2009 Freshly Detailed

[Autoguy]

Photo of my 09 Pilot just after a good cleaning and waxing.

I use Mothers Carnuba Gold cleaner wax on spots to remove stubborn dirt. Then twice a year I wax the entire car with Klasse Sealant. The stuff is super easy to use and outlasts the straight carnuba by several months.

I find using both in this manner works great.

My car has 36k and still looks like it just rolled out of the showroom.

Have fun everyone.

[Autoguy]

Curious to know what other products other members highly recommend?

I also would love suggestions for products that effectively remove paste wax residue from the flat black trim e.g. the front lower air dam, etc.

Thanks.

[Xeption]

Do u clay it before waxing it??

[cwa107]

For the interior stuff, I use 303 Products' All purpose vinyl/fabric cleaner and their Aerospace protectant. I had read about them for years, before I finally broke down and tried it. It really is the best stuff on the market. The cleaner does an awesome job on just about everything (I've even used it in my carpet cleaner and it works great) and the protectant doesn't leave a glossy, greasy mess. It just seeps in and protects.

Outside I like Meguair's Gold Class wax. I used to use their 3 stage cleaner, polish and wax, but it the Gold Class stuff leaves just as nice of a shine with just a third of the work.

[Autoguy]

No, I have not used a clay bar on it yet. I have owned since new and keep it clean, it is garaged at home and in covered parking at work so have not had a need to clay yet.

I have noticed a few very small water marks in the hood would the clay help remove those?

[humanoid]

Yes, clay will help, but so would using an orbital buffer with some polish.

[mchan]

stuff gets embedded into the paint just from everyday driving. Run your palm over a flat surface, even with a fresh coat of wax, you can feel the little bumps, claying can remove them.

I just clayed the hood of our 04 pilot and it's 90% smoother than before I clayed.

[mobro]

Put your fingers into a plastic sandwich bag and rub it over the clean paint. You'll feel more things than with your bare hands. (don't know why but it works - read it somewhere on the net).

Autoguy, how do you keep the Klasse sealant from streaking? Some parts of my pilot look incredible - wet and shiny, while others have cloudy streaks that are a bear to try to rub out by hand.

[Autoguy]

Hello mobro,

I have had no problems with streaking.

I use the Klasse sealant in the gray bottler (not the all in one product in the red bottle, though I have never tried it either).

I apply the sealant in sections, e.g. hood, drivers side, etc. I only let it dry for about 5 minutes when I finish a section. I then buff it out by hand, I also use a microfiber cloth to apply and another microfiber cloth to buff (I buy them at Costco). Lastly my car is white, so I don't know if that helps. Darker colors may be more prone to show streaking?

Don't know if any of this makes a difference, but that's my routine. I have been very pleased with the Klasse sealant, its the first product to make me switch after years of using Mothers California Gold paste caranuba wax.

[mobro]

Thanks Autoguy. I used the all in one (red bottle) first, then a coat of the sealant (gray bottle). My pilot is dark blue, so maybe that's part of the problem. I did notice that it was worse in the lower door panels where the angle is different than other parts of the vehicle. I think you may be onto something about the color - I used it on my white Nissan truck and no streaking at all and it looks incredible.