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DetailersDomain
February 14th, 2013, 17:52
Subject: 2009 Audi Q7 TDI - Daily Driver
Requirement: Remove Salt and Grime and protect before Winter Storm Nemo!

Exterior

- Wheels were prepped with Sonax Wheel Cleaner and cleaned up with various brushes
- Tires were spritzed down with Adam's APC
- Wheel wells were cleaned up
- Washed with a mix of Adam's Car Wash and Adam's APC
- Wolf's Decon Gel
- Wash down and rinsed
- Door jambs were cleaned up
- Nano Scrub AutoScrub
- Dried
- Tires dressed
- Masking
- Paint Measurement
- Sonax 5/4 Fine Abrasive Polish - Uber Green Pad - Rupes LHR 21ES
- Sonax Polymer NetShield
- Inspection with Fenix, 3m Sun Gun, Infratech, and natural sunlight
- Wheel wells were cleaned and dressed
- Rubber and Plastics Treated
- Exterior windows and mirrors cleaned and sealed
- Exhaust tips cleaned
- Windows were autoscrubed, cleaned, and sealed

Products used

Links to products used -
Exterior
Adam's Car Wash (https://detailersdomain.com/Adams-Car-Wash_p_499.html)
Adam's APC (https://detailersdomain.com/Adams-All-Purpose-Cleaner_p_111.html)
Sonax Full Effect Wheel Cleaner (http://www.detailersdomain.com/Sonax-Full-Effect-Wheel-Cleaner_p_324.html)
NanoSkin AutoScrub System (https://detailersdomain.com/NanoSkin-Autoscrub-6-inch-Pad_p_695.html)
Sonax Fine Abrasive (https://detailersdomain.com/Sonax-Fine-Abrasive-Paste-55_p_816.html)
Sonax Polymer NetShield (https://detailersdomain.com/SONAX-Polymer-Net-Shield-_p_814.html)
Adam's Super VRT (https://detailersdomain.com/Adams-Super-VRT_p_222.html)
Adam's Metal Polish 1 (https://detailersdomain.com/Adams-Metal-Polish-1-4-oz_p_95.html)
Adam's Metal Polish 2 (https://detailersdomain.com/Adams-Metal-Polish-2-4-oz_p_544.html)
Adam's Glass Cleaner
Adam's Glass Sealant (https://detailersdomain.com/Adams-Glass-Cleaner-and-Glass-Sealant-Kit_p_545.html)

Tools used
Uber Wool Wash Mitt (http://www.detailersdomain.com/Uber-Genuine-Wool-Wash-Mitt-Version-2_p_515.html)
Uber No Name MF Towels (http://www.detailersdomain.com/Uber-No-Name-Uber-Super-Plush-Microfiber-Towel-16x16_p_512.html)
Rupes LHR 15ES Random Orbital Polisher (https://detailersdomain.com/Rupes-BigFoot-LHR15ES-Random-Orbital-Polisher_p_855.html)
Rupes LHR 21ES Random Orbital Polisher (https://www.detailersdomain.com/Rupes-BigFoot-LHR21ES-Random-Orbital-Polisher_p_854.html)
Griot's 6 inch Random Orbital Polisher (https://detailersdomain.com/Griots-Garage-6-inch-Random-Orbital-Polisher-Base-Kit_p_683.html)
Uber Buffing Pads (http://www.detailersdomain.com/5-Pack-Uber-Foam-Pad-65-inch_p_298.html)
Defelsko Paint Meter (http://www.detailersdomain.com/Defelsko-Positest-DFT-Combo-Paint-Meter_p_498.html)
Fenix TK35 (http://www.detailersdomain.com/Fenix-TK35-820-Lumens_p_504.html)
Brinkmann (http://www.detailersdomain.com/Brinkmann-Tuffmax-Dual-LED-Spotlight_p_400.html)
Kranzle Pressure Washer (http://www.detailersdomain.com/Kranzle-K-1120T-Cold-Water-Electric-Pressure-Washer_p_446.html)
Uber Foamer Attachment for Pressure Washer (http://www.detailersdomain.com/Uber-Foamer-Canon-Pressure-Washer-Attachment-_p_204.html)
2 Grit Guard Buckets with Caddies (http://www.detailersdomain.com/Grit-Guard-Dual-Bucket-Washing-System_p_127.html)
Uber Firehose Nozzle (http://www.detailersdomain.com/Uber-Firehose-Spray-Nozzle_p_80.html)
Metro Air Force Blaster (http://www.detailersdomain.com/Metro-Air-Force-Master-Blaster-Car-Dryer-8-HP-MB3CD_p_344.html)
RoboReel Power Extension Cord (https://detailersdomain.com/RoboReel-Power-Extension-Cord-Reel_p_879.html)

Briefing on Road Salt and what it can do.

A salt and sand mixture is frequently spread over roads before or after a snow or ice storm. Salt lowers water's freezing point, causing any ice already formed to melt even though the air temperature remains well below freezing. The sand helps keep the salt in place, plus it adds a bit of traction to wet and often slushy roads.

While road salting helps people travel safely, it has drawbacks. It can cause major body and undercarriage damage to your vehicles unless you take extra care and precaution.

If you're one of the many who must travel the saline streets in the land of the ice and snow, we have some great tips to help protect your vehicle from the ravages of road salt.

The best time to prevent salt damage to your vehicle is before the first snowflake falls; a little care will help keep the rust away.

Take a look at some of the basic steps to prevent long term damage from salt.


To start in late autumn, thoroughly wash every inch of your vehicle, including the underside.
Apply a wax or sealant (https://detailersdomain.com/Sealants-and-Waxes_c_78.html) to the vehicle's paint for protection thru out the winter months.
Seal the undercarriage, paying closest attention to the brake and fuel lines, as these are the most susceptible items for rust and corrosion and make your vehicle unsafe if they fail.


Further tips to protect your vehicle throughout the winter months.


Keeping your vehicle as clean as possible during the winter will go a long way to cut down the damage done by salt and sand.
Wash as much as possible throughout the winter months. Make sure you get to the undercarriage cleaning as well as traditional car washing.
If weather permits you can do this at home if not get to a coin operated wash bay. Begin by spraying down your vehicle using a garden hose equipped with a high-pressure nozzle, moving from top to bottom.
Be sure to get as much dirt, grime, and salt from beneath the wheel wells, under the bumpers, behind the fenders and in any other areas prone to salty slush splashes.
Follow with a warm water (if possible), car wash scrub down, using soap made especially for car washing (we have been using a mix or Adam's Car Wash (https://detailersdomain.com/Adams-Car-Wash_p_499.html)and Adam's APC (https://detailersdomain.com/Adams-All-Purpose-Cleaner_p_111.html) in our Foam Cannon (https://detailersdomain.com/Uber-Foamer-Canon-Pressure-Washer-Attachment-_p_204.html) for the and its done well cutting all the dirt and salt off the paint. As you know dish soap strips your car's wax. Use a wash mitt or a sponge.
Don't neglect to scrub all the rubber, trim, outside door seals, tires, and the wheel.
Rinse thoroughly, making sure to remove all traces of soap.
Make sure everything is dry. Carefully dry the edges of the doors inside and out, including the undersides of door handles, all hinges, plus the hood and trunk edges. This helps keep them from freezing shut. Protect them as well, you can use your favorite wax or sealant use a rubber seal dressing like 1Z einszett Gummi Pflege Rubber Car (https://detailersdomain.com/1Z-einszett-Gummi-Pflege-Stift-Rubber-Care-Stick_p_77.html)e to keep the seals protected and from freezing.
Make sure you wax or seal (https://detailersdomain.com/Sealants-and-Waxes_c_78.html) again after each wash this will ensure car is protected.



Before shots
A lot of salt build up.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/55oakstnorwood/Audi%20Details%202012/winter%20prep%20audi%20q7/DSC_5969.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/55oakstnorwood/Audi%20Details%202012/winter%20prep%20audi%20q7/DSC_5968.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/55oakstnorwood/Audi%20Details%202012/winter%20prep%20audi%20q7/DSC_5966.jpg

Wash - Wheels - Tires - Wheel Wells -Decon - Pre Soak - Wash - Autoscrub - Polish - Seal

Sonax Full Effect Wheel Cleaner
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/55oakstnorwood/Audi%20Details%202012/winter%20prep%20audi%20q7/DSC_5965.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/55oakstnorwood/Audi%20Details%202012/winter%20prep%20audi%20q7/DSC_5977.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/55oakstnorwood/Audi%20Details%202012/winter%20prep%20audi%20q7/DSC_5976.jpg

Wolf's Decon Gel working well, nice long dwell times
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/55oakstnorwood/Audi%20Details%202012/winter%20prep%20audi%20q7/DSC_5973.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/55oakstnorwood/Audi%20Details%202012/winter%20prep%20audi%20q7/DSC_5975.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/55oakstnorwood/Audi%20Details%202012/winter%20prep%20audi%20q7/DSC_5979.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/55oakstnorwood/Audi%20Details%202012/winter%20prep%20audi%20q7/DSC_5978.jpg

We have found that Adam's Car Wash and Adam's APC solution works well to help cut salt and grime off the paint in colder temps (ratio for the foam cannon - 2-3 oz of Adam's Car Wash 2-3 oz of Adam's APC - fill the rest with water)
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/55oakstnorwood/Audi%20Details%202012/winter%20prep%20audi%20q7/DSC_6130.jpg

Wash
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/55oakstnorwood/Audi%20Details%202012/winter%20prep%20audi%20q7/DSC_5987.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/55oakstnorwood/Audi%20Details%202012/winter%20prep%20audi%20q7/DSC_5988.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/55oakstnorwood/Audi%20Details%202012/winter%20prep%20audi%20q7/DSC_5981.jpg

Rinse
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/55oakstnorwood/Audi%20Details%202012/winter%20prep%20audi%20q7/DSC_5989.jpg

Cleaning up the Aluminum Roof Rails on Audis can be a pain but we were able to improve them using Adam's Metal Polish 1 and 2
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/55oakstnorwood/Audi%20Details%202012/winter%20prep%20audi%20q7/DSC_5999.jpg

Close up
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/55oakstnorwood/Audi%20Details%202012/winter%20prep%20audi%20q7/DSC_5998.jpg

We did a one step polish to improve the gloss on the car using the Rupes BigFoot LHR21ES an Uber Green Pad and Sonax Fine Abrasive Polish
(sorry no photos)
Afters
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/55oakstnorwood/Audi%20Details%202012/winter%20prep%20audi%20q7/DSC_6004.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/55oakstnorwood/Audi%20Details%202012/winter%20prep%20audi%20q7/DSC_6005.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/55oakstnorwood/Audi%20Details%202012/winter%20prep%20audi%20q7/DSC_6007.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/55oakstnorwood/Audi%20Details%202012/winter%20prep%20audi%20q7/DSC_6006.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/55oakstnorwood/Audi%20Details%202012/winter%20prep%20audi%20q7/DSC_6000.jpg

Update:
Beading shots of Sonax Polymer Net Shield after the blizzard

Extremely tight beading
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/photo-6.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/pyiu/photocopy-3.jpg

RXBG
February 15th, 2013, 16:06
what do you recommend for reconditioning aluminum trim around windows?

DetailersDomain
February 15th, 2013, 16:19
what do you recommend for reconditioning aluminum trim around windows?

you can use the same adam's metal 1 and 2.

Phil