Detailing my F150

[Dave Lehnert]

I own a 1997 Ford F150. The paint and body are in excellent shape. As you may expect I do have what I would call scuff marks on the paint and 12 years worth of small scratches.
What product have you had luck using? Something simple and off the auto parts store shelves.
I do own a Porter Cable buffer/sander I noticed all the car detailing retailers sell. (Lowe's clearance item $40)

I am good at waxing my truck.

[Steve Rozmiarek]

Dave, its a pickup. You're not even supposed to wash those things!

[Matt Meiser]

If these scuffs and scratches are any deeper than light scuffs in the clearcoat there's isn't a magic fix. In the past I've used Meguier's products. Start with their cleaner, then glaze, then wax.

[Jim Rimmer]

I've used rubbing compund off the shelf at Auto Zone (don't remember the brand and I'm not at home right now) to remove small scratches and such. Be careful you don't rub too hard or too long; you could go deeper than you want.

[Dave Lehnert]

I've used rubbing compund off the shelf at Auto Zone (don't remember the brand and I'm not at home right now) to remove small scratches and such. Be careful you don't rub too hard or too long; you could go deeper than you want.

My first car in the late 80's was an escort. I used a rubbing compound and every time I washed my car after that I would get blue paint on the rag. Kinda afraid to use that now.

The paint is in great shape for a truck 12 years old. In fact I often get asked "Did you get a new truck?" Just like something easy to shine it up.

[Cary Falk]

I am a big fan of Meguire's also. I have a mix of off the shelf and mail order stuff. If you are wanting to do off the shelf I wod do the following(all Meguire's):
Clay Bar(I have)
Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner(I have a different brand)
SwirlX( I have a different brand)
NXT Tech Wax(I have)


To make it easier/quicker you could omit the paint cleaner. When I am into it I do a extra step known on the forums as the Klasse twins at the paint cleaner step. I have a black truck and it is due for a once over again.

[Matt Meiser]

Rubbing compound should cause the rag to get some paint color on it for cars that aren't clear-coated. Its an abrasive. Any "cleaner" product should, though the fine cut cleaner is much less so than rubbing compound and cleaner waxes would be even less so.

Also late 80's is when all US-made cars (regardless of brand) had problems with blue paint in particular due to changes in paint formulation required by environmental laws. You used to see them missing all the paint off huge areas. I'd imagine that exaggerated the what you were seeing.

[Dave Lehnert]

Rubbing compound should cause the rag to get some paint color on it for cars that aren't clear-coated. Its an abrasive. Any "cleaner" product should, though the fine cut cleaner is much less so than rubbing compound and cleaner waxes would be even less so.

Also late 80's is when all US-made cars (regardless of brand) had problems with blue paint in particular due to changes in paint formulation required by environmental laws. You used to see them missing all the paint off huge areas. I'd imagine that exaggerated the what you were seeing.

Problem was I got paint on the rag 2 years after I did the compound. :eek:

Thanks for the tips.

[Matt Meiser]

I think that was the paint and didn't have anything to do with the compound.

[Rory Talkington]

Simple Green works well on plastics and other composits I.e. cleaning wax out of nooks and crannies etc.

[curtis rosche]

repaint it!:D