Please Help - at my wits end - Megs drying aid

[emmjay]

Hello all,

I am at my wits end when drying my new accord as it has soft paint. Only had VW's with crazy hard paint so never had a problem with drying, marring etc. I have tried ONR at QD strength and its horrible as its not slick and my towels were dragging even using a damp MF purple plush that was "primed" with ONR and ONR was sprayed on the panel. Result was towel marring and spotting as I spent to long rectifyng one panel and was a bit late to the others.

Question/Problem: I need a drying aid, and meguiars is the only brand easily available locally through a megs distributor.

I need a product which I can use a drying aid, i.e. once I have sheeted all the water off and before a towel hits the paint. I do plan on blotting as much water as I can with a WW (bloody inconvenient I must say), once blotted with WW I plan on using a purple plush for the drying aid, QD...whatever you want to call it.

M135 - common consensus is to use it on a dry surface, and for removing light dust. It is similar to megs UQD - not sure how I can use a drying aid.

D156 - common consensus is to use it on a dry surface as a booster. Barry Meguair himself says to not use it too much as too much wax can make the paint dull (duh..) so this might be overkill after every wash. Also mixing it with water diminishes its properties. It is similar to megs UQW - again not sure. PEOPLE LOVE IT! SO please do chime in if you use this.

Last touch detailer - Not really sure about this one as it has many uses.

What do most people here use as drying aid to avoid marring on soft paint and most importantly HOW! The weather is plain HOT and water dries in minutes and dust shows up within minutes too. The product has to be from Megs....as I am limited to that.

I could just get the consumer versions too (UQD and UQW) but they are too expensive. I am better off getting the gallons from the distributor although more than an hours drive away.

Please Help

TIA

[Calendyr]

I use D156, seems fine to me. Not sure what to tell ya.

You could go with a WOWA sealant I guess, might be more expensive, you will have to look at them and see if one catches you eye.

[Mike lambert]

Last touch will work fine

[axel06]

Your micro fiber towels could be the source

[Joe@NextLevelDetail]

Sounds to me that your paint is too soft.

I dont think any drying Aid will help you.

However a change of your towel might.

Try different towels to see if that stops the marring.

And if I was you I would polish it to perfection and coat it so you don't have to deal with this.

Again all the detail sprays or drying aids I don't think are going to help you if your paint is that soft.

A different towel however just might.

[vanev]

Water:
The water you use has everything to do with the finished result, as well as any resulting problems.
Always use distilled water when diluting your products.
Always better results with clean water vs tap water in your wash buckets.
The difference in the final result using distilled or deionized water is night and day over tap water.
The less potential for possible problems also makes such water worth using.
Definitely worth the extra effort and expense to use clean water.

Towels:
Just because it is microfiber, does not make it the right microfiber towel for the job.
Remember, microfiber has hooks in the fiber.
Dragging an aggressive microfiber towels across soft paint and clear coat is not good.
You need soft towels for drying.

A 70/30 blend is better than a 80/20 blend microfiber towel for drying, in my opinion.
Also consider waffle weave microfiber towels for drying.
Never place a completely dry towel on paint or clear coat.

- Car Wash Soap:
Just because you are using a rinseless wash, does not guarantee its performance in heat or direct sunlight.
Dedicated rinseless washes can have surfactants and actual soap in the solution.
Using the product in heat or direct sun light can cause the very issues you are describing.

Consider using a polymer solution, such as a detail spray, or a polymer based (non-carnauba) spray wax and dilute down 8:1.
Must use clean water, such as distilled water.
Using mineral laden tap water is counter productive and a waste of time.
It can also cause the very issues you are currently trying to solve.

I have been using this approach exclusively over the last several months and could not be happier with the results.
Have washed plenty of cars in heat and direct sunlight, and for hours at a time.
Not one problem using this approach.
No streaks, no marring, no residue left behind.

Not all detail sprays are the same.
Not all detail sprays are polymer based.
Not all detail sprays have cleaning power.
Not any off the shelf detail spray will do.
If you need some recommendations, just shoot me a PM.

[FUNX650]

Last touch detailer - Not really sure about this one as it has many uses.

Yes...Meguiar's Last Touch (D155) is exactly
the product that you're looking for.

And:
It can be diluted for, as you
mentioned above: Many uses.
(Including claying; and, as a Rinse-less Wash).


Bob

[Joe@NextLevelDetail]

Yes...Meguiar's Last Touch (D155) is exactly
the product that you're looking for.

And:
It can be diluted for, as you
mentioned above: Many uses.
(Including claying; and, as a Rinse-less Wash).


Bob

I did not know last touch can be diluted.

What are the ratios ?

[JeffM]

Opti seal is great as a drying aide, as is their spray wax. You should try ONR with the wax, its slick.

[JRP]

Meguiar’s Last Touch 1:1 for Clay Lube.

I don`t know for rinseless wash.