*Official* Ask A Detailer Thread

Thank you

 

In.

Really need to start washing on my own versus paying for it.

I’ve seen a couple of things not mentioned in the OP:
Clay 2.0
Ceramic sealant

What else do I need to know before I start buying stuff?

Budget should be considered, and I wheel my truck, but I’d like it looking nice despite being scratched.

 

Maybe you guys can offer advice.

I just got a craftsman 2.3GPM 2800PSI gas pressure washer.
The thing is a champ but it doesn’t like to be started and used more than once.

I can get it started and use it until I am getting empty on gas but if I stop it, tank it back up and go to start it, it won’t budge. It has to cool down before it starts again. Its like its not getting fuel. All seems to be OK with the fuel line but I havent checked it for obstructions.

I run it for about 1 minute after I let go of the wand then shut it off so I try to not flood the carb.

Anything simple I’m overlooking?
Air flow is good and spark is good.

Are these things designed like this?

 

If temp related maybe it's a choke thermostat or something in that assembly that's bent or hung up when hot.

 

You probably only need to clay once or maybe twice a year. A synthetic clay like 2.0 is great and a huge time saver.
Before you clay you wanna wash really well, and ideally use some kind of iron deposit remover. Then use clay after rinsing off the fallout. Make sure you use lots of lube with your clay, important in other aspects of life as well.
After you clay you'll wanna wash again and dry well. Then if you want to remove scratches and swirls you can with a polish and DA polisher, if not then move onto using a sealant or wax to protect your paint. If you wheel alot and get trail pinstripes then I wouldn't do a true ceramic coat. A sealant with sio2 in it would be great, like carpro reload or hydro2, of shine supply clutch.
Once you have it sealed you should be able to use a good cash wash soap, and utilizing the 2 bucket, or multiple mitt meathod wash as often as you can. Reapply sealant every few months. You can also use a maintenance spray like beadmaker or megs ceramic wax as a drying aid when you wash, itll keep it looking great and repelling dirt and crap and make it much easier to wash. A good detail spray is nice for quick wipe down of bird crap or bugs splatter, there are a ton out there, griots speed shine is good and cheap and available. There is much much more you can do... but wash, clay, seal, maintain is the main stuff.

 

Remember that this thread was started 11 years ago. Detailing products and technology and techniques have come a LOOONNGGG way in 11 years

 

Thank you! That's a great help. That's about what I had expected, and I do wheel it, so there are a ton of pinstripes.

Right, that's why I wanted to come ask. Is there a more updated list?

 

There is just so many products out there your head will spin. I like detailedimage and autogeek message boards, also check out the detailing subforum on tundras.com, lots of good updated info there. That's where I learned. My suggestion is maybe choose a brand and get a few things they offer for different purposes. I suggest carpro, shine supply, optimum in that order. Be careful of your budget though. Lol

 

Sounds like vapor lock, which is mentioned in some pressure washer product reviews. I have a Homelite 2700 psi that I got new from HD at a ridiculously low price of $120 several years ago. It has happened to me once but was able to choke out, flood, start in about 10 pulls. Now I just top off before use and it is not a problem. That’s my experience... good luck!

 

So I was perusing these threads and read about a fabric cleaner that also protects the fabric, making it pretty much waterproof. But naturally I cant find that thread again. Does anyone know what I'm talking about? If I remember it was in like a red can I think it was aerosol but I'm not sure. Help? Thanks in advance!

 

Scotchgard comes in a red can. The boutique detailing brands all have fabric coatings as well (carpro, gyeon, IGL). I've never used one but I hear your clothing can rub them off fairly easy over time. So durability on the drivers seat may be poor.

 

Hey mShu, I've asked this question in another thread and had some good input but figured I'd ask you since you're the pro. Thinking of removing badges/TRD stickers. I'm concerned about ghosting and I've read some sort of mild abrasive like Meguires Scratch X can sometimes help removing the ghosting. I've read though that then you should treat afterwards with some sort of wax/sealant.

I'm looking for the most efficient way to take care of the paint IF I have to use scratch X to remove ghosting. I don't have a bunch of tools and stuff to use to treat so I'd just be good ol fashion human application. I'd be hoping not to spend the entire day working on it so efficiency/ease is ideal.

Thanks!

 

If you have any ghosting you could try to polish out that area and blend it. I doubt it will be too bad though as your truck looks petty new. Its definitely a good idea to use something to protect any area that you debadge or polish. You could use a wax or a sealant. What do you normally use for paint protection on your vehicle? I prefer spray sealants like carpro reload or optimum optiseal. Both look great and give up to 6 months of protection and water beading. You don't need anything special but you wanna use something. Mind as well do the whole truck while your at it. You can get meguiars ceramic spray wax at most auto retailers and walmart. That stuff will work great for thos purpose and you can re apply it every 3 or 4 months forever to keep your paint looking good and prevent damage.

 

I'm sure it has been mentioned but my searches didn't find it for me, so I will ask...

Any tips / advice for restoring the black plastic and maybe even the paint near the exhaust. Bought the truck 3 years old, everything is in really great shape except for that area for obvious reasons. Didn't know if there was anything special to bring it back.

Tried Mother's Back to Black on the plastic and a cheap Turtlewax product on the paint with no luck so far. (The back to black did wonder's on the Toneau cover though, literally took years of wear of it!)

 

Check out shine supply, they have trim shield which is really good but also what they call trim paint, I haven't used it but I hear it's legit. Shine supply makes some really good stuff, small company and amazing customer service. The owner will talk to you on the phone if you need help with something. Members over at tundras.com get 10% off there. I usually use carpro products but have found quite a few shine supply items that are better than similar offerings from carpro.
For the paint, give it a good wash, then an IronX type spray, then use a clay bar or synthetic clay, then polish it out, I bet it'll clean up, maybe use compound then polish of it's really bad.

 

Heat gun.

 

No. If you are not careful you will end up with blotchy plastic.

I would suggest GTechniq C4. I have gotten over a year of protection out of it.

 

Did my wifes jeep and it turned out great....

 

I have done it as well. Don’t recommend it due to the blotchiness that will show up over time. You still have to do something to protect the plastic or you will have same issue again.

 

The clay definitely helped! That has been the first thing to dent that area. Unfortunately, I all ready have some blotchiness going on at the very bottom of the body panel that I know won't come out. Thankfully I don't think it is the actual paint, just that plastic film around the bottom 3 inches or so.

Did the entire truck while I was at it, depressing when you get to see just how much little damage was done over the 3 years before I owned it. Stuff you don't notice casually or from more that a couple feet away, but now I know and I can't un-know lol. Going to hit it with the polish as a follow-up after lunch, hopefully that helps with some of the small scratches and swirls anyway.

Thanks again for the advice.