My perfect combinations …
I know … I know … I love car cleaning products. They’re like good wine - you just have to have a variety.
Pressed hard to define my perfect combinations, I have to start with the two cars that I detail regularly - our own SAAB 900s, one white, one black, both single stage paint.
… for white:
- 3M Paint Rectification System as required
- Serious Performance Paint Cleanser
- Duragloss 601 Bonding Agent
- Duragloss 105 Total Performance Polish
- Finish Kare 1000P ‘Great White’ Paste Sealant
- Finish Kare 1016 Wash & Wax Concentrate
- Serious Performance Show Detailer
This routine would do for many single-stage light colours.
… and for black:
- Meguiars #83/#80 as required
- Meguiars #9 for swirl mark removal
- Dodo Juice Lime Prime Lite
- Dodo Juice Supernatural (Pure Carnauba Wax)
- Dodo Juice Supernatural Shampoo
- Dodo Juice Red Mist
Meguiars #7 can be used over a wax or sandwiched between wax layers during the summer months to give a deep, oily shimmer to the paintwork.
This routine would also do for many older single-stage dark colours. This is the most pure routine I have worked out to compliment our near perfectly kept Classic SAAB 900 convertible but many marques benefit from Swissvax Best of Show, if only for owner gratification.
The following are routines I would call ’standard’ when faced with an unknown car.
… for metallics, including silver and coloured mica metallics:
- 3M Paint Rectification System as required
- Serious Performance Paint Cleanser
- 3M Perfect-It Show Car Paste Wax
- Finish Kare 1016 Wash & Wax Concentrate
- Serious Performance Show Detailer
Some darker metallics, like green, benefit from a pure wax - Dodo Juice Rainforest Rub or Supernatural being prime examples.
… for clearcoated flat colours (light):
- 3M Paint Rectification System as required
- Serious Performance Paint Cleanser
- Serious Performance Super Sealant
- Finish Kare 1000P ‘Great White’ Paste Sealant
- Finish Kare 1016 Wash & Wax Concentrate
- Serious Performance Show Detailer
With higher pigment light colours, like yellow, as warming wax can be used - Dodo Juice Banana Armour being a prime example.
… for clearcoated flat colours (dark):
- 3M Paint Rectification System as required
- Dodo Juice Lime Prime Lite
- Dodo Juice Rainforest Rub/Orange Crush
- Dodo Juice Sour Power Shampoo
- Dodo Juice Red Mist
For some darker colours, like blue and even black, a colour-charged wax could be used - Dodo Jucie Blue Velvet and Purple Haze being prime examples. Fine cars would be finished with Dodo Juice Supernatural and top marques with Swissvax Best of Show.
August 21st, 2010 at 11:57
I found your information on car detailing absolutely excellent, really helped my understand in great detail the various processes involved.
I have a 05 Porshe Boxster S in Seal Gray Metallic (only covered 13,000 miles), the paints in good condition (slight swirling).
I really liked the sound of the Dodo Juice products.
After reading your recommendations for products that best suit silver metallic’s should I go for those or can I use Dodo Juice?
Thanks
August 21st, 2010 at 14:12
Adam - Thanks for the comment.
Silvers? Well, sealants are often cited as bringing the slickest look, but I have a couple of recommendations:
Finish Kare 1000P - THE glassiest look ever, literally leaves a “dipped in glass” look
Dodo Juice Supernatural - very glossy, almost silvery and classy … and a “posh wax”
Dodo Juice Rainforest Rub - an underrated wax in their list which leaves a clear and bright look with a subtle depth
September 1st, 2010 at 12:41
Hi,
I’ve appreciated all your useful tips on the CYC forums. I’ve just given my ‘bright silver’ car a claying, followed by ye-well-trusted SRP + 2xEGP combination. Having previously simply done a few applications of Meg’s DC Step 3 Carnauba wax, I’m interested in a more durable wax, which would complement the AG pair. So I’ll be taking Collinite #476 for a spin soon, in preparation for switching from the weekly shampoo routine, to ONR.
Do you have any insights regarding the 476, or ONR?
Thanks!
September 1st, 2010 at 18:19
Collinite 476S is very good indeed. It is glossy and it lasts ages. Used over AG EGP - perfect for a strong and long-lasting finish. You can also use AG EGP on wheels - it removes tar and cleans up well.
ONR (Optimum No Rinse) - I’m not a fan. I’m different, though since I tend to work on single stage paintwork which marrs easily. Used on a clearcoated car, which metallic will be and modern cars will be - it’s fine. Just find your own way with it and enjoy.