Camry HybridDiscussion area for the Toyota Camry Hybrid. Topics of discussion range from fuel economy, safety, modifications, performance all involving Americas favorite family car, the Toyota Camry.
Ok....I admit that the bulk of my car care knowledge would be Wash Car, Wax Car............that's it. Can I get better results? When someone says they Polish then Wax....what are they doing? Are there better results to be had by doing more than a wash and wax? Is anybody using the "touch" type automatic car wash with success.....I always worry about scratches on new cars....and avoid them...at least for awhile. Maybe someone knows a good site for "how to" ideas on car detailing/car care.
There is a very nice detailing forum here on Toyota Nation. There are also several others on the web (autogeek, detail city, etc.) where you can learn about ways to keep your car clean without inducing swirls, scratches, water spots or other problems to the paint (or any other part of the car).
My twice a year routine would involve cleaning (good two bucket car wash with car detergent, NOT dish washing liquid) followed by cleaning the paint (mild clay bar with a good lube). If required, the paint is then polished. This will remove the micro marring that occurs (no matter how careful you are) when keeping the car clean. These can be normal wear and tear such as slight scratches from rings/watches to the fine circular rings around a bright reflection in the paint.
Polishing is usually done with a machine (rotary for the pro's, random orbit for the jo's) and a swirl remover for minor blemishes. Major jobs requiring a wet sanding and/or polishing compounds should be left to the pros unless you have been doing it a LONG time.
Once the paint is cleaned, you need to protect it. This is where the sealants and waxes come into play. Either one works well depending on the look you want from the paint. A sealant will give a "wetter, brighter" shine while a good carnauba wax will give a "warmer" glow to the paint. Some idiots (like me) prefer a combination of both; apply a sealant, wait 24 hours to cure and then follow with one to two coats of a good carnauba wax.
Once this is done, normal maintenance upkeep consists of a two-bucket hand wash following the bodylines of the car and drying with a good micro fiber towel or equal. Don't forget to keep the doorjambs, under the trunk lid and the underside of the hood wiped down while drying the car. It keeps them very clean with very little effort.
I also like to keep my engines clean and I must admit I was VERY hesitant the first time I cleaned my TCH's engine compartment. I get nervous mixing water from a hose and the "touch me and you are dead" voltages running in those blaze orange cables. All came out well however and the engine still looks new.
Ask around either here on Toyota Nation or on some of the other forums with any questions you have about keeping your car clean and looking good. There are a lot of folks that will be more than willing to help out.
Ok....I admit that the bulk of my car care knowledge would be Wash Car, Wax Car............that's it. Can I get better results? When someone says they Polish then Wax....what are they doing? Are there better results to be had by doing more than a wash and wax? Is anybody using the "touch" type automatic car wash with success.....I always worry about scratches on new cars....and avoid them...at least for awhile. Maybe someone knows a good site for "how to" ideas on car detailing/car care.
Shine it up, clay it, detail it, park it and do not drive it, especially if its black lol
.......still a week or two from taking delivery on our TCH. Will be our main vehicle, and wife's to and from work car (it will be less thirsty than our V8 Explorer). Neither of us has ever had a black car.....we're willing to take on the work the goes with it.....(hope it's not too bad).
Claying?........I had never even heard of this before reading in this forum... does new car paint benefit from this?
Yes, new cars benefit from claying the paint. It will remove small, embedded pieces of grit and metal that makes the surface of the paint "rough" to the touch. A quick way to tell it to place your hand in a thin sandwich "baggie" and slide it over the paint, you will be able to tell when it catches on the surface. Do this before claying an area and then after you are finished. You will be amazed at the difference.
It used to be hard to find clay bars but since Mothers and Meguirs have come out with their kits, even Wally World has them. On the kits, I happen to like the Meguirs as it comes with two small bars and does a nice job for a medium grit bar. Just follow the instructions or ask someone here or on the other boards when you are ready to use them.
It takes about an hour and a half for most people to clay a car the size of the Camry but it is well worth it. You should only need to do this once or twice a year. If the car is kept very clean you would be able to go to a milder bar (similar to pinnacle blue) once you have it smooth.
One BIG warning though, by keeping a car looking nice (I love black paint), you will get addicted to having it look that way and you will spend a lot of time working on it. I won't even mention how much you can tie up trying new waxes, polishes, pads, micro fiber, cleaners, etc., etc.
Have fun with it and it becomes a relaxing and rewarding hobby. Not to mention that your wife will like you keeping her car clean (if you are like the rest of us guys, you DO NOT clean the house enough for her).
It depends. On cars left in the garage, I just wipe down with a California duster. If the garage is dusty (kids have a habit of letting the doors stay open) or the car has been outside, I just give it a quick rinse, dry and start laying on the wax. One thing to remember about sealants and waxes. Less is more... Put a thin coat that covers well on the car and you will have an easy time buffing it off. All thick coats do is waste wax and your time (unless you are trying to muscle up your shoulders/arms).
If you are using a sealant, read the container. A lot of them say to keep the car away from water for the first 12 to 24 hours. Sealants use a molecular bonding process and some have a problem with water until they are cured. Water includes rain, dew, ocean spray, sprinklers and the kids playing with the water hose.....
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Wash, clay, seal, wax, OH MY!
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