This post was originally planned to show off how well I was able to detail my wife's very neglected black 2000 Focus. After a phone call from her this week telling me that she totaled the car when she hydroplaned in the middle of a curve on the highway, I had to pull my 1990 Olds Touring Sedan back into service. It's been parked since I bought my Chrysler LHS last fall, and since I was putting it back on the road I decided I might as well have it looking in better shape. Fortunately, the accident happened a few days before I toiled over the Focus. It would have been lousy to have put all that effort into it only to have it wasted.
The Oldsmobile has been in the family since new. My dad bought it new (no jokes about "my father's Oldsmobile", lol) and thought he took decent care of it. In his mind, that meant a driveway wash with dish soap, a sponge and terry cloth towel every few months, then once or twice a year a wax with Meguiars Gold Class paste wax. It's 16 years old and has never been garaged. BTW, it also has 260,000 miles and has never used a drop of oil. I've had it for the last 3 years and 70,000 miles.
Since I discovered Autopia a couple months ago I've done a reasonable amount of reading and tried to pick up a few hints. I only have OTC supplies from a discount or auto store, so I made do as best I could.
My supplies were:
Meguiar's Detailing Clay
Mequiar's QD
Meguiar's Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner
Mequiar's NXT Tech Wax
Mother's Carnuba Cleaner wax
my trusty old Bosch 3283 RO sander with Bosch foam pad and cheapo waxing bonnet
After a wash I spent a couple hours claying it. I've tried clay on my Chrysler but never saw any effect. Man, that sure changed with this Olds. There was something on the paint on the back half of the car that looked like spattered mulberry juice and I was never able to get it off with washing, not even scrubbing with an APC. The clay did a great job, but took quite a bit of time and effort in some spots. The clay made an amazing difference in the feel of the paint, really incredible.
I followed up with the MPC over the entire car. I thought about using the Mother's wax over the entire car, hoping that it would help hide the scratches better, but I was running out of time so I decided to just use it where the worst areas were on the hood and trunk, with NXT on the rest of the car. I know I still have scratches showing (plus plenty of chips and one place where it was keyed), but I didn't have a real SSR to work with. I'm very open to suggestions for OTC retail products that will help. At this point I'd settle for just hiding the ones that are left. If it helps any with suggestions, I have access to Walmart, Autozone, and Pep Boys for supplies. I can order online of course, but it's usually easier for me to drop by a store.
The after pics were taken in the garage after the sun went down.
In all its freshly washed glory.
Speckled looking paint.
After in the garage.
I'll admit if I was a pro I'd be ashamed of these results, but I don't think it's too bad on an old beast as a newbie with limited supplies. This car will stay in service for at least a few months till my wife finishes school and goes back to work, then be relegated back to duty as a spare ride.
The Oldsmobile has been in the family since new. My dad bought it new (no jokes about "my father's Oldsmobile", lol) and thought he took decent care of it. In his mind, that meant a driveway wash with dish soap, a sponge and terry cloth towel every few months, then once or twice a year a wax with Meguiars Gold Class paste wax. It's 16 years old and has never been garaged. BTW, it also has 260,000 miles and has never used a drop of oil. I've had it for the last 3 years and 70,000 miles.
Since I discovered Autopia a couple months ago I've done a reasonable amount of reading and tried to pick up a few hints. I only have OTC supplies from a discount or auto store, so I made do as best I could.
My supplies were:
Meguiar's Detailing Clay
Mequiar's QD
Meguiar's Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner
Mequiar's NXT Tech Wax
Mother's Carnuba Cleaner wax
my trusty old Bosch 3283 RO sander with Bosch foam pad and cheapo waxing bonnet
After a wash I spent a couple hours claying it. I've tried clay on my Chrysler but never saw any effect. Man, that sure changed with this Olds. There was something on the paint on the back half of the car that looked like spattered mulberry juice and I was never able to get it off with washing, not even scrubbing with an APC. The clay did a great job, but took quite a bit of time and effort in some spots. The clay made an amazing difference in the feel of the paint, really incredible.
I followed up with the MPC over the entire car. I thought about using the Mother's wax over the entire car, hoping that it would help hide the scratches better, but I was running out of time so I decided to just use it where the worst areas were on the hood and trunk, with NXT on the rest of the car. I know I still have scratches showing (plus plenty of chips and one place where it was keyed), but I didn't have a real SSR to work with. I'm very open to suggestions for OTC retail products that will help. At this point I'd settle for just hiding the ones that are left. If it helps any with suggestions, I have access to Walmart, Autozone, and Pep Boys for supplies. I can order online of course, but it's usually easier for me to drop by a store.
The after pics were taken in the garage after the sun went down.
In all its freshly washed glory.
Speckled looking paint.
After in the garage.
I'll admit if I was a pro I'd be ashamed of these results, but I don't think it's too bad on an old beast as a newbie with limited supplies. This car will stay in service for at least a few months till my wife finishes school and goes back to work, then be relegated back to duty as a spare ride.
