9 Weeks to Win! (Week 6)

Wash it. Put a coat of Wolfgang paint sealant 3.0 on entire vehicle. Run vehicle through car wash every couple of weeks.
 
Apply Wolfgang DGPS 3.0 then rinse less washes in the garage with ONR Wash and Wax, and sometimes add Meguiar's Ultimate Quik Wax.
 
This contest is timely since I just started thinking about Phase 1 of my winter defense plan (WDP): maximum protection against the unknown harshness ahead. The last few winters here in SE Pennsylvania have been brutal. Between the historically low temps, abundant snowfall, and heavily salted roads the demands on LSP’s have been huge.

This year I’ve decided on a split approach between how I protect my daily driver (black - 98 Honda Civic) vs. my wife's car (pearl white Subaru Impreza - garage kept). Why 2 different approaches? Practically more than anything else - now that we have 5 month old, and my wife’s car is the only 4 door w/ baby seat, I just don’t have the time required to do a full coating prep/ application. I need fast and reliable products!

Phase 1: Prep for winter

Wife’s car:

Interior

DP Total Interior Cleaner (Dash, doors, shift knob and boot, center console)
BLACKFIRE Interior Protectant (same surfaces as above)
Glass cleaned with mf glass towel repeatedly rinsed/ wrung out in hot water w/ a second towel for drying
​

Exterior

​
Tires:

DP Tire Cleaner & Restorer
DP Tire Coating (1 coating)
​

Rims:
Iron-X
Washed with Nanoskin Bubble Bath Wash & Shine Shampoo
Traditional Clay + Nanoskin Bubble Bath Wash & Shine Shampoo (as lube)
BLACKFIRE Crystal Seal
​

2B Wash:
Nanoskin Bubble Bath Wash & Shine Shampoo
​

Paint Decontaminate:
Iron-x
Stoners Tarminator
Nanoskin Autoscrub Wash Mitt - Fine Grate
Nanoskin Autoscrub Speedy Prep Sponge - Fine Grate (for tighter areas the mitt can’t get into)
Nanoskin Bubble Bath Wash & Shine Shampoo (as lube)
​

Paint:
BLACKFIRE Gloss Enhancing Polish
BLACKFIRE Crystal Seal
​

Windows:
Nanoskin Autoscrub Wash Mitt/ Nanoskin Bubble Bath Wash & Shine Shampoo (as lube)
IPA wipe down
Pinnacle Black Label Glass Coating for windscreen
BLACKFIRE Crystal Seal for side and rear windows
​

Headlights:
BLACKFIRE Crystal Seal
​

Trim:
BLACKFIRE Crystal Seal
​

Machines:
AR Blue 383 pressure washer for pre and post rinsing after 2B, Iron X, and clay
Masterblaster for drying/ forcing water out of cracks & crevices
Flex 4301 for application of BF GEP on a black pad
Wet Dry Vac for vacuuming out the interior
​

The above process emphases speed/ efficiency at each point of application:

  • By using Nanoskin Bubble Bath Wash & Shine Shampoo as both my car wash and clay lube I’m eliminating the need for multiple products.
  • Claying time will be drastically reduced by utilizing the high-tech rubber polymer coatings found on Nanoskin’s wash mitt and sponge.
  • Using BF GEP I’m maximizing gloss on already well maintained paint
  • The maximum time saving will come from topping nearly everything with Crystal Seal used across multiple surfaces w/o the need to buff it off! Win-Win!!

My goal is to complete all of the above exterior steps in a single day. The only part I’m not sure about is the potential marring left by the Nanoskin/ will I need to polish afterwards? Fingers crossed I will not need to!

My daily driver.
Since it’s needs are different (sits outside 24/7) and I have more time to play with (I’ll drive my garage queen) I’ll be applying multiple coating to the paint, glass, tires, and trim.

Interior
DP Total Interior Cleaner (Dash, doors, shift knob and boot, center console)
DP Interior Surface Protectant (same as above)
Glass cleaned with mf glass towel repeatedly rinsed/ wrung out in hot water w/ a second towel for drying
​

Exterior

Tires:
DP Tire Cleaner & Restorer
DP Tire Coating
​

Rims:
Iron-X
Chemical Guys Citrus Wash Red
Traditional Clay + Four Star Clay Lubricant
Black Label Diamond Wheel Coating
​

2B Wash:
Chemical Guys Citrus Wash Red
​

Decontaminate:
Iron-x
Stoner Tarminator
Nanoskin Autoscrub Wash Mitt - Fine Grate
Nanoskin Autoscrub Speedy Prep Sponge - Fine Grate (for tighter areas the mitt can’t get into)
Nanoskin Bubble Bath Wash & Shine Shampoo (as lube)
​

Paint:
CarPro Reflect Polish
CarPro Eraser
CQuartz
​

Windows:
Nanoskin Autoscrub Wash Mitt/ Nanoskin Bubble Bath Wash & Shine Shampoo (as lube)
IPA wipe down
Pinnacle Black Label Glass Coating for windscreen
Nanoskin Rain Glass Sealant for side and rear windows
​

Headlights:
Detailer’s All In One Headlight Restoring Polish
GG 6, 5” BP + 5.5 Thin wool pad
Detailer’s Headlight Protectant Spray
​

Trim:
CarPro Eraser
CQuartz DLux
​

Machines:
AR Blue 383 pressure washer for pre and post rinsing after 2B, Iron X, and clay
Masterblaster for drying/ forcing water out of cracks & crevices
Flex 4301 for application of Reflect on either a white or black pad (TBD after test spots)
GC 6 for headlight correction w/ DP’s AIO
Wet Dry Vac for vacuuming out the interior
​

I hope to have all of the above done over the course of weekend + a few weeknights.

Phase 2: Late Fall

  • Swap out the wiper blades on both cars for sturdy winter specific blades.
  • Check tire pressure, following larger temperature drops, and make sure the spare tire is fully inflated (on-going)
  • Swap out the window wiper fluid from summer mix (1Z Einszett Kristallklar Premium Windshield Washer Fluid Concentrate + DI water) to Blue stuff + Pinnacle GlassWork Windshield Washer Booster for better dealing with all the slushy/salt/ general road grime.
  • Door seals treated with 303 Rubber Seal Protectant to help maintain their elasticity/ reduce squeaks during the cold weather

Phase 3: December - March maintenance washes and snow removal.

  • Foam cannon + pressure washer connected to the utility sink in my garage, water temperature determined based on ambient outside temp.
  • Honeydew Snow Foam allowed to dwell, then rinsed.
  • PW lances changed for angled ones to rinse the undercarriage and inside wheel wells.
  • Waterless wash (Ultima WW+) performed outside or inside depending on temperature and daylight.
  • Respective LSP’s recharged with BLACKFIRE Wet Diamond Polymer Spray and Reload.
  • When it’s too cold to run the PW at home, I’ll hit a coin-op and foam/ rinse down there and then proceed home for next steps.

  • Interior glass cleaned with mf glass towel repeatedly rinsed/ wrung out in hot water w/ a second towel for drying.
  • Wet Dry Vac for vacuuming out winter’s crud from the interior

  • Snow Joe for clearing snow accumulation from the vehicle.
  • Spray bottle filled with Prestone De-Icer Windshield Washer Fluid for melting ice accumulation from windows.
  • Various scrapers for clearing ice from the vehicle's glass surfaces.

If I win this contest, I’m planning on giving my Father in-law the prize since he’s never used a Waterless Wash before and his black GMC truck will look great wearing BLACKFIRE Wet Diamond All Finish Paint Protection! I’ve been slowly turning him on to better detailing products & tools and both of these BF goodies would add to his growing arsenal nicely.

Thanks for contest Paul! I've got a lot of detailing to do over the next few weeks!!!

:autopia:
 
The winters here are not too tough beside just the Dec/Jan when its cold and I dont really do a special detail as most reputable products do last long so around I'd put something that can last me 2 months (e.g. collinite 845 or 915) and I am good to detail frequently after that.
 
Already started the process of washing and waxing all the family cars. Dads nice car got the royal treatment, with clay and everything. Trying the ultima line this year on it. Wanted to polish first but he wasnt ready for his baby to get the polisher going on it. The rest of them will at least get washed and waxed depending on time permitting. Mine has a rust spot i need to deal with... a little afraid of that one.

Edit: Forgot that i got some uww+ for waterless / rinsless winter washes this year. But I would be happy to compare the two.
 
Our winters here are very mild so I still do my same routine year round.

I either do the 2 bucket method or do waterless washing.
 
Both of my vehicles are still in good shape this time of year, so just a thorough interior cleaning, and a coat of wax or sealant. Wash during winter as weather allows. It hardly ever gets really cold here, so I can keep them fairly clean.
 
And the winners are...

TheAverageMan
Angus
jtford95


Awesome job by everyone -
Anyone who lives up north and wants to know how to prepare their car for winter should have all of their questions answered by reading the processes of Angus & TheAverageMan :bigups

PM me your Address & Email and I will get these shipped out for you after the weekend :)
 
Paul@Autopia said:
And the winners are...

TheAverageMan
Angus
jtford95


Awesome job by everyone -
Anyone who lives up north and wants to know how to prepare their car for winter should have all of their questions answered by reading the processes of Angus & TheAverageMan :bigups

PM me your Address & Email and I will get these shipped out for you after the weekend :)
Click to expand...


3 winners!?! That's awesome.

:autopia:
 
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