I just got done pulling my car down from ramps in my garage and while I was underneath the car I noticed something strange to me. All over there is this sticky clear goo-gunk....on the oil pan, on the transmission, etc. I tested a small area and it comes off with a little elbow grease, but I am not sure if this stuff should remain or not? The reason I am asking is that it has collected some dirt and crap and it looks YUCK! From a car cleaning standpoint, it was kind of driving me nuts, but I held back from just wiping it all off in case it was some sort of protectant that should remain. Does anyone have any ideas?!? Can this be removed or should it stay?
Clear hardness Chart
- Thread starter JRay
- Start date
imported_BretFraz
New member
It's cosmolene, applied at the factory to protect bare metal components from developing surface rust during shipping to dealers.
Of course, I can't see your car and have no idea what exactly Subaru is doing at the factory, but that's my guess.
Hopefully another Suby owner will chime in. Or perhaps ask the question on a Subaru board.
Of course, I can't see your car and have no idea what exactly Subaru is doing at the factory, but that's my guess.
Hopefully another Suby owner will chime in. Or perhaps ask the question on a Subaru board.
ISLANDSBEST
New member
Not to be overly technical, but if it is a protectant, it is probably not cosmolene, which is no longer used by the vast majority of makers. There have been several discussions on this, this link touches on the subject:
http://216.147.22.29/forum/showthread.php3?s=&threadid=3463&highlight=port
If you want to know more, do an archive search.
http://216.147.22.29/forum/showthread.php3?s=&threadid=3463&highlight=port
If you want to know more, do an archive search.
Hey Guys.... as a rookie... not newbie... but rookie to the detailing thing. I know we have some really smart guys when it comes to polishing:notworthy
I have seen some really great charts put together explaining pad, polish, etc etc.... would love to see someone put together a chart for hardnes on clear coats on OEM late model cars.... this would really help the new guys in selection of product I would think...
Picture is worth a thouhsand words.
Ron
I have seen some really great charts put together explaining pad, polish, etc etc.... would love to see someone put together a chart for hardnes on clear coats on OEM late model cars.... this would really help the new guys in selection of product I would think...
Picture is worth a thouhsand words.
Ron
imported_CH.Detailing
New member
While a paint hardness chart is a great idea, I think it would be very difficult to accurately assemble. An idea of paint hardness is just something that you acquire through experience and can only really be subjectively explained unless it is scientifically compared using standard units of hardness with back to back testing.
How can you accurately compare hardness through buffing without being subjective? It all depends on pressure, polish, pad, machine, ambient conditions. When you add in that paint hardness can vary by year, manufacturer, and even colors of a single manufacturer, creating an accurate comparative chart becomes damn near impossible.
Long story short, this is why a test spot is always advocated.
How can you accurately compare hardness through buffing without being subjective? It all depends on pressure, polish, pad, machine, ambient conditions. When you add in that paint hardness can vary by year, manufacturer, and even colors of a single manufacturer, creating an accurate comparative chart becomes damn near impossible.
Long story short, this is why a test spot is always advocated.
imported_Luster
New member
Wow... what a great idea! I wish there was such a chart. I would sure make my life easier sometimes. :clap:
But unfortunately it's usually trial and error. Start with the least aggressive polish and pad and work your way up until you get the desired amount of correction.
But unfortunately it's usually trial and error. Start with the least aggressive polish and pad and work your way up until you get the desired amount of correction.
imported_CH.Detailing
New member
:iagree:
Ron, if you're tight for cash and don't have the money to experiment with different products, M105 and M205 are two products that can tackle damn near anything. Pair those two with a DA polisher, a few LC orange, white, and black pads and you're got a solid start-up package.
Ron, if you're tight for cash and don't have the money to experiment with different products, M105 and M205 are two products that can tackle damn near anything. Pair those two with a DA polisher, a few LC orange, white, and black pads and you're got a solid start-up package.
imported_Luster
New member
Excellent choice! I use them daily...:iagree::wink:
bmw5541
New member
+1 I agree 100%. You can't go wrong with the Megs Twins!:clap:
imported_doctordon
New member
Although this isn't exactly what you asked for it does help explain the differences when polishing different hardness paints - .
This and many other helpful articles were written by Jon Miller (aka TOGWT) and are available at detailingwiki.com. The man is a walking encyclopedia of detailing.
This and many other helpful articles were written by Jon Miller (aka TOGWT) and are available at detailingwiki.com. The man is a walking encyclopedia of detailing.
95formulalt1
New member
would this work on a 05 benz?!?
i have the m105 and m205 but have not tryed it yet
Michael Stoops
Meguiar's Specialist
Trying to assemble a definitive list of relative paint hardness based on make/model/year would be an exercise in frustration (and probably confusion) as well.
Will a noob to machine polishing consider a particular paint to be "hard" while an experienced pro will see it differently? What about the fact that auto manufactures often change paint systems mid year, or don't use the same paints in all factories?
You end up with questions like this:
But which 05 Benz? What factory is it from? Built in Germany or the US?
Of course, assembling such a list would blow apart a lot of misconceptions regarding specific vehicles. I can't count how many times I've read a comment like "BMW has clear coat that is so hard that you have to use _______ to correct it." In some cases, yep, that BMW paint can be crazy hard - but I've also worked on factory BMW paint that was a breeze to correct.
But the biggest problem lies in the fact that there is no definitive empirical measurement for "paint hardness" as it relates to polishing or leveling of the coating (at least none I've ever found). Yes, there are a variety of methods to measure specific hardness of any material, including coatings (Brinell, Vickers, Rockwell, Knoop, etc) but they all make use of indentation measurements. And applying perpendicular force to a material in a fine point is quite different from trying to level that same material through an abrasive process.
But no matter how you would rank different paints, you've still got that one enormous variable - skill. Not everyone can play a piano like Beethoven or Thelonius Monk..... play guitar like Jimi Hendrix or Eric Clapton.... Or play a buffer like Kevin Brown or Todd Helme.
Will a noob to machine polishing consider a particular paint to be "hard" while an experienced pro will see it differently? What about the fact that auto manufactures often change paint systems mid year, or don't use the same paints in all factories?
You end up with questions like this:
But which 05 Benz? What factory is it from? Built in Germany or the US?
Of course, assembling such a list would blow apart a lot of misconceptions regarding specific vehicles. I can't count how many times I've read a comment like "BMW has clear coat that is so hard that you have to use _______ to correct it." In some cases, yep, that BMW paint can be crazy hard - but I've also worked on factory BMW paint that was a breeze to correct.
But the biggest problem lies in the fact that there is no definitive empirical measurement for "paint hardness" as it relates to polishing or leveling of the coating (at least none I've ever found). Yes, there are a variety of methods to measure specific hardness of any material, including coatings (Brinell, Vickers, Rockwell, Knoop, etc) but they all make use of indentation measurements. And applying perpendicular force to a material in a fine point is quite different from trying to level that same material through an abrasive process.
But no matter how you would rank different paints, you've still got that one enormous variable - skill. Not everyone can play a piano like Beethoven or Thelonius Monk..... play guitar like Jimi Hendrix or Eric Clapton.... Or play a buffer like Kevin Brown or Todd Helme.
imported_Flash Gordon
New member
Much better :wizard:
imported_doctordon
New member
Flash,
Remove my user name from the above altered quote immediately. I have reported your post to administration. I did NOT post that and your altering and manipulating of my original post may be misconstrued by others. If you don't agree with my original post that's fine but keep your personal statements and view points from you NOT me!
Remove my user name from the above altered quote immediately. I have reported your post to administration. I did NOT post that and your altering and manipulating of my original post may be misconstrued by others. If you don't agree with my original post that's fine but keep your personal statements and view points from you NOT me!