Blackfire SiO2 Wheel Seal

acuRAS82- Yeah, I guess I do kinda go Autopian-overboard on some of this stuff, at least the Maintenance Washes :o Eh, I do *not* do much for the backs of the BBS wheels on the `93 Audi, or the steelies-with-wheelcovers on the Crown Vic...although I do pull them and clean `em up right before having those serviced. So I guess it`s feast-or-famine with me, keep some really really nice and barely do anything for the others.

Your approach might work great on the Crown Vic!

Sounds like you`re doing it a lot more often than I do, and I bet that day-in day-out your wheels look a *LOT* better than mine do! Sounds like you keep them about 90% most of the time (at least the parts that show). And I am truly impressed that you can do your routine in about 15 minutes! I might spend that long just doing the pockets around the valvestems.

SWETM- AFAIK, most wheels are powdercoated these days.

If these products have a limited shelf-life, then they`re probably not for me.

I`ll admit I just don`t like the idea of that ".. spreads where the water goes basicly...". I prefer knowing/controlling exactly where *everything* goes/doesn`t. Eh, that`s just me.

And I note that you still find this Detailing stuff "fun and interesting", as I used to. I`m *not* spending one unnecessary minute on it any more. (Yeah, I know..more of my Autopian Heresy, and somebody could probably argue that the way I do stuff takes an awful lot of time too.) That`s one reason I`m asking all these Qs, so I can learn without having to actually do it myself. I guess I`m hoping I might find ways to make it all go quicker and easier while still accomplishing what I want to.
 
Accumulator said:
acuRAS82-...
Sounds like you`re doing it a lot more often than I do, and I bet that day-in day-out your wheels look a *LOT* better than mine do! Sounds like you keep them about 90% most of the time (at least the parts that show). And I am truly impressed that you can do your routine in about 15 minutes! I might spend that long just doing the pockets around the valvestems.
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Well, I have no doubt that when you are doing pockets around valve stems (and elsewhere) that you are going beyond my 90%. But overall, like many others, I hate doing wheels and decided awhile ago that its easier for me to spend the short duration of time doing a quick RW/WW to easily-cleaned-due-to-Coating wheels after my son goes to bed than it is for me to miss a weekend morning of playtime with him to do a full, all-out, wheel cleaning session, so I guess I came up with this method out of schedule preference. Saturate, wipe, quick spray again, then final wipe/dry.
 
kajunman, if I remember correctly, the Sonax video introducing the product said it should last for at least two weeks. I think it lasts longer, but it`s something I just spray on my wheels that have already been coated with CarPro Dlux.
 
acuRAS82- Sounds like you`ve found the perfect approach for you.

Isn`t it funny how different people hate doing different things?!? You don`t like doing wheels, I can`t *stand* sliming my tires, others hate doing windows..

Yeah, all those pockets/coves/etc. I have to get down into drive me nuts...never thought of that until I had ones without such [stuff] that I could clean up nice and quick.
 
Accumulator said:
acuRAS82- Sounds like you`ve found the perfect approach for you.

Isn`t it funny how different people hate doing different things?!? You don`t like doing wheels, I can`t *stand* sliming my tires, others hate doing windows..
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It’s funny you put it like that, because I recently loved “sliming” my tires (although putting it that way doesn’t make it sound very attractive!). I hated the act of getting down low to slime, but I love having dressed tires. I just recently got turned on to the Mckees Wheel coating which now will do my thing... much less slime and a LOT less touching. Best of both worlds for me hence the easy switch.

On the other hand, I’ve never had hatred towards windows. I coat them but still find myself applying coating booster every few weeks after about 2-3 mo this of coating app just because... and windows I do like to clean 100% a few times a week to both cars because of its ease...

this coming from a guy who has lower back issues at times, you can see why I may try to reduce how much time I’m down low cleaning, whereas standing tasks I’m fine taking my time often. We definitely all have unique likes and dislikes.
 
acuRAS82- I appreciate your wanting to minimize all that down-there work with your back being iffy. And/but I just shake my head in wonder that you don`t mind doing the tires :D Some of mine simply take *forever* due to the sidewalls/etc. on some of them, but one man`s chore is another guy`s hobby :D

We`re sure on the same page regarding keeping the windows clean! I bet that never letting them get nasty makes it a lot easier for both of us.

Which Glass Coating do you like? I`ve never gone that route, but can appreciate its benefits...even the RainX I use on the Crown Vic is better than nothing on that problem-child (huge skipped area right in front of driver :rolleyes: ) and RainX is what was already on it when I got the car.
 
Accumulator said:
acuRAS82- I appreciate your wanting to minimize all that down-there work with your back being iffy. And/but I just shake my head in wonder that you don`t mind doing the tires :D Some of mine simply take *forever* due to the sidewalls/etc. on some of them, but one man`s chore is another guy`s hobby :D

We`re sure on the same page regarding keeping the windows clean! I bet that never letting them get nasty makes it a lot easier for both of us.

Which Glass Coating do you like? I`ve never gone that route, but can appreciate its benefits...even the RainX I use on the Crown Vic is better than nothing on that problem-child (huge skipped area right in front of driver :rolleyes: ) and RainX is what was already on it when I got the car.
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Accumulator, I would guess you find the wheels so tough because, again, you are likely much more thorough and a better perfectionist than I am (no need to wonder if it’s true, I’ve read enough of your posts). For wheels and tires, if I make them look good enough 2-3x a week for “normal” people to think they look good, I’m OK with that “good enough” attitude at this juncture with my schedule. You likely wouldn’t be content with my work... but I slime the tires in about 90 seconds apiece, or now with the coating I can spend a careful 1-2 hours scrubbing and coating and then a quick car wash wipe after a big rain storm and they fit my criteria.

For windows I use PBL window coating. The bottle lasts forever, it’s easy to apply after a quick glass polish and would probably last a year or more if I quit touching it with booster toppers. Cleaning is real easy afterwards.
 
acuRAS82- Yeah, it can be hard to tell whether I`m being uber/under Autopian about stuff compared to others here. Some stuff just drives me *nuts* if it`s not the way I want it, while other things don`t phase me at all. Go figure...

Thanks for the feedback about the PBL Window Coating. I`ll keep that in mind if I ever use up all that RainX...oughta get that car out of mothballs and start using it again anhow!
 
Accumulator said:
I can`t *stand* sliming my tires,
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I found a way to apply tire dressing that`s pretty easy. I use the Optimum air gun with either diluted Opti-Bond or Blackfire Tire Gel. It sprays on easily and then I just wipe it two to three times around with an applicator and wipe again only when I`m ready to drive. I can do all four tires on the van in less than five minutes.
 
Maybe if it offered some cleaning/polishing ability like an AIO, similar to Wheel Wax, I would consider trying it.
 
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