Clean the Truck Day!!!!!!!!!!

[CumminsPuller]

I am planning on washing and waxing the truck today... ..... Since i have owned the truck i have just washed it and waxed it... ... ... NOw I plan on using Meguiars Gold Class to wash and wax it. Should I wash the truck with Dawn or Palmolive first to cut through some of the wax and crap on there from previous waxing. Then wash it with Meguiars, followed by their Deep Crystal Polish and then finally their Gold Class wax? Sound like a plan or am i missing something?



Jason

 

[24V-DSL]

I'd skip the dishwashing step, and after a wash with Meguiars and wipe down, if the paint surface is not perfectly smooth to touch, I'd clay bar and then polish and wax. You're using excellent products, so the result should be great. I'm off to do the same thing... ...

 

[Cooker]

I'll second the use of the clay bar.

 

[CumminsPuller]

I did the Clay bar........

Now another question... ..... I ran out of day light..... I already started putting some of the polish on... ... ... Tomorrow when I go out to finish do i need to re-wash the truck again before finishing with the polish and then the wax?... ... . If so, the areas I already did with the polish will they have to be re-done? Does Meguiars Gold Class carwash remove any polish that you have already put on?



Jason

 

[mchelius]

Clay Bar ????

 

[CumminsPuller]

Yep......Clay Bar.....

mchelius..... The clay bar is used to pull contaminants off your vehicle surface. After washing your truck run your hand across the surface, you may feel some dirt or other foreign matter. the clay bar helps remove most of it, whatever you can't seem to get with just mere washing. Feels like a babies butt when u are done. Read about it here... ... .



http://www.meguiars.com/product_showroom/showproducts_template.cfm?SrcLine=CP&SrcCat=2



Hope this helps... .



Jason

 

[Cooker]

I assume your truck stays outdoors. No need to redo the entire truck with the polish, but I might rewash it to remove any collected contaminates overnight.



I wouldn't imagine any car wash soaps that are produce by a wax/polish company would remove the protectant/polish applied to the truck. Most dish soaps will (Dawn works the best).



I would wash the truck (with Dawn) between the polish and the wax step to remove any left over polish.



One other tip, after you apply (and remove) the wax, rinse the truck with cold water. This will help seal in the wax. I don't know how applicable this is to the newer waxes, but I heard that tip from an old timer, and it seems to work well for me.



-Ryan

 

[mchelius]

Thanks Jason! I've never heard of this, is it widely available at auto parts stores or do you need to order online? Never seen it before.

 

[Cooker]

I have seen the Maguiers Clay Bar at many auto parts stores. Genos sell a clay bar as well. www.genosgarage.com

 

[CumminsPuller]

Cooker.......

If I wash the truck with dawn between polishing and waxing it wont the dawn remove all polish that has been applied therefore defeating the purpose of applying the polish?



Jason

 

[WadePatton]

will clay bar remove tree sap?

 

[exfuzz01]

magic cloth

I have waxed my truck a couple of times and only use a wash with wax in it. Just used the "Magic Cloth" for the first time. Really made is shine...

 

[Cooker]

The polish is not intended to provide protection to the finish, but to "clean" it up and make it look better. The polish just smooths out the finish and prepares it for waxing.



The only exception to this is if you are using a filler/glaze, which some tend to cunfuse with polish. I am not familiar with Maguiers products, but in your situation I don't think this is what you are using.



Wade,

The clay bar is pretty effective at removing tree sap. A good polish will also do the same.

 

[CumminsPuller]

Cooker.......

How often should one wax their truck? I just put one coat on. As you can see I live in louisiana, home of the acid rain, high humidity, hot ass summers, etc..... I drive 5000+ miles a month. Using the meguires products, well I just switched to the Gold Class line... and so far I can notice a difference between their other products. If I wash my truck every two weeks will the wax be gone after two washes? I have never put so much time into a vehicle, still trying to learn all the ropes.



Jason

 

[Cooker]

Acid rain is a tough one to deal with, as well as the road salt we have to put up with here in Michigan.



It is a tough call as to how long the wax will hold up as there are many variables that come into play, and I'm sure some brands hold up better than others.



Seeing how there is no definite answers, I will suggest one thing that will help you get a little more out of your wax. I'm sure Maguiers, like many of the wax/polish MFG's, has a "quick shine" spray on product. Doing this after a wash, not necessarily every wash, will help the longevity with the wax.



I know what you mean about never spending so much time on a vehicle. I have never enjoyed (or enjoyed working on) any other vehicle that I have ever owned.



Take care,

Ryan

 

[CumminsPuller]

Thanks Cooker, I will give it a shot. Not to start a "Who has better products war" but what product line have you been using on your truck?



Jason

 

[Cooker]

I perfer 3M produts, but I think the Maguiers products are of equal quality. JMHO

 

[CumminsPuller]

Thanks for all your help Cooker... ... Good luck to ya.



Jason