Winter is on its way!

In this month’s Pulse I would like to talk about LSP. (Last Step Protection).

The job of an LSP is to stop road grime, debris and dirt sticking to the paint leaving you with less of a job to clean when needed. A good layer of LSP is also going to keep your car cleaner for longer as the beads from the water carry the dirt away from the surface and reduce the level of buildup on the paint surface. There is also some UV protection in most of them which in turn will reduce the level of oxidation to the paint that builds up over time on an unprotected surface.

There are many options of LSP whether it’s wax, paint sealant, quick detailer or the pinnacle ceramic coating and PPF (Paint Protection Film).

We are going to concentrate on the first few as I’m sure you are all sick and tired of the ceramic coating talk within the car care industry.

I want to offer something that the general car enthusiast can tackle at home in the garage or on the driveway and get great results.

First up is a Quick Detailer and the easiest of the LSP to apply.

A Quick Detailer is simple to use and will bring some great results for looks and water behavior (beading). Simply read the bottle and follow the instructions but it is usually just spray on, wipe and buff off leaving the goodness behind on the paint.

It can also be used on all surfaces including paint, plastics and glass, but this does not include the windscreen.

You can also use it on wheels to keep them looking fresh, just spray on to the Microfiber cloth first not directly on to the wheels. You may leave a fine mist over the brake discs; this is not going to hurt the discs, but it may give you a bit of a fright when you’re going down the road and find the first application of the brake pedal will not be very effective.

Next up is Wax .

So Wax is a little more effort to work with, but it will leave you with a better layer of protection going forward and, in most cases, a far better finish.

Waxes will range massively in the longevity of protection, a show wax will last around a month if you’re lucky, but the finish you will achieve can be something to be proud of. Expect super levels of gloss.

A good hard wax could give you up to 12 months of protection, but you’re not going to achieve the same levels of gloss so there is a compromise unfortunately.

Again, follow the instructions on the certain wax you go for, but it is best applied very thin and out of the sunlight, on a cool car. Then buffed to a high shine.

Work on a panel at a time so you can keep up with where you have been and follow the process throughout the vehicle. It is always a good idea to double up on layers giving you a sturdier layer of protection.

The final LSP is a Paint Sealant.

A Paint Sealant is like Wax in the way you use it but can usually offer a much hardier layer of protection.

Again, follow the instructions on the bottle and enjoy the fruits of your labour.

Anyone of these LSP’s can be bought online and you can get some cracking results from home so there is no need to spend money on detailing etc. If you enjoy the Sunday morning car washing session then this is the perfect opportunity to crack open a new bottle of goodness. Grab your LSP of choice and get it on there.

The final topic I would like to talk about is Prep.

No LSP is going to last on a contaminated car surface. Start with the contact wash as

normal and get the paint clean (always get those wheels done first).

The next couple of steps are the most important.

Fallout Remover. This is going to break down the bond between metal particles that have stuck themselves to the paint coming from things such as brake particles or industrial fallout from the atmosphere, especially if you’re living near a railway line. You will see the process working on the paint, spray on and watch for the bleeding. Rinse and move on to the next step.

Tar Removal. Spray on your chosen tar and glue remover and watch it melt away the tar on the paint. Get yourself a microfiber cloth and spray with the product, wipe over the paint to remove any stubborn spots and then you’re done.

I like to give the car a final snow foam to remove any remaining product left behind then dry the car and you are good to go with your chosen LSP.

I hope you’ve found this useful?

If anyone is not quite sure on some points, then please don’t hesitate to reach out. As a club member I’m more than happy to have a chat over the phone or you can even pop by the unit with the car for a chat and a Cuppa, I can give you some pointers going forward.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Mike

Doyen Voss LTD

01752 914429