gingeRS

is TFR bad for your car, they always use it at my local hand wash place and the car comes up a treat, much better than when i hand wash it myself

does it strip wax etc, cos when the weather clears up i'm gonna clay and wax and polish my car, and wont take it back there after if it undoes all my hard work

Matt Evans

It all very much depends on the strength its diluted to, and also its working/dwell time is very dependant on panel temperature.

Used sensibly, its a usefull strong detergent, which providing it aint too strong, or applied on a hot panel/wheel etc, it shouldnt cause any damage or strip away any decent wax.

When i had my own detailing business, i regularly had to rectify TFR damage caused by the local hand car wash, especially in the summer!

For regular use at home, i'd recommend a soak with some none caustic APC (all purpose cleaner), followed by a good soak with a snowfoam etc, will do a better job than just TFR. TFR will always be brilliant at tough areas such as wheel arches/chassis etc etc.

Viper_

It all depends on what they're using and at what strength.

Usually those places will be using quite a harsh mix which they do to make sure it's going to get the car 'looking' clean as the customer leaves - that's their only priority. The downside of that is that yes, it's more than likely stripping off the wax or any other protection on the car.

Best off getting some and doing it yourself, then it can mixed at the correct strength to preserve your wax or sealant. Hand pump dispensors are great for applying TFRs.

As above, a good snow foam used regularly is a better bet than to keep using TFR (we must have been typing our replies at the same time lol!)

Matt Evans

Great minds think alike and all that!

Seriously though i drive past these hand car was places and i see them spraying the TFR all over very hot wheels, steam billowing off them, and i cringe. No wonder peoples alloys look knackered in a short space of time. It kills laquer and paintwork when applied to hot surfaces.

Viper_

That's so true - I drive past 3 of these places just on the short trip into my local town centre and I see the same thing. Does make me cringe everytime, especially when there's a really nice motor in there. I can't believe some of the expensive machinery people take in there!! Entirely their choice, of course, and thankfully I've yet to see any nice Fords in the queue.

gingeRS

cheers for the info guys....just moved back into my place (rented it out while mate was travelling) and i now have my drive back, so can start cleaning my car properly.

what sort of dilution should i mix TFR to for a first clean, gonna get one of those hand pump things from B&Q to apply it.

Matt Evans

Most of the TFR's come with dilution instructions, as a rule i use a 25 litre drum to mix mine in, for regular use i mix mine 1:5, ie 5 litres of neat TFR then top it up with 20 litres of water and decant from that into a pump dispenser. You'll soon see if its too strong! The knack is dont let any of it dry on the paint/rubbers etc etc (obvious i know!) Always make sure the car is cold to the touch and you should be ok.

robotrhys

I personally use Autoglym shampoo conditioner car wash (green label) and carplan triple wax to clean my mint red '89 XR2. I add 1/3rd cap of wax and 2 caps of shampoo and mix with kettle of boiling water then top up bucket with warm water (not too hot mind).. cleans the paintwork and glass brilliantly! The thin layer of wax easily lasts till the next wash/around a week and the autoglym wash removes all traffic film and road/brake dust..

I occasionally super resin polish, the wash doesn't remove polish and wax.

Highly recommended.

Dan16v

iTrader: (1)

I've always used TFR on wheel arches and sills, bottom of bumpers and around the wheels but i very rarely use it on body panels if I can help it, You'll soon know if youve mixed too much, if it dries on a hot panel you will quite literally see heat vapours coming off that look like faint wisps of smoke/steam, thats the best way i can describe it anyway

Its a good product to use, but needs to be very diluted.