Below you will find many different tips, processes, and techniques I use to detail my vehicle. I will BOLD each category in red to make the thread easier to browse.
The products I used have been tried and true for me. By no means are these products necessarily the best or only options to detail your ride. There are simply too many good products out there to stick to just one!
The Sentra before washing:
The supplies and set-up:
I
always like to plan on a detail. I will get all my products, equipment and supplies ready
to go. I like to set out a large bath towel to place my tools and microfibers on. This prevents them from getting contaminated with dirt, leaves, debris, etc.
Karcher 1400 PSI Electric pressure washer with a 45ft. hose. (added a 25ft. extension hose)
Engine Bay Cleaning:
If I decide on washing the engine when doing a detail, the engine is always the
FIRST thing you should detail. This way when you are rinsing the dirty engine and such, the nasty water will not get on a freshly washed car. Also, the wind will blow some of the harsh chemicals back on to the paint. Obviously, if you wash the car after this, you will be able to wash and rinse the overspray away.
I generally do not cover anything in the engine. Because I have a pressure washer, and the output is around 70-80% air, and 20-30% water, a pressure washer is very safe with an engine. I like to use one more so for the safety of less water than the power of it.
*NOTE: If you want to cover things up, foil is a common material to use. Cover the battery terminals, alternator, air filter, and other exposed electrical connections.
Before:
After wetting the engine I then spray Purple Power diluted 1:1 over everything as a base chemical. I then spray DP's Engine degreaser over the entire engine again, concentrating on the heavily greasy areas. This is a very powerful chemical. Be sure to also spray underneath the hood!
After letting sit for 1-2 min., I then agitate with a brush. I use a soft bristled Meguiar's long handled brush:
After rinsing:
