More and more detailing information is available

by Ron Ketcham
American Clean Car, August, 1999

The detailing industry is a billion-dollar industry with little or no engineering input from the automotive manufactures. For years, detailers have gathered what information they could from a variety of sources, such as suppliers during sales visits. Some information was gathered over a cup of coffee.

Unfortunately, most, if not all, of the information has been totally incorrect of outdated, In some cases, the information led to the destruction of vehicles.

Chemicals have been selected because of how fast they appeared to work. Some detailers bought chemicals because of the smell!

Some detailers have no idea of how the chemical or the process being used will affect the vehicle on a long-term basis. What about clearcoat powdering? Will the seats rot or come apart? Will the color change on wheels? Will tires turn brown? The questions go on and on. Some detailers only know that a process is quick and that the supplier said the chemicals were good.

FUTURE DETAILING

Detailing is about to change. The International Car Wash Association is involved in dialogue with the auto manufacturers and will be sharing information on its website.

The Ford Motor Company is building a huge website that will feature pre-delivery and detailing technical information as well as a testing and certification program for dealership personnel. 

Our website (Automotive International) is doing the same thing. Our site will include not only the Big Three automakers'technical information, but information from many of the import manufacturers.

Detailers will be able to access technical information and processes that have been approved by engineers. This will provide the professional detailers with opportunities to increase business. They can increase business because they will be able to show customers why they should do the job as opposed to the uninformed, untrained detailers down the street.

What is this new information going to cover? Here's a preview of some of the detailing "facts" that you will discover in the future:

• Petroleum/silicone dressings are not approved and are not to be used anywhere on a vehicle, inside or outside. All of the Big Three automakers have issued technical bulletins on this subject. Detailers should only use a water-borne polydimethal siloxane dressing.
• Do not create heat when buffing any O.E.M. automotive paint applied since the late 1980s. The maximum temperature the paint surface may attain when buffing is 115° F.
• Do not remove more than .3 MIL (3/10 of a mil) of clearcoat when buffing.

Do not over soak carpets or seats when cleaning and do not use "hot" or high-caustic cleaners. These cleaners remove the flame retardant and create mold and mildew in the fabric and foam.