How I wash my Ram...

Hey guys, I figured I would take some time and document some of the process I go through when cleaning not only my truck, but some of my customers cars when it comes to wash/wax/paint correction etc.

As for my truck, it is well maintained, washed and cleaned up about once a week. Where I park for work is a gravel lot and is quite dusty, so my truck is usually covered in heavy dust on a daily basis. Today it was beautiful out, and my day off, so I took some time to do a maintenance wash. I had already washed, clayed and sealed it a couple weeks ago, so it is fairly easy to clean it up now.

Process....

Wash - Sonax Gloss Shampoo (foam cannon & bucket wash)
Bug & Tar - 1Z einszett Anti-Insekt Bug + Tar Remover
Tires - Adams All Purpose Cleaner
Wheels - Sonax Full Effect Wheel Cleaner
Wheel Wells - Adams All Purpose Cleaner
Detail/drying - Adams Detail Spray

Protect....

Sealant - Sonax Net Polymer (sealed the truck 2 weeks ago)
Trim - Adams Super VRT
Wheel Wells - Adam's Invisible Undercarriage Spray

Tools....

- Kwazar Venus Pro + Compression Sprayer w/ Foamer tip (Adams APC is fantasic in this)
- Kwazar Mercury Pro (Sonax Wheel Cleaner)
- Wheel Woolies
- Uber Detail Brush (Boar's Hair)
- Auto Finesse Waxmate
- Sonus Der Wunder Microfiber Drying Towel


Before

Bugs, dirty and dust throughout


Mirrors always get hammered


Debris shot up from tires


Dirty wheel faces & barrels


Now, when I start a detail, whether it be a maintenance wash like today, or a full paint correction, I always start with wheels and tires/ wheel wells.

Adams APC has been my go to for tires, running boards, engine bays etc. This magical cleaning fluid works amazingly well in a Kwazar Venus Pro + Compression Sprayer w/ the foamer tip.


In action, left to dwell on tires, wheel wells, and running boards


Then I hit up the wheels with Sonax Wheel Cleaner. This stuff smells terrible, but works wonders. The product is sprayed on green/yellow, and after 5 minutes or so will change to a redish/purple once it comes in contact with any iron from the brake pads/rotors etc. so you know its working.





While the wheel cleaner was left to dwell, I went back to the tires and scrubbed them with a Tuf Shine tire brush. Honestly, the perfect brush for tires and small enough to hit the wheel well plastics.



I then went back to the wheel, but this time to agitate the Sonax Wheel Cleaner with my wheel woolies. Cleaned the faces and the barrels, then rinse.



Not the best picture, but you can see how dirty the soap is, and the reddish hue of the wheel cleaner.


Rinse off thoroughly, no pressure needed here.


Minty fresh wheels


Once all four wheels, tires and wheel wells were completed, I carried on with the Tuf Shine brush on the running boards. Adams APC works very well here, and foams nicely with this


Now it was time to actually wash the truck, we're only an hour into this already lol.

Gas pressure washer, Uber foam cannon ready to go. I LOVE this setup, makes washing so much fun.

Only need about 1/2"-3/4" of product, fill the rest with water. Sonax Shampoo is great in the cannon, and is safe on sealants - won't strip wax or coatings and leaves a great gloss shine when finished.




And away we go, suuuuuper thick foam to cover the truck, let dwell for 5 minutes or so.



Hey, did you hear it snowed in July?


Got a little artsy lol


While the soap was working on breaking down dirt and grime on the truck, I prepared my seperate wash bucket with a little more Sonax Soap and my microfibre wash mit. More suds the better!


I hit up all the tight areas, window trim, mirror housings, grill etc with my Uber Detail Brush.




Can't forget the gas filler lid


After thoroughly washing the truck, give it good rinse. Nice beading action from the previously applied sealant.


Now, to eliminate the chance of hard water spots, it's time to dry. I use a waffle weave towel and Adams Detail spray.


Once everything was dried off, I hit up the door frames and jams with some more Adams APC and some shop towels


Next up was the faded running boards. I hit them up with Adams SVRT, and applied it with an Auto Finesse Foam applicator.

Before....




After....


Finished version. Not perfect, but looking great, nice gloss to it, and I know it's protected with the products I use.





Tough to see, but nice cloud reflection on the hood.


That's it for now, if I have time, maybe I can continue this write-up with the interior tomorrow.

Your thoughts/comments?

scottyram said:

Before....




After....


Finished version. Not perfect, but looking great, nice gloss to it, and I know it's protected with the products I use.





Tough to see, but nice cloud reflection on the hood.


That's it for now, if I have time, maybe I can continue this write-up with the interior tomorrow.

Your thoughts/comments?

Click to expand...

WOW. Thanks for taking the time to do the write up!!

my question to you is this....

I have the same truck as you and i live in Las Vegas, NV and it is SUPER hot here, everytime i wash my truck, the soap, or water always dries before i have time to rinse it off, or fully dry the truck, then it leaves the water spots all over. Any tips?

Also great write up! and good job with taking good care of your truck!

2014StormTrooper said:

my question to you is this....

I have the same truck as you and i live in Las Vegas, NV and it is SUPER hot here, everytime i wash my truck, the soap, or water always dries before i have time to rinse it off, or fully dry the truck, then it leaves the water spots all over. Any tips?

Also great write up! and good job with taking good care of your truck!

Click to expand...

Awesome thanks!

As for the soap drying up, I haven't used it yet, but according to Adams, their shampoo is safe even if it dries while you are washing. Worst comes to worst, you could wash 1 or 2 panels and immediately rinse them off.

As for the water spots, try drying the truck with a drying towel and quick detailer as mentioned above, or if you have access to a leaf blower that is always an option as well.

im not saying its right or wrong but i would advise against the leaf blower, which i will say it is better than a drying towel because you run less risk of rubbing particulates into the paint surface. but using a leaf blower the air is not filtered like any of the air blasters they offer for detailing you also run the risk of introducing even more particulates on the paint surface and of you come back with detail spray you run the risk of grinding them into the paints surface.

my suggestion would be to invest in 2 or more high quality drying towels preferably microfiber, if you go this route i suggest washing them after every time using them, or invest in a air blaster. i use drying towels south Louisiana summer is terrible unless you was in the shade. i try to keep water on the surface till im done, and i also have a dual stage filtration (particle filter and mineral filter) on the hose that i use to wash my vehicles. which this makes it a lot better to insure not to have water spot when the paint when the water dries.


oh scottyram nice truck bro.....

Cobayashi said:

im not saying its right or wrong but i would advise against the leaf blower, which i will say it is better than a drying towel because you run less risk of rubbing particulates into the paint surface. but using a leaf blower the air is not filtered like any of the air blasters they offer for detailing you also run the risk of introducing even more particulates on the paint surface and of you come back with detail spray you run the risk of grinding them into the paints surface.

my suggestion would be to invest in 2 or more high quality drying towels preferably microfiber, if you go this route i suggest washing them after every time using them, or invest in a air blaster. i use drying towels south Louisiana summer is terrible unless you was in the shade. i try to keep water on the surface till im done, and i also have a dual stage filtration (particle filter and mineral filter) on the hose that i use to wash my vehicles. which this makes it a lot better to insure not to have water spot when the paint when the water dries.


oh scottyram nice truck bro.....

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Thanks mate! Good points for sure. I am on the fence about buying a Blaster Sidekick, it's about 100$ so it's not going to break the bank, but I can't justify spending the coin it when I can easily towel dry it. I have about 10 towels just for drying so I don't think it's a problem.

Scottyram..if you buy the blaster DO NOT buy the sidekick for a vehicle. I bought one for my motorcycle. It doesn't dry at all..only blows the water from one side to the other, and off the surface. Plus the sidekick was barely enough for my bike. I know it wouldn't be enough for a truck. I tried it on my brothers Ford Escort and it spotted up before I could even get to blow dry. Now I've heard the bigger ones work well...Just wanted to give my advise before you wasted your money.

brantner22 said:

Scottyram..if you buy the blaster DO NOT buy the sidekick for a vehicle. I bought one for my motorcycle. It doesn't dry at all..only blows the water from one side to the other, and off the surface. Plus the sidekick was barely enough for my bike. I know it wouldn't be enough for a truck. I tried it on my brothers Ford Escort and it spotted up before I could even get to blow dry. Now I've heard the bigger ones work well...Just wanted to give my advise before you wasted your money.

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Thanks for the headsup. I most likely wouldn't have bought it, but there is no way I would get the fullsize, it's like 300$!

scottyram said:

Thanks for the headsup. I most likely wouldn't have bought it, but there is no way I would get the fullsize, it's like 300$!

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here is a thought that i had the other day, i was going to buy the cheapest leaf blower i could find corded electric, cut down the stupid nozzle so its not 15 feet long and try to put some kind of filter on the intake of it and utilize it as a blaster. i don't know how well it would work but its worth a try, for around $40 instead of $300.

sorry to beat a dead horse but i found this yesterday browsing around on the chemical guys site. worth a shot especially at $44.

"The Chemical Guys Blower"

damn my truck is cleaner going into the wash process than most coming out ie light dust and definitely no dirt. The rims get a wipe down at a minimum of twice a week and once the house is finished it will more than likely be 4-5 times a week lol

Cobayashi said:

sorry to beat a dead horse but i found this yesterday browsing around on the chemical guys site. worth a shot especially at $44.

"The Chemical Guys Blower"

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I saw that one too, not sure how it compares to the sidekick, most likely the same caliber.

Great write up after this I would definitely look into Adams products. At the moment I use chemical guys but I'm always looking for a new shine. Look forward to an interior write up cause for lack of better terms that is not my expertise

Thanks mate. I very much prefer to clean the exterior rather than the interior.