How Often Do You Wash Your 240?

[Caveit77777]

I'm currently taking a break from claying my car for the first time because its hot as hell and sweat keeps falling on my car. What a difference it makes too. Was just wondering though, how often do you guys wash your 240 and what is involved when you do everytime? ie. wax, just soap, detail, etc....

Personally I'd love to tell you I wash mine 1-2 times a week but its more like one time every 2 weeks You can definitely see it in my paint too

[dgms240]

When I had my black S14 it was about once every week or two. Usually wash, wax, and detail. The paint is a little rough and needs to be redone on the red S13 I have now, so I let it slide.

[mudvayne9790]

Whats showing up on ur paint? water marks? I wash my car once every 2 months or so, but thats because its sanded down. lol

[Caveit77777]

Whats showing up on ur paint? water marks? I wash my car once every 2 months or so, but thats because its sanded down. lol

I've always had water spots with very thin white outlines. The clay is getting rid of them but my paint is so fubar that there's water spots either in the clear or the paint itself. It looks sooooo much better though. Plus most of my friends have these huge old trees over their driveway that will literally cover your car in crap overnight...

[S14toRPS13]

Once every two to three weeks. I'll wax and vacuum it every few months or so.

[biggie]

Once every few months I guess.

Both need paint and body work and get driven once a week at most.

[Morph]

Like the OP i found the wonders of clay bar....WOW. Since i did that a month ago i've been washing and claying once a week.

[mudvayne9790]

Yikes I hope your not actually doing it that often. And I hope your waxing it after every time you clay bar. It takes a really small layer of wax and or clear coat. Always gotta protect your car with a good layer of wax.

[Morph]

I work at an oil refinery so i get a nice coating of cooling tower water mist all over the car, not to mention dust all over the thing by the end of the week.

My usual procedures is wash, dry, wax, dry, then claybar, + my paint is 20 years old, im not worried about effing it up more.

[mudvayne9790]

ok well that wax your putting on is being taken off when your clay baring it.
Your process should be like this wash, dry, clay bar, wax
just a suggestion though

[OutToWinPAHC]

weekly when its being used

[asoomal]

I work at an oil refinery so i get a nice coating of cooling tower water mist all over the car, not to mention dust all over the thing by the end of the week.

My usual procedures is wash, dry, wax, dry, then claybar, + my paint is 20 years old, im not worried about effing it up more.

Your doing it wrong.

You should clay bar it once every 6-8 months.

I usually wash it, dry it, clay it, then either use cleaner wax or a light buffing compound to remove oxidation and light swirls, then hand apply 2 coats of Meguair's Show Car Glaze, and then NXT 2.0 Wax, then sealer, and then some Gold Class wax.

After that, wash it again with some wax based car wash.

Repeat the wax based car wash and another coat of wax once a week. Maybe add another layer of glaze.

[Caveit77777]

I work at an oil refinery so i get a nice coating of cooling tower water mist all over the car, not to mention dust all over the thing by the end of the week.

My usual procedures is wash, dry, wax, dry, then claybar, + my paint is 20 years old, im not worried about effing it up more.

Your doing it wrong.

You should clay bar it once every 6-8 months.

I usually wash it, dry it, clay it, then either use cleaner wax or a light buffing compound to remove oxidation and light swirls, then hand apply 2 coats of Meguair's Show Car Glaze, and then NXT 2.0 Wax, then sealer, and then some Gold Class wax.

After that, wash it again with some wax based car wash.

Repeat the wax based car wash and another coat of wax once a week. Maybe add another layer of glaze.

Do you have pictures of your car? Sounds like it'd be clean as hell. You're making me feel bad for only doing one layer of wax after claying

[240sxcl50]

2 times. Wash and wax on monday wash and vac on friday for the weekends. I cant stand the inside being dirty .

[Idahos13]

one day I hand washed it twice in a row, then after I dried it I hand waxed. and cleaned my interior. But I try to wash it once a week at least, clean my engine bay from dust and vacum and armorall the interior.

[asoomal]

Do you have pictures of your car? Sounds like it'd be clean as hell. You're making me feel bad for only doing one layer of wax after claying

I do, haven't done it in a while actually, but here are some older pictures

White never looks good

Also, I've never used a medium or hard cutting compound on it, so there still are swirls.





Bumper needs some hard compound, lots of oxidation.







Close up

[h2v7]

i have not once washed my coupe. paint looks BAD so i figure no use.

my hatch tho had some fresh paint so like once every other week

[Mercury_Hg]

Does rain count?

If not, never. It's oxidized so badly it's not worth it.

[bladetech8]

Wow this is awesome! I thought I was the only one being OCD about washing/waxing their car weekly/bi-weekly not to mention interior detailing constantly.. lol this thread makes me feel better about my cleaning antics..

[breadbox]

I have washed it(daily) once this year. I'm really bad about it. also have a F'd up spigot out front doesnt help either.

Its has gotten plenty of heavy rains, so it gets rinsed every so often.

My project hatch looks pretty clean, but its no where near trees. so it just gets beat on by the sun.

[LoserCard]

Man you guys make me feel bad about washing my car 3-4 times a year... But in all honesty, if body work didn't need to be done to my car I would go back to washing it 1-2 times a month.

[terry_240sx]

i wash mines bi-weekly when i drive it lol.
i detail it, but don't wax it because i need to paint it again.... (i just painted it a month ago)

[Gabes13]

I haven't washed mine in almost 2 years. It needs some serious love.

[RustspecS13]

Last time I washed it was only to paint it. She's a track rat now so she gets driven like every other week.

Once I put the VQ30 in, and pressure wash/clean/wrench on every thing it'll get some more love. But mainly hard rough banging. Then washing when ever. Hopefully soon a real paint job, then it'll actually get some attention.

The Z, I polished her with a buffer and 3m polish and that brought back A LOT of shine. If your paint is oxidized, I highly recommend it. I was wanting to do a paint job before, but not I don't feel the need as much. I usually wash it every 7-10 days or after a drift/drag/autox event and I'll start waxing it 1-2 times a month.

~Alex

[OM3GA]

Do you have pictures of your car? Sounds like it'd be clean as hell. You're making me feel bad for only doing one layer of wax after claying

I do, haven't done it in a while actually, but here are some older pictures

White never looks good

Also, I've never used a medium or hard cutting compound on it, so there still are swirls.



Bumper needs some hard compound, lots of oxidation.

I have a white hatch and the paint definitely does not look that good. I have never used a clay bar on it though. I am definitely going to try that once it is up and running again. I love waxxing and polishing, i used to use rotating orbital buffers on it, now i keep hearing people say they are bad for your paint. I don't know how much i believe that though.

[Lobo240sx]

Washed it for the 1st time in like 7 years lol 2 months ago. Paint is oxidizing and coating is peeling off. Not worth the time until paint. Inside is clean though. I do not let people smoke in my car or I'll use my NOS ejection seat.

[Flipnirish]

Here is how you properly wash your car! Follow this

http://www.autogeek.net/detailingtips.html