Meguiars #26 Smearing

R

Rob_K

New member
My friend brought over his 2 year old car today and boy was it in rough shape. He went to the drive through Lion Safari with his family and the monkeys scratched the crap out of his car. Of course the car is black, what was he thinking?



I pulled out the PC and started with a Meguiar's cutting pad with 3M's Fine Cut rubbing compound. I worked the whole car twice. I was tempted to use a lamb’s wool cutting pad as progress was slow. I changed the pad half way through the car as it was clogging up. I really did not want to go to the wool pad as I would be there forever removing marks from it and time was tight. We had until 3pm and started at 10am (6 Hours).



I then used Meguiar's polishing pad with 3M Swirl Mark Remover for dark cars. This removed the surface scratches I left with the cutting pad. I then used another polishing pad with Meguiar's Body Shop Hand Polish. After applying it, it was a real B*tch to remove. Oil smears everywhere. After an initial wipe, I let it dry for 10 minutes and went over the car again with a fresh towel. This helped immensely and made the paint look very wet! I guess "No Pain, No Gain".



Finally, I applied Meguiar's #26 by hand with a foam applicator. I made sure it went on very thin. I let it sit for 30 minutes and started to wipe. In the garage it looked great. Very wet and reflective but when we backed it out into the sun, it was smeary, streaky. When you wiped the towel in one direction, the smear would follow. Like a bunch of oil sitting on your car.



Scottwax seems to have good success with this product and I'm sure as hell not going to waste my Zaino, Blitz or Klasse on this car. So, what went wrong? Did I not let it dry long enough? Or was it the Hand Polish underneath that deposited all those oils?.



Here are some before and afters with the "film" I'm talking about.
 
Last shot. So what's the deal with the #26?? If I would have used Blitz, I know I would not have this problem as I have tried this same procedure with Blitz instead of #26.
 
The wax could be hot from being in the sun and you are leaving swirls in it. The polish you used before could have left a lot of oils behind. I know 3m Swirl Mark Remover leaves a lot of oils behind! It could have been that.



I would let the car sit until tomorrow and then wash it again and see if the oily residue washes off. I'm thinking it is probably from the 3m SMR. I have not had a problem with Meguiar's #26.
 
I think the main cause is that you used several polishing products that contain a lot of oil and so does #26.



If QDing the car does not remove the streaking and haze, what you should do IMO, is to wash the car with regular car wash soap, go back over it with a light coat of #26 then QD it. Make sure you do this in the shade-because applying it to a hot surface can sometimes cause that type of haze and streaking, but 99 times out of 100, I can remove it by moving into the shade and using some QD.
 
Oh and also, it seems to be removed more easily if you don't let it dry. Polymers require bonding time, etc., but wax (such as #26) is just an oil that sits there. :xyxthumbs
 
BW said:
Oh and also, it seems to be removed more easily if you don't let it dry. Polymers require bonding time, etc., but wax (such as #26) is just an oil that sits there. :xyxthumbs
Click to expand...



Yeah, probably 10 minutes, max. The only problem you will have if you remove it too soon is some dark streaks which can be easily rectified with some QD.
 
Thanks Guys,



I'll let my friend give it a wash and see what happens.



Scott, I've read in some of your posts that you use Hand Polish followed by #26 yet you never mentioned you ever had this kind of problem or do you? The Hand Polish does deposit a lot of oils and so does the #26.



I'm just wondering if its the combination of the 3M + Meguiar's oils that contribute to this problem. The car was in the garage the whole time where it is cool. Only on the final inspection did I bring it out in the sun and noticed this smearing.
 
VJ?G?ntirely different theory.



If I was a gambling man, I'd bet good money you tried to buff off with something OTHER than a microfiber wipe. You used 100% cotton terry, just like you were told, right?



Guess what - anything but MF will push the oils left by the wax around - you wipe in one direction, the streaks show in that direction. Wipe 90 degrees to it - the streaks change 90 degrees.



The day I learned about MF wipes for the first time was about 1.5 years ago when I walked up to a guy at a Meguiar's booth at a car show, and complained of the very same problem. I had never, ever noticed it until I got a black car. He gave me a Meguiar's "Ultimate Wipe" MF - and all my problems disappeared. (I subsequently bought a case of 'em. I have tried yosteve's and neatitems - both are a little plusher than the UW's, but they both require more rubbing to pick everyting up.)



More gambling: there will now be several posts from other MF users, in unanimous agreement. And there will be posts from terry users who have never tried MF, claiming terry works fine. If you haven't used BOTH, please don't add to this poor fellow's confusion!
 
Rob_K said:
Thanks Guys,



I'll let my friend give it a wash and see what happens.



Scott, I've read in some of your posts that you use Hand Polish followed by #26 yet you never mentioned you ever had this kind of problem or do you? The Hand Polish does deposit a lot of oils and so does the #26.
Click to expand...



With Hand Polish, you need to use just enough to spread around then work it until it is nearly clear and dry. I don't know if the combination of different products contributed to the problem, probably just the large amount of oils deposited on the paint combined with warm temperatures.
 
carguy said:
VJ?G?ntirely different theory.



If I was a gambling man, I'd bet good money you tried to buff off with something OTHER than a microfiber wipe. You used 100% cotton terry, just like you were told, right?



Guess what - anything but MF will push the oils left by the wax around - you wipe in one direction, the streaks show in that direction. Wipe 90 degrees to it - the streaks change 90 degrees.



The day I learned about MF wipes for the first time was about 1.5 years ago when I walked up to a guy at a Meguiar's booth at a car show, and complained of the very same problem. I had never, ever noticed it until I got a black car. He gave me a Meguiar's "Ultimate Wipe" MF - and all my problems disappeared. (I subsequently bought a case of 'em. I have tried yosteve's and neatitems - both are a little plusher than the UW's, but they both require more rubbing to pick everyting up.)



More gambling: there will now be several posts from other MF users, in unanimous agreement. And there will be posts from terry users who have never tried MF, claiming terry works fine. If you haven't used BOTH, please don't add to this poor fellow's confusion!
Click to expand...



I have used Both Microfiber and 100% cotton towels. I have YoSteve towels as well as MF towels from tacscar and CMA.



I always buff #26 off with 100% cotton terry towels and have not had a problem with streaking oils. I have applied it to my deep wedgewood blue F-150 and have never had any streaking problems with #26.



I seriously think it was the 3m Swirl Mark Remover. I used it once and had a heck of a time getting the oils off. It seemed to leave streaks all over just like the ones you pictures. I could never get them off and that is when I decided to switch to Meguiar's #9 and have not had a problem since. I also tried ProWax's Swirl Eliminator a few days ago and had no problem with oils, of course it is their oil free polish. They have a polish called #1 Polish which is full of fillers. I haven't tried it though.



Carguy is right though, Microfibers towels are great at sucking up oils and other things... Like sticks and other tree material.. Don't drop your Microfiber towels! I've never seen a towel hold so many leaves before!



Microfiber is the best way to clean windows too. Who would have though :P I get comments all the time from customers about streak free windows!
 
Just started following this board, but I am also a detailing kook who has tried lots of products.



I too really like the 3M SMR - but yes, it is definitely tough to remove if you get thick patches. It also depends on the color of the car - I can see the smearing on my dark green car in nearly any lighting condition, but my silver car they don't show up unless it is very well lit.



Quick Detailer does not remove it very well either. It just adds more oils and gloop.



My drill is to use a 50/50 solution of isopropyl alcohol and water. This melts it RIGHT off. A microfiber towel will take the remaining residue off in one pass. It's to the point I don't even bother doing a first buffing pass. I hit it with a fine mist of the 50/50 mixture and wipe. Wipe again with a clean dry MF towel. Done.



This will also remove the oils/fillers - but I follow up with 3M IHG as a filler anyways.



This has the added advantage of making any remaining swirls more visible, so you can hit it again with the SMR if you have to - no fillers disguising any remaining swirls.



This 50/50 water/alcohol tip is from 3M's application guide, and it definitely works to remove any product residues.



I have not had any streaking problems with any Meguiar's wax (I've used most except the Gold Class polymer stuff.) Although I use Blitz wax nearly exclusively now, since it is super fast, easy and durable.



dem

96 Carrera 4S (Polar Silver Metallic)

97 Miata "M" Edition (Marina Green Mica)
 
Carguy,



Your gamble paid off (go to Vegas). I did use a cotton bath towel and not an MF. Your description of pushing the oils around is also accurate. I will try some MF's next time.



Thanks to everyone who replied!







carguy said:
VJ?G?ntirely different theory.



If I was a gambling man, I'd bet good money you tried to buff off with something OTHER than a microfiber wipe. You used 100% cotton terry, just like you were told, right?



Guess what - anything but MF will push the oils left by the wax around - you wipe in one direction, the streaks show in that direction. Wipe 90 degrees to it - the streaks change 90 degrees.



Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top