A4 1.8tqm
07-20-2010, 07:00 PM
DP Waterless Auto Wash (http://www.autogeek.net/waterless-auto-wash.html)
I offer my review of DP WAW. My first use of the product (or any waterless wash for that matter) was 3 days after a traditional 2 bucket wash, my car had not been rained on and only had light dust on the surface. In the shade on a cool, calm, cloudy day, DP WAW was a pleasure to use. With 2 CG's MF towels similar to Cobra Supreme 530's, I felt quite safe in using this product. Folding both towel's into 1/4's gives a nice thick cushion between the car and your hand, I used one for the "cleaning wipe" to remove the dirt and the other for the "beauty wipe" to ensure streak-free results without the risk of dirt in the towel causing scratches. After completing the paint, I went over the glass with a nap-less glass towel. It took about equal effort as my usual Stoner Invisible Glass (http://www.autogeek.net/glass-cleaner.html) to get streak free, but the DP WAW absolutely left the glass slicker. After doing the drivers window I went to get the Stoners and compared, after the qiuck comparison, DP WAW might be my new glass cleaner. We'll see.
Since that was my first time with the product and I did not have direct sunlight to check the results, I left the car in the garage until the next day and closely inspected in full sun for any light scratches/marring. It looked great! Now, by no means is my paint flawless, but I feel that I know the flaws pretty well and I didn't see anything that would discourage me from using it in the future. I do wonder how it affects LSP's though, since it is "a pure cleaner with no wax or glossing agents"... I'll have to test that soon.
OK, it works wonderfully in optimal conditions, great, I fully expected that to be the case... It's a PBMA product. :xyxthumbs:
But what about when my car is actually dirty? Is it safe enough to use? Well, I don't mind trying because I know it will be easy to polish out any light swirls and I haven't polished away all my clear... yet. :p
For the dirty test, my car had been rained on and was several days since last wash (one 2 bucket wash since WAW). Again, I used the product on a cool surface, out of direct sun and again I felt good about being safe and not causing swirls. I snapped a couple pics to show before and after. The close-up pic is an area where I have a well known Rid, I used the flaw to get a good focus, showing no swirls/marring were caused by using DP WAW in the surrounding area (it's been a long while since l corrected my paint and I do have some light swirls here and there, I knew this spot did not). I was actually surprised, as I expected a light scratch or two. What kind of magic do they put in this stuff?
Before:
http://i550.photobucket.com/albums/ii437/dave22234/car%20product%20tests/IMG_5874.jpg
After:
http://i550.photobucket.com/albums/ii437/dave22234/car%20product%20tests/IMG_5878.jpg
After:
http://i550.photobucket.com/albums/ii437/dave22234/car%20product%20tests/IMG_5880.jpg
Close-up (this scratch was NOT caused by DP WAW, I used it for a point of focus, showing that there were no swirls caused in the surrounding area):
http://i550.photobucket.com/albums/ii437/dave22234/car%20product%20tests/IMG_5881.jpg
OK, DP WAW is great, but what about in direct sun? I left the half-clean trunk until I had direct sun and tried again. I shot a video this time-
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwxxvuIsONU]YouTube - DP WAW.mov[/video]
I tried to do this test quickly, before the paint got too hot, did you notice the steam rising after I sprayed? Even in the sun it worked pretty well, I did have to go over the area again because there were some streaks left behind which wouldn't come off with out another spray and wipe. I wouldn't recommend using this product in the sun or on a hot surface, but that is to be expected.
Overall I feel like this is a great product, does what it claims very well. For me, a full waterless wash does not really have a place. I love rinse-less washes (http://www.autogeek.net/dp-rinseless-four-in-one.html) and my Autogeek Foam Cannon HP (http://www.autogeek.net/autogeek-foam-cannon-hp.html) too much. I think DP WAW is better suited for someone who, for instance, has to drive a car a long distance directly to a show and does not have access or time for more conventional means of washing. Or where/when water usage is restricted.
On the other hand, just because I don't prefer to use it for "full washes" don't think you'll ever catch me without a small pump sprayer of it in the "emergency kit" for quick clean up's on the road and it might be my new go to glass cleaner, but I'm not sure about that yet, gotta test that more and try it on the interior of the windows. :xyxthumbs:
I offer my review of DP WAW. My first use of the product (or any waterless wash for that matter) was 3 days after a traditional 2 bucket wash, my car had not been rained on and only had light dust on the surface. In the shade on a cool, calm, cloudy day, DP WAW was a pleasure to use. With 2 CG's MF towels similar to Cobra Supreme 530's, I felt quite safe in using this product. Folding both towel's into 1/4's gives a nice thick cushion between the car and your hand, I used one for the "cleaning wipe" to remove the dirt and the other for the "beauty wipe" to ensure streak-free results without the risk of dirt in the towel causing scratches. After completing the paint, I went over the glass with a nap-less glass towel. It took about equal effort as my usual Stoner Invisible Glass (http://www.autogeek.net/glass-cleaner.html) to get streak free, but the DP WAW absolutely left the glass slicker. After doing the drivers window I went to get the Stoners and compared, after the qiuck comparison, DP WAW might be my new glass cleaner. We'll see.
Since that was my first time with the product and I did not have direct sunlight to check the results, I left the car in the garage until the next day and closely inspected in full sun for any light scratches/marring. It looked great! Now, by no means is my paint flawless, but I feel that I know the flaws pretty well and I didn't see anything that would discourage me from using it in the future. I do wonder how it affects LSP's though, since it is "a pure cleaner with no wax or glossing agents"... I'll have to test that soon.
OK, it works wonderfully in optimal conditions, great, I fully expected that to be the case... It's a PBMA product. :xyxthumbs:
But what about when my car is actually dirty? Is it safe enough to use? Well, I don't mind trying because I know it will be easy to polish out any light swirls and I haven't polished away all my clear... yet. :p
For the dirty test, my car had been rained on and was several days since last wash (one 2 bucket wash since WAW). Again, I used the product on a cool surface, out of direct sun and again I felt good about being safe and not causing swirls. I snapped a couple pics to show before and after. The close-up pic is an area where I have a well known Rid, I used the flaw to get a good focus, showing no swirls/marring were caused by using DP WAW in the surrounding area (it's been a long while since l corrected my paint and I do have some light swirls here and there, I knew this spot did not). I was actually surprised, as I expected a light scratch or two. What kind of magic do they put in this stuff?
Before:
http://i550.photobucket.com/albums/ii437/dave22234/car%20product%20tests/IMG_5874.jpg
After:
http://i550.photobucket.com/albums/ii437/dave22234/car%20product%20tests/IMG_5878.jpg
After:
http://i550.photobucket.com/albums/ii437/dave22234/car%20product%20tests/IMG_5880.jpg
Close-up (this scratch was NOT caused by DP WAW, I used it for a point of focus, showing that there were no swirls caused in the surrounding area):
http://i550.photobucket.com/albums/ii437/dave22234/car%20product%20tests/IMG_5881.jpg
OK, DP WAW is great, but what about in direct sun? I left the half-clean trunk until I had direct sun and tried again. I shot a video this time-
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwxxvuIsONU]YouTube - DP WAW.mov[/video]
I tried to do this test quickly, before the paint got too hot, did you notice the steam rising after I sprayed? Even in the sun it worked pretty well, I did have to go over the area again because there were some streaks left behind which wouldn't come off with out another spray and wipe. I wouldn't recommend using this product in the sun or on a hot surface, but that is to be expected.
Overall I feel like this is a great product, does what it claims very well. For me, a full waterless wash does not really have a place. I love rinse-less washes (http://www.autogeek.net/dp-rinseless-four-in-one.html) and my Autogeek Foam Cannon HP (http://www.autogeek.net/autogeek-foam-cannon-hp.html) too much. I think DP WAW is better suited for someone who, for instance, has to drive a car a long distance directly to a show and does not have access or time for more conventional means of washing. Or where/when water usage is restricted.
On the other hand, just because I don't prefer to use it for "full washes" don't think you'll ever catch me without a small pump sprayer of it in the "emergency kit" for quick clean up's on the road and it might be my new go to glass cleaner, but I'm not sure about that yet, gotta test that more and try it on the interior of the windows. :xyxthumbs: