How To Properly Detail Your C8 Corvette: Video
24
Sponsored Links
General Motors has released a how-to guide showing C8 Corvette Stingray owners (and those soon-to-be C8 Corvette Z06 owners) how to properly wash and detail their vehicle.
Helping viewers out in this video is Dino Stramer, a Chevy marketing manager who brings “years of experience helping drivers get their Corvette washed, detailed and ultimately auto show ready.” As Stramer puts it, this video serves as a “step-by-step guide for drivers that prefer a hands-on approach to getting their Corvette ready for auto shows,” or, if they are hiring a business to wash their vehicle, that the detailer is doing a proper job.
The first tip that Stramer mentions in this video relates to something most drivers probably never think about when washing their vehicle: the water. Stramer suggests C8 Corvette owners use de-ionized water when washing their vehicle, as this prevents water spots and better dilutes car washing chemicals. Once the vehicle is fully washed, Stramer suggests wiping it down with a dry microfiber cloth before applying a detailing spray and cleaning the window with glass cleaner. He also suggests using tire shine on the tires and an all-purpose cleaner to clean carbon buildup out of the exhaust tips.
This video is also a sneaky advertisement for the Adam’s line of car cleaning products, which are used throughout the video and sold through the Chevy Accessories catalog, but Corvette owners can use any quality car cleaning products they feel they will get the best results with. Chevy also sells various Adam’s car cleaning kits through its accessories catalog for vehicle owners that don’t want to order all their car cleaning products one by one.
Check out the video embedded below to hear all of Stramer’s tips for washing the exterior of a C8 Corvette Stingray or Z06.
Subscribe to GM Authority for more mid-engine Corvette news, Corvette C8 news, Corvette news, Chevrolet news, and 24/7 GM news coverage.
- Sweepstakes Of The Month: Win a 2023 Corvette Z06 Convertible. Details here.
Sponsored Links
Adams products are crap, same garbage Walmart would sell! Take it do a high end detailer, I constantly see cars that my customers bring in that are filled with ton of swirls, wash marring, etc.! It takes lots of experience and attention to details!
If you are in the Charlotte NC area contact us, the best high end detailer hands down!
It’s A Matter Of Details
ROFLMAO!!!!!!
You are a car washer, OF course you are going to say Adams products are crap and you should take your car to a car detailer???
I KNOW FOR A FACT I CAN DETAIL MY CARS AND TRUCKS BETTER THAN YOU CAN !!!!!
AND I WILL USE ADAMs products, they are wonderful & work awesome!!!!!
You are Promoting YOURSELF and that is it, ADAMS PRODUCTS ARE AWESOME!!!!!
washing cars is easy and does not require a professional
BUT I ALSO MOW MY OWN LAWN TOO
Who called you the best high end detailer hands down? Is that in the country? State? Charlotte area? Is that a self assigned name like the Cowboys calling themselves Americas team?
What products do you use?
Who called you the best high end detailer hands down? Is that in the country? State? Charlotte area? Is that a self assigned name like the Cowboys calling themselves americas team?
What products do you use?
Where can you find ionized water?
Tom – Griots Garage sells two deionizers, CR Spotless has several, and more and more are appearing on the market every day. Look to the CR Spotless Simple Chuck for the greatest media capacity – or Griots for the simplest to replace depleted media. Both work great and get the total dissolved solids down to nearly nothing. Enjoy
I have used Adams products for years, on our 2003 C5, 2006 C6 & our 216 C7 and just love them. Have owned 11 Corvettes over the years and Adams is great and they are very helpful when you have a question. Just email them and they will answer you.
I was hoping they would address and offer helpful hints on cleaning the engine bay. Especially with the open hood vents. Something most cars don’t have.
Good video for the average person but falls way short of the attention to detail required. For example, I seldom spray wash with a hose but instead use a real sponge and very soapy water to remove dirt taking care NOT to scrub but to let the sponge glide. Then I use a separate bucket of clean water and a different sponge the rinse the soap off. Then I dry with a real chamois and then I wipe with a microfiber towel. I then test the surface with my fingers in a sandwich bag to “feel” for any grit. If there’s grit, I claybar before polishing and then I wax and seal. Most folks won’t go near a process like that which is okay by me but hire a competent detailer because there are no shortcuts.
I was hoping to learn a few tricks here. Didn’t ! More of a commercial for Adams than anything.
I too was expecting how to wash the engine compartment or deal with it. I own a mid engine car now and looking for more tips over what I know.
Adams are good products. Note they are also the choice product of the GM Parts division.
I use them, Chemical guys and 3M.
Toughest car to detail I’ve ever owned. This video ignores:
–back window where water collects in unreachable corners.
–egg crates front and rear
–compound curves
–engine bay (always on view in coupe)
“Ionized water”??? Give me a break. . .
I know. Maybe they recommend it to protect the flux capacitor 😧
So where do you get de-ionized water? It certainly is not coming out the end of a hose. Note: softened water is definitely de-ionized water.
You can buy systems from most of the detail companies. Most detail shops offer them. But like water softeners not everyone needs one. Just depends on how bad your water is.
Frank. Soft water is definitely NOT dionized. Soft water still has Dissolved Solids – which is what is left after the water dries (aka spots). The Dissolved Solids left in deionized water is near zero. Until you’ve rinsed your car with deionized water without drying – you haven’t seen this well kept secret. There are NO SPOTS.
Griots Garage sells two deionizers, CR Spotless has several, and more and more are appearing on the market every day. Look to the CR Spotless Simple Chuck for the greatest media capacity – or Griots for the simplest to replace depleted media. Enjoy
You are correct. Soft water is definitely NOT De-Ionized water. I meant to say NOT but was typing too fast and did not notice I had left out the most important word in that sentence. Thanks for correcting my mistake.
OOPS – I mean softened water is definitely NOT de-ionized water.
Short circuit between brain and keyboard.
I could only watch about a minute and half before asking myself “Is this guy real” ? Who has access to di-water thru a hose? If you don’t want water spots then take the nozzle off the hose and rinse the car without the higher pressure of the nozzle and the water will flow off much easier and quicker. Keeping your car clean regularly and waxed, even spray wax will make the paint and shine last a long time. Tomg
Yes it is for real as most detail shops have systems that will filter and deionize the water they use in a hose.
There are basic systems, portable systems and large shop systems.
In some places it is really needed due to poor quality water and then some areas like where I am you do no need it. Much like water softeners for homes.
Where I used to live the city water was horrible for washing and you really had to work hard and fast to remove it or it would stain the clear.
Nothing to special or unique about the video. Since I don’t have “Ionized water.” I have used Rain-x Spot-Free Car Wash or Black Magic Wet Shine Car Wash. The former works better. I immediately dry with “The Absorber” which I find more absorbent than a leather chamois. I also use Meguiar’s Ultimate Liquid Wax and Meguiar’s Hybrid Ceramic Liquid Wax and the list goes on and on. All purchased at Walmart.
The video was good and accurate for what it showed. I did notice that they use the C8 HTC which does not display the engine. And of course that’s the beauty of the new C8. So as far as I’m concerned the video failed to spend some time on the hardest part that is to detail in that beautiful car!
First step. Cover the car in paint protection film.
Then gently pressure wash and blow dry with leaf blower.
De-ionized water is optional.
And about that engine bay. Gently wash a cool engine, do not start until it has dried in the sun.
NEVER USE LEAF BLOWER! Use a hand held motorcycle dryer that blows FILTERED warm air. Cost $100.