ELYONMOBILE AUTO DETAILING
FAQ - Frequent Asked Questions
San Francisco Bay Area, California
(800)210-0685
(510)470-4941
(510)470-4941
Please review typical Auto Detailing FAQs we receive from our clients:
Does my new car require additional protection?
Most people assume that a new car does not require any additional protection after beingpurchased from a dealer - this is absolutely NOT true. Many cars sit on the lot, outside,for quite some time before being sold. Many are also shipped and/or driven from one dealership to another.
On most occasions, new cars do not receive any protection in the dealer or after leavingthe factory. It is extremely important that you have your vehicle evaluated by aprofessional detail specialist. Elyon Mobile Detail can do a walk around of the car with youand recommend a vehicle maintenance program, as well as spot any defects and/orimperfections you may want to have fixed.
What is clay bar, and what does clay bar treatment do?
The clay removal process is one of the most important steps when it comes to cleaning and conditioning a vehicle’s exterior.
Over time, your car collects sediment buildup from the road, trees, and industrial falloutfrom airplanes and large trucks. It may also collect over-spray, which is a light dusting ofpaint particles found in some surrounding areas. This causes oxidation of the paint andmakes the paint look and feel faded.
It is very simple to tell if your vehicle needs a clay removal. After your vehicle has beenwashed, run your hand gently over the surface. If it feels sticky and/or rough, likesandpaper, then it is need of a clay bar.
The process is exactly as it sounds. While your vehicle is wet, we use an actual bar ofclay, and gently rub the surface of your vehicle. This lifts up and removes the oxidationfrom the paint without scratching or harming the surface. This will provide a clean, smoothsurface for which we can buff and polish the paint. It also works on your windows andplastics.
What is Buffing and Polishing, and what does it do?em>
Buffing your car with a high speed buffing machine is a very delicate and crucial process.It requires a great amount of expertise, a soft touch, and a good eye. There are severaldifferent combinations of pads, polishes, and compounds with which to buff. The types of products we use depend on the color, condition, and type of paint.
Buffing and Polishing is a two stage process that removes scratches, restores the lusterof the color, and provides a deep glossy finish. This is highly recommended if you arelooking to bring the shine back on your vehicle.
Why do I need to Wax my car regularly?
Waxing your vehicle is all about maintaining a solid barrier between your car and theelements. A good way to think about wax is to relate it to sunblock lotion. Just like putting on sunscreen in the sun, or after a shower, it protects from drying, burning and cracking.
Wax keeps your paint protected from the sun and rain, and keeps it from drying out. Justlike changing your oil every three to five thousand miles, you should wax your car everytwo to three months.
How do water spots get removed?
Often times, very fresh water spots when they are about a day or two old, can beremoved by washing or claying the vehicle. In most cases however hard water spots willneed to be treated by a polishing or buffing method in order to remove permanently.
How do scratches get removed?
A simple wash, or even a clay bar treatment will NOT remove scratches from a vehicle. Inmost cases you will need to have your car professionally polish to remove a bigpercentage of the not so deep scratches. Elyon Mobile Detail has a three stage, Buff,Polish, and Wax that will take care of most of the scratch issues on your vehicle.
How do I keep my wheels clean, and why is this important?
Rims and tires are the first thing that catches your eye on a car. It is the most expensivecosmetic accessory on any vehicle. Protecting and maintaining them is very important in keeping any car looking great.
The toughest part about keeping your rims looking good is that they are right next to yourbrakes. This creates two problems, brake dust and heat. Brake dust is extremelycorrosive, especially when wet. Combined with the heat created by braking, it can dull,fade and ruin most wheels very quickly.
Again, with everything, it comes down to maintenance. Do not let brake dust build up onthe rims. Always have them cleaned regularly, and polished at least twice a year.Chrome, aluminum, and painted rims are more delicate and will require being polishedquarterly.
What to do with my leather seats?
Leather is very easy to clean and looks fantastic, but is delicate and will requireconditioning on a regular basis. It does show its natural wear, but the color will fade lessrapidly than a cloth interior, and less likely to tear. We advise that you have your leatherseats cleaned and condition regularly, to prevent the leather from losing its color and fromcracking due to sun exposure. Elyon Mobile Detail recommends to have it professionallytreated at least twice year.
Does the color of my car matter when it comes to maintenance?
Paint color choice is more important than most people realize. Getting your favorite colormay be nice to look at when your car is clean, but may be very difficult to keep it that way. Paint choice is pretty simple. The darker the color, the more maintenance it requires.
White, silver, gold, pearl, etc. are easy colors to keep clean the longest. Lighter colors like these will appear less dirty and hide scratches easier.
Blacks, reds, greens, blues, and other darker more vibrant colors will prove more difficult.They often require more frequent detailing and waxing. Imperfections and scratches inthese colors of paint will reflect off the surface and be more noticeable.