I HATE Davis Water
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Joined: Nov 2002
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From: San Francisco
CLk320
I HATE Davis Water
I've given my car at least 5 washes already and these white water marks still won't come off. I tried to wash my car in the shade, inside the garage, even at night and these marks keep on coming back. I've never had this problem with washing my car in San Francisco. I'm sure these white water marks are to the the awfully high calcium in the water here. The only way it seems to get rid of these marks is if I put my fingernail to it. Anyone recommend anything to get rid of the water marks? thanks
-Greg
-Greg
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Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Canton (North Metro Atlanta), Georgia
2003 E500
There are several ways. Perhaps, the soap you currently use has oils in it that momentarily "hides" the spots? Which are you using today?
There are soaps out there that help neutralize your water source which may help your situation. Some as inexpensive and effective as Meguiar's NXT Wash (great value), or favorites of mine such as Opteum's Wash, Adam's Polishes Wash, Menzerna's Wash (least value IMO (expensive)), or Poorboy's Super Soap and Suds.
You could hook up a water purifier to your hose line. A few companies out there offer such items. www.topoftheline.com and www.adamspolishes.com offer these.
To remove, I would suggest trying claying, and then using a paint cleaner. You ought to clay anyway, but if you find the paint cleaner not acheiving your desired results, try a mildly abrasive finishing polish. Remember, start with the least aggressive method.
My last suggestion would be to purchase what you can from our sponsor, www.detailedimage.com.
Good luck,
Nick Carberry
Former Owner of "The Details"
Atlanta, Georgia
There are soaps out there that help neutralize your water source which may help your situation. Some as inexpensive and effective as Meguiar's NXT Wash (great value), or favorites of mine such as Opteum's Wash, Adam's Polishes Wash, Menzerna's Wash (least value IMO (expensive)), or Poorboy's Super Soap and Suds.
You could hook up a water purifier to your hose line. A few companies out there offer such items. www.topoftheline.com and www.adamspolishes.com offer these.
To remove, I would suggest trying claying, and then using a paint cleaner. You ought to clay anyway, but if you find the paint cleaner not acheiving your desired results, try a mildly abrasive finishing polish. Remember, start with the least aggressive method.
My last suggestion would be to purchase what you can from our sponsor, www.detailedimage.com.
Good luck,
Nick Carberry
Former Owner of "The Details"
Atlanta, Georgia
Banned
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,164
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From: NY
You're right calcium deposits in water can account for what sounds like "watermarks" in your clear coat. Sometimes watermarks can etch deep into the clear coat while other times they can be easily removed. To get rid of these marks I would suggest doing as Nick stated and work from the least aggressive solution to as aggressive as needed. You can try and remove them with a clay bar first. This helps remove surface contamination. Then you can use a chemical polish that contains no abrasives. This possible solution tries to chemically separate the deposit from the clear coat. If the marks have etched into the clear coat you may need a cutting polish that will actually remove an ultra fine layer of clear coat. You can start off with a light cutting polish like the Poorboy's World SSR 1.0 or Menzerna Final Polish II. You can buff these products in by hand or with a buffer. If the marks are still there I would recommend a medium cutting polish like the Poorboy's World SSR 2.5 or the Menzerna Intensive Polish. Anytime you use a medium cutting polish it should be followed up by a lighter cutting polish to ensure there is no haze left in the clear coat. I highly recommend using the polishes with the Porter Cable 7424 to save you time and energy and most importantly improve the result. This safe and easy to use buffer helps break down the polishes and buff them in evenly for maximum results.
If you have any questions about the process I listed above please let me know. To help prevent watermarks from happening again I would highly recommend only working in the shade on cool paint. When washing rinse frequently so the water doesn't sit on the paint for an extended period of time. Also If you have a good layer of sealant down on the paint it helps prevent watermarks but is not a cure all. Let us know if you have any other questions.
Greg @ Detailed Image
If you have any questions about the process I listed above please let me know. To help prevent watermarks from happening again I would highly recommend only working in the shade on cool paint. When washing rinse frequently so the water doesn't sit on the paint for an extended period of time. Also If you have a good layer of sealant down on the paint it helps prevent watermarks but is not a cure all. Let us know if you have any other questions.
Greg @ Detailed Image
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From: Albany, NY
