My Detailing Maintenance Routine

[viperBase1]

I've stumbled on this wash and detail routine that makes the finish on my Viper (and my other cars) consistently pop like its nobody's business.
"Car looks new" is the usual compliment from just about everyone.

It's real simple and isn't too much work. Just take your time and don't rush:

1. Power wash rinse
Light rinse to knock off all the dust and any other particles stuck on the car and wheels.
Check for stuck-on road grime to determine if a scrub with a wash mitt is needed.
If a scrub is necessary, a light linear scrub (no circular motion) is all that is needed.

2. Power wash with Adams Car Shampoo & Foam Cannon. (Link)
Adams Car Shampoo is amazing and really helps to establish a deep clean and shine.
Give it a good rinse but no need to knock yourself out, there's always some shampoo residue left over. (n' this is what led to the next step/special trick)
Dry the car however you like. I use a fake shammy thing called The Absorber and am careful to pull it in straight lines (no circular motion).
Then I let it air dry for about an hour or more.

3. P&S Beadmaker Detail Spray (Link)
Use good/clean microfiber towels and apply over the entire car. One towel to apply the product and the other towel to clean and buff.
In the past I've always used a Detail Spray as an "in between washes" kind of a treatment to keep the shine going.
But this step removes any left over residue from the Adams Car Shampoo and appears to clear/clean the surface of anything left over.
At this point the finish will look great!
But we're not done yet. Let it set/cure for about 30min to an hour.

4. P&S Beadmaker Paint Protectant & Sealant (Link)
Use another set good/clean microfiber towels and apply over the entire car. One towel to apply the product and the other towel to clean and buff.
Apply this stuff over the entire car including the windows, all the trim and weather stripping bits. Buff it out real good.
Let it cure for about 4 to 6 hours. I usually let it set overnight.

After a couple/few of these wash cycles the depth and level of shine will be amazing.
I'm probably over using the P&S Beadmaker Paint Protectant & Sealant, but don't care. Looks fantastic and it can't hurt.

Also, it has helped to simplify the collection of detail products needed.
I had a couple of cupboards full of a bunch of different products that really didn't help all that much. Now, all that **** is gone.

 

[viperBase1]

The shine on a cloudy day.

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I'll get some new pics under the sun with the Nikon this weekend.

 

[viperBase1]

So after a full detail yesterday/overnight as described above, got some pics in a bit of sunshine (some high clouds floating about, but easily visible in the reflection off the high gloss finish).

So first just a fav angle of mine showing the crazy shine and reflection off the door etc..
Also a good shot of the blacked out Viper badge which I did not long ago (PlastiDip!). Just wanna make sure folks that roll up from the rear realize its not a Vette.

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The menacing front shot. Note that wherever there is a sparkle the yellow flake in the paint begins to show.

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N' this thumbnail leads to a pic that is focused on showing the Yellow Flake in the paint. That used to not be so visible before this wash and detail process.

 

[MoparMap]

Very nice! I've used Collinite 645 (I think that was the particular blend at least) as a wax in the past with really good results as well. Really makes the car bead water and shine, but doesn't really address any pre-existing issues like scratches or swirls. I've always talked about taking my car somewhere one of these days to try to get the finish restored and then doing something like a clear bra on it, but I've waffled back and forth many times on exactly what I want to do. My car was my daily driver for many years and still gets regular action with over 135,000 miles, so I had to put thousands of dollars toward paint restoration and protection when I could have the entire car repainted for the same price, though admittedly not a "show car" kind of paint job.