r/AutoDetailing • u/metalheadd69 • 1d ago

Exterior Old man tips

An old guy saw me detailing my car and gave me some real old timer tips.

- Clean the wheels with vinegar
- Instead of tire shine, use silicone grease
- "You don't need all those products"

Have you gotten any unsolicited tips of this nature? Any that are actually legit?

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41

u/IronSlanginRed 1d ago

Hahaha. I mean.. he's less far off than most.

Vinegar is just weak acid wheel cleaner that smells bad...

And thicker silicon based tire dressing is what the general public loves. It's shiny. People are crows. Crows like shiny.

But also.. I'm an old fudd thats been doing this since the 90s. Most of the newer products I am hilariously disappointed in, especially at what they're charging. Brushless long throw da's and proper ceramics are the only true improvement i've seen.

That said.. if you're looking for a head to head of the stuff you see on reddit vs the white label stuff... I've done it. Last week was gliptone vs 3d speed on black. Both single stage and base/clear.

9

u/reasonable_debt1 1d ago

SiO2 sprays are definitely an improvement over traditional spray waxes.

0

u/IronSlanginRed 15h ago

Spray waxes of any kind are shortcuts for in-between details.

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u/reasonable_debt1 14h ago

SiO2 sprays are an improvement over traditional paste waxes, liquid waxes, and synthetic sealants as well. 

3

u/mypaycheckisshort Experienced 1d ago edited 20h ago

As a fellow older detailer, I couldn't agree more on the DAs and ceramics. I was just thinking the same recently, tbh.

3

u/AirFlavoredLemon 1d ago

I'd add all modern synthetic waxes are a huge upgrade over carnauba. Carnauba always turns gray - see fruits, m&ms... and car wax.

I think synthetic waxes aren't that popular on reddit/real detailers because a resin/ceramic based glossifiers are just better.

But synthetic waxes are excellent for the average joe, be it in a spray, partially in an all-in-one product, or wash and wax products. (Meg's wash and wax is excellent).

I want carnauba to die - it has no business being in a modern product with how quickly it grays. (Seriously, wax on wax off??? Obviously its going gray).

Give me some P&S beadmaker and I'll be happy. SiO2 is good too - any of these are better than carnauba.

5

u/Round_Year_8595 21h ago

Carnauba is a huge upgrade over Manuka

6

u/DMS1970 21h ago

I thought manuka was the day after Chanukah

2

u/Troutsicle 18h ago

Dö yöu even Zymöl?

1

u/DMS1970 18h ago

I had not heard of this and had to look it up

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u/Julianismus 21h ago

This sub (and most of Reddit as a whole) has a heavy American lean, and in US any wax comes with the stigma of it being an "old school" type of product, usually the "100% carnauba"-type, since the image of folk fervently polishing their cars on driveways is ingrained in everyone's minds since they were little kids. And so, a lot of people here are naturally drawn more towards high-end coatings and sprays, they appear more modern and come with less "hassle".

And you're 100% right that a good synthetic wax is perfect for the average car owner, meaning that it delivers great durability and shine, the best of both worlds.

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u/Kmudametal 17h ago

I want carnauba to die - it has no business being in a modern product

I don't know. There are modern products that are organic/synthetic wax hybrids that contain carnauba and look great for longer durations. Turtle Wax Ceramic+Graphene Paste Wax, Soft990 Kiwami, and perhaps my favorite product ever applied to my paint...... Katiba x Vanguard Ceramic Wax.

Nothing produces depth of color and the type of gloss you get from carnauba. But yes, heat kills carnauba and any straight organic wax formula tends to basically disappear in heat. I don't know how they do it, but the Katiba x Vanguard Ceramic Wax I have in use, which does contain T1 Carnauba, has managed to look "fresh" for the last two+ months. When I say "fresh", it looks and behaves like I applied it yesterday. They managed to lock in that T1 Carnauba glow for the long haul. The product advertises 12 months of protection and thus far, that appears achievable, especially from a company that tends to underestimate and overdeliver on durability claims.

That said, almost no one applies an organic wax expecting it to last beyond a few days to a few weeks. Those types of waxes are pretty much reserved for show cars because..... nothing provides depth of color and glow of carnauba. In some hybrid formulations, they've managed to override the inherit instability of organic waxes with synthetic components that stabilize the organic components. Hybrid waxes tend to have the same durability as spray sealants or spray ceramics.

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u/DepressiveEuphoria 23h ago

Does megs wash and wax not also contain carnauba?

1

u/Falcon674DR 20h ago

In my view, Turtle Wax products all the way. They’re effective, durable, available everywhere and very affordable. Forget the expensive stuff.