Thread: What products do you use to clean and wax your Defender?

Originally Posted by Tombie

You may want to revisit that idea

CT-18 strips all the wax from inside the doors, sills, and off the paintwork.

You'll accelerate the vehicles decay!

If you use CT-18 (its great for messy clean ups) - be sure to wax and polish regularly - and to re-treat inside the doors etc...

I know I said I don't wash mine, but I actually use Castrol Biotrans QB truck wash.

A mate is an agronomist in the Sth Oz Riverland, and they've run exhaustive tests on dripper irrigation cleaners and found that Biotrans cleaned better than anything else trialled.

It didn't affect O rings, seals, pump seals, etc. and is food industry approved.

Apparently it really surprised the boffins from Castrol, as to them it's just a biodegradable truck wash !

It might also do what CT18 does, not sure.

I agree with Tombie. Have you seen what CT18 does to alloy metals?
It contains a degreaser which is caustic.

Good to know about truck wash, I have used if for years on my older cars, but I would not use it now after reading this. I used a very weak mix, a few drops in a bucket to get the grime off my car, and I rinsed it very well yesterday. I am off to Atherton on Thursday I will get something more suitable then.
Good info!
Chris

On the Defender I regularly hose it down and use a strong spray to clean underneath. Then I use a clean sponge and some carwash all over to get it clean. About every six months I use a normal wax (not a heavy cutter) to put a protective coat on. Once or twice a year I spray some lanolin underneath in spots which may rust.
Incidentally, our new Mazda 2, which has paint protection, came with two bottles - one of shampoo and another of a cleaner which is supposed to be used every three months to maintain the paint warranty. I'm still trying to figure out what's in the cleaner which has to be used every three months.
Keeping the wife happy equals a happy life, so I make sure I keep her Mazda nice and clean.
I'm not so fussy with my Defender, but I do keep it looking very white.

Best products I have found are Bowden's Own range.

Aussie made, and if you look at their web site, you will waste a lot of time looking at all the cars...

Having a black car, it gets dirty very easily. So, keeping her clean & looking good takes some effort. I polish and wax it with Bowden's products, and it makes life so much easier...

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

On the Defender I regularly hose it down and use a strong spray to clean underneath. Then I use a clean sponge and some carwash all over to get it clean. About every six months I use a normal wax (not a heavy cutter) to put a protective coat on. Once or twice a year I spray some lanolin underneath in spots which may rust.
Incidentally, our new Mazda 2, which has paint protection, came with two bottles - one of shampoo and another of a cleaner which is supposed to be used every three months to maintain the paint warranty. I'm still trying to figure out what's in the cleaner which has to be used every three months.
Keeping the wife happy equals a happy life, so I make sure I keep her Mazda nice and clean.
I'm not so fussy with my Defender, but I do keep it looking very white.

Hello Disco.
"So I make sure I keep her Mazda nice & clean"??!!
DEFINITELY not the way to go mate,....you'd better "train" her a bit better?
Wifey has an Audi S3, and she LOVES cleaning it herself,...even does the insides of the wheel rims,....won't let me touch it! I have to say She does a sensational job,...she's very proud of her car though!
But, you're right of course, "A happy wife" certainly does "equal a happy life"!.....I guess that's probably part of the reason she drives an S3?
Pickles.

Originally Posted by Is Vic There

Each to there own, I don't mind washing my car weekly, don't class it as a job more a hobby, also check the panels out at the same time.


Anyway -


Clay Magic Kit


Poorboys SSR 3.0


Poorboys EX Sealant 473ml/946ml/3.78L

Thanks mate.

I was recommended the Duragloss Polish (105) and bonding agent (601). How do these stack up against the Poorboys?

I've never used the durogloss so can't comment, I am on my 3rd bottle of Poorboys after being an Autoglym fan for years, it's bloody good stuff!