Pressure Washing, Car Wash, Microfiber towels, Clay....

I'm wondering what you folks use to clean your trucks? In the past I've always just brought my 2016 Black Tacoma through a drive through car wash. This was a terrible idea with a black truck and it only took a few times through to give it a nice coat of swirls. Now that I have a garage and a beautiful army green pro I can and probably should spend some time and wash this thing myself.

Does anyone have recommendations for power washers, or tried and true methods to keep your finish looking shiny? Link me some Amazon junk!

Has anyone had their truck coated? 3M or whatever they do at the dealership on the hood?

 

I use Adam's car products on my truck, they are on Amazon. 2 bucket car wash method works for me, and some of their ceramic products... pretty deep rabbit hole if you wish to jump in lol. Ive also seen People wrap their whole vehicle if you have that kinda cash but xpel gets expensive.

@raidercraig thread on xpel his pro https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/entire-pro-wrapped-in-xpel.619559/

good luck

edit, I guess I shouldve added I aswell have my headlights and hood xpel'd. Rock chips here in AZ are brutal. cost was 350$

 

lots of possibilities but these are among my favorites...

$23 Collinite No. 845 Insulator Wax with Microfiber Towel & Applicator Combo

https://smile.amazon.com/Collinite-Insulator-Microfiber-Towel-Applicator/dp/B01MZ1XET2/ref=sr_1_4?crid=3DU91KLJO7131&keywords=collonites+845&qid=1570102579&sprefix=collonit%2Caps%2C192&sr=8-4

$13 303 Products Speed Detailer - For All Exterior Automotive Surfaces - Instantly Shines And Protects Paint - Cleans Between Washes - UV Protection, 16 fl. oz. (30216CSR) Packaging May Vary

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0185PU36C/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

$14 nextzett 92470515 Cockpit Premium Interior and Dashboard Cleaner, 16.9 fl oz, Black

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002Z2MZ4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

Www.theragcompany.com. Microfiber towels, from Korea.

Generac makes a decent pressure washer I’ve been happy with. I use it only for rims and my foam cannon.

 

I've been using chemical guys products, like their clay bar and clay luber spray, and their jetseal protectant wax. All of these can be found on Amazon.

Stoner Invisible Glass, and their Trim Shine for the plastics.

Car wash soap for me is whatever is on sale. Also have had good luck with any Mother's, Meguair's or 3M products as well that you can get pretty much anywhere.

 

If you really want to keep it nice, there's no replacement for hand wash and wax.
Car washes and pressure washers, are going to strip wax, mainly car washes. I only use them to clean underside, and before I know I'm going to hand wax again.


As @tacohep mentioned, the products and procedures can be a rabbit hole. This is a: ask ten people. Get eleven different answers. type of question.

 

^^^

Agreed. Buy quality stuff. Use a double bucket rinse system. No commercial washes and tell your dealership no washes. In fact, print an 8x11, laminate it and put it on your dash when it goes in.

 

Hand wash only w/2 bucket system , pressure wash for wheels and underchassis only. Use quality waxes and sealants which not only protect against UV but make it easier to wash (bugs etc don't stick well to waxed paint).

 

For the price Turtle Wax Seal n Shine has worked PHENOMENALLY well. I only have applied it once so far and I still have water beads sliding off the window when driving. No need for wipers! There are many YouTube videos on it for your research.

 

Questions you have never thought to ask and the answers to them are over here: https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/detailing.32/

 

After hand washing (2 bucket method) you gotta try this. It's PFM (pure f'n magic) I swear.

McKee’s 37 MK37-630 Hydro Blue SiO2 Coating | Ceramic Car Wax Spray | Advanced SiO2 Coating | Hydrophobic Top Coat Paint Sealant Protection, 16 oz

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XJBVLL7/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

I still wax by hand every couple of months but using this on your clean wet truck is amazing for weekly washes. Spray it on and rinse it off right away and it will bead water like crazy and no swirls from rubbing. Found this in the detailing thread and seemed too good to be true. It's not.

Edit: I bought the 16oz bottle ($19.99) and it lasted about 4-5 washes. Then ordered the gallon size ($79.99).

 

I bought an electric power washer.

I did everything to prevent swirls and I still got swirl marks from
Hand applied paste wax.

I have to clay and polish now.

I would really stay away from paste wax, and I bought spray wax from griots, which works great

 

I got something similar recently, optimum touchless sealant I think it's called.

It's insane how well it works, you're right it's like magic. I'll be getting a gallon when this bottle runs out.

 

Hand wash two bucket method. Chemical guys clean slate car wash with Hydroslick Ceramic Wax. Mother's California Gold Clay Bar and Back to Black for the trim. Car Pros IronX for fallout and Car guys hybrid wax and cleaner too.

I have full front PPF bumper, headlights, hood, fender, side, and side mirrors. A lot of other mods you can do after but PPF its beneficial to get in asap before damage occurs. A lot of people on here think its a luxury item that is a waste of money but I think its worth it every time to protect what you put your hard earned money into.

SIDE NOTE: For the Pros, if you do the full hood you are going to need to have the black vinyl sticker removed and then put a replacement one on after over the PPF. IF you don't it will create and air pocket around the edges not to mention make the black look glossy.

If you have the cash to do the whole thing it would look AMAZING in xpel stealth that would make the whole truck look matte finish.

 

Blue diamond spray wax with 3m Perfect-it III Claybar. and no rinse optimum car wash.

 

I did my own ceramic coat and ONLY use “carpro” products. My truck is a year old with 30k miles and not a single swirl on it. If I could recommend one product it would absolutely be “reload” from carpro it’s the best protectant for your paint hands down.

 

Many times swirls come from poor quality drying towels too. If you’re using good waxes, you have to match them up with really good pads for application.

I’ve used a dual action orbiter on my Macan, Cayman, taco, and X4M(though it’s white). Nary a scratch to be found. The wife’s incoming near black suv will of course be the true test.

I’m a big fan of a good wash followed by a polymer paint sealer that sets for a day or two, then wax to follow. Worst case, wash and seal Friday night and then wax Saturday evening.

 

I ceramic coated my truck.
Waxes and sealants do not provide the same amount of durability.
The frequent maintenances can also increase damages to the paint, as you are touching the paint more often.
Plus it will keep you black paint swirl free for a longer duration.

Paint Prep, use Essence Plus or its other forms to fill in any imperfections, then two layers of CQuartz UK 3.0.
Top off with Gliss.

Quick maintenance with just Ech02 every month.
Regular maintenance every 3 months with Snow Foam Reset, Elixer, Tarx, IronX, Eraser then Reload.
I switch out Reload with Gliss for Long term maintenance every 6 months.

Edit: Typo

 

2 bucket method standard. Im a Chemical Guys fanboy, so I use their honeydew melon soap (helps prevent waterspots too). Stoner Invis glass, mothers quick detailer/clay bar. CG microfibers and Amazon generic microfibers. Im also a fan of the Wolfgang sealant rather than wax. I also like to top coat over the sealant with Beadmaker. I use a foam gun that connects to garden hose rather than pressure washer (since I rent, but that still didnt stop me from buying one anyway).

 

Sort of like me. I like Wolfgang and Pinnacle. I keep some Pinnacle Souveran paste wax for the wife’s car. I steal some for the Cayman. .