Product recommendations for washing / waxing truck?

[BlackSheep]

I do know that paper towel scratches the black plastic panels between the front and back door windows real easy. Not inpressed.

If you are concerned about the black plastic panels scratching between the doors. You might consider something like this:

https://www.theocdplug.com/shop/p/f150-pillar-protectors

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[nsbreeding]

Does anyone have recommendations for cleaning the engine compartment. I’ve seen some left overs from the rat (now dead) that had been getting under my hood.

 

[mwf5888]

If you are concerned about the black plastic panels scratching between the doors. You might consider something like this:

https://www.theocdplug.com/shop/p/f150-pillar-protectors

I have this on my 2021 KR and they still look like the day I took deliery.

 

[pkinneb]

Does anyone have recommendations for cleaning the engine compartment. I’ve seen some left overs from the rat (now dead) that had been getting under my hood.

This is how I do mine

 

[Jim Lewis]

Great thread. I've almost done "all of the above" on my former Honda Accord Hybrid, but I have yet to wash my truck. I've used both a Sun Joe 2,030 psi pressure washer with the 40° spray head and self-service manual car pressure washes. Stopped going to drive-through car washes decades ago. I always rinse the vehicle with soapy foam and low-pressure hose water to remove dirt as much as possible before applying any real spray pressure. I like Meguiar's Ultimate Liquid Wax. I use a bit more than the two-bucket method. I always rinse my mitt off the vehicle with a spray hose nozzle before dipping it in the rinse buck (a 5-gallon bucket filled to the brim), wringing it out a couple of times, and then dipping it in the soap bucket. Even so, a fair amount of dirt still ends up in the bottom of the rinse bucket, especially from the lower paneling on a vehicle. Meguiar's NXT Generation Car Wash seems to do a good job of removing dirt, road tar, insects, etc.

Perhaps I missed it in the thread. But how do you folks do the cab roof and the hood area near the windshield? I have a little Skinny Mini 3-step step ladder that might help (haven't tried it yet). And I can imagine washing the rear part of the cab roof from the bed.

Also, what do you folks use on tonneau covers? Also, how long do you keep your cleaning products? My Meguiar's wax bottle is 6 or 7 years old and still seems to do a great job. (I only use it once a year and am able to rinse away most dirt in between heavy-duty washing and waxing). Do any of these products show their age as time goes by? How about mitts? Do you toss those after a while from built-up dirt in the mitt? (I never got overly concerned about my Honda Accord's appearance as it had been mildly hail damaged in a couple of doozy San Antonio hail storms - amazing how much summer heat in San Antonio can pop hail dings out of sheet metal, though!).

Apologies for reviving an old thread. Didn't notice the dates 'til I posted my reply. For some reason, this old thread popped up in my feed. Maybe someone up there in Ford Heaven thinks it's about time I actually washed my truck and guided my feed in that direction <<<entirely joking here>>>.

 

[Lucky Larry]

i use Woolite for Delicates in a 25 to 1 water solution to clean the leather in all of my vehicles. It was recommended in my Lexus owners manual. it seems to work well and wont damage the leather.

as for wax i have been using Turtle Wax Ice and Mothers California Gold® Spray Wax

 

[trailcat]

Hope someone can point me in the right direction here.

Been getting the truck washed at our touch free car wash when I have the time, but I'd say every 2-3 weeks has been the cadence during the Winter/Spring.

The harsh Winter piled up some heavy/sticky grime on the lower panels of the truck. Any product recommendations to get it off? I do have a pressure washer at home.

 

[EdRudy]

WOW, I thought that was what rain was for. I'll spray it down every once in a while and shake out the matts but that's about it. If I do wash it, I use whatever car washing soap I find in the garage from the kids... Trucks don't really need to be shiny, at least in my opinion.

 

[snowy_91]

It's the truck, tunnel wash every day or so...

 

[JRT]

One of the best products for removing that gritty finish is Surf City Clayzilla. You can work each section or use the pad on a very soapy finish and remove all of it far easier then a traditional clay bar process. I also like griots garage products and finish off my truck detailing with their ceramic speed shine. I car wash with a monthly membership and then do full detail at home with Griots products, they are all excellent.

https://www.griotsgarage.com/ceramic-speed-shine/

 

[Tony Burgh]

Dawn detergent then reapply “wax”.

 

[JRT]

Ah dear God do not use dish soap, there are soo many products around to use then Dawn, I can't see a single reason. You could save soo much effort with any Walmart car soap and a quick spray on wet wax application.

 

[Pioneer74]

In my younger days I was fanatical about hand washing my car. As I get older, I just don't want to deal with it anymore. One of the best decisions I ever did was get a subscription to a car wash not far from my house.

I know the subscription model doesn't make sense to a lot of people, but I use it enough to justify it. It also applies a ceramic wax at the end. Most times I don't even need to turn my windshield wipers on because of it.

 

[Madtroniks]

Use a pressure washer, foam cannon and a blower to dry.

Do you have ceramic coating or do you plan to apply some?

look for PH balanced soaps.

Feynlab and Koch-Chemie make good products.

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