Sponsored
I have a 2024 Mustang Dark Horse after a wash my Vinyl stripes were hard water spotted on one side. Has anyone experienced that issue?
DarkHorsePremium
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2026
- Threads
- 6
- Messages
- 234
- Reaction score
- 272
- Location
- CA, Bay Area
- Vehicle(s)
- 2026 Dark Horse Premium, Blue Ember with Appearance Package, 10 spd AT
First wash fo for me... washed the car last night at 1830. Sun was setting. No water spots if you wipe things down quickly. If you live somewhere that has hard water it's tough. You don't want to wash a hot car either.
I also recommend investing in a good UV, vinyl, wrap, etc protectant. Something like 303. Wash the hood, dry it. Then treat the hood emblems carefully with the vinyl, wrap protectant. Then go back and do the paint around the emblems with a graphene or hydrophobic type protectant. The next time water will just bead up and wipe away. Its time consuming but if you stay on top of it its easier on subsequent washes.
Last night result
I also recommend investing in a good UV, vinyl, wrap, etc protectant. Something like 303. Wash the hood, dry it. Then treat the hood emblems carefully with the vinyl, wrap protectant. Then go back and do the paint around the emblems with a graphene or hydrophobic type protectant. The next time water will just bead up and wipe away. Its time consuming but if you stay on top of it its easier on subsequent washes.
Last night result
Last edited:
Skye
Well-Known Member
I've enclosed a general search of several 6G threads on the topic.
If it's wash day, I do the following:
- I wash early in the morning, when it's coolest
- After driving and before washing, I put the car in the garage and pop the hood. I let the engine, brakes and exhaust cool for about 30 minutes
- Throughout the wash, I occasionally spritz the car, to keep anything from drying out
- When washing, I do the hood and grill last; they'll be at closest to air temp then
- When drying, I do the hood and glass first
https://www.google.com/search?q=mus...HeB0EioQrQIoAnoECBsQAw&biw=1465&bih=742&dpr=2
If it's wash day, I do the following:
- I wash early in the morning, when it's coolest
- After driving and before washing, I put the car in the garage and pop the hood. I let the engine, brakes and exhaust cool for about 30 minutes
- Throughout the wash, I occasionally spritz the car, to keep anything from drying out
- When washing, I do the hood and grill last; they'll be at closest to air temp then
- When drying, I do the hood and glass first
https://www.google.com/search?q=mus...HeB0EioQrQIoAnoECBsQAw&biw=1465&bih=742&dpr=2
Junkyard Dog
Well-Known Member
Yes, this happens to me, too. Drying it off quickly helps, but I can never get the stripes or the paint looking like @DarkHorsePremium's photo, even though we have the same color of car.
Paul's stable
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- May 4, 2024
- Threads
- 0
- Messages
- 983
- Reaction score
- 946
- Location
- Maple Ridge BC Canada
- Vehicle(s)
- 2024 Dark Horse 2006 GT with Temec 6 speed 4.11
If you go to Amazon and order a filter system for your hose it will take out the minerals in the water so when you wash and rinse your car you will get no spots.
Junkyard Dog
Well-Known Member
A filter system?
Paul's stable
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- May 4, 2024
- Threads
- 0
- Messages
- 983
- Reaction score
- 946
- Location
- Maple Ridge BC Canada
- Vehicle(s)
- 2024 Dark Horse 2006 GT with Temec 6 speed 4.11
Yes exactly back in the 80's they made a spray nozzle that had small filters in the handle and it kept the minerals out that cause water spots.
dusman59
Well-Known Member
If you want zero water spots without drying use osmosis water that has less than TDS of 3. Filter systems are expensive and need media replaced that start to degrade after a few uses. I pay $2.50 for five gallons which takes three gallons for a final rinse.
GrabberB
Well-Known Member
DI filter systems for spotless vehicle rinse are available. Due diligence research prior to purchase is a must. The cheap ones you see are just that, cheap. A few things to keep in mind......
1. Avoid DI spotless systems that require prefilled resin "refills". The system may be cheaper up front..... The unserviceable resin refill cartridges are way overpriced (money grab).
2. Go with a system that has the largest possible (home use) refillable resin canister filters.
3. Spotless Rinse DI systems require maintenance often. Obviously, how often depends on usage.
4. Bypass the DI system filters when pre-wetting, pre-rinsing, and first rinse after washing. Turn the bypass off and final rinse quickly with a good fan spray.
5. Try to find color changing resin. Doing so is very helpful and will let you know when the resin is exhausted.
6. Ever notice how light the spotless rinse is at a carwash? It's light and uses very little water. Spotless rinse is one of the most expensive consumable items for car wash owners. Every notice the spot free rinse at a car wash performing poorly? Cheap owners not maintaining due to cost.
7. Buy a TDS test kit and check your water. Example - Owner A has 100 ppm TDS in his water. Owner B has 300 ppm TDS. Owner B will be buying 3 times the amount of resin as owner A.
8. These systems work but come with a cost that never goes away.
9. Obviously commercial car washes have an enormously higher demand and require much larger systems. For example commercial units range from $10,000 - $50,000.00....... plus never ending maintenance and consumables.
Edit Add - When searching take reviews with a "grain of salt". Most reviews are done shortly after purchase due to relentless requests from manufactures and or distributors. There is an underlying reason to push for quick reviews. Get the review early before any potential QC issues arise.
1. Avoid DI spotless systems that require prefilled resin "refills". The system may be cheaper up front..... The unserviceable resin refill cartridges are way overpriced (money grab).
2. Go with a system that has the largest possible (home use) refillable resin canister filters.
3. Spotless Rinse DI systems require maintenance often. Obviously, how often depends on usage.
4. Bypass the DI system filters when pre-wetting, pre-rinsing, and first rinse after washing. Turn the bypass off and final rinse quickly with a good fan spray.
5. Try to find color changing resin. Doing so is very helpful and will let you know when the resin is exhausted.
6. Ever notice how light the spotless rinse is at a carwash? It's light and uses very little water. Spotless rinse is one of the most expensive consumable items for car wash owners. Every notice the spot free rinse at a car wash performing poorly? Cheap owners not maintaining due to cost.
7. Buy a TDS test kit and check your water. Example - Owner A has 100 ppm TDS in his water. Owner B has 300 ppm TDS. Owner B will be buying 3 times the amount of resin as owner A.
8. These systems work but come with a cost that never goes away.
9. Obviously commercial car washes have an enormously higher demand and require much larger systems. For example commercial units range from $10,000 - $50,000.00....... plus never ending maintenance and consumables.
Edit Add - When searching take reviews with a "grain of salt". Most reviews are done shortly after purchase due to relentless requests from manufactures and or distributors. There is an underlying reason to push for quick reviews. Get the review early before any potential QC issues arise.
Last edited:
Alan Applegate
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Sep 25, 2024
- Threads
- 37
- Messages
- 1,014
- Reaction score
- 967
- Location
- Roswell, NM
- Vehicle(s)
- 2024 Mustang Eco-Boost Premium
One more reason I don't like stripes.
DarkHorsePremium
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2026
- Threads
- 6
- Messages
- 234
- Reaction score
- 272
- Location
- CA, Bay Area
- Vehicle(s)
- 2026 Dark Horse Premium, Blue Ember with Appearance Package, 10 spd AT
The water softener suggestion is a good one. Some municipalities and areas have water with high mineral content. Much of the time it's associated with people that have wells, but some cities have hard water also. Our water is remarkably soft and tasteless. My inlaws are 20 miles away and my wife's family grew up cooking with and drinking bottled water.
Get the 303 protectant (non marine version) or the Chemical Guys spray that @AZ_Ryan recommends. Both have UV protection. I use a clean towel and wipe it on evenly in one direction. At first the 303 will look wet, but it mostly evaporates. It's water-based and completely safe for your decals. Then I use a t-shirt and trace around the edges to get it off the paint. After 10 or 15 minutes you can just wipe it clean. Makes your black decals dark and rich looking. The pic I took above was after wash but before decal treatment. A few good suggestions here to attack this. Hope it helps.
Last edited:
BimmerDriver
Well-Known Member
I have one of those DI systems. It works, but it's kind of a PITA. And as noted, the replacement media is expensive.
I wonder though, since the OP has some severe spotting already, if it's too late? It's not like he can polish it out.
I wonder though, since the OP has some severe spotting already, if it's too late? It's not like he can polish it out.
Junkyard Dog
Well-Known Member
My car is yellow right now.
Pollen.
Pollen.
Junkyard Dog
Well-Known Member
If you want zero water spots without drying use osmosis water that has less than TDS of 3. Filter systems are expensive and need media replaced that start to degrade after a few uses. I pay $2.50 for five gallons which takes three gallons for a final rinse.
$2.50 for 5 gallons?
Where?
Osmosis water 5 gallons returns $9 everywhere around here.
Sponsored
