how to clean carbon fiber?

[JetBlackE46]

wax? armorall? i have no idea...

tia

[Joey325i]

i just use soap and water

[Greg]

I've used Klasse AIO to clean and protect CF.

[Dios]

i use klasse AIO and SG to protect it when i detail cars that have cf panels

[Aaron318iS]

if the carbon fibre has been clear coated, would you be able to wax it like any other painted surface?

[JeEvEs]

Originally posted by Aaron318iS
if the carbon fibre has been clear coated, would you be able to wax it like any other painted surface?

i have the same question, as well as, will the leading edge of my CF hood chip at all? i was thinking about putting some 3m rock guard on it but wanna know if it will chip or not.

[uncle_el]

old thread from the dead...

any thoughts on how to remove "oxidation" from carbon fiber?
not my car:

[TOGWT]

~One man’s opinion / observations~

Carbon Fibre:
Most good quality carbon fibre that is used for automotive/marine/racing has a clear coat finish (to provide a seal for the fibres and UVR protection)

A problem could occur if there is insufficient reinforcement, as carbon fibre does not like to flex, if allowed to it causes delaminating of the gel. Detail carbon fibre like you would a paint film surface using readily available detailing products.

To remove clear coat surface oxidation; use detailers clay to remove any surface contaminants, a solvent type chemical cleaner/polish (Klasse All-In-One) and then a suitable abrasive polish (dependant upon how severe the problem) to remove the oxidized paint (Iz Einzett Ultra Paint Polish™ or Paint Polish™) with a cutting foam pad (LC orange or yellow, speed #4) and then apply a sealant and / or wax protectant.

~Hope this helps~

Knowledge unshared is experience wasted [each one / teach one]
justadumbarchitect / so I question everything/ JonM

[Lex]

This thread is so old, but just incase anyone was wondering:

I wax my cf hood twice every summer, and it does a world of good.
Keeps the finish from fading, prevents oxidation, and helps against rock chips.
I only drive my car for 4 months a year in summer, but I wax the hood once every 2 months, and it stays prime.

I've never heard of something bad happening from waxing carbon fiber. I wouldn't wax any interior cf though. Just exterior (hood, trunk, fenders, mirrors, canards, splitter...)

[uncle_el]

Originally Posted by TOGWT

~One man’s opinion / observations~

Carbon Fibre:
Most good quality carbon fibre that is used for automotive/marine/racing has a clear coat finish (to provide a seal for the fibres and UVR protection)

A problem could occur if there is insufficient reinforcement, as carbon fibre does not like to flex, if allowed to it causes delaminating of the gel. Detail carbon fibre like you would a paint film surface using readily available detailing products.

To remove clear coat surface oxidation; use detailers clay to remove any surface contaminants, a solvent type chemical cleaner/polish (Klasse All-In-One) and then a suitable abrasive polish (dependant upon how severe the problem) to remove the oxidized paint (Iz Einzett Ultra Paint Polish™ or Paint Polish™) with a cutting foam pad (LC orange or yellow, speed #4) and then apply a sealant and / or wax protectant.

~Hope this helps~

Knowledge unshared is experience wasted [each one / teach one]
justadumbarchitect / so I question everything/ JonM

thanks.

Originally Posted by Lex

This thread is so old, but just incase anyone was wondering:

I wax my cf hood twice every summer, and it does a world of good.
Keeps the finish from fading, prevents oxidation, and helps against rock chips.
I only drive my car for 4 months a year in summer, but I wax the hood once every 2 months, and it stays prime.

I've never heard of something bad happening from waxing carbon fiber. I wouldn't wax any interior cf though. Just exterior (hood, trunk, fenders, mirrors, canards, splitter...)

i do wax mine. the problem showed up just a few days after i went to a car wash/detail place and had it waxed... i'm not quite sure what happened, but needless to say i won't be going there again.

[Alex328is]

Originally Posted by Lex

This thread is so old, but just incase anyone was wondering:

I wax my cf hood twice every summer, and it does a world of good.
Keeps the finish from fading, prevents oxidation, and helps against rock chips.

Can you please explain to me how exactly wax helps against rock chips? You must be joking.

[Lex]

Originally Posted by Alex328is

Can you please explain to me how exactly wax helps against rock chips? You must be joking.

I was serious.

Here's where my comment, "helps against rock chips", comes from.
Last summer, at the very beginning of the season, me and a friend both bought OEM carbon hoods. Same manufacturer, same weave, same finish. I waxed my hood once every month for four months, and my friend didn't wax his hood at all.
We live in the same city, driving the same roads. At the end of the summer, my hood is mint, but my friend has minor nicks and chips at the front of his bonnet from pebbles on the road. That's where I got my conclusion from. His built up gradually, mine never started.
What I've noticed is that front end chips are alot like windshield cracks. They start small but can grow big. At the front of your hood, regular waxing and polishing can prevent new chips or minimize the growth of existing ones.

I'm not saying waxing your hood will stop rock chips. It just helps a little.

I only know carbon fiber from what I've learned in under 2 years, so if anyone else knows anything, post it up! For all I know, wax could make a carbon bonnet completely turn to shit after 5 years of use

[TOGWT]

Quote: I only know carbon fiber from what I've learned in under 2 years, so if anyone else knows anything, post it up! For all I know, wax could make a carbon bonnet completely turn to shit after 5 years of use EOQ

~One man’s opinion / observations~

The sure thing that will turn paint or carbon fibre into sh** is to leave it unprotected. Radiant heat energy, UV radiation, Acid rain, Road salt, Atmospheric pollution (IFO) Insect residue, Tree resin (sap) Bird excrement as well as wind blown dust, road dirt and grime are some of the things that assault your vehicles finish on a daily basis. Without a sacrificial barrier your paint will dry out (oxidize) and crack

~Hope this helps~

Knowledge unshared is experience wasted [each one / teach one]
justadumbarchitect / so I question everything/ JonM

[uncle_el]

my update.

togwt, i used a blend of opinions for my problem, oxidized carbon fiber hood. all products applied and removed by hand (i stay in a one bedroom apartment, no garage, thus no power supply for an orbital buffer)

first, i used 3m marine fiberglass cleaner and wax. while this did indeed remove the buildup/oxidation, it didn't quite give me the results i wanted.

a few days later i used liquid gold pre-cleaner and liquid gold polish.

still unhappy with the results, i did some searching, and asked on here for some advice. after togwt's advice above, i used a clay bar on the hood, followed with a wax. the results were much better than previously (using the cleaner, and polish)... most likely because a 3 step process was undertaken (clay/clean, polish, wax).

imagestation album of my experience

however, the results seemed transient. i.e. the carbon fiber hood held it's own for a few weeks, before the "streaks" began to reappear. the hood doesn't look as bad as it did initally (before anything was done), but doesn't look as great as it did post detail.

yesterday, i washed, cleaned, polished, and waxed the hood.

my questions are:
1. should i have used a sealant/glaze as well?
2. is there anything else i can do?
3. am i just stuck with this entire 3 step process once a month until i decide to either :a. try and get another clearcoat or 2 on the hood (not sure how good this idea is, as i would think the "streaking" would still be evident underneath), b. paint the hood, or c. just otherwise get rid of the hood?

[uncle_el]

no one has any more thoughts?!