Cleaning DeLorean With Car Soap...

[pezzonovante88]

If the car gets dirty, do you just wash the car like any other car and then do the ScotchBrite pad + stainless polish, or is this a 'no-no'?

[amuderick]

I use Windex and lint-free shammies. Cuts grime and evaporates clean without streaks. Polish maybe every few months with stainless steel cleaner (very fine abrasive like toothpaste and a volatile hydrocarbon base). I think you are more likely to create a nasty scratch from overpolishing...

[Cory W]

If you want to.

Often, a simple wash is enough. I use Bar Keeper's Friend semi-abrasive powder once or twice a season. I often use a non-grease dish soap because I don't care about the paint on my fascias, which will be repainted in the future. Car soap is fine, avoid waxes, and make sure to rinse it off before the soap dries.

[Ozzie]

If the car gets dirty, do you just wash the car like any other car and then do the ScotchBrite pad + stainless polish, or is this a 'no-no'?

That's basically (though I used dish washing liquid) how I washed it the last time. Discussion and other recommendations here. (http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?192-Washing-the-DeLorean&highlight=wash+delorean)

Two things to keep in mind:
- Use only the right pad, not the kind that will leave ferrous flakes, which later turn in to rust flecks on the panel.
- Always wash (and dry) with the grain.

[Michael]

Ironicly enough, washing my Delorean takes more time than any other car I have owned. I just use soap and water, but I wash(and dry) in strokes with the grain. Even if you are washing stainless, I still use car soap, but I don't go all out for the expensive stuff anymore.

The engine, hood cover, louvers also must be dried which takes more time as well. The real time killer is aftewrwards dealing all the streaks left in the stainless. It's almost impossible to get them all out with a chamois(I use an "Absorber" synthetic). I always have to go over every inch of the stainless with glass cleaner and a few dry microfiber towels. I found the foaming glass cleaner in a spary can works best, and it is of course the most expensive.
Afterwards, I use my dressing and do my tires, and black bits(bumpers, side skirts, anything that's bare plastic). I usually remove the wheels and dress the underbody, and polish the suspension. Finally I do my windows, and touch up any spots on the stainless with a blending pad and more glass cleaner. It's about a1.5-2 hour process but I find it relaxing and fun to clean my own dream car.:cool:

I used to use stainless polish, but I prefer the look of bare steel. The polishes are mostly oil based, and although they even out the streaks much quicker than using glass cleaner, it also tones down the sheen of the metal and gives it a blueish color. If I'm in a hurry for a car show or something, I may take that shortcut.

About twice a year it gets a "Full" detail. It goes up on a rack and I remove the wheels for a complete chassis detailing, and it doesnt come down until every possible piece is clean as can possibly be. I use a lot of degreaser, brake cleaner, and a lot of terry cloths. Afterwards the frame is waxed and I take her home to do the outside (usually with BKP), interior and engine bay in the comfort of my garage over the course of the next day or so.

[Chris Burns]

Ordinary soap is fine as already mentioned just dry before water spots form. Stainless polish works too. Bar keepers friend really makes the Delorean look nice, but it can get messy and leave a white powdery residue. Keep a bottle of Windex, paper towels, Scotch Brite pad, and shammy for fingerprints.

[pezzonovante88]

I use a lot of degreaser, brake cleaner, and a lot of terry cloths. Afterwards the frame is waxed and I take her home to do the outside (usually with BKP), interior and engine bay in the comfort of my garage over the course of the next day or so.

From experience, it is usually okay to blast the engine bay quickly (and carefully) with a pressure washer after spraying degreaser around. Is this okay with a D? I wouldn't want to get water into a place that could cause damage. How do you detail your engine bay?

[Chris Burns]

Don't get water in the spark plug wells!

[Michael]

From experience, it is usually okay to blast the engine bay quickly (and carefully) with a pressure washer after spraying degreaser around. Is this okay with a D? I wouldn't want to get water into a place that could cause damage. How do you detail your engine bay?

I would advise against using a pressure washer for anything around the engine, you have the alternator right there, as well as the coil which is not really water tight. If your engine is very dirty and you must, degrease it while its cold, clean it, and remove the dirt and degreaser the best you can with a cloth and a spray bottle of water/cleaner, then start the engine and lightly spray it down with a mist, and still keep water away from plug wells, the alternator, coil area, resistors...really, don't get cold water on a hot resistor, and any other electrical areas. If you clean it right, it shouldn't take much water to remove the rest. Keep the engine running with both covers open to vent all the steam out until dry.

[sean]

I've always used liquid tide with warm water and once dry hit it with some SS polish.

[David T]

Washing a car is a very personal thing. You can do it in minutes or days depending on how insane you want to get (like any car). You should use a soap sold for washing cars, it is very mild, washes away very easily, and doesn't leave streaks. Much better than stealing some of your wife's dish-washing soap. Take a look at Griot's Garage. They sell all kinds of stuff to baby your car. NEVER use anything containing silicone anywhere near the motor, it can kill the O2 sensor. If you don't know what you are doing stay away from the motor with a garden hose or a pressure washer, if you get water in the wrong places you will have a LOT of trouble! Depending on how fussy you are with scratches you do not have to regrain or blend the grain with a Scotch-Brite pad every time you wash the car. Many do it once a year or just do spot touch-up if they see a scratch. When you wash the car wash the wheel wells, the undercarriage, and the door jambs. How often you wash the car depends on the area, the weather, if you garage the car, how much time you have, and how clean you want to keep it. It is very similar to any other car except that if you see a scratch you can sand it out. Many consider washing the car fun, NOT a chore and do it often! The Delorean is a small car and if the car is not very dirty you can wash it quickly. Drying takes a little time, not washing.
David Teitelbaum

[thirdmanj]

I've always used liquid tide with warm water and once dry hit it with some SS polish.

I do what you do. K.I.S.S. I do find that warm water and some Dawn dish soap do the trick very well. The DeLorean exterior is just like any industrial grade SS appliance so I wash it like one. I think the synthetic chamois works very well for drying. I also use the overpriced DMCH "SS Glow" polish that comes in a can on all the trimming and such.....it makes the car smell like oranges :giggle:

[Dangermouse]

I can't imagine doing it myself, but I remember reading about owners who took their car through a commercial car wash. Anyone tried it?

[sean]

I can't imagine doing it myself, but I remember reading about owners who took their car through a commercial car wash. Anyone tried it?

I did it ONCE about a week after I became a first time owner. I quickly learned my door/roof seals where no good and never did it again.

[Dangermouse]

I'd nearly be more worried about the rear louvre.

[dmc6960]

The use of Windex is fine, but make a great effort not to get it on ANY black parts. It will turn them blue. Keep it on the stainless.

[David T]

You can always go over the rear louver, engine cover, bumpers, rub rail, etc with Black Again. Makes it more even and shinier and doesn't leave a greasy film. I like Windex or alcohol for spot touch-ups like fingerprints.
David Teitelbaum

[Iznodmad]

I can't imagine doing it myself, but I remember reading about owners who took their car through a commercial car wash. Anyone tried it?

Yep, I once got caught in a snow storm and the car got covered in salt. Took it through a machine car wash for the undercarriage wash especially. Didn't have any problems. This was in the year 2000 or so before I lowered the car.

Now fast forward to the last DCS in Lexington KY. I was feeling lazy and found one near the hotel. I started to pull it up to the conveyor belt thing and the car got stuck. It took a couple of staff and myself to get it un-stuck, no damage occured other than a few scrapes of the underbody. Needless to say, that is the last time I ever try that again.

[bkntym]

I usualy wash with whatever soap i can find , but the key is the drying. I use my air gun from my air compressor to blow the rinse water off. its fast , uses no towels , and
never leaves spots. Be careful around the window seals. you dont want them to blow thru.

[nofear365]

I was in a bind one time and needed to get it washed. Brought it to a car wash that I trust with my other 3 cars.

No problems.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fib71ZW7nTk

[Socal_dmc]

I'd second the Bar Keeper's Friend. Works like a charm and leaves a great semi-shine.

[Jim D]

Where do you find "Bar Keepers Friend"? I have been to several grocery stores and a auto parts place, no luck. i have some areas on the lower body that appear to have a rusty color and wanted to try to clean this out. I am told that a PO probably tried steel wool and some was embedded in the finish, thus the rusty color.

[Delorean02378]

Where do you find "Bar Keepers Friend"? I have been to several grocery stores and a auto parts place, no luck. i have some areas on the lower body that appear to have a rusty color and wanted to try to clean this out. I am told that a PO probably tried steel wool and some was embedded in the finish, thus the rusty color.

Believe it or not, you can find Bar Keepers Friend at Wal-Mart. I'm sure others will disagree but I no longer use Scotch Brite Pads, the grain is more fine than the original pads in the car care cleaning kit and seems to make the stainless more shinny than the original grain. You can find pads at Lowe's that have a similar grain to the original pad in the car care kit. I use to get the pads from PJ Grady's then took that pad to Lowe's to find a similar grain. Again, just what I use. Use one of these pads, warm water and bar keepers friend and the stainless will look great! You only need to follow this process once year or when you first get your car. For frequenty washing, follow Sean's procedure.

Kirk

[Victor]

I found using Vim in cream form is absolutely perfect. In extra, you get a car that has a citrous smell too. I first spray water with a hose. I then apply the cream directly on the stainless in wavy lines. Then I get a bucket of hot/warm water with a soft mitten in it and wash half of the car and rinse with the hose. And do the same with the other half. Works very well I find.

[Michael]

I'm sure others will disagree but I no longer use Scotch Brite Pads, the grain is more fine than the original pads in the car care cleaning kit and seems to make the stainless more shinny than the original grain. You can find pads at Lowe's that have a similar grain to the original pad in the car care kit.
Kirk

You are absolutely correct, the green scotch brite pads are too fine, maybe the first strokes are correct, but they wear very quickly and become too fine for the correct grain. Lowes has several stripping pads to choose from, I use the thick green pads in conjunction with the thnner gray pads. The green/thicker coarse pads are good for fine regraining and small scratch removal, and the slightly finer and thinner gray pads are perfect for the final finish and going over the entire car. Also Lowes sells a handle that works like velcro with either pad. You can buy these pads in packs of 2 for around $3.00 a pack. The handle is around 5 bucks.

http://images.lowes.com/product/converted/051141/051141927695xl.jpg http://images.lowes.com/product/converted/051111/051111101124xl.jpg

[Jim D]

Thanks for the info. I visited Walmart at 7:30 this morning and bought their last can of BKF. This is my first experience with a Delorean and after a good scrub, it looks like new!