Fender wells

D

Don Porter

New member
After I've finished detailing a vehicle, the last thing I try and do is spray and wipe down inside the fender wells. The product I've been using for several years is Griot's Garage undercarriage spray. I spray it on then wipe it down to eliminate streaks. Works very well and classes up the vehicle. I'm wondering if there is other products that do the same? I haven't seen any!
 
After I used up my GG undercarriage spray, I started using my Black Magic Tire Wet.
I use water based tire dressings now so reassigned it to the wheel wells.
Cheap at BJs.
 
MEGS HYPER DRESSING 4:1 All i use. Spray it on and walk away. Leaves a perfect finish under there. No applicators or wiping it.
 
PA DETAILER said:
MEGS HYPER DRESSING 4:1 All i use. Spray it on and walk away. Leaves a perfect finish under there. No applicators or wiping it.
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what type of sprayer are you using? ive tried different kinds but nothing puts out a nice even spray mist for me
 
I quit using the GG Undercarriage Spray as it's just too slimy/messy for me and I suspect it has a lot of silicones in it. I can't imagine spraying stuff that doesn't get buffed into areas like that lest it find its way to places where I don't want it and/or there be areas that are unevenly treated. So I just clean/dry and prep/LSP them the labor-intensive way like the rest of the vehicle, though on the Tahoe I usually only do it to the same standard as the rest of the undercarriage.

Twice each year I pull the wheels off and do things properly. The rest of the time I just use floorjacks (and stands) to raise things up for access. Once these areas are properly cleaned up (painted and metal bits polished and sealed, trim/plastic clean and perhaps sealed) it's easy to keep them nice; shampoo mix with BHBs/mitts to clean and a spraywax as drying aid will usually suffice for a quick maintenance wash. Hey, it's up on stands to do the undercarriage anyhow.

The only big PIA is the initial cleanup if a vehicle has been neglected for a while. I spent *many* hours per well cleaning up the '93 Audi, which had twenty-some years of neglect to take care of, but now it's easy to keep it nice. Just part of that "first and last hours of the wash are spent on the undercarriage and engine compartment".
 
I want something to look good and last...
A lot of the products listed absolutely look great - but they are only going to last until it gets wet under there...
Then the Client has the ugly fender liner look again..

In the C/G line, their Bare Bones does work easily, quickly, yes, its oily, but it will go longer than the water based products..

The only other product that C/G makes that really works well and lasts a long time is their big spray can of Back to Black, formerly Fade to Black..

And of course, the much higher priced products mentioned, that would require the wheels to be removed to apply perfectly...
DanF
 
Stokdgs- That whole "how long it lasts under those conditions" factor is why I just go ahead and polish (or AIO) and then FK1000P the painted bits and at least use something like UQW or FastFinish on the black plastic. My wife once observed how nice those areas stay on the Tahoe even after driving in bad weather, that was a clue that I was on the right track :D Sorta surprises me how well that FastFinish holds up, especially after numerous uses of the stuff (it must build up/"layer"/something..)..I mean, it's "just a QD" so I never expected that things would stay so nice.

Oh..and doing some such plastic areas on the '93 Audi today, I discovered that you can top KAIO with UTTG+. The KAIO was a good way to clean the areas in question and I'm hoping the UTTG+ provides a little durability.
 
I use CD-2 Engine Detailer. I bought 6 cans 1 year ago before it went (I think) DISC. It may be under the Turtle Wax name. Its a non-messy, no wiping SOWA product. Just prep it. Lasts a few months, gives the WW's a black look and if you keep up with it, the cleanup and re-application becomes easy.
 
Just to be different I used Collinite 476S 4 Months ago. A wipe with a cloth and they are clean and black again.

Dave
 
jmsc said:
I use CD-2 Engine Detailer. I bought 6 cans 1 year ago before it went (I think) DISC. It may be under the Turtle Wax name. Its a non-messy, no wiping SOWA product. Just prep it. Lasts a few months, gives the WW's a black look and if you keep up with it, the cleanup and re-application becomes easy.
Click to expand...

I found some cans of cd2 at the auto parts store next to ballys on new britian ave (not the one across the street the one on same side)
 
#1 CarPro DLUX...no doubt the best. Long lasting. Easy to maintain. Looks Fantastic

#2 Sonus MotorKote...not often mentioned, but it looks good and lasts a couple of months

#3 Griot's Undercarriage...lasts longer than tire dressing. Effectively darkens even dirty suspension and wheel wells

#4 Any tire dressing
 
I've sprayed my clean wells with DG 253 but I would like to try Sonus trim and motor kote as a spray and walk away.
 
I am also a fan of the Meguiar's Hyper Dressing. I did up my Lady's car over a month ago. I washed it last week and decided to do a little testing. I didn't use any cleaner on the tires or fender wells and tried just pressure washing the brake dust and road crap off of them. The result was a tire and plastic looking fresh as it gets. The current brake pads on her car produce a fair amount of brake dust and our whole area is under road construction. This wasn't a rinse day after type of scenario. Would I redress a clients tire? Absolutely but I'd likely have to do less work and waste less chemicals during the wash/prep. My process after thorough cleaning, repainting under fender wells if needed, etc. is to use the hyper dressing generously. Obviously use your brain and use an applicator for near painted surfaces. When you let the stuff dry naturally it looks fantastic. I've found most of my clients prefer that dressing over the greasy tire dressing as well. So I made the switch and haven't gone back. One less product I need to buy.
 
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