Yesterday was Arthur's 23rd birthday, so I thought I'd get a couple pictures of the old boy. Keep in mind, this is the original paint, and he's been through all 23 of our salty winters! Here's to ARTHUR!
Thanks, Dewey. And to think the pundits say that dish detergent should never be used on a car! Arthur is normally washed twice a year, with dish detergent. Of course, immediately after, he is given a good coat of Mother's California Gold paste wax. Then he is left dirty for the next 6 months. Seems to work pretty well, considering that is the original 23 year old clear coat on there. Yesterday was special, since I was giving him back to Ma, and she's down with pneumonia, and I didn't want all the salt to get activated in the underground parking.
I really swear by the Mothers wax too Mike, sorry to hear your mom is sick though, hope she feels better soon. A clean Volvo might help!
Dewey, the reason for the Mother's California Gold is simple. Back in 1990, it was the only wax that specifically stated it was good for clear coat. Many of the older waxes, like the Simonize Vista, was not. The Vista did a beautiful job, but you had to use it sparingly since it had polishing compound in it. The Mothers has always done Arthur proud. Ma is doing much better. She was, as soon as she was able, back out on the roads again. Poor Arthur never gets a chance to sit! LOL
Happy birthday Arthur! (and car washing question) Dear Michael and everyone whose station wagons are part of the family! By all means Happy Birthday Arthur!! Sorry if this hijacks this thread a bit, but what is exactly the fuss about dish washing detergent anyway? I haven't used dish washing detergent since we discovered Simple Green, but I know it is supposed really bad for car finishes. Since my trusty wagon was repainted by one of those upscale body shops I've been bombarded by advice on how to take car of the car. Sufferin' succotash, when I was a teenager, I knew how to wash a car. Now if I look at all the zillions of car care products - I don't have a clue!! :confused: Oh well, . . . . . Cheers, Edouard
Edouard: The thing with dish detergent is that it strips everything right down to the paint. If you wash it and leave it, then you will run into problems. I never use dish detergent unless I give the old boy a good coat of wax immediately. On the few occasions Arthur has been washed between waxes, I use "Dreft" laundry soap. I figure any dish detergent that is good for my antique hand painted china is good for the car paint, and best of all, it is meant to rinse clean easily without leaving a film behind. Dreft is meant for very fine washables, and again rinses clean easily without leaving a film behind. So far it seems to have worked rather well.
I used to wash my Jimmy with baby shampoo for the same reasons above. But then the guy at the local body shop suggested a few Mother's products to me and I switched. I had a bucket full of Mother's products for the inside and out, I used to get all kinds of compliments on my baby...I miss him sometimes. HAPPY BIRTHDAY ARTHUR Feel better Mike's mom.
Thanks, Fanny. Ma is back on the road already. 83, and it took her 2 days on antibiotics to be well enough to drive again! Hope I recover that well when (if) I get to that age!
Any good wash 'n' wax threads around here? Hi Michael and Arthur well-wishers, Sorry to disturb the birthday thread but . . . . Yeah but, . . . . don't you want to remove all the old wax just before applying fresh wax? That sounds like the right product to use for that particular job - doesn't it? Fannie's reference of Mother's wax products was as good a pointer as any. I just checked the Mother's website they don't have a product to wash the car before waxing. Their wash product specifically states it doesn't remove wax. Shouldn't there be one sort of washing product for cleaning the car between wax jobs and a second one intended to at least remove the outer layers of wax that might be contaminated and oxidized when you intend to wax the car immediately afterwards? Okay, I give up!! Is there a thread on the Station Wagon Forum filled with insightful tidbits on washing and waxing your family heirloom wagon? Cheers, Edouard
Edouard, I have never seen a thread specifically about what we use to clean the cars. It just sort of comes up here and there when we talk about our cars.
