USMCStang
04-20-2021, 10:50 AM
Straight to the point:
New-to-me, Black, 2018 F150 Lariat. Picked up two weeks ago. Chrome package (PVD chrome wheels, chrome running boards/ bumpers/ exhaust tip, "plastic chrome" grill, mirror caps, etc.)
The dealer ever-so-generously "prepped" it before I took possession, sigh.
Absolutely FLOODED some sort of vinyl/ rubber/ plastic treatment all through the wheel wells, tires, weathertech floor mats, and the bed liner (there were actually puddles of whatever "armor-all" type substance they used in the bed liner!), and any other black plastic surface. I darn near broke my neck because the running boards were so slippery.
Sprayed/ applied something or other over the paint, glass, and chrome wheels/ bumpers. It beads really nicely right now, but who knows what it is or how long it will last anyway.
The paint is swirled to hell.
There is a substantial amount of tar/ road gunk in the wheel wells, bumper ends, and underbody. Presumably more on the actual paintwork as well, but it's harder to see due to black paint.
Needless to say, "dealer prep" only put lipstick on a pig, and magnified the swirls, probably induced more swirls, and left me with some work ahead. There are no deep scratches, no dents, very, very minimal chipping on the leading edge of the hood (looks like some were touched up), and two minor scratches on the windshield. The truck is begging to have a well thought out and PROPER reset to bring it back to better-than-new.
I'm waiting on a few products to be shipped to me. Otherwise, I mostly use OTC products (primarily Meguiars brand, I trust their products and they're available OTC), as they've served me well for years, and as the saying goes "Find what you love, and keep using it". I do have Summit Racing equipment's headquarters 10 minutes away, and can pick up a lot of the professional line stuff locally from them)
What I have done so far:
A general overall foam, wash, & dry with Meguiar's Ultimate Soap
Washed down the bed liner, running boards, and floor mats with APC to remove the slickness from them.
Washed the wheels with Meg's All-Wheel cleaner (they certainly bled out a lot of Iron contamination), followed by wheels and tires with Meg's hot rims wheel and tire cleaner.
Threw some temporary Meguiar's Gold Class liquid wax on the wheels as a temporary protection layer.
Nevr-Dulled the running boards, and exhaust tip (had to use some 0000 steel wool and polish on the exhaust tip).
So, I'm left with a clean, swirled black truck with shiny wheels, running boards, and exhaust tip. It's garaged daily, by the way. Interior is nice and clean right now.
The meat of my question(s):
I don't know what type, brand, formulation, or method was used to coat the paintwork by the dealer. It might have just a spray "glaze", or it could have been hand applied wax (doubtful). I don't know if the previous owner ever waxed it, sprayed it, or had even a professionally applied ceramic coating/ sealant.
All I DO know is that it "beads", looks nice from 10ft. away in the shade, and that the sealed-in swirls need correction. I also know I tend to overthink, lol.
Do I IronX/ decontaminate, clay, then polish?
or
Do I clay (to help remove coating product), THEN Iron-X, & polish?
Do I wash the entire truck down with something a bit harsher than standard car-wash soap before doing any of this? (Remember, I prefer OTC. I have meg's ultimate and deep-crystal soaps on-hand, along with megs pro APC and other household cleaning products)
Basically, I want to strip whatever products the dealer applied and have "clean" surfaces to work with, but I don't know what products are present. I also don't want to clog up claybars create more swrls, or smear things around, creating even more work. I don't think there will be a need for compounding...polish should get the job done. (I have a Griot's 6" polisher and Meg's ultimate compounds, polishes, and wax).
Lastly, I've really liked the Meguiar's Ceramic Spray Wax since it was released, but I'm hearing some good things about the Turtle Wax Flex-Wax (the "graphene" stuff) on Black. I'm not planning on any "True" ceramic coatings, so it's going to be one or the other...what's your vote? I don't mind "waxing" twice or more a year. ;)
New-to-me, Black, 2018 F150 Lariat. Picked up two weeks ago. Chrome package (PVD chrome wheels, chrome running boards/ bumpers/ exhaust tip, "plastic chrome" grill, mirror caps, etc.)
The dealer ever-so-generously "prepped" it before I took possession, sigh.
Absolutely FLOODED some sort of vinyl/ rubber/ plastic treatment all through the wheel wells, tires, weathertech floor mats, and the bed liner (there were actually puddles of whatever "armor-all" type substance they used in the bed liner!), and any other black plastic surface. I darn near broke my neck because the running boards were so slippery.
Sprayed/ applied something or other over the paint, glass, and chrome wheels/ bumpers. It beads really nicely right now, but who knows what it is or how long it will last anyway.
The paint is swirled to hell.
There is a substantial amount of tar/ road gunk in the wheel wells, bumper ends, and underbody. Presumably more on the actual paintwork as well, but it's harder to see due to black paint.
Needless to say, "dealer prep" only put lipstick on a pig, and magnified the swirls, probably induced more swirls, and left me with some work ahead. There are no deep scratches, no dents, very, very minimal chipping on the leading edge of the hood (looks like some were touched up), and two minor scratches on the windshield. The truck is begging to have a well thought out and PROPER reset to bring it back to better-than-new.
I'm waiting on a few products to be shipped to me. Otherwise, I mostly use OTC products (primarily Meguiars brand, I trust their products and they're available OTC), as they've served me well for years, and as the saying goes "Find what you love, and keep using it". I do have Summit Racing equipment's headquarters 10 minutes away, and can pick up a lot of the professional line stuff locally from them)
What I have done so far:
A general overall foam, wash, & dry with Meguiar's Ultimate Soap
Washed down the bed liner, running boards, and floor mats with APC to remove the slickness from them.
Washed the wheels with Meg's All-Wheel cleaner (they certainly bled out a lot of Iron contamination), followed by wheels and tires with Meg's hot rims wheel and tire cleaner.
Threw some temporary Meguiar's Gold Class liquid wax on the wheels as a temporary protection layer.
Nevr-Dulled the running boards, and exhaust tip (had to use some 0000 steel wool and polish on the exhaust tip).
So, I'm left with a clean, swirled black truck with shiny wheels, running boards, and exhaust tip. It's garaged daily, by the way. Interior is nice and clean right now.
The meat of my question(s):
I don't know what type, brand, formulation, or method was used to coat the paintwork by the dealer. It might have just a spray "glaze", or it could have been hand applied wax (doubtful). I don't know if the previous owner ever waxed it, sprayed it, or had even a professionally applied ceramic coating/ sealant.
All I DO know is that it "beads", looks nice from 10ft. away in the shade, and that the sealed-in swirls need correction. I also know I tend to overthink, lol.
Do I IronX/ decontaminate, clay, then polish?
or
Do I clay (to help remove coating product), THEN Iron-X, & polish?
Do I wash the entire truck down with something a bit harsher than standard car-wash soap before doing any of this? (Remember, I prefer OTC. I have meg's ultimate and deep-crystal soaps on-hand, along with megs pro APC and other household cleaning products)
Basically, I want to strip whatever products the dealer applied and have "clean" surfaces to work with, but I don't know what products are present. I also don't want to clog up claybars create more swrls, or smear things around, creating even more work. I don't think there will be a need for compounding...polish should get the job done. (I have a Griot's 6" polisher and Meg's ultimate compounds, polishes, and wax).
Lastly, I've really liked the Meguiar's Ceramic Spray Wax since it was released, but I'm hearing some good things about the Turtle Wax Flex-Wax (the "graphene" stuff) on Black. I'm not planning on any "True" ceramic coatings, so it's going to be one or the other...what's your vote? I don't mind "waxing" twice or more a year. ;)