Washing the exterior. What do you all use?
I’ve had my new M3RWD since February and it got me thinking that maybe I should be using specific products to wash the exterior. What is your workflow for washing the exterior? I’ve had it ceramic coated and PPF on the front and side rockers. Not sure that makes a difference, but should I be using a special sponge or avoiding specific products for the car soap? Thx!
90% of my washes are rinseless. ONR
Same I use ONR and always have great results.
I follow Jeremiah Jones on YouTube who put out a Tesla washing video! My car looks great following his methods. Good luck!
I use three methods, depending how much time I have and the dirtiness of the car.
Easy method for less dirty:
ONR in a pump spray bottle. Soak the car (in the shade or early morning/evening), a panel at a time, overextending a bit on adjacent panels . Use a microfiber towel soaked in ONR, clean the car, never redipping that cloth in the wash bucket and using all eight faces of the cloth, never swiping more than once per face (if you don't redip, you can use the remainder of the solution for next time). Overextend a bit to adjacent panels. Wipe dry the panel right away. Do NOT overextend this time. You overextended with the washing so the drying towel never hit dirty panels. If it does, or if you drop it, use another one.
More time, dirtier car:
First wet the car in the shade or early morning/evening, then using Turtle wax Hybrid Solution Wash&Wax and two buckets (with a dirt trap on the rinse bucket), wash the car with a microfiber sponge, a panel at a time, rinsing after each panel, but dry at the end. Don't let the water dry on the car though so it could be necessary to rewet panels as you rinse.
Third and more complete solution:
Using Turtlewax Hybrid Solutions Slick&Slide foam, foam the car in the shade or early morning/evening. Let it sit for a few minutes but make sure it doesn't dry. Do not wet the car first as this will simply dilute the foam. Then wet the car as in method 2, but try to get most of the foam off the car and then follow that method to finish the cleaning.
Bonus if it's just dusty (ie, not driven). Using the same microfiber technique as in method 1, wipe the car with Turtle wax Hybrid Solutions 3 in 1 ceramic detailer. Spray, wipe, dry.
Every two months, I'll coat the car with Turtle Wax Hybrid Solutions Ceramic coating, but that's step isn't necessary for you since you had the car ceramic coated. Check with the place you had it applied for ceramic refresher though.
I wash it as I would any other car, with two buckets, car shampoo, a wash mitt, and microfiber towels.
Its a car.
Yes, but I’ve heard the paint is a little softer, and there are certain chemicals in some regular car shampoo that you shouldn’t use on a Tesla but I’m not sure which ones those are.
Bullshit.
My car detailer told me to use any low alkaline car wash. I use Rain X, which he said is fine.
OP your car is ceramic coated and doesn’t need a wash. Just rinse and dry
OP your car is ceramic coated and doesn’t need a wash. Just rinse and dry
I like chemical guys products.
Chemical guys waterless wash product. Works great
Double bucket method with grit guards is the golden standard. Power wash the muck off. Clean rims with dedicated bucket. Wash w/ double bucket method. Apply spray ceramic as a wear layer, power wash off, leaf blower the water off.
Check out this video. It helps cover the basics of products to use. I recommend also checking out his channel for wash methods to fit your needs :)
I use CarPro products now and I'm very happy with their performance.
Great video! Thx!!
Got a pressure washer for like $150 on Amazon and a foam canon. I use chemical guys mr pink. I also have ONR but I find the pressure washer so easy. Rinse, foam, rinse, dry.
I wash my car weekly:
Regular rinse
Car wash with shiner (Use a foam gun for this, with wash that has good foaming)
Gentle sponge cleanse
Rinse
Clean the windows, shine the windows
Clean the chrome, shine the chrome
Clean the wheels, shine the wheels
Once every 2-3 months: Wax
My Tesla usually is always reflective and looking new. Takes me about 35-45 minutes to do it my self, I have some professional level drying items to help drying, but overall I prefer my car not looking grimey and after about a week of driving it, it usually is.
Have you not owned a car before?
I use ONR wash and shine on ceramic coat. 5 years, still looks like new.
Pressure washer, and a bucket with a dirt trap with some form of good quality soap and a wash mitt. Rinse, soap, rinse, dry. When it’s a weekly thing it turns into a fast routine.
As often as not it’s dirty the next day in the winter anyway.
I have a brand new Highland in Ultra-Red. The front leading surfaces are PPF coated. There is no way I'm taking it into an automated wash, even if it's convenient.
Here's a step-by-step procedure on how to hand-wash your Tesla right: https://youtu.be/S6_zylmkw3Q?si=MXrQir6f6-whyZJi