deionized water rinse?
- Thread starter Starry
- Start date
Oh yes...
As recently posted in the ASN thread "My mind is made up.....No more wax......" #27:
I NEVER wax. Used to, and I do have the time (way into retirement), but no more.
For 5-years now, maybe more, I wash each car (RS3, TT, and A1) with 1-bucket of clean tap water (sad, I know) and a dash of Simonize wash and wax. I then quickly rinse with DI water - tap water running first through an Aqua Gleam '30' ppm filter and then an Aqua Gleam '0' ppm filter.
Summer and winter the same. No need to dry-off, either. And the same filters for 5-years now...
And when possible, and regularly, a fast/quick wipe over with Poor Boys Spray and Gloss Quick Detailer or Poor Boys Quick Detailer QD+, whichever comes to hand first; and that's it, alloy wheels an' all.
The Poor Boys sure makes the DI water run off faster...
Oh, and no polishing scratches or swirls...
I'm hoping to start doing this soon. Options I know of:
- Aquagleam (as above)
- Raceglaze http://www.raceglaze.co.uk/race-glaze/400-litre-0ppm-car-washing-filter/
- DI Resin Vessel (ebay, daqua, etc)
- Pure Final Rinse https://purefinalrinse.co.uk/
- Aquagleam (as above)
- Raceglaze http://www.raceglaze.co.uk/race-glaze/400-litre-0ppm-car-washing-filter/
- DI Resin Vessel (ebay, daqua, etc)
- Pure Final Rinse https://purefinalrinse.co.uk/
I cannot fault the Aqua Gleam...
Note #1: if you go Aqua Gleam make sure - if you want to wall mount - to get the filter-brackets.
Note #2: I also use a dedicated hose (reel) - garage to driveway - just to ensure the 'hose' remains full of de-ionised - rather than tap - water.
I think ill give it a go, do you just buy bags to refile it after it stops working?
Do you guys use a water tester to monitor hardness?
How many wash's would you get from a 7 litre roughly?
45bvtc, i see you are using 00-ppm and 30-ppm, whats the reason for this, is it because your water is really hard?
Tia..
Do you guys use a water tester to monitor hardness?
How many wash's would you get from a 7 litre roughly?
45bvtc, i see you are using 00-ppm and 30-ppm, whats the reason for this, is it because your water is really hard?
Tia..
Our Staffordshire-water is medium to hard. I had a '0' ppm filter for 'bonsai' purposes but as that was low use so I thought I'd just couple the two together - '30' ppm first and then through the '0' ppm - and be done with. For sure the '30' ppm filter does most of the work. That said, I've been using the arrangement for 5-years and no worries.
Oh, and the filter is sealed so just wait for the resin to change colour and fit a new filter. OK, it would not be a problem to 'split' the filter and change the resin but I just don't see the need, easier to swap a filter and be done with.
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5 years is a long, long time. Thats good to hear. Do you monitor the water with a meter?
No, I monitor the car paintwork and glass checking for any deposits left.
It's amazing how little DI water I actually use washing a car, the DI water is used to 'rinse' off the wash bucket water.
Like I say, just monitor the colour of the resin.
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Currently using the AquaGleam at the minute, but the race glaze will be my next purchase when the AquaGleam decides enough is enough. Really is a great purchase, and helps anyone’s OCD.
@jassyo06 - & strip your LSP !
'Warnings :
Mild acid - do not use in vehicle interiors or on acid-sensitive surfaces. Do not use on hot surfaces. Before using, check suitability and compatibility'
https://carpro.uk.com/products/koch-chemie-fse-finish-spray-exterior-quick-detailer-1000ml
I was just reading the same thing....@jassyo06 - & strip your LSP !
'Warnings :
Mild acid - do not use in vehicle interiors or on acid-sensitive surfaces. Do not use on hot surfaces. Before using, check suitability and compatibility'
https://carpro.uk.com/products/koch-chemie-fse-finish-spray-exterior-quick-detailer-1000ml
Is anyone using a rainwater harvesting solution?
I have a rainwater collection system connected to the main house gutters and collected into two linked 25 gallon slimline water butts with a Hozelock water pump that feeds a dedicated retractable mini hose reel. With our levels of rainfall I’ve never ran out of water, and it’s been a couple of years now. Pretty sure the neighbours think I’m mad though.
I live in a hard water area, and used to find calcium watermarks on the car after washing with tap water (no filters) Now l wash as normal, using one bucket + lambs wool mitten (Gtech shampoo) and rinse off using the rainwater as l work my way along the car in sections.
The rainwater tested as neutral for acid/alkali.
Would there be any benefit to adding a filter inline with the rainwater feed? I’ve always thought rainwater is already DI, but I’m no expert.
I have a rainwater collection system connected to the main house gutters and collected into two linked 25 gallon slimline water butts with a Hozelock water pump that feeds a dedicated retractable mini hose reel. With our levels of rainfall I’ve never ran out of water, and it’s been a couple of years now. Pretty sure the neighbours think I’m mad though.
I live in a hard water area, and used to find calcium watermarks on the car after washing with tap water (no filters) Now l wash as normal, using one bucket + lambs wool mitten (Gtech shampoo) and rinse off using the rainwater as l work my way along the car in sections.
The rainwater tested as neutral for acid/alkali.
Would there be any benefit to adding a filter inline with the rainwater feed? I’ve always thought rainwater is already DI, but I’m no expert.
Is anyone using a rainwater harvesting solution?
I have a rainwater collection system connected to the main house gutters and collected into two linked 25 gallon slimline water butts with a Hozelock water pump that feeds a dedicated retractable mini hose reel. With our levels of rainfall I’ve never ran out of water, and it’s been a couple of years now. Pretty sure the neighbours think I’m mad though.
I live in a hard water area, and used to find calcium watermarks on the car after washing with tap water (no filters) Now l wash as normal, using one bucket + lambs wool mitten (Gtech shampoo) and rinse off using the rainwater as l work my way along the car in sections.
The rainwater tested as neutral for acid/alkali.
Would there be any benefit to adding a filter inline with the rainwater feed? I’ve always thought rainwater is already DI, but I’m no expert.
And why not. For sure a filter would remove suspended debris but otherwise why not. Mind, I prefer to use my rainwater for my greenhouse tomatoes and cucumbers during the growing season but out of then care of the cars come first.
DI water for me is used best during the winter months when I can't be bothered to wipe-down.
Whatever works for you is always best.
A 2013 Daytona grey Audi A1 after a DI wash - and not waxed for 3-years - just off to dry the brakes:
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@RAF_S7 I use filtered rain water. I have 2 x 190 litre butts daisy chained together. I then draw water via a water butt pump with built in filter into a 3rd 100 litre butt. Finally I have a fine mesh filter on my Karcher pressure washer.
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/201653076496
Sadly the water is still 38ppm which is no good on black as I discussed here...
DI Resin Vessel
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/201653076496
Sadly the water is still 38ppm which is no good on black as I discussed here...
DI Resin Vessel
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Unfortunately my driveway leads down the side of the house directly into the attached garage, so don’t have space for bigger water butts.
I’m surprised your getting 38ppm from rainwater, though thinking about it, if you have any crud in the guttering, that’s getting washed into the rainbarrels as well.... I will have to think about adding some DI filters on the output of the butt pump!
I’m surprised your getting 38ppm from rainwater, though thinking about it, if you have any crud in the guttering, that’s getting washed into the rainbarrels as well.... I will have to think about adding some DI filters on the output of the butt pump!
I've considered loads of ways of fixing this. Had a good chat with a guy at the local aquatics centre about fine filter pumps and such but it gets expensive. Fish need things that Audi paint does not.
I think I'll probably go the Pure Final Rinse option as it's less faff than DI Resin changes. I'd love to have solved the rain water problem but it just doesn't seem cost effective.
Check here, Starry; go ask 'em, they ought to know: https://www.bristolwater.co.uk/your-home/water-quality/water-hardness/
And that's consistent with the UK water hardness map, Starry:
Aqua Gleam filter/s for me seemed the most cost effective solution to my car washing summer and winter; and house window washing to include a glass conservatory roof, too; so many uses. Hate to think what it would £s cost to specialise coat three Audi...
Thanks bvtc for your help.
Am i right in thinking the Aqua Gleam are not refillable?. I was looking at the 7 ltr Raceglaze canisters, they come full of resin for £99 and they're refillable at a cost of £45 for. I think ill go with the 30ppm and see how it goes and if needed run it through a secondary 00ppm filter.
Am i right in thinking the Aqua Gleam are not refillable?. I was looking at the 7 ltr Raceglaze canisters, they come full of resin for £99 and they're refillable at a cost of £45 for. I think ill go with the 30ppm and see how it goes and if needed run it through a secondary 00ppm filter.
They are sealed, Starry, but that doesn't mean you couldn't split 'em and refill; for sure I'll be looking at that one day.
And here's a 10-minute wash and rinse on the A1 - like just now - ready for a run in 20-minutes or so:
And no water spots after...
Do you know how many litres the AG version holds? I love washing and polishing my cars but i hate drying them, at the moment I've got a leaf blower and 4 large micro fibre towels i use.
lol, your maths is better than mine... seems a fair bit smaller..4" dia x 10" long so 125 cu inch and that's about 2 litres
nothing to serious I hope.
Thats how i collected my sample but it was just over 400ppm. Ill try again with more time running the tap 1st.
And after 30+ wet miles yesterday and overnight rain here's this mornings bonnet beading:
What meter do you have scotty76, do you have a link? Let me know and I'll order. I'll then take readings of 1) tap, 2) after single-pass '30' ppm filter, 3) after single-pass '0' ppm filter, and 4) after combined '30' ppm + '0' ppm dual-coupled Aqua Gleam filters as I have now.
Who says retirement is boring...
