Dirt After Rain on Ultra White!!!
Thread Starter
Driver
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
From: NJ
Dirt After Rain on Ultra White!!!
Washed my car this weekend and after a 20 min drive in the rain today the whole car is full of dirt contained in the water beads...which is probably not noticeable on a non-white car because the beads would look like clean water. Guess you have to wash more often if you own a white car lolz
Lead Lap
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 501
Likes: 2
From: Ca
In my experience, after driving in the rain, the aerodynamics automatically pushes the dirt towards the trunk, looks like the car threw up from the trunk. There's nothing you can put on the car that will stop the dirty water from drying on the horizontal surfaces of your car.
Thread Starter
Driver
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
From: NJ
In my experience, after driving in the rain, the aerodynamics automatically pushes the dirt towards the trunk, looks like the car threw up from the trunk. There's nothing you can put on the car that will stop the dirty water from drying on the horizontal surfaces of your car.
Pole Position
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 395
Likes: 9
From: CA
Sure, but there hardly are any perfectly horizontal surfaces on the car, and it takes just a small amount of angle for the water to run off. And if you're driving while it's raining, in theory the car should stay clean. Works on the windshield...
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Lexus Champion
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 13,258
Likes: 1,883
From: WA
I've owned many white cars, and I will say in my experience it's typically one of the easiest colors to maintain. And then I bought a white IS...
This is, by far, the most difficult white car I've owned, in terms of keeping it clean. The way the rear bumper cover tapers in behind the rear wheels does little to help. And yes, dirt accumulates heavily on the rear bumper and trunk lid.
Then a couple weeks ago I put Opti-Coat on it, and the difference is pretty striking. Dirt doesn't stick and accumulate nearly as much as it did before. I'd recommend any kind of paint sealant or a good wax as a countermeasure. It really seems to help.
This is, by far, the most difficult white car I've owned, in terms of keeping it clean. The way the rear bumper cover tapers in behind the rear wheels does little to help. And yes, dirt accumulates heavily on the rear bumper and trunk lid.
Then a couple weeks ago I put Opti-Coat on it, and the difference is pretty striking. Dirt doesn't stick and accumulate nearly as much as it did before. I'd recommend any kind of paint sealant or a good wax as a countermeasure. It really seems to help.
Lead Lap
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 606
Likes: 2
From: VA
i use a quick detailer spray whenever the car is slightly dirty. this way it doesn't accumulate to much gunk for an entire week or couple weeks. every week or couple weeks, i'll do a rinseless wash (i have one with and without wax--depending on my mood) and i'll go over the wash with a sealant+polisher. every 1-2 months i'll do a foam blast to get it deeply clean along with a thorough cleaning of the windshield and cover it with sealant as well. every 4-6 months i'll probably clay bar the thing. i don't know what the going rate for an opticoat is, lets just say $200-$400 you can buy yourself a lot of good detailing and wash products that will last you months to years--and you'll have fun from washing your own car and taking pics at the end... there is nothing more rewarding after a good detail/wash than to sit admire your car with a beer.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 13,258
Likes: 1,883
From: WA
i don't know what the going rate for an opticoat is, lets just say $200-$400 you can buy yourself a lot of good detailing and wash products that will last you months to years--and you'll have fun from washing your own car and taking pics at the end... there is nothing more rewarding after a good detail/wash than to sit admire your car with a beer.
Lead Lap
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 501
Likes: 2
From: Ca
Trunk, and behind the wheels mostly, the rest of car generally stays clean. Tree sap is a diffucult one, it dries and hardens...wax might help protect a little bit from harsh damage, but the best thing to do is to stay away from the trees altogether or cover your car. I once had a 2" diameter tree sap (felt like baked on plastic when I discovered it) on my Camry hood, took 30 mins of rubbing down using maguilar wheel cleaner with my index finger to remove.
Thread Starter
Driver
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
From: NJ
I've owned many white cars, and I will say in my experience it's typically one of the easiest colors to maintain. And then I bought a white IS...
This is, by far, the most difficult white car I've owned, in terms of keeping it clean. The way the rear bumper cover tapers in behind the rear wheels does little to help. And yes, dirt accumulates heavily on the rear bumper and trunk lid.
Then a couple weeks ago I put Opti-Coat on it, and the difference is pretty striking. Dirt doesn't stick and accumulate nearly as much as it did before. I'd recommend any kind of paint sealant or a good wax as a countermeasure. It really seems to help.
This is, by far, the most difficult white car I've owned, in terms of keeping it clean. The way the rear bumper cover tapers in behind the rear wheels does little to help. And yes, dirt accumulates heavily on the rear bumper and trunk lid.
Then a couple weeks ago I put Opti-Coat on it, and the difference is pretty striking. Dirt doesn't stick and accumulate nearly as much as it did before. I'd recommend any kind of paint sealant or a good wax as a countermeasure. It really seems to help.
Thread Starter
Driver
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
From: NJ
i use a quick detailer spray whenever the car is slightly dirty. this way it doesn't accumulate to much gunk for an entire week or couple weeks. every week or couple weeks, i'll do a rinseless wash (i have one with and without wax--depending on my mood) and i'll go over the wash with a sealant+polisher. every 1-2 months i'll do a foam blast to get it deeply clean along with a thorough cleaning of the windshield and cover it with sealant as well. every 4-6 months i'll probably clay bar the thing. i don't know what the going rate for an opticoat is, lets just say $200-$400 you can buy yourself a lot of good detailing and wash products that will last you months to years--and you'll have fun from washing your own car and taking pics at the end... there is nothing more rewarding after a good detail/wash than to sit admire your car with a beer.
Thread Starter
Driver
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
From: NJ
Trunk, and behind the wheels mostly, the rest of car generally stays clean. Tree sap is a diffucult one, it dries and hardens...wax might help protect a little bit from harsh damage, but the best thing to do is to stay away from the trees altogether or cover your car. I once had a 2" diameter tree sap (felt like baked on plastic when I discovered it) on my Camry hood, took 30 mins of rubbing down using maguilar wheel cleaner with my index finger to remove.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 13,258
Likes: 1,883
From: WA
lolz could it be that most other white cars on the road is really not pure white like it has a yellowish tint? Just like the regular white on the IS (starfire pearl?) Anyways if you have time can you post of a pic of the dirt so we can compare how it is with others? thanks!
My IS is Starfire Pearl.