Cactus Gray care?

[Hotpantz]

The last 6 vehicles I've had have been silver. I decided to go with cactus gray instead of iconic silver on my Bronco, which I love. However, I'm used to bever cleaning my cars because the silver just always shined. The CG is a little different animal, I guess the lack of metal flakes and a flatter paint is just different to take care of. What is everyone using on the CG paint to make it shine or to just protect it? I'm just looking for anyone that has had good luck on carcare products to mask swirls/dirt. Thanks in advance.

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[Area51BS]

The last 6 vehicles I've had have been silver. I decided to go with cactus gray instead of iconic silver on my Bronco, which I love. However, I'm used to bever cleaning my cars because the silver just always shined. The CG is a little different animal, I guess the lack of metal flakes and a flatter paint is just different to take care of. What is everyone using on the CG paint to make it shine or to just protect it? I'm just looking for anyone that has had good luck on carcare products to mask swirls/dirt. Thanks in advance.

I had CG on my Maverick and A51 on Bronco sport and Bronco. Love Griots 3in1 ceramic spray. And you can hit all the black plastic, wheels, grill, interior plastics and glass. Softtop windows too if you have one. Awesome stuff.

 

[Area51BS]

https://www.griotsgarage.com/cerami...jRHg9Kr9dQFXNvwWRg08UFkKKdW3_S8xoCovQQAvD_BwE

 

[BeachTiger]

https://www.griotsgarage.com/cerami...jRHg9Kr9dQFXNvwWRg08UFkKKdW3_S8xoCovQQAvD_BwE

Concur Griot's 3in1 is a great product. To the OP, however, you say you are used to never cleaning your cars and ask what products can mask swirls and dirt. I would say you first and foremost need to to begin a safe wash regimen. Swirls are induced by automatic car washes or contacting the paint while it's excessively dirty with your wash mitt. No product will easily overcome persistent neglect. If you can hand wash your vehicle every couple of weeks using quality products (and add a little protection like 3in1 or another spray wax/sealant) you'll be surprised how long the paint will look great.

 

[Who iz]

OLD School- Take your time, details matter.
Hand wash gently and use a quality carnauba hard wax on the paint only couple times each year in warm weather, in the shade. Use the new ceramics too in cooler seasons and when you are in a hurry.
Get it dirty often, have fun, and repeat....
The Bronco is small and easy compared to the larger truck detailing.

 

[Hotpantz]

Thanks everyone, just ordered some Griots 3 in 1 and I'm going to give that a shot.

 

[Hotpantz]

I had CG on my Maverick and A51 on Bronco sport and Bronco. Love Griots 3in1 ceramic spray. And you can hit all the black plastic, wheels, grill, interior plastics and glass. Softtop windows too if you have one. Awesome stuff.

I've heard a few different stories about the soft top window care. I have been pretty careful about rinsing and using a squeegee in horizontal lines to help with the scratching/haze and always putting them in a padded storage bag when not on my Bronco. Have you had good results on the windows with the 3 in 1?

 

[Area51BS]

I've heard a few different stories about the soft top window care. I have been pretty careful about rinsing and using a squeegee in horizontal lines to help with the scratching/haze and always putting them in a padded storage bag when not on my Bronco. Have you had good results on the windows with the 3 in 1?

Yes. I wash them first when washing vehicle. Dry with a quality towel(Griot’s). I use the 3 in 1 monthly on all hard plastics and the windows. More is not better on the windows. Use a quality detailing towel to wipe the 3 in 1 until dry on the windows.
I literally apply this product on every hard surface of the Bronco. Even the grill and head lights. You will never need a greasy spray in hard plastics again.

 

[timhood]

@BeachTiger gave excellent advice. The key is to pre-wash your vehicle before you touch it with a mitt, towel, sponge, or whatever. You want to get rid of surface dirt before moving it around and scratching the clear coat. Also, be sure to use a separate item to wipe the paint than other parts (like wheels) so you don't introduce scratch-inducing dirt from one part of the Bronco to another.

 

[Theherofails]

I live in the desert and kind of have my own system for washing the Bronco.

1.)Pressure Washer Rinse @ ~2000 PSI with a ~1-2 GPM pressure washer.
2.)Foam Cannon the entire Bronco
3.)Let foam run off the vehicle until it just starts to dry
3.)Foam Cannon again
4.)Pressure Washer Rinse again
5.)Spot clean each panel with Chemical Bro's touch up wash spray and a clean lint free towel to dry vehicle and get water stains off.
6.) Spray each panel with clean water and apply your wax/ceramic every ~6-12 months.

After the vehicle is clean, I'll do the wheels and spray the tires with tire protectant. I don't really put any protectants on the outside plastics as they just capture dust and make the Bronco look dirty really quickly. Like I said, I live in a desert (AZ).

I do it this way to prevent swirls in the paint and to keep the hard water from leaving terrible water marks all over the Bronco if it's not hand dried. I use a low flow pressure washer to cut back on water usage. Keeping the PSI around 1800-2K also makes sure I don't accidentally damage paint or plastics.

I follow the same system with my black Audi e-Tron in order to keep its paint looking pristine. Nothing shows scratches faster or easier than a black sports car.

The only variation to this is if I get really muddy and then I hit up a do it yourself touch free car wash first to get all the big chunks off. I have a deal worked out with the owner, so as long as I don't leave the bay dirty, he doesn't mind me rinsing heavy mud off. Much easier to do it there instead of leaving my entire residential street gutter filled with mud for weeks.

Cactus Gray is the absolute best color to hide trail damage and rock chips. White would probably be 2nd. Even after a few years and thousands of miles off road in AZ (famous for desert pinstriping), the paint still looks brand new.

 

[Hotpantz]

Thanks again for the advice. I tried the Griots 3 in 1 today, and I am very impressed, it looks great! Going to go ahead and order a gallon to keep on hand.

 

[Pnb7914]

Ppf on the front (hood, fenders, windshield surround) plus ceramic all around keeps mine looking good between washings and easy to clean.

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