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Originally Posted by WD40View Post Am I the only one?
Washed the Crossfire yesterday and dried it 98% of the way using a really lightweight leaf blower. It removes water from behind emblems and anywhere/everywhere water can normally hide. Also it allows me to dry the entire car while standing upright, something I appreciate more & more the older I get! Especially if you use a ceramic coating instead of wax the water simply "runs away from" the 150mph airstream. And BTW if you have not yet switched from wax to ceramic then you are really living in the past. It's superior in every way. Much, much longer lasting plus goes on & comes off so much easier. I use TheLastCoat.com. https://www.amazon.com/Premium-Ceram...ef=sr_1_1_sspa
They include a coupon when you receive your order that you mail to the company and they "double your order" by mailing you another 8oz bottle. It works just as well as any other ceramic I've used but you get more and it costs less. "Ceramic" means SiO2 and chemistry is chemistry, so it doesn't make sense to pay more for the same thing. I had 7 college chemistry classes, so I shake my head and smile at people who pay more for expensive table salt.
(End of quote)
Never one to have deep thoughts, I didn’t concern myself as to why “water spots” are so bothersome..... until I read WD40’s above entry where he explains that Chemistry can explain a lot. So I googled “bothersome water spots” and got this:
“Imagine a bead sitting on paint. Because of the bead’s spherical shape, less water is present on the edges of the bead. Evaporation rate increases where less water is present, so the outer contact line of the bead evaporates first. That’s where things start to get interesting.
Because the bead’s contact line is static, as water disappears, water from the rest of the bead rushes to the edge to take its place and maintain the contact angle. That rush of water takes mineral content along with it, causing it to accumulate at the edges. Once the water is gone, UV radiation causes that remaining residue to bond chemically with the paint. With this, the process is complete—you’ve got a water spot.
Oddly enough, this exact same process is what causes a coffee stain to occur. Just sub out mineral content for coffee bean particles.”
Well, ...........my question to WD40 is, “What is actually happening that makes this bonding occur” ?
Do you want my opinion? Yes you do. You want my opinion because research takes time... time I'm not getting paid for!!! 🤣🤣 Besides, research isn't fun (that's why people get PAID to do it)! But I'm happy to give my opinion, as that's what you've paid for. So, my opinion is that MOST OF THE TIME no chemical bond at all exists between a water drop and a car's windshield or painted surface. The minerals contained in the droplet (after the H2O evaporates) have merely mechanically bonded to your car's surface. What does that mean, you ask? A bug climbing up a vertical wall also has a mechanical bond, if you will. It wedges its spiky-bits into small crevices to counteract the force of gravity. Well the minerals a water-droplet leaves behind "contour themselves" into any irregular surfaces (even microscopic ones) that your car provides. Waxes & ceramics work by filling-in these irregularities thereby creating a smooth(er) surface, making it harder for debris to cling to it. That's my opinion. Before complaining, remember how much you paid me! 😁
Do you want my opinion? Yes you do. You want my opinion because research takes time... time I'm not getting paid for!!! 🤣🤣 Besides, research isn't fun (that's why people get PAID to do it)! But I'm happy to give my opinion, as that's what you've paid for. So, my opinion is that MOST OF THE TIME no chemical bond at all exists between a water drop and a car's windshield or painted surface. The minerals contained in the droplet (after the H2O evaporates) have merely mechanically bonded to your car's surface. What does that mean, you ask? A bug climbing up a vertical wall also has a mechanical bond, if you will. It wedges its spiky-bits into small crevices to counteract the force of gravity. Well the minerals a water-droplet leaves behind "contour themselves" into any irregular surfaces (even microscopic ones) that your car provides. Waxes & ceramics work by filling-in these irregularities thereby creating a smooth(er) surface, making it harder for debris to cling to it. That's my opinion. Before complaining, remember how much you paid me! 😁
Cleaned up the wheels on our 2007 Coupe this morning. Planning to attend a local car show in Fountain Inn, SC on Saturday, OCT 8th. Exterior of the Coupe only needs a little once over as it is still fairly clean from Fontana Lodge event last weekend. Interior still looks clean.
So we attended a different car show on OCT 8th at a nearby Methodist Church located in the same general area. The show in Fountain Inn was part of a day-long festival being held in Fountain Inn. Too many folks just wandering around. Anyway, we did receive an award for Mopar 2nd place (see below). Took a lot of questions as quite a few participants didn't recognize the Crossfire. Got lots of very favorable comments on the car.
Last edited by dedwards0323; Oct 12, 2022 at 02:09 PM.
Love results from Shine Armor carnuba and polymer spray on wax. Did the usually clean and clay bar to get read of any abrasions to the clear coat. The shine, mirror like finish, smoothness and enduring slippery dirt resistance is best I found less than going totally ceramic. A little bit will do ya too. The size of the bottle contents are deceiving as you can get several wax jobs for $20 bottle on Amazon. Another option based on some online research for free :-)
Love results from Shine Armor carnuba and polymer spray on wax. Did the usually clean and clay bar to get read of any abrasions to the clear coat. The shine, mirror like finish, smoothness and enduring slippery dirt resistance is best I found less than going totally ceramic. A little bit will do ya too. The size of the bottle contents are deceiving as you can get several wax jobs for $20 bottle on Amazon. Another option based on some online research for free :-)
I agree. Here's a list of products I started using this year. These make it an easy task to treat & protect the paint surface after doing a "deep clean" with a thorough washing & claying of the car. Probably can treat the entire car surface in 30 minutes or less.
Do you want my opinion? Yes you do. You want my opinion because research takes time... time I'm not getting paid for!!! 🤣🤣 Besides, research isn't fun (that's why people get PAID to do it)! But I'm happy to give my opinion, as that's what you've paid for. So, my opinion is that MOST OF THE TIME no chemical bond at all exists between a water drop and a car's windshield or painted surface. The minerals contained in the droplet (after the H2O evaporates) have merely mechanically bonded to your car's surface. What does that mean, you ask? A bug climbing up a vertical wall also has a mechanical bond, if you will. It wedges its spiky-bits into small crevices to counteract the force of gravity. Well the minerals a water-droplet leaves behind "contour themselves" into any irregular surfaces (even microscopic ones) that your car provides. Waxes & ceramics work by filling-in these irregularities thereby creating a smooth(er) surface, making it harder for debris to cling to it. That's my opinion. Before complaining, remember how much you paid me! 😁
I guess I was hoping for a WD40 revelation, a clearing away of the smoke and illusion, to where all the mystery of atoms and modules and thermal connectivity, as well as the sharing and loss of electrons as the noble gasses become chemically stable in that phenomenon called the octet rule where covalent bonds prevail.
Kinda like the eternal quest for why some girls liked you and some didn’t.
I agree. Here's a list of products I started using this year. These make it an easy task to treat & protect the paint surface after doing a "deep clean" with a thorough washing & claying of the car. Probably can treat the entire car surface in 30 minutes or less.
I guess I was hoping for a WD40 revelation, a clearing away of the smoke and illusion, to where all the mystery of atoms and modules and thermal connectivity, as well as the sharing and loss of electrons as the noble gasses become chemically stable in that phenomenon called the octet rule where covalent bonds prevail.
Kinda like the eternal quest for why some girls liked you and some didn’t.
I was just wondering.
If you want to have your mind blown a little look up "quark(s)". It's not just the name of a DS9 character! College chemistry was one of the disciplines (like physics) where each additional course you took introduced subject matter that prior courses never even hinted existed! It was like, "We didn't think your brain could handle the truth all at once without exploding!" 🤣😂😄
On a different topic, if you don't have an air compressor at home and you don't like the recent trend (seemingly a state to state trend) of gas-stations charging for 'air', this website can help you find a new go-to location to fill-up your tires... https://www.freeairpump.com/
SRT6 just booked I. For a BirdsAuto Quaife ATB LSD, really looking forward to seeing the results. A good family run business dealing with BMW and Mercedes. Will post my fed back in just over a weeks time.
Yesterday I spotted an Alabaster Crossfire Roadster parked in a driveway not far from our home. I probably pass by this home a dozen times a week on various runs the wife & I take to do errands. Crossfire was never seen before yesterday. Probably will stop today & see if I can met the Owner.
Yesterday I spotted an Alabaster Crossfire Roadster parked in a driveway not far from our home. I probably pass by this home a dozen times a week on various runs the wife & I take to do errands. Crossfire was never seen before yesterday. Probably will stop today & see if I can met the Owner.
of course you will be driving up in your Crossfire
Today I received the new hood support strut (complete) from Amazon. Stabilus P/N SG103002. I didn't have to replace the cartridge; just remove the old hood strut and install the new one. Cost me $35.62 delivered by UPS in 5 days.
Had my LSD fitted by Birdsautos, back seems more stable under power also a TCU tune from Chris made a world of difference great upgrades money well spent.
Took the opportunity between some much needed rainfall today to treat the leather interior in my 2007 Limited Coupe. I've been using the Lexol product for years with great results. Leather interior in my Coupe still looks "factory fresh". This treatment today will last until spring, when I will do it all over again.
Took the opportunity between some much needed rainfall today to treat the leather interior in my 2007 Limited Coupe. I've been using the Lexol product for years with great results. Leather interior in my Coupe still looks "factory fresh". This treatment today will last until spring, when I will do it all over again.
Finished my cheap CAI and engine cover last weekend and installed some wheels and tires about an hour ago. 19s and 20s on my lowered coupe. Yes, the fronts rub.
~ Yesterday Jon and I replaced the engine mount, drivers side on the rescue SSB SRT and fished out my dental appliance from between the seat and the hump. Didn't have to remove the seat.
~ Put off the seat issue long enough...ordering new relays for both SRT's (4).
~ Nose seal on SSB SRT SC is weeping a$$ oil. Topped it off last week.
.....installed some wheels and tires about an hour ago. 19s and 20s on my lowered coupe. Yes, the fronts rub.
Curious what wheel & tire combo you used on the fronts. Since you lowered your XFire, you probably restricted what you could mount regarding wheel & tire combinations. Others have mounted 19" wheels/tires on the front without any issues, but I doubt their cars were lowered. I've seen cars with a 225/35x19 tire on the front which ends up only about 1/8" taller overall than the OEM setup. Others hopefully will chime in to offer 1st hand advice. I seem to recall a thread on the Forum where someone stated that the maximum wheel/tire diameter could not exceed 27". Don't remember whether that applied to the fronts or rears or both. Worth a search. Try this post: POST #49.
Last edited by dedwards0323; Dec 1, 2022 at 10:31 AM.
Re: What did you do to your Crossfire today?
