towel. I was going to spray some water and wipe off the melted snow residue, but before I do that, I just wanted a go ahead. I rather have it dirty then to do something stupid to the paint. Thanks. You guys can talk to me like I am a 5 year old if you like because I know nothing.

 

I wouldn't use Shamewow on the paint.
Scratches galore.

 

Better than a guide. A whole sub-forum.


BTW - for what you're talking about, just rinse it with water to get the salt and some of the grime off. When you get a chance, wash it properly (with clean micro-fiber towels, etc.)

 

Whoa, did not see this section.

So what can I use to dry off/wipe off the grime? Paper towels?

 

Oh my god shoot me now!

Read through Part 1, 2, 3 and 4 of this. It will take a while to read through it but you should hopefully pick a few things up.

http://www.detailedimage.com/wax.php...-pearl-part-1/

Paper towels will murder you car, literally!

Spend a few days reading that guide and looking through this wash and wax forum before you do anything to your car!

 

Paper towels are AWEFUL. VERY abrasive. And they'll just drag the dirt around making swirl marks, scratches, etc.


Do this for today:

 

Just came back from hosing down the car. I didn't wipe it down with anything. Hope it doesn't dry funny.

Ahh... just what I was looking for. Dam, it looks like it is going to cost me a bit to get all those supplies.

 

Self car wash works for me.. I only wipe it down with mirco fiber towels though and a Absorber to dry it.

 

Your lucky your car is that color .. the Absorber is anothe swirl installer.

 

2x Buckets - $8
Soap - $8 ---http://www.jamestowndistributors.com...rt=190412&BASE
Sheepskin Wash Mit - $17 ---http://www.autopia-carcare.com/vk-103.html
2x Waffle Weave Drying Towels - $17 ---http://www.pakshak.com/waffle-weave-...l-16x27-1.html

Total $50


Having a spotless swirl free black Acura and knowing how to do it yourself - Priceless.

Also, your TL is no different than most other cars...

See here: https://acurazine.com/forums/wash-wax-23/proper-washing-techniques-261255/

 

Where's teh cake?

 

i wouldnt do that to the wifes van, that is just terrible...what did that car ever do to you....

 

Detailing 101: Washing a Paint Surface - http://www.autopia.org/forum/guide-d...t-surface.html

 

Seriously...

 

My bank drive-thru is right next to a car wash. Noticed some guy in a black Civic seemed very proud of the fact he was busting out a brand new package of paper towels to dry his car. Yeah, brilliant idea, dry your car with WOOD pulp.

Nothing but quality microfiber should be used to dry paint.

 

That wash would go great on a silver TL I saw today. It had pink rims.


Oh that doesn't seem that bad. Based on the other guide, it looked like I would have to buy a lot more items like a $100 buffer. Can I achieve that mirror like finish or close to it with out a machine?

Is this some sort of inside joke?

I followed that rule and didn't wipe it down after hosing off the car. I now have tons of water marks every where. I need to order some supplies asap. Is there a site I can order for every thing? I would've followed stogie's recommendation, but ordering from all those separate places is hitting me with a lot of shipping fees.

 

^did you not read the guides that were posted in this thread?

to dry:
after rinsing, take a microfiber towel to dry.






I found the cake!!!!

 

Now, if I need something I buy from www.detailedimage.com. You can buy everything you need from there. There is also a Vendor section on here in the Wash & Wax section that you can use to see if there may be some current deals.

and no, I don't think you would be able to achieve that mirror like finish without a machine and some practice. That was a hell of a polishing session done to make that car look as good as it does. A good start would be to get your wash/dry process down. So when/if you ever polish the car, you don't re-introduce swirl marks after.

 

I didn't have a clean quality microfiber towel at the time. I thought nothing is better than paper towels or shamwows. Lesson learned. And that cake looks delicious.

Yes, that mirror like finish was amazing. I would love to some day be able to do that to my TL. I guess I have to work my way up. I'm looking at detailedimage's site and was thinking about getting a DI packaged kit. I'm just not sure which one to get. Are those kits good or should I pick and choose?

 

Avoid the kits... They make you buy a bunch of stuff you never need...

Get the wash and dry stuff for now, then when you have that process down, come back and we can get you set on the actual gear you need to polish/correct and finish the paint.

 

Dont forget to add grit guards to that list. Im sure if he was going to wipe his car down with paper towels, he is probably not gonna take the best care for his sheepskin.

OP if you can afford it try this http://www.detailedimage.com/Pro-Kit...-Wax-Kit-P442/

It is a really good starter kit with some great products. You can wash you car anywhere without using a hose and get amazing results. As a plus side it is really hard to mess up.

 

Here is a write-up I did on autopia, it has links to all my youtube detailing videos, hope it helps.

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-det...here-mine.html

 

That kit sounds like it would be perfect for me. The temp is dropping fast around here and I would have to move my car to the back to get full hose access. So I should just add these to my shopping cart?

http://www.detailedimage.com/DI-Acce...ash-Mitt-P120/

http://www.detailedimage.com/Leather...-P64/16-oz-S1/

http://www.detailedimage.com/Optimum...P281/17-oz-S1/

 

You know, I never bought into the whole grit guard thing... Marketing IMO.

Water circulates, so grit on the bottom will get stirred up if you go crazy in the rinse bucket. Fill a 5 gallon bucket with 4 gallons of water and don't plunge the mitt too far down to rinse it off... Been working for me for a long time...

 

I guess that could work too. I was also thinking if the wool glove or whatever has a loop can't you just hang it from the bucket so it won't touch the bottom?

I forgot to mention aside from all the dirt on my car, I also have many many scratches on it. Is it best to handle the scratches first or wash/wax then worry about the scratches? I would also need a recommendation for a scratch remover.

 

the only way to remove scratches is to polish your car with a machine

 

So there is no product I can just wipe on to fill in the light to moderate level scratches?

 

^yes, there is.

they're called filler waxes.
but is only a band aid fix.


are you trying to get rid of the door handle scratches?

 

It will only last for a few days to a week. MAYBE two weeks...

MUCH easier to take the money you would have spent on a filler wax product and apply it toward a PC/pads and a bottle of good polish.

One good polishing can last a year or more if you wash the car properly.

 

Yes and a lot more scratches over the car.

If polishing removes the scratches for good, I'll gladly invest in a PC/pads and polish.

 

^yes, thats what we've been trying to say.

Polishing is the best to remove scratches.


now enjoy the cake:

 

Oooh more cake. You guys spoil me. I never get any treats on other forums.

 

Lets not be too harsh on paper towels guys, they have their place in paint correction...



Just the other day i spray painted a part for my sons bike. I used paper towels to sand it down before i primed and painted it. Worked like a charm!