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Winter Salt on Black t4r

Discussion in '5th Gen 4Runners (2010-2024)' started by 4runningMan, Sep 24, 2018.

  1. Sep 24, 2018 at 7:33 PM
    #1
    4runningMan

    4runningMan [OP] New Member

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    New Mexico
    hey guys. I'm kind of a detail nut with my trucks. Those of you with black trucks, does the Toyota black paint really show swirls?

    In the winter, is it tough to keep the truck looking clean? I've never had a black vehicle before. But I'm liking the black 4Runner.
     
  2. Sep 25, 2018 at 5:28 AM
    #2
    Oldtoyotaguy

    Oldtoyotaguy Paid cash for it

    Joined:
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    2018 Toyota 4 Runner Offroad
    Black is hands down the hardest colour to keep clean, but really looks cool when it is clean. If you’re a car guy who likes, and has the time to invest in the alchemy of detailing, get black for sure!
     
    4runningMan[OP] likes this.
  3. Sep 25, 2018 at 9:32 AM
    #3
    thirdyota

    thirdyota shouldn't be trusted

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    First Name:
    Brian
    Cincinnati, OH
    Vehicle:
    2017 T4R TRD Off Road Premium

    My 4Runner is my first black vehicle. In my opinion, yes...it does show swirls very easily.

    I've only ever hand washed it carefully, and I have swirls. On the plus side, it has made me much less particular about my vehicle. I just don't really care about trying to keep it looking perfect anymore. It's been kinda liberating not caring about it so much.
     
  4. Sep 25, 2018 at 10:14 AM
    #4
    4runningMan

    4runningMan [OP] New Member

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    Ha I could probably use a good dose of that liberation! The black looks sooo good on these trucks.
     
  5. Sep 27, 2018 at 8:44 AM
    #5
    Riding Dirty

    Riding Dirty Sinner; saved by grace

    Joined:
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    Vehicle:
    2017 T4R Pro 040
    Is plasti-dip a mod?!
    Run it through a touch less car wash during the winter, that will help keep it clean!
     
    4runningMan[OP] likes this.
  6. Sep 27, 2018 at 7:54 PM
    #6
    PCRIDE4RUNNER

    PCRIDE4RUNNER New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 25, 2018
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    SUPER DUPER
    Vehicle:
    2018 TRD OR
    What I have found working so far is buy 2 large microfiber drying clothes, you can get them from Walmart for about 6 bucks each. They are large and thick, each side has a color. For hand wash use large micro fiber mitten and use a grit guard in a bucket and each dip in the bucket scrub against it to ensure you have no dirt particles trapped. Then wash in long passes, not circular motion. Rinse.

    when drying its best to use a soft towel and "blot" the excess water, especially on the roof. just kind a slap the towel against the 4Runner, do not wipe. Once you have the large water droplets off, use the micro fiber drying towels. if you continue to blot, you will prevent swirl marks but won't look super clean, so gently wipe dry in long passes. Do not dry in a circular motion.

    I've found this is the best way to hand wash, then like others said, use the touchless car wash in between hand washes. I've found if you keep your 4Runner clean, then the touchless works pretty good in between. I've been hand washing about 1x every 2 weeks and touchless about 1x per week or week .5

    There are a lot of videos on Youtube for washing black cars. There is a really good video on "Super Cleaning" your car. Search on that. Although I don't have 4 buckets, and 4 hours to do this. So at the end of the day you will have to accept some general use which will include swirl marks, just be careful and use good products to minimize it. the biggest thing is to make sure you are using the grit guard and removing all the dirt particles from the mitten after each bucket dip. you should have 2 buckets really. I do one pass down by the rocker panels then rinse the mitten as this is where most of the dirt will be stuck on the 4 runner. Treat the bottom half of the 4 runner while washing like its own area, meaning wash it separate from the top half using a clean mitten each time if you know what I mean. Don't transfer dirt from the bottom half to the top half.
     

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