help!!!!!!!WINTERIZING your car

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prterra

New member
i live in boston and during the winter months its really cold and snows like crazy..that when all the dirt and salt is spread on the streets and gets all over your car and stuff. what do i need to do in order to prepare my car for the winter. my car is a 2005 toyota avalon so the paint is pretty new. please be specific
 
My combo this year (if I can get a free weekend to strip and re-apply) will be ungodly amounts of UPP followed by less ungodly amounts of #16 or more UPP. I already have about 4 coats of each on there and I drive the car less than once a week (no cars for freshman) so there shouldn't be a lot of degradation. My parents cars will get similar treatments but with lots of Natty's blue (red cars you know, buckeyes through and through).
 
Here is what I would do (but you'll get other responses):

1. Wash car and dry.
2. Use a clay bar and some quick detail to lubricate. Soap and water is an okay lubricant, but any quick detail is great. Any clay bar will do. Do a section and wipe off with a clean dry microfibre towel.
3. Use Klasse All-In-One (AIO). The directions are easy, and can be applied by hand.
4. Apply a synthetic sealant. I like Meguiars NXT Tech Wax, since it is easy to apply, easy to remove, and cheap (about $0.50-$1/vehicle). I've not tried Poorboy's World EX or EX-P, but I have some and will try it soon. It is not a paste, but a liquid. Klasse also has a sealant that is supposed to be pretty good.
5. A sealant will give up to 6 months of protection. You can feel free to add any Carnauba wax on every month for extra shine and protection. For dark cars, Pinnacle Souveran is good, but don't waste the money on damaged or light cars. Poorboy's Natty Paste Wax (Blue for dark and regular for light cars) is quite good. The Treatment is very easy to use, and comes in a pre-softened paste tube with a great applicator.
6. Wash with a soft cloth or mitt, not a brush. And don't go to brush car washes. Use a non abrasive slick soap and do it often--weekly and after every snow (well, after the next day when the salt is a the peak). If you can't wash yourself, it is worth $10-$15 for a detailer to do it, IMO.
 
It's too early to be thinking about winterizing cars!! It seems like just yesterday it was July and in the 80's here. Back on subject though... you are going to find that most people here throw on a few layers of Klasse Sealant Glaze or Four Star UPP for the winter months. Others prefer to use, ex-p, collinite, natty's, s100 and similar products. The key is to clean your car when you are able to (kinda hard to when its -10 out) and maintain it after a wash with some QD or even another layer of sealant if the weather permits.
 
I put at least 15 coats of UPP on my wife's car and 23 on mine two years ago. It held up until winter was over. Hoping to do the same this year but using EX-P and topped with Collinite's Insulator Wax.
 
rabbi said:
I put at least 15 coats of UPP on my wife's car and 23 on mine two years ago. It held up until winter was over. Hoping to do the same this year but using EX-P and topped with Collinite's Insulator Wax.
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holy crap rabbi! thats alot of upp. did the car still fit in the garage? haha.

FWIW im torn between #2180 and SG. MN winter.. nuff said.. any input woudl be great!

Greg
 
i dont think there is anything or enough coats of anything to last our whole winter....sigh......
 
All I can say is the winter dirt and grime did not stick to my car when I washed it during those months. Put on as many coats of selant you possibly can. It won't hurt anything and you have a really nice looking car. I'm hoping to start on my "Winterization Protection Plan" in about 3 weeks.In the meantime I'm doing the wax(Blue) thing.However our frigid southwestern Ohio winters aren't nearly as severe as your arctic Minnesota.
 
Here are a couple more tips....

1. If you can find an open car-wash. Use the "wand-type" car wash to knock off the big stuff weekly...

2. Then take the car home and wash with QEW, followed by your fav QD spray.

3. Saturate the wheel wells with Tire Foam. Makes the dirt, sand and salt just rinse off.
 
pappy said:
i dont think there is anything or enough coats of anything to last our whole winter....sigh......
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I've been a Zaino user for about 5 years now and I can almost guarantee that Z2 Pro x 3 layers will last the winter.
 
Very simple. Klasse AIO followed by SG. Of course wash and clay first. That was last winter's combo and was still beading in April!!!
 
good thing i got a heated garage. haha. but natural gas is so high i dont know if im even going to turn it on.
 
Can I apply AIO, SG, and #16 or AIO, SG, EX, and #16; if so how long do I have to wait between each application?
 
How many ppl have had rustproofing spray etc done on their cars? Is that something that I should think about getting done? Im gonna put on TONS of UPP after seeing how many coats rabbi uses.
 
West6MT said:
How many ppl have had rustproofing spray etc done on their cars? Is that something that I should think about getting done? Im gonna put on TONS of UPP after seeing how many coats rabbi uses.
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If you want to rustproof your car get a rotisserie lift, clean the living crap out of your car and bring it to your local rhino lining establishment, that stuff is invincible and it makes an excellent rustproofer. You can get it in a gloss finish with all sorts of colors now too so you don't have to trade off beauty for functionality.
 
tdekany said:
1 - Do all the initial steps
2 - FK1 #2180 (few layers right after ech other)
3 - FK1 #1000 (few coats)

You will be protected!
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same here . really liking the fk1 stuff. seems like 1000 is as "self cleaning" with the diy wands as they come.
 
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