Alpine White Maintenance

[dire]

What is the best cleaning solution for Alpine White? I oversprayed some simple green degreaser onto my paint, and as it ran down, it created some marks (sort of cleaning the paint). I clayed after that, but could not get the same whitening effect. Other than compounding with 3m and buffer, is there something out there that can do the trick?

[Emre]

My car is Alpine White, so I have some experience with keeping it clean and bright. What I do is:

(1) wash with Meguiar's Gold Class Car Wash Shampoo
(2) clay with Clay Magic using Meguiar's or Mother's quick detail for lube
(3) deep clean with Meguiar's Deep Crystal System Paint Cleaner
(4) polish/glaze with Meguiar's Deep Crystal System Polish
(5) wax with Mothers California Gold Pure Carnauba Wax

I apply all the products with deep-pile 100% terrycloth towels (except for the carnauba wax, which I apply with my hands) and remove all the products with micro-fiber cloths. I do everything by hand. Takes a few hours to do the whole car. But you end up with eye-popping results.

Emre

[dire]

thanks, i will try the paint cleaner tomorrow

[Emre]

i will try the paint cleaner tomorrow

If your paint is discolored, then Step 3 is the most critical. A deep cleaner will give you a mix of very mild abrasives and some chemical solvents to really scrub the surface dirt off your paint. You'll be amazed how much filth it lifts off! The Alpine White will look lighter and much brighter when you're done.

Emre

[dire]

If your paint is discolored, then Step 3 is the most critical. A deep cleaner will give you a mix of very mild abrasives and some chemical solvents to really scrub the surface dirt off your paint. You'll be amazed how much filth it lifts off! The Alpine White will look lighter and much brighter when you're done.

Emre

thanks, i think that exactly what i need. i had a couple of drips of some liquid gasket on the paint, so i sprayed them down with the degreaser and i could see streaks of dirt coming down. after cleaning, those streaks stayed on the paint and looked much lighter than the rest of the white.

[xLibelle]

im finding that the alpineweiss cars have a paint problem unlike the other paints. maybe less of a problem, but in a different maner. i got so fed up with chasing the oxidation down, i gave in and am having it re painted.

[Jordan]

I like to use wheel acid for detailing. Alpinewhite seems to collect grime rings in its old age around everything, and said rings are impervious to normal soap and water.

I detailed all the hard to reach/scrub places on mine when I got it with wheel acid and was quite pleased. Although I do have several years experience in proper and safe for the paint use... anyone can use acid so long as you wash it off quickly.

[dire]

is there a specific product that you prefer? or just any wheel gel would work?

[Jordan]

Um.. you don't use gel.

Any wheel acid made for etching "mag" or bare aluminum wheels will work fine. Read the label and look for Sulfuric and Hydrofluoric acids. Wear gloves, use a toothbrush, and clean small sections making sure you completely rinse the area with water when done.

[LINUS]

Sulfuric and Hydrofluoric acids. Wear gloves,

Avoid hydrofluoric acid - hydrofluoric (HF) is a nasty mother that when in full strength burrows through skin trying to get to calcium, namely your bones. HF was used in U.S. production of hydrocarbons through the early 70's, but currently there is no new permitting for refining units that are HF since sulfuric is much safer.

HF units are hurricane fenced with a 100' buffer & watched by remote camera, were sulfuric is just fine - I've worked in both acid production & a hydrocarbon unit using sulfuric, and had it on me many times - only buy products with sulfuric if you can help it. It's really the safest of the acid family.

If you must go HF, really wear good gloves or double up your cheapies, and well shielding eye glasses - and take a shower afterwards to get an exposed skin that might have a few dots you don't see. I know I sound like your Mom, but HF is a wild animal compared to sulfuric -- all it does is pull moisture from your skin, producing a scar of sorts & that 'burning' feeling.

/Mom voice off.

[Jordan]

The dilution in the wheel cleaning acid off the shelf from an auto parts store isn't that strong. I personally don't wear gloves with it and will spray it right on my hand without an issue. Its just not strong enough to eat your skin.

Now the professional stuff I used as a detailer.. I think it was called SPOKE... now that shit would burn your skin in a matter of seconds. You can't get ahold of that strong of an acid unless you are buying from a supplier.


Here is the off the shelf stuff I use for etching grime away from tough spots:

[LINUS]

My point is that HF is looking to do more to you than sulfuric. By your line of reasoning it's fine to wash your hands in acetone, since it doesn't have immediate effect, while in reality it's known to cause central nervous system damage.

I don't run around using sulfuric for hand lotion either, but it's just not quite as harmful as HF.

All I'm doing is pointing out what real levels of these uncut chemicals do, and if you've seen how Permissable Exposure Levels work, there's a time weighted average that shows how long term low levels can be as harmful as higher acute exposures. If you want to grow old with a lesser chance of any major medical complications, then due caution needs to be a lifetime thing.

I've watched a few ex-refinery guys drop dead too early or get diagnosed with really nasty conditions since they weren't as aware of all these things in the 60's & 70's. So after watching & seeing how this all worked, I changed my tune too & I try to spread the word to just use your head & really read a label or a MSDS. A pair of gloves now is a lot cheaper than crazy meds/operations when you're old because you were 'too cool' to use common sense.

Like I said, it's a personal thing & I'm not your Mom, so it's up to each person.

[dire]

(3) deep clean with Meguiar's Deep Crystal System Paint Cleaner

Worked like a charm, I was amazed with the results. Thank you guys!