mnAudi
08-12-2020, 09:17 PM
Hi,
So I live in Minnesota and am thinking forward to fall and my car prep. I'm a HPDE/shade tree mechanic guy with very limited detailing knowledge... as in I understand and use the two bucket method and recently due to having some time on my hands I've seen a bunch of youtube detailing vids!
Car is a dark blue 2006 Audi A4 wagon that sits outside all the time. Before I bought it a couple of years ago it had lived in CO/CA so it's low rust for MN but had some sun damage to the clearcoat. Hood was resprayed when I bought it due to clear coat failure in a couple of spots, recently started having problems on part of the roof so I just had a detailer use an AIO on the car and had the roof wrapped in gloss black vinyl.
I don't want to get into using a DA polisher (yet), but I am interested in what I can do to help maintain the car between visits to the detailer (let's say annual visits in late spring).
My first thought was to use TWHS AIO in the spring myself (but now I'm leaning towards just letting a pro use an AIO in the spring), and then maintain that by using the TWHS wet wax as a drying aid and applying TWHS ceramic spray as needed.
But, as one does, I kinda went down the rabbit hole of these forums and started wondering if there was a reasonably easy to use product I could apply that would last longer, specifically in the Fall with the hope of making it through winter. I don't have a heated garage, so I can't hand wash in winter (well, I could go to a self wash place occasionally, I suppose). Mostly in the winter I will use gas station touchless washes with the cheapest option that still includes a dry cycle. I can't say how often I will do that, but it is definitely significantly less often than weekly.
Gyeon Can Coat seems like a good option for what I'm looking for, but also seems like I should really do some light polishing before application so that's out for now.
Then I was thinking Sonax PNS. Seems like it might be as long lasting as you are going to get short of a coating, and it looks like I can apply effectively after just a chemical decon and a good wash. If there happens to be some of the AIO left from the last pro detailing, doesn't seem like that would be a problem. During the summer I could maintain with BSD and apply the PNS in the fall right before winter. Perhaps I could go to a self wash place once or twice a winter to apply some BSD.
Lastly, I was wondering, will the PNS last longer than say Blackfire SiO2 spray sealant (or for that matter the TWHS)? If not, perhaps that would be a better/as good solution?
I appreciate any thoughts on the above options or different ones, once I narrow it down I plan to order the selected products and some supporting goodies from AutoGeek (microfiber, soap, etc) to get me started. Can it be delivered in a plain box that doesn't mention cars so my wife doesn't roll her eyes? ;)
Thanks!
So I live in Minnesota and am thinking forward to fall and my car prep. I'm a HPDE/shade tree mechanic guy with very limited detailing knowledge... as in I understand and use the two bucket method and recently due to having some time on my hands I've seen a bunch of youtube detailing vids!
Car is a dark blue 2006 Audi A4 wagon that sits outside all the time. Before I bought it a couple of years ago it had lived in CO/CA so it's low rust for MN but had some sun damage to the clearcoat. Hood was resprayed when I bought it due to clear coat failure in a couple of spots, recently started having problems on part of the roof so I just had a detailer use an AIO on the car and had the roof wrapped in gloss black vinyl.
I don't want to get into using a DA polisher (yet), but I am interested in what I can do to help maintain the car between visits to the detailer (let's say annual visits in late spring).
My first thought was to use TWHS AIO in the spring myself (but now I'm leaning towards just letting a pro use an AIO in the spring), and then maintain that by using the TWHS wet wax as a drying aid and applying TWHS ceramic spray as needed.
But, as one does, I kinda went down the rabbit hole of these forums and started wondering if there was a reasonably easy to use product I could apply that would last longer, specifically in the Fall with the hope of making it through winter. I don't have a heated garage, so I can't hand wash in winter (well, I could go to a self wash place occasionally, I suppose). Mostly in the winter I will use gas station touchless washes with the cheapest option that still includes a dry cycle. I can't say how often I will do that, but it is definitely significantly less often than weekly.
Gyeon Can Coat seems like a good option for what I'm looking for, but also seems like I should really do some light polishing before application so that's out for now.
Then I was thinking Sonax PNS. Seems like it might be as long lasting as you are going to get short of a coating, and it looks like I can apply effectively after just a chemical decon and a good wash. If there happens to be some of the AIO left from the last pro detailing, doesn't seem like that would be a problem. During the summer I could maintain with BSD and apply the PNS in the fall right before winter. Perhaps I could go to a self wash place once or twice a winter to apply some BSD.
Lastly, I was wondering, will the PNS last longer than say Blackfire SiO2 spray sealant (or for that matter the TWHS)? If not, perhaps that would be a better/as good solution?
I appreciate any thoughts on the above options or different ones, once I narrow it down I plan to order the selected products and some supporting goodies from AutoGeek (microfiber, soap, etc) to get me started. Can it be delivered in a plain box that doesn't mention cars so my wife doesn't roll her eyes? ;)
Thanks!