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

[cafe latte]

My new 110 is filthy, it looks like it has been to the cape and back. Here in Ravenshoe there are roadworks and no bitumen for a few kms. It has been raining and it is 3-4km of red mud so Defy is looking very sad.
What products do you use to look after your baby?
Cheers
Chris

[dromader driver]

rainwater with polish once per year. use good polish. :)

[flagg]

rain is good, also rivers work well for cleaning underneath.

[Pickles2]

Well, cleaning product is like oils, everyone has an opinion.
I do like to keep Gracie as nice as I can, but I do not go overboard.
If it's dirty, obviously ya've gotta wash the dirt off, from underneath as well, so a pressure washer is a good idea, but be careful, with a Defender, you may end up with more water inside than out.
I would use any good car washing fluid, they're all much of a muchness IMHO.
Once it's clean & dustfree, I'd be giving it a coat of wax, ya shouldn't need anything abrasive, 'cause your vehicle's new, so just a wax/polish will be good, starting with the roof & working down....once again, I don't go for any fancy polish,...any Kitten or McGuiars etc will do.
If your Defender is kept in a garage out of the elements, I reckon a polish once a year would be enough, but kept in the open, every 6 months would be the go.
One more thing, take your time, take as long as you like, the longer you take, the better the job you'll do!
Pickles.

[Is Vic There]

Washing the car I use two buckets, one for washing and then rinse it in the other so you know that all the dirt is off and you don't scratch the paintwork.

I then dry it with a good quality chami leather.

I then use a product called detainers clay or clay bar, this is like platerseen, warm it in your hands and then make it flat and round, get a spray bottle and fill it with water. Spray a panel and then rub the clay over the panel in a up/down forward/backwards motion, never circular.

Then use a good quality polish, I use autoglym, the one with the red label. Apply it with a sponge pad that is damp. Then use a good quality micro fibre cloth to polish it off. Do this out of direct sunlight and try and do one panel at a time. This polish is easy to apply and easy to take off, which is a bonus!

Then it's time to seal or wax, I have started to use sealer which I have found to give better results. I use a product called Poorboys which can be found on the web. Again use a sponge applicator and again don't use a circular motion, this stuff is really easy to apply and the results are stunning. I try to give three coats and leave the last one on overnight, this gives a really deep high glass finish.

If you have any marks or scratches best attack these prior to the polish as the clay bar will take some minor marks out, for everything else use brasso either the liquid or the matting stuff, brilliant, tar or other sticky marks use WD40 this is amazing at removing road grime that normal sponges miss!

Alway try and polish the door jams as it adds to the looked after effect!

Yes I am daft when it comes to my cars, I do the above once every three months and believe it or not is saves a lot of time when you do your normal weekly wash, another tip! When you come to rinse the car take the end of the hose pipe or attachment off and slow the speed of the water down, start from the top and use gravity, on a well polished car the water will grab and take the whole lot down which is less work for you with the chami leather, believe me it works!

Use car polish for the glass if you have not got any good quality glass cleaner, the spray stuff in my opinion is rubbish!

Hope this has been helpful.

I use the above when I take my motorbikes to concourse shows!

[Aguy]

Also, use Autoglym bumper and trim gel on the front/rear bumper and any other plastic trim. It's the best product I found at keeping the back bumper looking like new and not faded.

[ozrob]

I use CT18 truck wash, spray on, leave overnight then wash rinse off.

[EastFreo]

I also am now an Autoglym convert. Hadn't even noticed before hearing about it on this and Defender2.net. Now I regularly use it after co img back from the farm. The Defender goes from filthy to almost new again.

I recently gave some to my parents who are also raving about a couple of their products.

[cafe latte]

Thanks guys :)
Auroglym is on the shopping list :) thanks for all the tips very much appreciated.
Chris

[Wheatos]

Great tips Is Vic There. Thanks.

Last Sat I went out and bought my cleaning kit including the MF cloths, Bowdons Own, buckets with grit base etc. I asked about the clay and polish but didn't buy it. Sounds like a PITA for a 110, but I guess it's protecting an great asset of ours and I may now be convinced.
You could spend a fortune on cleaning products!

[loneranger]

normal weekly wash

Normal weekly wash :lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2:

The car we take on holiday always gets a good wash when we come back from holiday to get all the salt spray off and the other car gets a wash about once per year.

[Chops]

Clean :confused:
Wax :eek2:

No one said anything about having to clean and wax her :angel::blush:

[rick130]

Clean :confused:
Wax :eek2:

No one said anything about having to clean and wax her :angel::blush:


The last time my Deefer had a wash was over three years ago, as for wax, isn't that what you use on a surf board ? :angel:

[jackdef90]

Would assume it would be the same as any other car to wash, I just rinse the dirt off mine and leave it at that
for underneath I've got a really good sprinkler that I just leave under mine for half an hour or so, bonus is I'm watering the lawn while I'm at it

[Blknight.aus]

I used to use the squeegy at the servo while I waited for the tank to fill up, just the windshield.

I wasnt aware of any requirement to clean one other than leaving it in the rain or wading a river crosing every now and then.

[Is Vic There]

Great tips Is Vic There. Thanks.

Last Sat I went out and bought my cleaning kit including the MF cloths, Bowdons Own, buckets with grit base etc. I asked about the clay and polish but didn't buy it. Sounds like a PITA for a 110, but I guess it's protecting an great asset of ours and I may now be convinced.
You could spend a fortune on cleaning products!


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 -


http://www.waxit.com.au/products/clay-magic-kit


http://www.waxit.com.au/collections/cutting-compounds/products/poorboys-ssr3-0-473ml


http://www.waxit.com.au/collections/sealants/products/poorboys-ex-sealant-473ml-946ml-3-78l

[Is Vic There]

Great tips Is Vic There. Thanks.

Last Sat I went out and bought my cleaning kit including the MF cloths, Bowdons Own, buckets with grit base etc. I asked about the clay and polish but didn't buy it. Sounds like a PITA for a 110, but I guess it's protecting an great asset of ours and I may now be convinced.
You could spend a fortune on cleaning products!


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 -


http://www.waxit.com.au/products/clay-magic-kit


http://www.waxit.com.au/collections/cutting-compounds/products/poorboys-ssr3-0-473ml


http://www.waxit.com.au/collections/sealants/products/poorboys-ex-sealant-473ml-946ml-3-78l

[cafe latte]

I generally dont wash my cars hardly at all. My F100 which I used for getting stuff for the farm I have had for 3 years and I have not washed it yet. My other cars get a wash and wax once or twice a year when I also fix up any chips in the paint. The New Defender however is brand new, all my other cars cost me 5-7 thousand dollars, the Defender was 56,000 so I want to try to keep it looking new for as long as possible. Also the road here is horrible right now until they finish resurfacing it it will just be red mud so in a few days your car is a mess.
Chris

[rar110]

My cars live outside unfortunately as I don't have a carport. And it's a salt air environment. After watching the clear peel off the 110, I am a convert to at least a fortnightly wash and some protection using turtle polish or Nu-finish every 3 to 6 mths.

I will give clay bay a try one day.

[cafe latte]

My cars live outside unfortunately as I don't have a carport. And it's a salt air environment. After watching the clear peel off the 110, I am a convert to at least a fortnightly wash and some protection using turtle polish or Nu-finish every 3 to 6 mths.

I will give clay bay a try one day.

Is yours a metallic paint?
Chris

[Tombie]

I use CT18 truck wash, spray on, leave overnight then wash rinse off.

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...

[rick130]

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.

[Blade74]

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

[cafe latte]

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

[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.

[Basil135]

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...

[Pickles2]

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.

[Wheatos]

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 (http://www.waxit.com.au/products/clay-magic-kit)


Poorboys SSR 3.0 (http://www.waxit.com.au/collections/cutting-compounds/products/poorboys-ssr3-0-473ml)


Poorboys EX Sealant 473ml/946ml/3.78L (http://www.waxit.com.au/collections/sealants/products/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?

[Is Vic There]

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!

[rar110]

Is yours a metallic paint? Chris

Yes Zambezi silver.

[DiscoMick]

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.



My wifey says she's too busy doing other stuff, such as feeding me healthy food and working fulltime, to clean the car, so I'm quite happy to look after hers. Her Mazda 2 is a great little car I must say, much higher quality than her previous Yaris, we're very happy with it.

[Dockstrada]

My cleaning product falls from the sky , after that I take the Defender for a rubdown and exfoliation in some overgrown trails , She just loves to be pampered :-)

[kogvos]

I use an excruciatingly applied mix of clay, sand and humus as permanent protection for the pristine paintwork underneath.

[cafe latte]

Shopping tomorrow, when I escape the missus and the supermarket :eek: I will have a look for some of these products.
Is the clay abrasive?
Chris

[deesse]

I reccomend Bowdens Own easier than anything else I've ever used, does a great job & it's Aussie made. Wouldn't put ct18 anywhere except to clean the floor. Ran out of dish washing liquid once, thought ct18 will save the day. Well, it got to my hands just as caustic does, so it for the floor only. poor worms in the yard!! Ian

[Blade74]

You can always tell the Caustic cleaners as they stay slimey on your skin when you try and wash them off in water.

[Blade74]

This was in my YouTube feed coincidently.

http://youtu.be/qfEcgemCiyk

[Is Vic There]

Shopping tomorrow, when I escape the missus and the supermarket :eek: I will have a look for some of these products.
Is the clay abrasive?
Chris


Clay is just a name!
It takes all the oxidation out of the paint and preps the surface prior to polishing, put your hand in a plastic bag and run it over the bodywork, you'll feel all the small lumps and bumps!

[cafe latte]

This was in my YouTube feed coincidently.

http://youtu.be/qfEcgemCiyk

Ah you are the bloke in the pic who is paid to clean the car? :D
Chris

[cafe latte]

Clay is just a name!
It takes all the oxidation out of the paint and preps the surface prior to polishing, put your hand in a plastic bag and run it over the bodywork, you'll feel all the small lumps and bumps!

Ah ok, I will see what I can find today.
Cheers
Chris

[Pickles2]

I've never used the clay, never been game, always thought I'd stuff it up, & damage the paint etc, but sinse I'm not a fanatic, & the fact that my cars are garaged, with a bit of polishing & TLC etc, they're OK, good enough for me anyway.
HOWEVER, I ain't knocking clay, I've seen people using it, and the results are brilliant.......it is obviously an awesome product when used correctly.
Pickles.

[steane]

I've always believed that the best products are the ones you can't buy at Supercheap or Autobarn. Products like Zaino and Poorboys. Zaino in particular make some seriously good car care products.

But we are talking Defenders here, so give em a quick wash and then use them how the maker intended. It's a 4X4 not an SUV.

Save the clay bars and lotions and potions for something with a straight panel on it ;)

[Tombie]

Bowdens own... We almost have shares in it :cool:

[cuppabillytea]

Hi Chris.
Since the water restrictions of the last big dry spell,I've been going to the car wash. Once a year they polish it with a black polish (Don't know what it is,sorry.). For spot cleaning, I use FW1 with carnauba wax. It is a product that cleans and waxes without the need to wash. Obviously you can't use it on gritty dirt, but it is good for removing liquid spills and splashes as well as bird bombs, which you don't want to leave on your car for too long.
This is my 'Biddy' with a weeks worth of city grime.

[Is Vic There]

Products like Zaino and Poorboys. Zaino in particular make some seriously good car care products.




I use Poorboys, brill stuff, just ordered some more.


I mainly use is on my bike and the wife's Golf, I know what your saying about the Defender being a 4x4 but I'll still be polishing and sealing it, a few hours every three month is nothing. Especially when mine will have a black roof, bonnet, wheel arches and rear door, got to protect it from the UV and salt since I live near the sea.

[Blade74]

Hahaha no cafe latte.
Just found it interesting that I was involved in this post and that video appeared in my YouTube as a recommendation.
Thought it was fascinating to watch as to how far people go with cleaning and maintaining exotic cars.

[Tombie]

This is what I've been getting at for a long time..
We have an Aussie manufacturer of world class auto products..
And people run of and buy imports...

No wonder this wonderful country is going down the gurgler :o

Support the local boys where you can people...

[Wheatos]

We have an Aussie manufacturer of world class auto products

Support the local boys where you can people...

Tick!

My Bowdens Own wash arrived yesterday. Will be interested to see how it goes.

[EastFreo]

To be honest I wasn't even aware of Bowdens. Will give it a go.

[Blade74]

I wasn't aware it was Aussie.
Thanks for the recommendation Tombie.
I will def go buy some.

[cuppabillytea]

This is what I've been getting at for a long time..
We have an Aussie manufacturer of world class auto products..
And people run of and buy imports...

No wonder this wonderful country is going down the gurgler :o

Support the local boys where you can people...
I've got 3 cans of the FW1 stuff Tombie. (Anyone who thinks I'm a mug 's no fool) What should I do with that? Please advise as politely and painlessly as possible.

[Tombie]

I've got 3 cans of the FW1 stuff Tombie. (Anyone who thinks I'm a mug 's no fool) What should I do with that? Please advise as politely and painlessly as possible.


Use the gear you have :)

All I posted was consider supporting local when you buy next..

[cuppabillytea]

Cheers, will do. Usually do. Got stung by charming sales lady this time.

[sashadidi]

I use the clay cars for years buy them off Ali express at about 1/3 of the price and make up your own clay bar lubricant ( use a car wash solution from about 20% to 50% of car wash and top up with water to make a soapy solution) to use with them really works well. NOTE: clay bars remove the polish wax from your paint so polish afterwards.
I have used mothers 3 step for years (once a year and use ordinary car polish in between) and it works well and really helped on my resale(s)
The Ultimate 3 Step Polish & Wax System for Show Car Finish - MOTHERS Polishes Waxes Cleaners - New Zealand (http://www.mothers.co.nz/store/c24/The_Ultimate_3_Step_Polish_%26_Wax_System_for_Show _Car_Finish.html)

[carlschmid2002]

I am thinking that with your user name cafelatte and your strong desire for 'products' information you may have just bought the wrong car. Did they have any Evoques at the dealership when you were there?:) Now your Evoque driver needs lots of 'product' and a good latte. In my experience the only product the Defender driver needs might be a bit of wax in the mo. Pretty sure they only drink black coffee with the occasional shot of rum. :):wasntme:

[cafe latte]

I am thinking that with your user name cafelatte and your strong desire for 'products' information you may have just bought the wrong car. Did they have any Evoques at the dealership when you were there?:) Now your Evoque driver needs lots of 'product' and a good latte. In my experience the only product the Defender driver needs might be a bit of wax in the mo. Pretty sure they only drink black coffee with the occasional shot of rum. :):wasntme:

Cafe Latte is the name of a light coffee colored cow that was grazing in the house paddock a few years back. Someone left the electric fence down in the carport and I was registering for another forum at the time, trying to think of a good user name. Then MOOOO!!!
It scared the hell out of me, I turned round to see Cafe Latte looking at me through the window so that is how it started, now I am Cafe latte on all the forums I subscribe to. I actually like double shot expresso (Italian missus) and double or triple shot Cap's depending on the size of the cup :D Italian missus is why the cows all have such daft names
Re product, there are good and bad of everything, all car wax is not equal. Living in the tropics with severe solar radiation and very wet wet seasons a good car wax is a good idea whatever car you drive in my opinion, especially when it has just cost me 57,000 all up.
Chris

[cuppabillytea]

On ya Chris.

[Jeff]

I use water.

Does waxing your paint actually protect it? I always thought it was just marketing and you were actually wearing out the paint, but could be wrong.

Jeff

:rocket:

[carlschmid2002]

Cafe Latte is the name of a light coffee colored cow that was grazing in the house paddock a few years back. Someone left the electric fence down in the carport and I was registering for another forum at the time, trying to think of a good user name. Then MOOOO!!!
It scared the hell out of me, I turned round to see Cafe Latte looking at me through the window so that is how it started, now I am Cafe latte on all the forums I subscribe to. I actually like double shot expresso (Italian missus) and double or triple shot Cap's depending on the size of the cup :D Italian missus is why the cows all have such daft names
Re product, there are good and bad of everything, all car wax is not equal. Living in the tropics with severe solar radiation and very wet wet seasons a good car wax is a good idea whatever car you drive in my opinion, especially when it has just cost me 57,000 all up.
Chris
I think the best paint protection in FNQ is to park in the shade, unless you are in Aplin Street in Cairns where the birds poop all over your car. I was trying to have a laugh with the comments above. Lucky you didn't get the sawtooth wheels, I had them on my 90. dam hard to keep looking good and very easy to scratch off road. Enjoy your new car with plenty of 'product' applied.

[cafe latte]

I think the best paint protection in FNQ is to park in the shade, unless you are in Aplin Street in Cairns where the birds poop all over your car. I was trying to have a laugh with the comments above. Lucky you didn't get the sawtooth wheels, I had them on my 90. dam hard to keep looking good and very easy to scratch off road. Enjoy your new car with plenty of 'product' applied.

I realized you were having a friendly dig :D, but weak coffee is not my cuppa :D
Imo wax DOES protect the paint, I agree shade is a big one, but paint as it gets older does not repel water the same, stone chips expose the metal for example. Wax prevents rust it also makes the water run off quickly too.
The Defender is aluminium true, but I have owned a Rover p6 in the past with aluminium panels and it corroded just the same except the corrosion was white not brown.
Chris

[DiscoMick]

I realized you were having a friendly dig :D, but weak coffee is not my cuppa :D
Imo wax DOES protect the paint, I agree shade is a big one, but paint as it gets older does not repel water the same, stone chips expose the metal for example. Wax prevents rust it also makes the water run off quickly too.
The Defender is aluminium true, but I have owned a Rover p6 in the past with aluminium panels and it corroded just the same except the corrosion was white not brown.
Chris
Your comment about aluminium rusting got me curious, so I consulted Mr Google, that fountain of all wisdom, and found the site below:
Does Aluminum Rust? (http://www.theruststore.com/Does-Aluminum-Rust-W26.aspx)
In summary, aluminium doesn't rust, but it does corrode. The corrosion is white and makes the colour go dull. A coat of wax should discourage the corrosion, apparently.
So, there you go, learn something every day.

[cafe latte]

On the P6 on the boot the corrosion resulted on some severe pitting and the paint flaking off so aluminium can corrode quite badly given the correct conditions.
Chris

[Beery]

If Bowdens did a wash&wax I'd buy that. But Meguiar's will do I think.

I've just moved to Darwin and my friends tell me that the clear coat on dark coloured cars seems to peel fairly quickly up here.

Seeing the 130 is still new im off to repco today to get some wash&wax. Hopefully if I keep that up to it, the paint will survive.

I'm too lazy to do a separate wash then wax. Although I might just do it once to get a good layer on.

How are the other Darwinian's going? I've a few Defenders getting around.

[4runnernomore]

Beery,
Keep your car under cover when you can.
Wash off any bat and Torres straight pigeon droppings ASAP. This will destroy your paint in no time due to the acidic nature of it.

Welcome to Darwin.

Cheers, Chris

[Beery]

Thanks Chris
No cover where im staying at the moment with friends. But undercover parking will be at the top of my list when i start looking for a place!

[DOS LANDY]

I have paint protection on both my Tdi Disco and Puma and only ever use johnsons baby shampoo. The Disco paint looks great for a seventeen year old truck that live outside most of the time. Not sue how the shampoo goes without paint protection but for $7 a bottle i'd give it a run.

Regards
Sean

[Tombie]

I have paint protection on both my Tdi Disco and Puma and only ever use johnsons baby shampoo. The Disco paint looks great for a seventeen year old truck that live outside most of the time. Not sue how the shampoo goes without paint protection but for $7 a bottle i'd give it a run.



Regards

Sean


It's full of Salt(s) and will strip waxes from under sill panels, scuttle panel, inside doors etc and cause rust.

Hence why quality car shampoo has no salts of any kind, won't remove rust treatment (waxes) etc.

I'd say the only thing saving your vehicle is the early life rust treatment you had done.

Check around the windscreen frame next time you need replace the glass..

[DiscoMick]

Our Mazda 2 has dealer paint protection and came with two bottles of shampoo and polish which must be used if the warranty on the paint protection is to be honoured. They didn't actually say what was special about them, and I can't find the answer on the labels, so the no-salt information could be the thing, I guess.


The Defender just gets water and some mild car shampoo. I use a jet fitting on the hose to keep the underneath clean, but don't use it on the paint as it could be too strong. I use a wax every few months just to keep a coat on the Defender's paint.


I've never heard of anyone using Johnson's baby shampoo on a car. What's the supposed benefit - stops nappy rash?

[Beery]

Surely just a good quality wash&wax used regularly would be enough for a Defender.

I bought a couple of bottles of meguiars ultimate wash&wax on half price special at Repco last week. It looked great afterwards and I could see a white waxy film on the windows afterwards, so it obviously sticks.

[steane]

I use Pantene Shampoo to wash the Deefer because I'm trying to achieve a certain level of lustre.

It won't happen overnight...but it will happen.;)

[Gordie]

I've never heard of anyone using Johnson's baby shampoo on a car. What's the supposed benefit - stops nappy rash?


When I bought a near new car, the dealership recommended baby shampoo as they said it isn't harsh like other products, and won't strip protective wax layers.....I wasn't aware of the salt issue though, might have to look into that....

[Tombie]

I use Pantene Shampoo to wash the Deefer because I'm trying to achieve a certain level of lustre.



It won't happen overnight...but it will happen.;)


Just don't use Herbal Essences or it will sprout flowers and look like a Combi...

[DOS LANDY]

9ltr of water and 30ml of shampoo. Hardly a salt cocktail and as I said 17yr old Disco rust free....

[inside]

Can we delete this thread?

[Rick Fischer]

I use Meguirs on my Concours cars and SVX gets the same treatment.

Being black and being an SVX, well! ???? :)

Have found over time with Discos and now the Deffie that the paint really doesn't care which vehicle it is on as long as it is looked after :)

On the SVX and the Discos the scratches are/were normally in the "yellow wax" the Carbunuba top coat. and that after washing just needs a bit of "final inspection". Deeper, need more wax and anything heavy will need some heavier work. In the main all looks OK on the black. Once a year SVX paint gets the full "Concours" treatment, and all scratches and blemishes in the main disappear.

Full treatment :


wash
do any deep scratching in the clear coat with clear nail polish and a sharpened toothpick, match,
Clean the paint (Cleaning is removing all of the ingrained grime and dirt using one of Meguirs 'cleaners') and then clay block.
Polish with No.7
Yellow Wax on top
Finish with "Final Inspection"

Couple of weeks later wash and then "yellow wax" again. Only use Meguirs soft wash on their waxes.


Cheers



RF

[loneranger]

I have a confession to make.

After my earlier comments on this thread regarding washing cars I have to confess to washing my 110 twice in 6 days. I hit it with the high pressure hose last Monday after Sunday doing a trip on the powerlines at Mundaring and getting a good coating of mud on it.

Today we returned from a long weekend in Dwellingup and after driving through too many muddy puddles I hit it with CT-18 and my wife bought me one of those under body Karcher attachments and a foaming bottle to give it a good going over.

There I feel better now I've got that off my chest. :p

[Bytemrk]

Can we delete this thread?

Any particular reason why inside?

[cuppabillytea]

I go to the Car Wash. Will I be disqualified at the Show and Shine?

[Is Vic There]

Just bought 4L of car wash from Aldi for $10 see what it like at the weekend!

[rar110]

Can we delete this thread?

It's ok for you, all you have to do is pressure clean it and pull out a spray can of olive drab. You don't even have to worry about overspray, the army didn't when mix and matching with black and brown. Presto, is new again. I wonder what the RR would look like in desert cam. dde04

[DieselDan]

At the risk of incurring the wrath of Inside, I thought I'd resurrect this thread.... [biggrin]

My Defender has hardy been used since winter Wombat a few months ago and over the weekend I decided to finally clean the Wombat bog-hole mud off it.
Looking at the state of the underside, I should have done this a while ago!
Also, since moving to the coast near the Great Ocean Road, you end up driving through great clouds of billowing salt spray so I've been investigating different car wash stuff.
Just wondered if anyone has any experience of the stuff from these guys, in particular the salt exterminator and chassis shield?

Salt Exterminator™ 4WD Wash — 4WDetail (https://4wdetail.com/collections/all-products/products/salt-exterminator)

[DieselDan]

Well since no-one had any feedback, I thought I'd find out for myself and bought the 1L sample sizes of the salt exterminator, salt seal and chassis shield.
I also bought a snow cannon for use with garden hosepipes.
The website has lots of pics and videos of the company owner using the products on his silver Defender, so I figured it's worth a go!

So following the instructions, I have used the first two products and I'm pretty impressed.
I enjoyed the novelty of using a snow cannon for the first time, although I'll need to experiment with soap ratios and the dial on the cannon because it seemed a bit watery and not foamy enough and just fell off the car, rather than stick to it and soak into the muck.
That said, it worked well and did what I wanted, which was remove most of the muck from the underside (which has exposed just how much stonechip/gravel rash the chassis and axles have!).
Since it's contactless, it hasn't worked as well on the bodywork as my usual bucket/sponge and capful of Bowden's wax wash, but it's certainly cleaner than it was before!

If I was to make a choice, I'd use the salt exterminator on the underside in preference to something like CT18, but would probably still use the Bowden's on the bodywork.

I'm waiting for the underside to dry out over the next few days before giving the rust shield a go and then I'll see how it holds up against the GOR salt spray!

[DieselDan]

Doesn't look too bad!181717181718

[DieselDan]

I'm heading off for a beach/sand dune drive with some mates over the weekend so I've been preemptively using the salt exterminator products again to give the Defender a fighting chance against the salt spray!
I realised that last time I never posted a pic of the underside finished off with a coat of the chassis shield, so here's what it looks like.
I'll see how well it stands up to a weekend of salt and sand blasting!https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240620/0ce51eaa72453781753f78ddce44c84f.jpg

[DieselDan]

Just a follow up to show a comparison after a weekend of beach work, a few months worth of dirt road driving and a Wombat mud trip!
Pic taken after a quick powerwash/hose down. Certainly not as sparkly looking as before, but not bad.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240816/43a58463525345686cc11f1c35518530.jpg

[cuppabillytea]

Looking at those pics I feel a deep sense of shame. Mine spends too much time in the marine environment. Galvanic corrosion around the windscreen hinge replacement blocks is my main problem. Give that area frequent flushing.

[DieselDan]

Yes it's living by the sea that has made me a bit paranoid about prevention of corrosion on mine.
The windscreen hinges on mine are pretty bad too, as is around the Alpine windows (I've got replacement window seals and I keep meaning to take the windows out and get the surface back to clean metal, but never seem to get around to it!).
Fortunately the work I've done looking after the underside seems to be paying off and even the rear cross-member is still shiny and new looking without a hint of rust!!

[cuppabillytea]

My rear chassis member has had a complete coating of surface rust for 6 years, so I'm not worried about that. The rest of the chassis is good as gold.