Hard Water Spots

[blue angel]

Do any "Piloteers" know how and/or what is the best product to get hard water spots off my o6 Steel Blue Pilot, body and windows? I've tried washing the Pilot first then using vinegar on a non scratch pad (using a light touch to the finish) and then rewashing it, but I still have some water spots. Has anyone tried a buffer to assist in water spot removal? The water spots originated from the wind blowing the water from the yard sprinklers.

[rocky]

Yikes! Usually vinegar does the trick

Try one of the cream type household cleaners.

[Aggie Pilot]

You may want to try searching for an answer at detailcity.org. Lots of very knowledgable professional and amateur detailers will probably have some solutions for you.

[ED27]

Originally posted by blue angel
Do any "Piloteers" know how and/or what is the best product to get hard water spots off my o6 Steel Blue Pilot, body and windows.......Has anyone tried a buffer to assist in water spot removal? The water spots originated from the wind blowing the water from the yard sprinklers.

The process is the same for removing swirls and scratches in the paint. After washing - clay, polish and wax. A good fine cut polish should get most of the water spots out (with a random orbital polisher and appropriate foam pad). Spots that are "etched" into the paint will need a more aggressive polish first followed up by a finer polish.

[Hogan773]

Originally posted by ED27
The process is the same for removing swirls and scratches in the paint. After washing - clay, polish and wax. A good fine cut polish should get most of the water spots out (with a random orbital polisher and appropriate foam pad). Spots that are "etched" into the paint will need a more aggressive polish first followed up by a finer polish.

+1

I used a PC7424XP with some Menzerna polish, then followed with some sealant, and my Pilot has never looked better in 5 years! Also don't forget to spray some 303 on the tires.

As an aside, for anyone with tar spots on the lower rocker panels or wheel wells .... someone must have driven my car through a tar pit as I had LOTS of tar splashed up.....I used paint thinner/mineral spirits on paper towels with light rubbing, keep changing to a clear paper towel, and it came off perfectly!

[humanoid]

Believe it or not, WD-40 works pretty good at removing tar and bug splatter.

[blue angel]

Thank you to everyone who replied. I will try your suggestions. This is a great site.

[Hogan773]

Originally posted by humanoid
Believe it or not, WD-40 works pretty good at removing tar and bug splatter.

Yeah I had heard that and I did try WD40. It took off the tar also, but I found the mineral spirits to be stronger and more "pure" for the task (with no residual oils, etc). I had a LOT of tar. For little spots WD40 is probably the same.

[onewerks]

Blue Angel,

I personally use Klasse on my Pilot with excellent results. It also can be applied to your windshield to get out those stubborn water spots. Check out this post from several years ago regarding this product:

Klasse AIO - Easily Achieved Exceptional Results

There are two pics of my Pilot from the first coat I had applied in the post above. I have been using Klasse and along with Sonus acrylic detail spray and clay since the beginning. I just removed the water spots from my hood and windshield a week ago but next time I'll take photos so you can see this difference. There are probably several places to buy this stuff but I picked mine up here: http://www.autopia-carcare.com/

Good luck!

[diversegsr]

clay bar

[kmaintl]

I haven't washed or waxed any of my cars in over 20 years, just bring them to a handwash car wash station weekly and clay bar every 3 months. BUT when I bought our Pilot 2 months ago, took it to most highly rated detail shop in San Francisco, rated by YELP users. Extremely expensive, but nothing compared to the cost the dealers want to charge.

When finished, the detailer didn't even try to sell me this product nor did he mention it to me because he knew from our conversation how lazy I was with cleaning my cars, rather pay someone else to do it. Well, my son-in-law offered to wash my new Pilot after borrowing it each time, so I asked the detail shop if he recommended anything. And he demo the Tech-Shine when I picked it up. Literally, after washing a car, while it's still wet, you apply the Tech-Shine wax as quickly as possible... on everything... bumper, windows, paint, etc. It didn't take more than 10 mins for the entire car. Then my son-in-law rinse off as rinsing off soap and he uses the Mr Clean auto-dry filter and let the Pilot dry on its own. Works great, no water marks, nothing. Works best if car left to dry slowly in the shade and will have some water marks if drys to quickly in the sun.

Just my 2 cents from one lazy owner who never wash or wax his own car.