Keeping MO in Winter

[MrGrin]

Hi,

I own a black MO and as any owner of a black vehicle can attest, it doesn't take a whole lot for dirt to show on a black vehicle. I am especially challenged during the winter where my MO looks more like a mottled grey than black due to the snow and dirt that sticks to my MO like glue.

There is a place locally that has rolling cloth brushes to clean the exterior and does detailing as well. My fear is that this will do more damage than good by scratchign the exterior. I have also used automated drive-throughs where there are no brushes but the pressure of the water jet is meant to clean the surface. This works somewhat, but the exterior just does not shine like when washed by hand. Certainly, washing the car at home is not much of an option during the winter due to the sub zero water temperatures.

I'd like any tips/suggestions on keeping the MO clean during the winter in the north. Thank you.

[Pilgrim]

I'd suggest getting the best darn wax coat possible, and then avoiding any car wash that uses brushes. Black is the most revealing color in terms of scratches.

High pressure washes don't leave scratches, but they can strip off paint if there's a chip or other damage. Doesn't happen often, and with a newer car you're probably OK. Brushes...well, it depends on their condition and how well the place is maintained.

There's no substitute for hand-washing, although in winter a soft brush works OK for me.

[zebelkhan]

I just let it go in winter. Even in dry weather it is hard to keep clean. I just shine it up when it warms up!

[MrGrin]

I guessed there would be no quick fix to this "problem." Thank you very much for taking the time to respond.

[BikerJohn]

Originally posted by MrGrin
I'd like any tips/suggestions on keeping the MO clean during the winter in the north.

Move south

Sorry; I couldn't resist.
It is difficult at the best of times; especially with black.
I would agree with Z and try not to worry too much about how it looks just try and do your best in running it through a "touchless" car wash to keep the salt off.
Imagine how you will feel when spring comes and give your MO the once-over; it will look like a brand new car

[gnotti211]

as the owner of a black murano and also being a detailing freak...i can tell you that it is near impossible to keep a black car (or any car) clean in the winter. Your best bet is the touchless washes that remove all the salt, and maybe you will be able to wash it every now and then if you get an above freezing day. It was around 50 where I live the other day and i did a quick (but careful) wash & wax, and now the temperature is back down to around 20.

Also, there are some car washes that have bays where you can powerwash your own car, and you could always bring your car wash supplies there, wash your car using their water, and not worry about turning on your water in the frigid temps. All depends how much you really want a clean car...good luck!

[MrGrin]

Very funny Biker John :-) Thanks for the suggestions. I think I'll stick with the brushless washes for now and hope for a warm (or at least relatively warmer) day.

[Mr3Putt]

Who the hell would buy a black Murano????

[zebelkhan]

Originally posted by Mr3Putt
Who the hell would buy a black Murano????

One must be crazy, really....

[red kiosk]

Do you park your MO in a garage and have a coin-op powerwash bay nearby?

I'm very anal about the finish on my black MO and use a winter wash procedure that utilizes a product called ONR (Optimum No Rinse). To be honest, it took me quite a while to get up the nerve to use it on my car, for it goes against everything that I have ever learned about properly washing a car, but it does come highly recommended by professional detailers on http://www.autopia.org/. This is the second winter that I have used this ONR wash procedure and every time that I use it, I'm still amazed that there is absolutely no surface marring to my MO's waxed finish. I'm not going to go into the fine details of how to dilute/use ONR or the correct microfiber towels to use. That info can be found here…

http://www.autopia.org/forum/car-det...ve-thread.html

There's a boat-load of info in that thread. Be sure to watch the video and do another quick search for ONR on the autopia site, for there are other threads that discuss different mitts, sponges or towels to use.

Anyway, this is my procedure…

1. Drive to coin-op and pre-soak my dirty, salt-encrusted MO with a "quick-detail" dilution of ONR. I use a 3.5 gal. portable NOMAD pressure sprayer to do the pre-soak For Those With No Hose but a simple garden pump-sprayer would work well too.

2. Two pressure wash cycles of rinse only, making sure to rinse the wheel wells and rocker panels well. This usually removes all the big "chunks" of dirt and salt and what remains is only a slight dirty film or "haze".

3. Drive back home, pull it into the garage and allow it to come to room temperature. I have a heated garage, but many people throw a space heater in theirs for awhile or depending on the outside temperature will just use the ONR diluted in very warm water and a lined rubber glove.

4. Even though my garage is somewhat heated, I still use warm water for the wash dilution. I also utilize the "two bucket w/grit guard method" with the second bucket for rinsing out my wash mitt/sponge/towel.

5. Starting with the roof, I ONR wash and dry one panel at a time, saving the wheels and wheel wells for last. I follow the ONR wash procedure to a "T" and use some pretty hefty, thick microfiber towels to do the initial dry and then a waffle weave towel for the final dry/buff.

The in-garage part of the procedure takes me about 45 minutes from set-up to clean-up. When I'm finished, there is very little water on the floor of the garage and my black MO is swirl-fee, sparking clean!

Take care!

Jim

[gnotti211]

Red Kiosk --

I'm a member of autopia and a user of ONR too. It sat in my detailing cart for the longest time before I used it, but I gathered the nerve and have already used a whole bottle of it. It is a unbelievable product, but I would never use it on a salt encrusted car. I believe that your method of taking it to the powerwash bay first is crucial. Its nerve racking using ONR for the first time, but it is truly remarkable what the results are.

However, I still opt for washing my car with a hose and two buckets (one rinse and one wash), I just feel safer.

Oh! And never use the brush part of an ice scraper on any black car....I learned that the hard way last month.


Mr3Putt -- It's my FIRST and LAST black car

[Pilgrim]

Jim, you really need to find a hobby to use your spare time!

Mr3Putt -- It's my FIRST and LAST black car

You speak for me, too. I had a dark blue metallic 66 GTO and that thing looked dusty an hour after I washed it. Never, ever again.

One thing I learned while selling cars for a couple of years - light colors hide dirt well!

[red kiosk]

Originally posted by Pilgrim
Jim, you really need to find a hobby to use your spare time!

I thought keeping a black car clean was a hobby!