Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant 3.0 is the perfect sealant for most vehicles, it’s easy to apply and lasts between six and twelve months. For those unfamiliar with sealants they’re similar to waxes in some ways but they last much longer, they provide a greater level of protection against the elements (tree sap, bird droppings, etc), and they repel water much better because they’re essentially slicker because of the way they bond to the clear coat/paint. Sealants are very similar to a vehicle’s clear coat which allows them to chemically bond to it whereas a wax sticks to the top of the clear coat. Wolfgang products are German designed and American made.
One of my overall favorite products is a ceramic-hybrid liquid that protects and restores automotive trim, tires, plastic, vinyl, panels, and more- it’s called Blak and it comes in a variety of formulations like semi-gloss, high gloss, low gloss, and low glare (which is usually used for dashboards). Personally I prefer the semi-gloss formula. Depending on where the product is used it usually lasts from 1-2 years; I keep my car in a garage so I only have to use it on my trim once every two years. It lasts about 3-12 months on tires and prevents dry rot, UV and salt damage, and your tires wont need to be cleaned with chemicals. Blak contains carbon black which is a pigment/dye so a little of this product goes a long way so I recommend applying it very lightly with a foam brush- I’ve found that disposable paint brushes work the best for most applications. This product is also American made.
Unfortunately I don’t have a picture of my bumper insert before I used Blak on it, the following picture is of an untreated bumper of a similar year as my Genesis Coupe. The picture below that is of my car roughly two years after the initial application.
While not necessary if you use Blak, I prefer to add a thin coat of a product called Satn after the Blak dries. It’s made by the same company and it offers additional protection or it can be used by itself on trim and the other surfaces that I mentioned above if you don’t want to dye the surface and/or it isn’t black. Satn enhances the color depth, and is low gloss, whereas they also have a product called Gloz which offers equal protection but it has a glossy finish.
Out of the dozen or so car wash soaps that I’ve tried I prefer one called Mr. Pink which is made by Chemical Guys. It has an almost perfect rating on Amazon of 4.6 stars and this is what the manufacturer has to say about it: “Other detailing shampoos and low grade car wash soaps are often too strong, stripping wax and staining plastic and rubber parts. Mr. Pink is pH balanced and gentle on all exterior automobile parts like paint, clear coat, polished metals, glass, and plastic trim. It’s safe on waxes, sealants and ceramic coatings too.” This product is also made in America and it works great with foam cannons or your standard bucket wash.
When it comes to car wash buckets a lot of people overlook the fact that if you’re washing your car by hand and you’re only using one bucket then the water is getting more and more damaging particulate in it as you wash the car. For this reason most professionals use a two bucket system- one bucket is used for soap and the other is used for rinsing. A lot of professionals also use a product called a Grit Guard which is “a wash insert that fits 12-inch diameter buckets to keep particles, grime, and particulates off your sponge or mitt while washing. Designed with a raised radial surface that fits in the bottom of most 3-5 gallon buckets. It works to extract grit from your wash mitt or sponge when dragged across the Grit Guard surface. The dirt then settles on the bottom of the bucket, away from your wash mitt or sponge, keeping your water clean.”
I prefer to use a foam cannon and one bucket instead of a two bucket wash, you fill the container about halfway with hot water and then add a bit of soap. With this product you don’t need to use as much soap as you would with a two bucket wash and you only only need one bucket which is used for periodically rinsing the washing mit. The foam gun combines the soap and water with air to bathe your car in foam which removes abrasive dirt particles- you can purchase a foam cannon for a pressure washer but it’s not necessary and a bit excessive. I prefer foam cannons that hook on the end of a standard hose, they’re less expensive and easier to use and like I mentioned you don’t need to pressure wash your car to clean it. The manufacturer of my favorite foam cannon has this to say about them: “Over 95 percent of swirls and scratches come from improper car washing and drying techniques and products. Adding slick car wash foam to the equation drastically reduces the risk of installing swirls and scratches on painted surfaces.”
Speaking of avoiding swirls and scratches, an air dryer is another great way to avoid them and you save money in the long run if you use one since you don’t have to buy drying towels and launder them. The air dryer that I use isn’t available as of now so I’m not sure if there was a production issue or whatnot but the one below appears to be a great one. This product has a 3.2 HP motor as well as a heating function, filter, and a dial to adjust the speed of the airflow. The manufacturer has this to say about it: “Protect your car’s finish with the safest touch-free drying method- say goodbye to swirl marks and scratches caused by towels and chamois. Adam’s Air Cannon Car Dryer uses warm, filtered air to dry your car without damaging the paint or chrome finishes. The space-saving 30 foot Hose is self-expanding and retracting makes it easy to store and it comes with rubberized attachments that allow for precise drying without risking any damage.”
I prefer car wash mits that are made of microfiber as they trap dirt, debris, and particulate much better than other types of mits. Car wash mits are much more versatile and easy to use than sponges or similar products. The mit that I prefer is also made by Chemical Guys and is a 70/30 blend of microfiber and is machine washable.
As far as applicator pads go I prefer rectangular microfiber ones like the ones below which can be used for sealing, waxing, polishing, adding tire shine, and a variety of other applications for your vehicle’s interior and exterior. Some people prefer to work with round applicator pads and they’ll probably work just as good for most users but I find that they’re a bit more difficult to use around trim, hood and roof lines, bumpers, etc.
When it comes to the engine bay a lot of dirt and particulate can be removed by a rag with soapy water but once it dries you’ll want to use a protectant that works on “vinyl, plastic, synthetic and natural rubber, PVC, metal, gel coat, fiberglass, stainless steel, and more.” 303 Aerospace Protectant lasts for up to a year or so and has a “smooth, matte finish with no oily or greasy residue.” It can also be used on outdoor furniture, spa and pool covers, vinyl liners, and pool inflatables.
If your paint has embedded contaminants like bugs, tar, rail dust, etc then a clay bar can make a real difference. You spray the included liquid over the paint and then wipe over it with the clay bar to pick them up. It “acts as a magnet to foreign particles, literally pulling the paint-fouling grime away from the surface of the paint” which leaves “the surface silky smooth with a mirror-like smooth finish.” The clay bar removes contaminants which stick to it then you periodically fold it over itself to reveal a fresh clay surface.
I have yet to polish my car but based on reviews Menzerna seems to make some of the best automotive polishes available. They use a four digit numbering system, and a coloring system, which tells you how much cutting/polishing power each product has. The lower the number the more cutting power each product has, their main line goes from 1,000 to 2,500 to 3,500 but there are several additional products available which you’d be less likely to need. The color of the four digit product number also tells you which color pad to use if you buy a polishing pad- the order of the cutting power is red, yellow, and then green. They have pads which can be used for orbital or rotary polishers or smaller pads which can be used by hand. The majority of their polishes have around a 4.6-4.7 star rating and the company has been making automotive polishes since 1888. They’re a German based company.
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