Inside Griot's Garage

[Bosko]

Everyone always says this. But it's inevitable that after daily driving my car for 6-12 months it's going to need some exfoliation and swirls taken out. I know I'm making my life more difficult by daily driving a black car with soft clear, but it is what it is, and the paint just doesn't stay in tip-top shape for 12+ months at a time.

time to think about a ceramic coating then....

[BlackCarBlues]

time to think about a ceramic coating then....

I've been under the impression that even true ceramic coatings in the little glass bottles don't help the clear coat resist scratching... that's why I've avoided them so far. Hydrophobicity and chemical resistance is cool and all, but as far as I'm aware coatings don't provide any mechanical resistance -- once the car gets a bit dirty the extra slickness they provide is moot.

I probably sound like an angry old man, but those are the reasons I haven't bothered with a DIY (let alone professional) ceramic coating yet. Hence my username lol

[Bill D]

What is your current washing technique?

[Bosko]

I Hence my username lol

I deal with this twice a week for 8 months out of the year....I know what you mean..
You must have un godly soft paint

[BlackCarBlues]

What is your current washing technique?

When possible I do a 2BM with a TRC cyclone ultra wash pad and Meg's Gold Class shampoo. Then use Griot's Spray-On Wax or Speed Shine as a drying aid with a CarPro DHydrate.

But also, as I mentioned a few posts ago I have been experimenting with some winter rinseless/waterless wash methods -- some of which have induced some swirling/marring while trying to figure out the limits of those methods. I've settled on coin op spray off, then using the Garry Dean method for winter washes, and time will tell how that ends up working out as far as introducing swirls (in theory it won't).

[BlackCarBlues]

You must have un godly soft paint

Yeah I do. 2012 BMW clear, and as far as I can tell it's butter soft. Rubbing a Eagle Edgeless 350 on clean paint with moderate pressure I have noticed marring (albeit it takes intense light to see it, but it's there) which requires a light polish to remove.

[Bill D]

When the weather gets warmer and you can use a hose, I would invest in a foam gun and multiple mitts and begin learning the extreme wash method. I’d also change shampoos. GC never cut it for me. I’ve been using 3D Pink soap for some time now

Regarding the extreme wash method, I would experiment with it several times. It’s not as straightforward as just using two buckets. Try it a dozen times and you ought to reduce/ eliminate the swirls

[Klasse Act]

I've been under the impression that even true ceramic coatings in the little glass bottles don't help the clear coat resist scratching... that's why I've avoided them so far. Hydrophobicity and chemical resistance is cool and all, but as far as I'm aware coatings don't provide any mechanical resistance -- once the car gets a bit dirty the extra slickness they provide is moot.

I probably sound like an angry old man, but those are the reasons I haven't bothered with a DIY (let alone professional) ceramic coating yet. Hence my username lol

Nothing on the market protects against scratches but coatings are great without a doubt! Come on in, the waters fine

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[BlackCarBlues]

When the weather gets warmer and you can use a hose, I would invest in a foam gun and multiple mitts and begin learning the extreme wash method. I’d also change shampoos. GC never cut it for me. I’ve been using 3D Pink soap for some time now

Regarding the extreme wash method, I would experiment with it several times. It’s not as straightforward as just using two buckets. Try it a dozen times and you ought to reduce/ eliminate the swirls

I’ve been considering the switch to Griot’s Brilliant Finish Car Wash and using their foam gun (don’t have the funds for a pressure washer/foam cannon set up).

What does the extreme wash method entail completely?


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[Bill D]

You can view how I wash starting at the 7:25 mark:

Audi R8 BLACKBIRD: Basic Car Wash Techniques - /DRIVE CLEAN - YouTube