[woodpecka]

I bought a CPO 7 months ago and the car came with a full detailing preparation.

I haven't do anything excepting washing the car each week and now I want to do a winter preparation.

What should I do? Please consider that during Montreal's winter, the car will never look clean because of the calcium and the road snow.

I have in mind to wash and wax the car only. Next spring, I will do a full detailing.

[tofu-]

strip whatever is on there, clay, and apply two coats of wax/sealant (two coats in case you miss spots the first time around). that's what i do

[woodpecka]

I'm not sure if I want do this before winter. Too much job for this bad season.

I prefer to do the minimum now and a full detailing next spring.

[SS e93]

is it really that much of a hassle for you to wash your car, and apply sealant? its the same process as applying wax.....you make it sound as if you have to do a full detailing before winter, and then a detail in the spring.

[TOGWT]

“Winter Vehicle Preparation”- An excerpt from The Art & Science of Detailing http://togwt1980.blogspot.com

[fisherbln]

Bare minimum you need to apply a durable sealant or wax. Examples include Collinite 845, Zaino (Z5, Z2, or ZCS), or Blackfire Wet Diamond. There are many others to choose from. I suggest two coats and agree with post #2 that it preferable to clay first (but not absolutely required).

[woodpecka]

Thanks for the link. I think you got the point. I want to do the bare minimum now and the full detailing next spring.

I understand the sealant is more important than the wax for winter?

BTW, how much time it takes to clay? (I have no experience in detailing)

[fisherbln]

Originally Posted by woodpecka

Thanks for the link. I think you got the point. I want to do the bare minimum now and the full detailing next spring.

I understand the sealant is more important than the wax for winter?

BTW, how much time it takes to clay? (I have no experience in detailing)

If the car has never been clayed, I'd say 2 hours or so. Not absolutely necessary if you aren't going to polish the car, but it will make the sealant stick better and make less dirt stick to the car.
You need a durable wax/sealant. The only wax I'd recommend is Collinite 845. Sealant generally lasts the longest when comparing wax and sealant. My top sealants are Zaino, Blackfire Wet Diamond, and Klasse Twins (AIO + SG). Blackfire is probably the easiest of them to apply.

[brocken]

If you do a good job now and maintain it your work won't be so tough in the Spring.

Minimum of wash and then a sealant should get you through the Winter ok.

[MuttGrunt]

Give her a good four layers of sealant (applied over a week or two) and then a final layer of carnauba wax a week later