Underside cleaning

Take good care of her
Post Reply
User avatar
mikeyb13
Posts: 987
Joined: Tue Nov 13, 2007 7:23 pm
Location: Livingston

Underside cleaning

Post by mikeyb13 » Mon Dec 19, 2011 11:44 pm

Giving the car its Winter makeover. Filling the stone chips, good polish wax etc.
Looking for advice about the bits you can't see. Planning on getting the underneath done while im at it. Looking for advice on cleaning products for suspension, floors, engine bay etc and the do,s and don'ts Looking something to apply once its all clean to help protect the nitrons etc from the salt.
And how do you get your brake calipers all shiney 8)
"I've had enough sh1t"

User avatar
j2 lot
Posts: 7650
Joined: Tue Dec 19, 2006 8:47 pm
Location: Strathaven / Glasgow

Re: Underside cleaning

Post by j2 lot » Tue Dec 20, 2011 12:52 am

I really like cleaning and polishing the car (& cars in general :oops: ) but even with the best intentions I always run out of enthusiasm before I get to the underside. If there is a good/quick way of dealing with the oily bits I would be interested in knowing too.
I suspect the answer is time and patience though so that's me screwed :?
2015 Lotus Evora
2020 Skoda Kodiaq Sportline

User avatar
mikeyb13
Posts: 987
Joined: Tue Nov 13, 2007 7:23 pm
Location: Livingston

Re: Underside cleaning

Post by mikeyb13 » Tue Dec 20, 2011 1:07 am

There's been so much effort put in by Alan and Jen to make it like a new car would seem a shame to let it go all rusty and mucky. Its my keep my mind and hands occupied therapy whilst im stopping smoking. It will be spotless by the time im done.
Do drive it too so im not a total polisher
"I've had enough sh1t"

User avatar
tuscan_thunder
Posts: 1189
Joined: Wed Jul 12, 2006 2:33 pm
Location: Aberdeenshire

Re: Underside cleaning

Post by tuscan_thunder » Tue Dec 20, 2011 11:20 am

mikeyb13 wrote:Giving the car its Winter makeover. Filling the stone chips, good polish wax etc.
Looking for advice about the bits you can't see. Planning on getting the underneath done while im at it. Looking for advice on cleaning products for suspension, floors, engine bay etc and the do,s and don'ts Looking something to apply once its all clean to help protect the nitrons etc from the salt.
And how do you get your brake calipers all shiney 8)
These guides might help: http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acatalog ... dvice.html

and my write-up might help a little bit: http://www.scottishelises.com/phpbb/vie ... 10&t=29384

Once you've got the undertrays off, wrap tin foil round any exposed connectors to protect them from water ingress. I'd also take off the wheels and arch liners if possible.

Use a pressure washer to blast as much muck off as possible - if you've got a hot water feed, that'll be even better. Take care not to force water into any connectors but the pressure washer uses less water than a hose in my experience.

I'd then make up a spray bottle http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acatalog ... cat25.html http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acatalog ... -head.html with Super Degreaser at 4:1 dilution: http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acatalog ... easer.html and spray it onto small areas at a time, then use a soft brush to agitate before rinsing. Do small areas as you don't want to let Degreaser dry on the surface.

The same process will apply to the engine bay and the undertray - with the engine bay, put a freezer bag over the air intake and ty-rap it in place to avoid water getting in. Degreaser will work on the exhaust too.

Work on a cold engine but once you've cleaned it and removed all the foil and bag, start it up to speed up the drying off.

The undertrays are a bit of a chore to make them look really neat; if you can get as much of the road flim and actual dirt off, that's a pretty good result. It's always going to look a bit matt/dull unless you really want to try machine polishing it (I gave mine a buzz with the machine and a mild polish and it didn't do a great deal).

Brake calipers: I'd use egreaser on them too to get them spotless and then paint them. (Ford Radiant Red is almost identical to Porsche red.....or I painted mine matt black)

I treated my coilovers with Swissvax Motor Shine: http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acatalog ... shine.html I've been very impressed with it; it forms a flexible lacquer coating on the surface; looks good with a bit of gloss but nothing too cheap looking. My tin's done a few coats on the coilovers and a few engine bays and there's still some left so you just need really thin coats. I don't see any reason why this wouldn't be good for protecting the undertray too.

If the wheels are off, I'd take the opportunity to really clean the insides of them: http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acatalog ... n-gel.html and then get a decent sealant on them: a few coats of this http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acatalog ... alant.html will make a bit difference, or if you want to go for maximum protection with little or no topping up: http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acatalog ... alant.html

For the bodywork; let me know if you need any product or application advice for it.

:)
Mair throttle, less brake

User avatar
mikeyb13
Posts: 987
Joined: Tue Nov 13, 2007 7:23 pm
Location: Livingston

Re: Underside cleaning

Post by mikeyb13 » Tue Dec 20, 2011 12:19 pm

Cheers for the advice. I usually just use 50/50 conosour wax on the paint work but noticing a few small scratches that could be doing with a very gentle polish. Might also have a few wee bits of rough laquer after finishing the chips. Got a rubbing compound from halfrauds that seems Ok? Looking for something as gentle as possible to use with the machine polisher to finish them off that will be work well with a wax coating on top.
ps wanting to keep the calipers the natural metal look
"I've had enough sh1t"

User avatar
Stevoraith
Posts: 1068
Joined: Sat Oct 07, 2006 5:31 pm
Location: Kirkcaldy, Fife

Re: Underside cleaning

Post by Stevoraith » Tue Dec 20, 2011 12:27 pm

Sorry to slightly hijack the post but since you mentioned wheel sealants John......

I was hoping to take advantage of the 3 for 2 on Wolfs stuff but I waited too long and it was all sold out so I'm wondering if one of the sealants you mention above would make a better choice?

I'm currently just using Colly 476 on the wheels but fancy a dedicated product (if nothing else it would stop fears of contaminating a fresh pot of wax with any dirt I've missed on the wheels).

So what do you recommend, Wolfs rim seal or something else?
VX220 2.2 - Gone
BMW 335d Touring F31- Fastest car on the road
MINI Cooper 1.5- More fun than the BMW

User avatar
tuscan_thunder
Posts: 1189
Joined: Wed Jul 12, 2006 2:33 pm
Location: Aberdeenshire

Re: Underside cleaning

Post by tuscan_thunder » Tue Dec 20, 2011 12:36 pm

Try to underfill the stone chips; that'll mean less need to flat them back, makes them look less obvious and also minimises the risk of the paint popping out again.

I'm wary of anything called 'rubbing compound' to be honest; could do more harm than good.

If you're using a machine, go with a Tangerine pad: http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acatalog ... -pads.html and Menzerna 203S: http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acatalog ... -203s.html

If I recall, your car was painted when Alan and Jen had it? Chances are it'll be a little bit softer than factory paint so this combination should be ideal. It breaks down as you work it you you'll get a pin-sharp finish with minimal paint removal. Watch the heat as you machine polish - glassfibre doesn't conduct heat away as much as metal.

I'd use a sealant on your car rather than a wax; there's such a high metallic content you'll get better reflections and a really bring out the metallic better. I used Werkstat on mine: http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acatalog ... igger.html

:)
Mair throttle, less brake

User avatar
tuscan_thunder
Posts: 1189
Joined: Wed Jul 12, 2006 2:33 pm
Location: Aberdeenshire

Re: Underside cleaning

Post by tuscan_thunder » Tue Dec 20, 2011 12:41 pm

Stevoraith wrote:Sorry to slightly hijack the post but since you mentioned wheel sealants John......

I was hoping to take advantage of the 3 for 2 on Wolfs stuff but I waited too long and it was all sold out so I'm wondering if one of the sealants you mention above would make a better choice?

I'm currently just using Colly 476 on the wheels but fancy a dedicated product (if nothing else it would stop fears of contaminating a fresh pot of wax with any dirt I've missed on the wheels).

So what do you recommend, Wolfs rim seal or something else?
The Wolf's is due back in stock tmrw but the offer's finished.

I'd personally, go with Nanolex if you want rock solid durability but you do need to cure it (and Wolf's) in a warm environment: http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acatalog ... alant.html If you can get the wheels off and maybe keep them in the house overnight it's maybe an option?

Swissvax Autobahn is the best non-nano-tech wheel sealant on the market: my jeeps got a coat of this and I'm very, very impressed. Not cheap but you'll easily get 10 full sets of wheels done from the small pot: I put on latex gloves and apply it by hand to get a really thin coat and work it into the edges: http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acatalog ... obahn.html

The other option, aside from Poorboys, is Collinite 845: http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acatalog ... x-845.html I used it on the GTI's wheels last winter and it wasn't bad. Easier to apply than 476 (which I find is a pain, being so stiff) and lasts about the same.
Mair throttle, less brake

User avatar
Stevoraith
Posts: 1068
Joined: Sat Oct 07, 2006 5:31 pm
Location: Kirkcaldy, Fife

Re: Underside cleaning

Post by Stevoraith » Tue Dec 20, 2011 2:52 pm

Cheers John, will probably opt for some Nanolex then. I do really fancy giving some of the nano-tech products a try to see how they compare to traditional waxes so I'll probably get some Wolf's body wrap too.

I know where my Christmas money is going this year anyway :D
VX220 2.2 - Gone
BMW 335d Touring F31- Fastest car on the road
MINI Cooper 1.5- More fun than the BMW

User avatar
mikeyb13
Posts: 987
Joined: Tue Nov 13, 2007 7:23 pm
Location: Livingston

Re: Underside cleaning

Post by mikeyb13 » Tue Dec 20, 2011 7:13 pm

Don't know why but I just seem to prefer wax to sealants. Its really sad but I love the smell of a waxed car and the finish seems to last really well. Your probably right about the metallic finish tho.
And I've got 3/4 of a tub of £40 wax that needs used. Just didn't want to buy a polish that is purely deigned to work with sealant.
Going to apply laquer to the chips tonight. Im told its best to leave it a week or two before rubbing it. Will give me time to set about the dirty bits.
Definitely interested in the wheel protection product as I've just put a new set on and some degreasing stuff and the polish. Will give you a call to put in an order in the morning if i get time.
"I've had enough sh1t"

Post Reply