How Do You Detail?

[Ozram]

Not using anything on the tyres yet, might look into it though. Dont want the super shiny look though.

Use the 303 if you want your tyres to have a low sheen and not fling off onto your clean paintwork.

[Ben J]

I think I heard somewhere it does nothing for tyres, but I'll give it a go. Good idea, thanks.

[DMS_Dan]

It works great on the tyres. I use it on customers cars when I want the factory look rather than the super bling OMG look. Eg on a 430 super glossy tyres look wrong but on an SSV or GTI they look really good.

[ryana89]

Can I make a note/opinion towards NOT using a pressure washer.
When you use pressure washers you are moving/blowing water at a very high speed/rate, this allows the water to get into places that it usually is not capable of (potentially damaging seals and electrics).

Now say you use a pressure washer on a door/panel of your car that has a scratch, dint, stone chip or damaged area of of paint/clear coat.
A pressure washer will simply force water underneath the damaged paint/clearcoat and lift that area of paint/clear coat off the panel in time, causing damage.

I understand alot of people use pressure washers and are probably under the opinion that they are great, an opinion I respect.
But please bear in mind what I mentioned above when using pressure washers.

Edit: I stand corrected, fuzion is right, as long as you are aware how to use one.

[fuzion]

Ryan,

I would firstly say you have obviously had bad experiences with a pressure washer/gurnie.

Any old paint with stone chips or damaged paint will be affected by the pressure of the water if you are up close. If you are safe distance you can do no harm at all to your cars paint etc.

I have been using one forever on all the cars i had and have never had an issue and everyone i know also uses them. I can not stand using a hose to be honest, gets absolutely nothing off your car.

It comes down to everything, be smart. Dont go over paint that has damage over it and dont sit 5mm from the paint with something that can easily rip it off! (der!?) lol.

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[Transporter]

I've done my T5 today.

Wash it with hi pressure cleaner, using Chemtech Truck wash CT18 (it is also good as the degreaser, I use it for washing the engines as well) use sponge and bucket, rinse it with high pressure cleaner.
Dry it with Vileda synthetic drying cloth.
Mothers California Gold stage 1 wax on, wax off following with the
stage 2 wax on wax off
stage 3 paste wax on wax off

Autoglym on bumpers and tyres

I use the Truck wash CT18 only when the car is almost ready for re-applying wax, after it is waxed I use hi pressure cleaner to blast the dirt off and Mothers shampoo. I have Mothers California Gold Spray Wax to maintain the wax, it can go on wet surface, which is good.
I have used Mothers FX synthetic wax on our Touareg, it is easy to apply and I'm happy with it.
On our new Tiguan I used Autoglym Super Resin Polish that someone gave me and I bought Autoglym Extra Gloss Protection to complement it. I will see in the 12 months time, if it's as good as Mothers products that I use for long time.

[ryana89]

Ryan,

I would firstly say you have obviously had bad experiences with a pressure washer/gurnie.

Any old paint with stone chips or damaged paint will be affected by the pressure of the water if you are up close. If you are safe distance you can do no harm at all to your cars paint etc.

I have been using one forever on all the cars i had and have never had an issue and everyone i know also uses them. I can not stand using a hose to be honest, gets absolutely nothing off your car.

It comes down to everything, be smart. Dont go over paint that has damage over it and dont sit 5mm from the paint with something that can easily rip it off! (der!?) lol.

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Not yet, I've never dared use one on a car, seen so many people (mainly 4wd'ers) take a pressure right up close to the paint to remove a chunk of dirt.
Painted bullbars always show the signs of pressure washer abuse with chunks of paint missing.

What you just described is the bang on technique for usings a pressure washer.
I didn't come to mind that there are people like you who do understand how to use one (I shouldn't assume otherwise)

As for tap water, its somtimes a miracle that you can even get the job done with monthly pressure decreases.

[fuzion]

I cant handle washing my car with a hose as im to paranoid what it still leaves on the paint before i wash it.

I think an arms length is the closest you need to go and won't cause any damage. Saying that i wouldnt pass over closely on any loose chip marks, or paint damages at all for obvious reasons.

With everything it comes down to procedure i suppose. Realistically people use different techniques and a lot of wrong ones to wash their cars!

You could always get a snow foam lance as well and have fun washing your car? I regularly use one! Check video below (mind you the car is putrid, not dirty but actual car in this video LOL)

[Transporter]

I agree, I use hi pressure cleaner for cleaning our cars for more than 10 years. The oldest one Subaru Forester, parked always outside, washed once a month has minimum swirl marks and original paint that looks like new.

Where do you buy that foam from and how good it is? So far I didn't find the product that you could just spray on, hose off, to get a clean car finish (no sponge and buckets)

The advantage of Chemtech CT18 is that you can leave it to dry on the surface even until the next day.

[fuzion]

Snow Foam Lance from CCP

Fits any high pressure cleaner listed on the site.

Ill be using one this afternoon again when i finish work.

Out of curiousity, how often do you wax the transporter? maybe you should get something that has more longevity than the mots?