Removing "embedded" dirt - What's the best method?

[JoeFromPA]

Hi all,

 

My Legacy has a unique characteristic that no other car I've washed has.....dirt seems to not want to come off when washing.

 

I'm talking multiple passes and some good elbow grease and it still resists. And this isn't the minor stuff. This is bulk chunks of dirt.

 

I feel like it's hard to put into words. It's as if the paint has absolutely no top-coat. As if the paint is so unprotected that the dirt adheres to it.

 

It's been like this since day one, and has persisted even after doing a full clay bar/klasse AIO/klasse SG treatment last fall.

 

So my question is: What is the proper way to remove this "bulk dirt"? Do I scrub it with my wash mitt until it comes off....which I feel might leave lots of microscratches in the paint due to the hard scrubbing....or do I remove this with a clay bar? The clay bar doesn't seem like a good option to me, since it would take ALOT of clay to get rid of this stuff and it re-appears about once/month.

 

It's especially prevalent on the lower sides of the car, between the wheels and behind the rear wheels. Similar on the front, but more bugs up there and I'm used to them being tough

 

Joe

[Levish]

clay bar, follow up with polishing (read the DIY's), then cleaner then sealant.

 

repeat every 6-12 months

[JoeFromPA]

Let me repeat:"The clay bar doesn't seem like a good option to me, since it would take ALOT of clay to get rid of this stuff and it re-appears about once/month."

 

Edit: Also, this stuff sticks like this AFTER a full claybar, polish, and sealant job. Literally 2 weeks later the stuff is just as hard to remove. And it's just normal dirt.

[Underdog]

Pics?

[Danase]

Yeah, we're going to need some pics for this one.

 

Maybe it's fallout?

[Levish]

Let me repeat:"The clay bar doesn't seem like a good option to me, since it would take ALOT of clay to get rid of this stuff and it re-appears about once/month."

 

Edit: Also, this stuff sticks like this AFTER a full claybar, polish, and sealant job. Literally 2 weeks later the stuff is just as hard to remove. And it's just normal dirt.

 

Normal dirt should not be allowed to sit on your car for two weeks. Wash your car once a week if it gets that dirty.

 

I use 1/2 a clay bar for a really bad car, and never had to clay bar more than twice in one year. This is NYC and the car is not garaged and there's plenty of fallout / dust / dirt.

 

I'm guessing whats going on is the sealant isn't adhering properly

 

You should be getting nice beading after a rain or rinse for up to 6 months if so.

 

A detail er suggested a 50/50 mix of rubbing alcohol and distilled water and use it to dampen (not wet) microfiber towel and rub the car down before applying the sealant.

 

For added protection wait a week and apply another layer of sealant the following week.

[JoeFromPA]

I'm getting nice beading for 6 months.

 

I'll try to take pictures., but it's going to look like regular dirt. Maybe a video actually. If the weather holds out, I'll take a video this saturday to show what I'm talking about.

[Levish]

If its regular dust you probably just need to wash more frequently

 

I get alot of raildust on some of the cars i take care of and washing will not take it out (needs clay but it still comes out fairly quick with the bar)

http://www.carcareadvice.co.uk/faq/exterior-paintwork/what-is-raildust.htm

 

and some examples of different types of fallout which really just have to be cleaned up asap before they become problems

http://www.carcareadvice.co.uk/faq/exterior-paintwork/what-is-fallout.htm