Auto Detail Colorado Springs - Questions About Our Auto Detailing Services

Frequently Asked Questions

What is detailing?
What is oxidation?
What is industrial fallout?
What is the difference between a paint sealant and wax?
Can my scratches and swirl marks be removed?
Why tunnel washes are harmful to your vehicle?
Shampoo rinsing- The scoop on brushless car washes.
Petroleum based products VS. Water based products.
Got Water Spots?

What is detailing?
Detailing is the systematic rejuvenation, reconditioning, and protection of the various surfaces of a vehicle.
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What is oxidation?
Oxidation is dirty wind and pollutants in the air that come to rest on your vehicle. Over time these elements bake onto the surfaces of your car due to the suns UV rays, creating dirty film that can break down the clear coat and then your paint surface. Oxidation creates an image that can be dull, chalky or cloudy either in one spot or over the entire vehicle. It is possible that due to the high elevation UV rays can penetrate harder and faster, thus causing your car to oxidize quicker without the proper protection.
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What is industrial fallout?
Industrial fallout is the natural breakdown of a vehicle due to climate, driving conditions, and overall wear and tear of the vehicle. This includes but is not limited to break-dust, which are iron particles lingering in the air and imbedding them into the clear coat of a vehicle and begin to rust. This in turn causes what is known as clear coat failure and pealing of the vehicles clear coat. Auto-Guard uses a system of automotive clay barring to remove industrial fallout in the process to bringing your vehicle back to a like new state.
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What is the difference between a paint sealant and wax?
There are Very Distinctive differences between the two. A paint sealant is designed to add long term protection to the painted surface of a vehicle. True cut (no filler) paint sealants are made of acrylics, polymers, and resins. Most waxes are made from the carnauba plant extract. Carnauba wax is a protective resin produced by the leaves of a South American palm tree, Copernicia prunifera, to protect against harsh rainforest heat, solar radiation, moisture, and humidity. It is known as the hardest of the waxes in the world and provides a deep natural shine. However, paint sealants are used to provide a long term protective barrier by bonding ironically with the surface of the vehicle, where as waxes only provide minimal protection and luster. Think of a sealant and a wax as peanut butter and jelly. If you put peanut butter on one slice of bread and jelly on another and put them both out in the sun, the jelly is going to liquefy much faster than the peanut butter. So, typically the protective layer of the wax may last from days to weeks depending on conditions, whereas those of the paint sealants can last up to 6 months. Therefore, the best products on the market for protecting your vehicle are "true-cut, no filler" paint sealants, which we carry in stock and ready for your painted surface whenever you are ready. Typical dealership pricing of this particular service is anywhere between $750.00 and $1,500, depending on make and model of vehicle. We offer the same product and process with personal service for a more affordable price.
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Can my scratches and swirl marks be removed?
Yes and No! Now a general rule of thumb is that if you can run your fingernail over the scratch of your car and the nail doesn't get caught in the scratch, then normally it can be toned down and transformed creating a like new appearance. Swirl marks, on the other hand, are normally created by inexperienced technicians using a high speed buffing process or improper waxing techniques. We have the professional capability of removing these unsightly blemishes through a paint safe process using a professional dual head orbital.
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Why tunnel washes are harmful to your vehicle?
Naturally car washes are designed to service a high volume of vehicles therefore they sacrifice quantity for quality. Due to this they have resorted to machines that can damage your vehicles exterior. The carwashes that use foam pads or mop style heads collect dirt and grime from the previous vehicle and transfer them to the next vehicle. Thus exposing your car to the dangers of micro scratches and abrasions.
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Shampoo rinsing- The scoop on brushless car washes.
So you think a brushless car wash is safe? In essence it is, however look at it this way. If you put shampoo in your hair, let it sit for 30 seconds, and rinse it out, what have you accomplished? Nothing except push the dirt around. It does nothing towards deep cleaning the surface, and provides no lasting protection. Likewise the brushless carwash can provide the same result.
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Petroleum based products VS. Water based products.
There is a BIG difference. First off the petroleum is made of just that petroleum. What does petroleum feel like? Greasy. As far as your interior goes it will give you that nice shiny dashboard that we all love to see but did you know that over time it can cause your dash to dry and crack. The chemicals in these products pull all of the oils out of the surface to which it is applied, thus causing the interior surface to dry out. Due to this the surface cracks. When the surface of your interior dries out, it becomes more vunerable to the sun's heat and UV rays which overtime cause the area to start shrinking and cracking. Our professional grade water based products actually dry completely after being wiped down causing no cracking or drying of the area but still leave the surface with a shiny, new-car look. Similar water based products are used in our engine bay package, protecting you and your vehicle from any possible fire hazard.
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Got Water Spots?
Water spots are caused due to the minerals within water droplets themselves. When this water comes into contact with your vehicle and the water evaporates it leave behind these hardened minerals, which get etched in to the clear coat of your vehicle, thus causing the small circular water stains that you sometimes see. In many cases the water spots can be removed through our compounding and polishing process.
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