Frothing cladding

[barrysharp]

I noticed today when washing the car that when I hose the cladding the water runoff residue is somewhat frothy as if the water contains some soap suds. The same isn't true when hosing down the painted body panels. The same effect can occur when you hose down a black top driveway surface.

Does the cladding contain some form of oils that the water spray encourages to mix with the water residue and thus makes a frothy mixture? If so, does this mean the cladding will lose some of its weather protective properties over time -- much like a black top driveway will do?

Have others noticed this ?

[Low Tide]

I noticed that too... and I assume that is why applying protective coating/ UV inhibitors will prevent most of the fading over time.  303 and Mother's are in your detailing kit right?  

You said yourself many times... plastics lose their structural integrity over time, I assumed it was oils/gases leeching out that ended up making it brittle and the root of fading color.  Then again, I know nothing about the structural design of whatever plastic the cladding is made of...

Last weekend on the way home from the GGB event, we stopped at REI for the Labor Day Sale and I parked next to a 02XC... silver/slate... the cladding looked real crap- blotchy fading, scratched, uneven color.  Didn't take care of it... and it showed.

[barrysharp]

Thanks Dave. http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Yes you are quite right about the plastic aging process and I will ensure that my XC70 doesn't warrant you or anyone else saying my car looks like "real crap- blotchy fading, scratched, uneven color". http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif My detailing kit will certainly include "303 and Mother's". http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Big]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Low Tide @ Aug. 27 2003,08:03)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Last weekend on the way home from the GGB event, we stopped at REI for the Labor Day Sale and I parked next to a 02XC... silver/slate... the cladding looked real crap- blotchy fading, scratched, uneven color. Didn&#39;t take care of it... and it showed.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
I always wash my car twice a year whether it needs it or not. With the dust, bugs &amp; winter sanding around here, keeping the car clean is beyond my sensibilities. Would rather be playing or, at my age, recovering from playing&#33; &nbsp;http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[coastal]

Twice a year Big? Now don&#39;t put too much effort in, we wouldn&#39;t want you to wear off the paint from washing too often&#33;

I&#39;ll leave it at that for what I assume to be a typing mistake. http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[ifnt420]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Big @ Aug. 27 2003,09:19)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I always wash my car twice a year[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Wow.. I&#39;m glad you went with the ash gold. http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[SpudRacer]

For those of us less educated on such things... what is 303 and mothers??

Spud

[barrysharp]

Spud:

http://www.mothers.com/
http://www.303products.com/main.php?infopage=home

[mrb]

Have mothers--do I need 303 as well and if so do I use both after washing or is each for a special need. &nbsp;You can tell I&#39;m a novice at car care---merv

[Low Tide]

Good question. 303 is a UV protectant. The mother&#39;s is suposed to have &quot;some&quot; in it, but the 303 can be useful other places as well.... like on the tires in really sun-intensive weather... or the seals around the door. Anything rubber will dry out and crack eventually. The 303 will prevent that. The 303 will work well on the vinyl dash (soft parts) and on the backs of the seats.

REI carries it in 8oz bottles as standard inventory in their PADDLE shop.

[Big]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (ifnt420 @ Aug. 27 2003,09:27)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Wow.. I&#39;m glad you went with the ash gold. http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif [/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
The dusty environment here was a consideration in color choice. Wash the car and it&#39;s dirty the next time out so the motivation to clean just isn&#39;t there. The ash gold works well although the black bumper covers show dirt readily.

We haven&#39;t had much luck with the interior colors, though. The taupe on our previous car got dirty easily and the graphite on this one shows dust, so I wind up cleaning the interior more than the exterior. Too bad there wasn&#39;t an inbetween color.

Speaking of cleaning products, how do the items in the Volvo care kits compare to standard brands?

&quot;Whosoever shall not fall by the sword or by famine, shall fall by pestilence so why bother shaving?&quot; -Woody Allen

[mrb]

Low Tide, thanks--will go to REI----merv