Tar Heel

Week after next I'm on vacation and plan to wash the C5 and do some work to it. I'm going to install my Vararam and send the PCM out to ECS. Also going to clay bar the car and put a good polish and wax on it. To remove wax I've been told to use dish soap instead of my car wash when I wash it. What else can I do to remove wax prior to using the clay bar? I'll snap some photos when I'm done and post. Also, I mounted my MT drag radials tonight on stock 17" thin spokes so I'm looking forward to improved times the new CAI and tune.

Thanks.

lucky131969

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/car-care-discussion-10/

alxltd1

You will find plenty of info on the link above by asking the question there. I use Dawn dishwashing liquid and it does a good job of removing the wax.

jrose7004

I too use Dawn.

waddisme

The clay bar will take off what the dawn doesn't doesn't. It is best to wash it after claybar and before polishing.

dgrant3830

I agree....Dawn is the answer.

RonSSNova

Why not use wax and grease remover like body shops use before painting? Followed by a good bath with (Dawn I guess) of course.

Ron

Corvette_Ed

Unless something has changed since my days in a body shop, most paint & body guys use enamel reducer prior to painting. Would you want to put that on your paint?

RonSSNova

Where in my post did I say use enamel reducer?

Corvette_Ed

That's what they wipe the car down with prior to painting to remove grease, oil, and everything else.

tomlink

Dawn. Removes everything but the clearcoat.

leadfoot4

We're discussing removing wax from a painted car.......








Use Dawn!

Jewjenk

Because you said..............................

"Why not use wax and grease remover like body shops use before painting? Followed by a good bath with (Dawn I guess) of course.

Ron"

The reply was that a reducer is normally used to prep a car before repaint. What if the OP was to go to a body shop and ask for "the stuff that is used to remove wax and contaminants" and did not realize that he was getting a reducing agent? And not a non petrol based grease remover.

That is like after getting my new Maxima, I went to the dealer to get the so called special BLUE COOLANT. Asked the JERK, ughhh sales clerk/Asst. parts manager if there was an equal, since the price was $26 for a gallon. The idiot told me I could just use the "green stuff".
I passed on that and just paid the $26. Called and told my son about it and he told me that he just had a Nissan in the shop that the owner had a coolant change at one of the quickee joints, they put the green stuff in, shortly after, the owner started having cooling problems.

Cost of green stuff ,,,,,$3000, to replace cooling system, voided warranty for life of car by Nissan...............

Jewjenk

Actually the OP only needs to CLAYBAR, this will remove most all foreign matter from the paint, including the wax................................
Will have to keep turning the clay or risk paint scratch for some of the junk that was removed and is imbedded in the clay..........

Corvette_Ed

I know that. That's why I made a point to indicate that using the stuff "body shops use" is not what you want to use to remove wax.

Brackneyc

This is what I did. The pre-wash with Dawn seems like an unnecessary extra step...unless your car needs to be washed anyway. My paint came out as smooth as silk. One good coat of Nu-finish, and it shines like a brand new car.

Corvette_Ed

If you'll check Autogeek, Meguiar's, and Adam's instructional videos, all of them recommend you wash prior to using clay to remove large particles. There is no point in claying when you have chunks of tar and other garbage on the car. It just ruins the clay. Washing before claying removes the large particulate matter and gives you a better surface to work with.

Mr. Peabody

This is the correct answer.

Corvette_Ed