Project Audi PT 1
☢️PROJECT AUDI Part 1!☢️
I will be documenting a total nut and bolt detail on the Audi A6 Avant I purchased early August 2023 for a bargain price from Facebook Marketplace.
The owner was contacted when I found the advert and he was convinced that the fuel pump was shot and needed replacing as the car was cutting out. I was taking a risk, but after visiting Great Yarmouth in the pouring rain, with 2 sleepy kids in the back, I managed to haggle the price down some more and agreed on the price.
Next up, the AA was contacted to get it recovered back home half an hour away. But upon arrival the mechanic plugged in his diagnostic tool to see what was going on and lo and behold, the fuel pump was not the issue…it was only suffering from a faulty crankshaft sensor. So feeling like I may have picked up a bargain, we got the Audi back to North Walsham for me to properly inspect it.
So 1st up...tackling the interior...to be precise, the rear seats and carpets. Its amazing what you can find. I am £3.56 and 3 clipper lighters up 🤣. Rear bench removed, rear carpets deep cleaned, body under rear seats scrubbed. Upholstery wet vacuumed and dried, headrests deep cleaned and re-assembled. The aim here is to get as close to a factory finish as possible without having to purchase new parts, and so far things have gone well.
Next up, front seats and associated carpets, headrests and seat rails. It was a job removing the last of the remaining pet hair hidden in all the little crevices that these seats had hiding. But confident, apart from dash vents (tomorrow) that dog hairs are pretty much gone! All stains on the front seat upholstery had been eliminated, carpets have been cleaned and all looking fresh! Also, another 31p found, bringing grand total to £3.87 found down the sides of the seats...im fricking rich!
Then we moved onto dashboard and centre console. Sill lots of hidden pet hair around the edges and underneath the centre. You wouldn,t know they were there without removing various trims and plastics. This in turn would in turn will harbour odours that will steadily get worse unless dealt with. But with all that done and back together its starting to look fresher and smelling great
And lastly for the Interior, the rear load compartment, spare wheel well and battery compartment.
Often overlooked in any vehicle valet/detail, this area often manages to accumulate dirt and debris despite being covered 99% of the time. So spare wheel and battery removed and deep cleaned. Luggage rails, load floor and carpets rempved and clean along with tailgate gutters deep cleaned and then everything re-assembled and looking factory fresh.
And that completed the interior of Project Audi. Now its being shipped off tho Ash at AB Autos to get the faulty Crankshaft Sensor replaced so we can have it running, and the we can start to deal with the exterior, and believe me there is plenty to do…stay tuned for Project Audi PT2! X
WHAT IS SNOW FOAM?| HOW TO USE IT
Snow foam is a product generally used in order to soften and loosen dirt and grime before you physically touch the car. The reason for doing this is the less dirt and grime on the vehicle, the less likely you are to inflict swirls and scratches into your paint which over time will dull the appearance of your vehicle.
What is Snow Foam?
Snow foam is a product generally used in order to soften and loosen dirt and grime before you physically touch the car. The reason for doing this is the less dirt and grime on the vehicle, the less likely you are to inflict swirls and scratches into your paint which over time will dull the appearance of your vehicle.
A good snow foam works by clinging to your vehicle, this allows the cleaners and cleansing agents an adequate amount of time in order to break down and lift the dirt and grime from your vehicles surface. Once allowed to dwell, the foam should be rinsed away leaving the vehicle much cleaner and ready for the use of a wash mitt.
Can’t I just use Car Shampoo?
As a pre-wash…I would say no.
As a good quality snow foam is typically designed to remove grease and grime, it is generally not PH neutral like a good car shampoo. If your particular car shampoo is more aggressive, it may work as a pre-wash treatment, however I would advise that you use a gentle shampoo for regular washes as this will not degrade any sealants or waxes you may have used on the vehicle.
However!…
Once the vehicle has been properly cleaned and protected, the dirt and grime should be easier to rinse free and so does not necessarily require an aggressive pre-wash. This is good as an aggressive snow foam could negatively affect the protectionused on the vehicle.
After a thoroughly rinse with water I will foam the car with regular car shampoo and proceed to wash with the foam still on the car! Doing this will allow the wash mitt to effortlessly glide over the paintwork due to the increased amount of lubrication (car shampoo) on the vehicle.
That being said, some paint-coatings are durable enough to safely withstand acidic or alkaline cleaners to a degree, and so using a good quality snow foam in this situation would be fine.
How to Apply Snow Foam?
There are two ways you can apply snow foam, either through a Snow Foam Lance (designed for pressure washers) or through a Snow Foam Gun (designed for a regular hose). The “Snow Foam Lance” is my choice of weapon as this produces a more thick and uniform blanket of foam. The “Snow Foam Gun” that is used with a regular garden hose usually produces a more watery product and therefore isn’t as effective due to its shorter dwell time.
Is Snow Foam Applied to a Dry or Wet car?
I don’t really think It matters, however I tend to rinse the car before using snow foam as I like to agitate badges, emblems and intricate areas with a soft bristled brush whilst I’m allowing the snow foam to dwell. If I didn’t rinse the car I could potentially be pushing around loose dirt and debris which could cause scratches.
As well as this, if the vehicle is muddy I would rinse this away first as this will allow the snow foam to get to work on the dirt and grime underneath that can’t be removed with just water.
On the other hand the snow foam might dwell longer on a dry vehicle, however I have never found this to be an issue.
My Choice of Snow Foam
My current go to snow foam is “Pro Kleen Cherry Scented Snow foam” Highly rated and delivers amazing results, and smells great to!
Buy On Amazon (UK)
I find this product incredibly effective at softening road grime and traffic film, leave it to dwell on the vehicle for around 5 minute and pressure wash off leaving a noticeable cleaner surface!