Detailing The Rav4

[anchorman]

By the way Anchs do you know they are facelifting the Kia Rio later this year

I did Clare thanks. Did you know they have just launched the facelifted soul?

Sorry for blagging the thread folk's

[Manxrav]

Sorry Anchs I mean,t Soul,read it in Autoexpress last week (am I thick or what)

Regards Clare

[Big Kev]

Oh Oh......here we go with them Day Time Mandatory Running Lights....makes this wee Soul look half sleeping.

Having recently driven Anchorman's....are you on a tight budget for a darn good car...? Go try it.....most impressive was its physical size, so will now desist from "wee soul" label.

Big Kev

[anchorman]

I drove my old red one yesterday and it was like a comfy shoe - lovely.

While I'm on that subject (red not shoes) it was here because it was running rough on start up. I changed the fuel filter which if anything is easier than a 4.2 and the result was astonishing. It runs much sweeter and all the smoke and roughness when cold has gone.

Fuel filters can play very unusual tricks with common rail diesels. It should always be the first port of call when experiencing problems.

[CharlieFarlie]

The post is about removing swirls and scratches by machine polishing...... Wiping wax on and off is a different thing ................

...and where is this mentioned anywhere above? You simply used the word detailed, which to 99.9% of the population is just a posh way of saying "give it a good clean".

The polish I use does remove/mask swirl marks (albeit only the lightest of ones).

Forgive My bad wording, Note to self.. Watch Your wording or You might get a detention .......................

[Whiteclaw]

Whiteclaw, go to the Car care section of the Toyota owners club forums, here you will find a post on "The perfect car wash guide" that is very informative. It is the first step on the ladder to car detailing as opposed to just washing a car.

Enjoy!!!!!

Regards Clare

Why thank you indeed. I had not noted this section on the site. In fact, I hadn't noticed anything below the the different car foru. Most informative indeed. Certainly led me to perhaps some positive outcomes in the future for this hideous scratch I have right down the entire side of the car.

Isn't it just shocking, you can have a car which is over 15 years old, take good care of it, and then some spiteful little bugger comes along and parks their car next to yours while at the same time swiping a long scratch down the side of the car with their wing mirror.

I am too ashamed now to show any pics of the paint on my car. The swirls are just too shocking.

[bluevortex]

All is not lost Whiteclaw, the vast majority of swirls can be removed fairly easily but it can be time consuming. Some form of machine polisher is going to be needed (either a DA or rotary) if you want close to a flawless finish. Where about are you based?

[webleymk3]

Where do the swirls come from?

[bluevortex]

Poor washing technique, crap gritty sponge, no prewash and petrol station car washes...

[webleymk3]

Ah. So basically the tiny bits of grit on the car get rubbed into the paint when it's washed.

Reading all this has made me want to polish/detail my car!! Just wish I had the time and a drive way!

I also have a few grazes from daft nuggets opening doors against the car. Are there known ways of removing these??

[bluevortex]

The yellow silicone sponge is the main offender. It traps dirt between the surface of the sponge and the paint work inflicting damage. I use a lambswool washmit and zymol sponge which reduces the potential for trapping grit and dirt in this way. However, worth googling the two bucket wash method. The principal being one clean soapy suds bucket with grit guard and one additional bucket of clean water only. Wash out your washmit in the clean water bucket between applying soapy solution to car. Of course there are other factors but in brief you should be minimising using dirty water to clean your Rav. This is preventative good technique and essential when your car is detailed or it'll be a horrible swirly mess again before long.

Blue

[CharlieFarlie]

Chamois leathers are another No No. They inflict a lot of the swirls.. Best to use a detailing spray like Meguires last touch and mist this over the wet car then dry with a proper drying towel which is a very large very absorbent microfibre ..

Once a car is properly prepared You will only resort to a sponge or wash mitt if its not been washed for a while. I use an Autobrite foam lance with a mix of water Snow Foam and a squirt of shampoo in the bottle. This is sprayed onto the car and left to dwell for 4 or 5 minutes then jet washed off. All that needs doing then is the above drying procedure..HTH.

Charlie.

[Big Kev]

Chamois leathers are another No No. They inflict a lot of the swirls.. Best to use a detailing spray like Meguires last touch and mist this over the wet car then dry with a proper drying towel which is a very large very absorbent microfibre ..

Once a car is properly prepared You will only resort to a sponge or wash mitt if its not been washed for a while. I use an Autobrite foam lance with a mix of water snow foam and a squirt of shampoo in the bottle. This is sprayed onto the car and left to dwell for 4 or 5 minutes then jet washed off. All that needs doing then is the above drying procedure..HTH.

Charlie.

So what you advocate above, Charlie, is a completely "no contact" method of washing the car? Even though mines has been clayed, first machine polish ever, then two coats of Collinite Insulator Wax, the wee bugs that have appeared in the recent weather would take some power washing off, especially from front paintwork and glass....? Totally condone no contact if possible, and recently bought a sorta plasic cheapo foaming bottle, but this was the method of lubricating pre-wash, thought I...?

And as for drying it with the 'leccy leaf blower, and removing excess powder wiff an electric toothbrush from panel meeting places......Bluevortex should have left me alone trying tae tune ma Linn turntable a bit more...

Would post up a foaty or two, but just bought new Sony camera, whose bloody software conflictifies with the forum stuff somewhere....gubberit.

Big Kev

[CharlieFarlie]

Kev as little contact as possible ! Colly is a very good durable wax and I use colly 915 for winter application as its brilliant for this. I have another Colinite but cant remember what it is .... Have not used the insulator one though.

I use a Kranze K1150T which has a high flow rate of water and this shifts the bugs no problem . I keep the spread of water wide not narrow..

Try an Autobrite foam lance ?? I assure You You will never look back !! Its one of those tools that You will wonder how You ever managed without......

Charlie.

[Whiteclaw]

All is not lost Whiteclaw, the vast majority of swirls can be removed fairly easily but it can be time consuming. Some form of machine polisher is going to be needed (either a DA or rotary) if you want close to a flawless finish. Where about are you based?

South Wales I am based.

Just been trying to do the car up in the time I have and money depending.

I have been looking a lot at getting the swirls out. This scratch though really irritates the crap out of me. I know the car has a couple of dents etc, not me by the way, but I knew of those and the car stayed the same whilst I had it. Damn you other car driver, Damn you.

I am looking at that sanding method, but it frightens me off, sanding the car like that. I picture all sorts of disasters.

oh and by the way, and I cannot explain it, I have a slight phobia of garages. May have been the first MOT tester I went to, and the fact I know very little with regards to cars.

[Mistermena]

Kev as little contact as possible ! Colly is a very good durable wax and I use colly 915 for winter application as its brilliant for this. I have another Colinite but cant remember what it is .... Have not used the insulator one though.

I use a Kranze K1150T which has a high flow rate of water and this shifts the bugs no problem . I keep the spread of water wide not narrow..

Try an Autobrite foam lance ?? I assure You You will never look back !! Its one of those tools that You will wonder how You ever managed without......

Charlie.

I can confirm that the Autobrite foam lance is a fantastic piece of kit. I use it with my Nilfisk 110 jet washer and leave that lovely bannana flavor foam on there for a good 20 mins before I jet wash it off. But the wax I use is AG HD which is the best I've ever used. Have to say I prefere it to the Colly stuff...

[CharlieFarlie]

Kev as little contact as possible ! Colly is a very good durable wax and I use colly 915 for winter application as its brilliant for this. I have another Colinite but cant remember what it is .... Have not used the insulator one though.

I use a Kranze K1150T which has a high flow rate of water and this shifts the bugs no problem . I keep the spread of water wide not narrow..

Try an Autobrite foam lance ?? I assure You You will never look back !! Its one of those tools that You will wonder how You ever managed without......

Charlie.

I can confirm that the Autobrite foam lance is a fantastic piece of kit. I use it with my Nilfisk 110 jet washer and leave that lovely bannana flavor foam on there for a good 20 mins before I jet wash it off. But the wax I use is AG HD which is the best I've ever used. Have to say I prefere it to the Colly stuff...

I have around 10 to 12 different waxes ranging from Zymol Concours , Colinite, Swissvax , AG HD , Meguires. P21S, DoDo, Victoria Concours, Blackfire, Z8, ect ect.. Colly is not the best appearance wise but its a brilliant allrounder.And has fantastic protection and durability... For the best gloss / wet look Victoria concours is fantastic and cheap at around £30 for a six ounce pot...

My old Focus ST wearing Vic concours

My old Audi again Vic concourse

Rear wing on My old M3 cabby. Silver is one of the hardest colours to get a great finish from.. This wax is Zymol Concourse which is a very expensive wax. The most expensive one I have and IMHO not the best !!

Charlie.

[bluevortex]

I like Victoria wax... It's a beautiful finish but don't expect the same durability as Collinite. I recall saying folly can be tough wax to remove if left for a long time - but BK already learned the hard way!!

As much as I love my HD lance there's very few occasions that I use it alone to wash my car. I use it as an essential pre-wash and if the car is very dirty I will use a lamsbwool washmitt or similar and if it's relatively clean then I'll opt for my Zymol sponge (which I just love using).

Charlie - any enviable collection if waxes in your collection sir, i see we sing from the same page as I also went through a similar phase experimenting with a range of waxes and sealants. Eventually settled on BOS, colly (for winter protection) and Victoria and I have several of the dodo range lurking.

Blue

[CharlieFarlie]

I like Victoria wax... It's a beautiful finish but don't expect the same durability as Collinite. I recall saying folly can be tough wax to remove if left for a long time - but BK already learned the hard way!!

As much as I love my HD lance there's very few occasions that I use it alone to wash my car. I use it as an essential pre-wash and if the car is very dirty I will use a lamsbwool washmitt or similar and if it's relatively clean then I'll opt for my Zymol sponge (which I just love using).

Charlie - any enviable collection if waxes in your collection sir, i see we sing from the same page as I also went through a similar phase experimenting with a range of waxes and sealants. Eventually settled on BOS, colly (for winter protection) and Victoria and I have several of the dodo range lurking.

Blue

Blue. If I'm doing someone else's car usually as a favour I will automatically reach for the Colly 915. On My own cars its Vic Concours Or Blackfire wet Diamond (Thats what will be put on the Rav when I get the machine polishing finished) BUT My all time favourite for looks is P21S and its the cheapest wax I have !! Trouble is durability is around a week !! Its just hopeless ........

Mate check out B&Qs grout sponges !! I kid You not they are absolutely fantastic and cost a fiver for 3 of them !!! Honest give one a try they are easily as good as Zymol ones...

Charlie...

[Big Kev]

Kev as little contact as possible ! Colly is a very good durable wax and I use colly 915 for winter application as its brilliant for this. I have another Colinite but cant remember what it is .... Have not used the insulator one though.

I use a Kranze K1150T which has a high flow rate of water and this shifts the bugs no problem . I keep the spread of water wide not narrow..

Try an Autobrite foam lance ?? I assure You You will never look back !! Its one of those tools that You will wonder how You ever managed without......

Charlie.

Corstrewf, Charlie....there was I thinking my commercial Karcher was expensive enough....them Kranzles must have platinum motors and pumps, man !!!!! Just remembered my Karcher has a "chemical" pick-up facility on it, so will try this before ah get an Autobrite Foameriser....do I need to buy yer actual official foaming agent (sounds like 007 with rabies, eh?) such as that what which Autobrite do?

Big Kev

[Manxrav]

Just been reading the reviews on Victoria concourse, expensive but boy what finish you get from it.My next online buy!!!!!!

Regards Clare

What a helpful and informative topic this is Keep it up

[CharlieFarlie]

Kev as little contact as possible ! Colly is a very good durable wax and I use colly 915 for winter application as its brilliant for this. I have another Colinite but cant remember what it is .... Have not used the insulator one though.

I use a Kranze K1150T which has a high flow rate of water and this shifts the bugs no problem . I keep the spread of water wide not narrow..

Try an Autobrite foam lance ?? I assure You You will never look back !! Its one of those tools that You will wonder how You ever managed without......

Charlie.

Corstrewf, Charlie....there was I thinking my commercial Karcher was expensive enough....them Kranzles must have platinum motors and pumps, man !!!!! Just remembered my Karcher has a "chemical" pick-up facility on it, so will try this before ah get an Autobrite Foameriser....do I need to buy yer actual official foaming agent (sounds like 007 with rabies, eh?) such as that what which Autobrite do?

Big Kev

Kev the chemical pick up on You Karcher just wont do it Mate honest .. Autobrite.co.uk were doing an offer. the Foam lance and 2x5 litres of supa Snow Foam for 60 quid delivered ... It will be the best purchase You have ever made trust Me.. Give Autobrite a call and ask to speak to Mark. Tell Him Chuck recommended You

Kranzles aint cheap but are fantastic performing and great quality machines !!

[CharlieFarlie]

Just been reading the reviews on Victoria concourse, expensive but boy what finish you get from it.My next online buy!!!!!!

Regards Clare

What a helpful and informative topic this is Keep it up

Clare. Make no mistake 95% of the finish is achieved during the machine polishing stages. I use a multitude of pads and polishes to remove all swirls scratches and marks. Refining is done with again many different types of glazes to give different appearances to the finish . This is topped off with the LSP or Last Stage Product. Usually a Wax or maybe a Sealant to well seal in the finish and add shine and reflection..

The finish usually strived after is the Wet look. This is My way of finishing off after the machine work is done..

I spent around 7 hours just doing the boot lid and one side of the car and that's just the machining part . I'm thinking around another 10 hours Machining then 2 to 3 hours Glazing and adding the LSP before I remove the wheels to strip and paint the callipers detail the wheel arches. and deep clean the wheels and seal them Will then fit a set of Mudflaps before moving under the bonnet.......... Good job I have plenty of time ....

[anchorman]

I just get to the point where I think I understand this lot then one of you icelandic polish gurus goes and speaks a bit more latin.

Is there any chance that you two can put together a complete detailed post telling us how to start from scratch with all the alternatives for different budgets, processes and alternatives for both cars that are untreated to cars that just need maintaining with plenty of photos, ideas of costs etc etc and we will have it pinned

[Big Kev]

I just get to the point where I think I understand this lot then one of you icelandic polish gurus goes and speaks a bit more latin.

Is there any chance that you two can put together a complete detailed post telling us how to start from scratch with all the alternatives for different budgets, processes and alternatives for both cars that are untreated to cars that just need maintaining with plenty of photos, ideas of costs etc etc and we will have it pinned

....just you carry on with the Fairy Liquid and yer Halfrauds Carwash Brush, Anchs....you're doing no harm at all...

Big Confused Too...but grateful as Manxrav for input.