What's In DFB's Cabinet?

[Evolvd]

Stocking up on the lovely Koch Chemie GSF.

https://www.waxit.com.au/collection...-neutral-cleaning-foam?variant=42059435704409

So, a few things to mention with GSF -

- Don't buy this soap if your primary requirement is ultimate cleaning power, GSF doesn't really do that. Instead, this is a highly lubricated soap for maintaining well maintained cars.

- This is not a high value product, be that the purchase price or concentration of the soap. Compounding that, you need to use way more than what Koch Chemie suggests in order to get good foam or suds.

NOTE - Prices are in AUD

So, if cleaning ability and value are important to you, then you'd be better served by my two other benchmarks, Carpro Reset or NV Snow. Reset in particular can put on a good foam show right down to about 60ml, which is what the cost per foam cannon figure above is based on. NV Snow is quite potent, so you can afford to lean it out a little and not hamper foam or cleaning ability. But the KCx suggested dilution ratios for GSF are way off. According to them, you'd only use 20ml to 980ml of water. The Germans must have a different idea of what foam looks like because at those numbers, expect soapy water and not "foam".

I watched a video earlier this week where the presented claimed GSF is the most overrated detailing product on the market. And if you're a professional detailer like the presenter in question, then yeah, it's not going to be cost effective or offer enough performance to be time efficient. Despite Koch Chemie's "Excellence For Experts" tagline, GSF is not meant for the professional detailer who needs value, performance and time efficiency.

So, who is GSF aimed at then? The clue is in the name, GENTLE SNOW FOAM. GSF is for the pro-sumer who enjoys the process more than a price tag. This type of user has a well-maintained car that doesn't need a nuke at each wash, which is where the GENTLE in GSF comes from. You can use it as often as you like without stripping protection or causing long-term degradation to trim and plastics. Then there is the amazing signature cherry scent. So, GSF trades some ability for a high user experience and safety.

So, next time someone says GSF is overrated and overpriced, there is more to the story than those two negative words would suggest. What a professional detailer and a hobbyist want and need are not always the same, and I think that's where many get stuck when trying GSF, they are expecting something different.

Ah so you follow Out of Spec detailing too? lol as soon as I saw the tagline for this post I immediately thought “I wonder if he saw Coleton’s video”

I love the smell of GFX…but it’s not my go-to for washing for all the reasons you covered. At $30 a liter it’s just not cost effective for the amount you have to use to get good foam. But damnit do I love the scent!

Sponsored

 

[skinnyb]

Ah so you follow Out of Spec detailing too? lol as soon as I saw the tagline for this post I immediately thought “I wonder if he saw Coleton’s video”

I love the smell of GFX…but it’s not my go-to for washing for all the reasons you covered. At $30 a liter it’s just not cost effective for the amount you have to use to get good foam. But damnit do I love the scent!

GFX is best The Christmas scent is amazing. I tend to use GFX before GSF every time just for the scent alone And on my cars it does work pretty well being so gentle. I rarely to never need the heavier cleaning of Reset, or even Active foam...

 

[DFB5.0]

Ah so you follow Out of Spec detailing too? lol as soon as I saw the tagline for this post I immediately thought “I wonder if he saw Coleton’s video”

I love the smell of GFX…but it’s not my go-to for washing for all the reasons you covered. At $30 a liter it’s just not cost effective for the amount you have to use to get good foam. But damnit do I love the scent!

I've been watching and liking some of his stuff lately.

I don't necessarily disagree with his assessment of GSF, just that his requirements may differ from mine.

 

[DFB5.0]

With rainy days and a big mowing run this week, combined with puppy carrying duties, the Ranger was genuinely dirty and in need of a wash.

The tyres were cleaned with Optimum Power Wheel & Tire Clean, finishing the bottle of this excellent product. The wheels were cleaned with KCx Active Foam, which I also used as a pre-clean on the lowers and tray sides. The contact wash was done with Koch Chemie GSF, dosed using my new Pressol squeeze bottles...................pure bliss.

I know gushing over a plastic bottle might seem ridiculous, but trust me, the images above represent a sense of achievement and satisfaction. Again, many thanks to my fellow forum friends for making this happen.

After the wash and a hit with the EGO, I decided it was time to top off the protection with a layer of ADS Ceramic Spray Sealant, another fantastic product.

From there, the door jambs were wiped with ADS Adapt, the tray sides with Griot's Ceramic Speed Shine, interior cleaned with ADS Pilot, glass with P&S True Vue, wheels wiped with ADS Amplify and OG Tire Dressing for the rubber.

Being such a lovely Autumn day, I thought it was about time to get the XR8 out of the garage for some exercise. Probably not smart to be out burning through 98-ron with limited supply and ever rising prices, currently $2.70 per litre where I am. But...................the half a tank in this car will last me several months. And what do you do, save for a rainy day that may not come, or just enjoy now and see what happens?

 

[skinnyb]

Full on Ponies in the Smokies prep underway. It starts Monday bright and early here in Sevier County TN. Got my boy's 25 GT/CS cleaned today for the most part, a rinseless wash of my Mach 1 yesterday evening, and my friend brought their 24 GT PP car in this evening. Gonna knock it all out tomorrow. More pics to come.

 

[Evolvd]

Full on Ponies in the Smokies prep underway. It starts Monday bright and early here in Sevier County TN. Got my boy's 25 GT/CS cleaned today for the most part, a rinseless wash of my Mach 1 yesterday evening, and my friend brought their 24 GT PP car in this evening. Gonna knock it all out tomorrow. More pics to come.

One of these years I’m going to make PITS

 

[skinnyb]

One of these years I’m going to make PITS

4th year for me. I got my 22 GT in July 22, so I have been 23-26.. Like Mustang week but in the mountains

 

[DFB5.0]

Well, I caved to fuel anxiety situation like the rest of the population, both Mustang and XR8 have a full tank of 98-ron.

I don’t normally fill the tank on these cars, always $50 worth when required. Because they sit around so much, I’d rather have fresh fuel more often than have a full tank go stale. Well, who knows how this is going to pan out, so I’ve rolled the dice.

Mustang – 37.6-litres @ 2.699 per litre = $101.50
XR8 – 44.9-litres @ 2.699 per litre = $121.19
Total – 82.5-litres = $222.67

I can’t remember the last time the XR8 had a full tank, probably since it was new. Got to laugh though, a full tank only gives an estimated range of 392km’s from a 68-litre tank at 20.2 L/100km. Mustang’s range is even worse, 346km’s from a 61-litre tank at 18.4 L/100km.

Please note that I’m not complaining here, just showing the reality of the current situation when it comes to enthusiast cars with thirsty V8 engines. If these were daily drivers, it would be a different story.

 

[DFB5.0]

Four Koch Chemie solvents that all do basically the same thing, but at varying degrees of aggression.

Fleckenwasser (FW) –
An organic based solvent for safe removal of greasy substances including oil, tar and waxes, even paint and ink residue.
https://autobuff.com.au/products/koch-chemie-fleckenwasser-stain-wax-remover

Teerwasche A (TEA) –
Well done if you managed to pronounce this mouthful, probably why it gets abbreviated for TEA. This next step up is a solvent based product that will dissolve oily and sticky substances in quick fashion. Again, think tar and sap residue, but it can also strip road film and adhesive. A nice middle ground.
https://www.waxit.com.au/collection...al-tar-bitumen-remover?variant=42078975950937

Eulex (EU) –
The Sledgehammer! A super powerful solvent, reach for Eulex when all else has failed. Think heavily contaminated surfaces, thick tar deposits and heavy-duty adhesive removal. Use with caution, be that yourself or the vehicle.
https://www.waxit.com.au/collection...emie-eulex-powerful-adhesive-stain-remover-1l

Eulex M (EUM) –
Another powerful solvent used in the same situations as Eulex, however this version is specially suited to satin and matte surfaces that can be damaged by solvents.
https://autobuff.com.au/products/koch-chemie-eulex-m-eum-glue-tar-remover

 

[skinnyb]

Been a great day here in East TN. Low 70's and sunny. Got 3 cars cleaned up nice

Repping Wicked Performance TN well this week for Ponies in the Smokies

 

[Evolvd]

Made some updates to my process. ADS DRFT foam cannon, Pressol squeeze bottles for all my favorite soaps, the new feet for the Active 2.0, and OG wash bucket labels.

 

[DFB5.0]

I can hardly believe it, but the Ranger turned 10-years old back in January, although I didn’t take delivery till April 2016. I remember the day I placed the order because I happened to also ask about the Mustang, which at the time was at least a 12-month wait. I signed the contract for the Ranger……………….then went back in afternoon and placed an order for a Race Red Mustang GT manual with no options, the cheapest V8 Mustang you could buy. Two cars in one day.

Right off the showroom floor, April 11th 2016 –

The first job…………………..

In 10-years, this vehicle has been my daily driver of varying duties. For 8 of those years, it would transport me to and from the nursery at least 4 days per week. In a pinch, sometimes I’d use it for deliveries as well. For the remaining 3 days, it would be moving me from job to job with a mower and garden tools in the tray. If I had to go anywhere far, I’d take the Ranger so that I didn’t have to stress about one of my nice cars. Yes, I’m well aware how ridiculous that is, but I’m not the only one who thinks (suffers) like this. No way I could ever attempt that in my old PK Ranger, that thing was so uncomfortable, be that the brutal ride quality or the rock-hard bench seat.

This Ranger is not perfect though and has had a few hits along the way. The first was when I reversed into a power pole trying to squeeze into a park in Melbourne. The steel tray barely registered the hit, a testament to the rock-solid build quality of that locally made tray. I once put a massive dint in the C-pillar after levering a bamboo pole that got stuck in the window protector, thankfully my PDR guy managed to remove dent despite the tight confines between the tray and body panel. Then while parked at work, some fool didn’t apply the handbrake and allowed her car to roll into the drivers door. Because of the low speed, no paint was exchanged and you can only see the barest imperfection in certain light, not worth the insurance claim.

In 10 years, very little has gone wrong or needed attention. It had a Field Service Campaign for the exhaust heat shield recall, not that I was at risk as I never drove it off road. The lower fan shield needed replacement as it wasn’t seating properly and rattled. I replaced the wheels and tyres at the start of 2024, mainly as an appearance upgrade, but I also discovered the factory original tyres were dry rotted. The Michelin Agilis were a significant upgrade over the crappy Dunlop’s. The most annoying issue happens every 6 months, the screen, audio and Bluetooth will completely lock up and require a hard reset via a battery disconnect. Apart from that, it's had a battery, two sets of wiper blades and a new rubber mat in the tray.

Even though its only done just over 47,000 km since new, the 10-year mark in the service book is a big one. Ordinarily, the service schedule alternates between an A and B service, the later includes additional inspections as well as fuel and air filter replacement. The last service was a B, so in theory today was an oil and filter change, and brake/clutch fluid as well (every two years). However, the book recommends coolant, gearbox and diff fluid replacement at 10-years. You could argue that the lack of milage would negate the need to do all that, and even the mechanic said it probably wasn’t needed. And I nearly went with that advice, however after asking a fellow forum member, the consensus being that fluid is cheap, I drive the thing HARD because it’s so bloody gutless, and I want this vehicle to last because of how overpriced Ranger’s have become since I was last in the market.

Just like the XR6 service a few weeks ago, I went ahead and purchased the parts and fluids myself. Apart from the fact I enjoy this aspect of servicing, I then know what’s in the car. I feel like I have a trusted mechanic now, so I just hand it over and let the experts do it for me. The Ranger is the car I don’t stress handing over, if this was one of the Falcon’s or Mustang, I’d be on edge for days……………..welcome to my world.

Even with shipping, those Motorcraft parts and fluids were cheaper than aftermarket. Finding the correct fluid for the Getrag MT82 gearbox proved to be a little difficult, of which the Castrol option was quite expensive. In the end, the Motorcraft was cheaper, and if you take a look at the bottle shape, its clearly made by Castrol anyway. For the amount of work that was done, that’s a pretty decent price.

Ready for another 10-years.

 

[DFB5.0]

While I waited for the Ranger to be ready, the XR8 got a wash.

My favourite wheels to clean! Simple design, plenty of room for brushes. In this case, they were cleaned with Active Foam, tyres with Brake Buster. Some Hydr02 followed, then Atom Mac for the rotors.

For today's wash. I decided to go rinse-less, on this occasion the ever-reliable ONR. My process of late has been the following -

1. Rinse the car first, I had the pressure washer out for the wheels, so why not.

2. Pre-spray the whole vehicle at 128:1, which helps account for standing water after the rinse.

3. Wash using multiple Eagle Edgeless 500 towels at a 256:1 dilution. I do the whole car at once and dry at the end, I find this more efficient.

4. Use the EGO blower to blast trapped water/rinse-less solution from the grills, panel gaps, badges ect. Wheels are also dried at this step.

5. Dry using two Microfiber Madness Chip Mounk Jr. towels and ADS Amplify. Any ONR polymer spots that happened to dry are easily removed at this step.

6. Dry the door jambs, again with Amplify.

7. Hood up, the engine bay gets a general wipe down, drying off any pooled water while at it.

8. Go over the glass with Carpro Eraser.

9. A quick wipe of the wheels and exhaust tips with Amplify.

10. Apply OG Tire Dressing.

The interior only needed a vacuum of the driver's floor mat, otherwise job done!

I was going to keep the XR8 out for the weekend, but crap weather has been forecast, so back under the cover it goes.

 

[DFB5.0]

BISSELL STEAM SHOT 2635M

Over the years, there have been several situations where I’ve thought a steam cleaner would have been useful for a particular task. I’d then go looking at highly capable industry benchmark models from Dupray and McCulloch, you know, bigger is better. But then I’d bring myself back to reality, that the price and bulkiness was too much for the amount of use it would get.

So this little Bissell is the compromise, sweetened by a 20% discount.

Steam Shot | 2635M – BISSELL® Australia
Bissell Steam Shot Steam Cleaner - 2635M | Supercheap Auto

Weighing just 1.4kg, the unit holds 360ml of water, filled with the supplied measuring cup. The power cord is 4.8-metres long, allowing you flexibility. Once filled and powered up, you’ll have steam within 2 – 3 minutes, with up to 120-degree temperature and 58-psi pressure. Warranty is 12-months.

In the box, you get the steamer unit itself, a measuring cup, two crappy towels that are destined for the rag pile, and an attachment piece for the nine accessories –

- Extension hose
- Grout brush
- Fabric steamer
- Window squeegee
- Flat scraper
- Angle concentrator
- Microfiber cleaning bonnet
- Green detail brush
- Red detail brush
- Black detail brush

You’re not going to tackle massive clean-up jobs or PPF removal with this thing, but that’s not the point. Instead, this is a compact and convenient grab and go solution for occasional use. And yes, I already have its first use planned.

 

[DFB5.0]

DFB's OVER & UNDER 2026

The following is list 5 overrated and 5 underrated detailing products on the market in 2026. Depending on how you see it, this could also be a do and don't buy list, or just a jaded detailer having a rant. I'll leave that up to you.

OVERRATTED –

Bilt Hamber Trace-less –

I’m not going to fully document my struggles with this product, but this is easily the most disappointing detailing product I have tried. After hearing all the hype, how this was the greatest glass cleaner ever made, when it finally arrived in Australia I bought the large 5-litre bottle, I was that confident.

And on first acquaintance, Trace-less is certainly a wow product, namely how quickly it flashes. Afterwards, you assume its left a perfectly clear glass surface. But then you notice light ghost marks in certain light, then you drive into the sun and you see all of the wipe marks. So………….Trace-less is NOT traceless. And trust me, I tried everything to make this product work, be that different towels, different application methods, different temperatures. Nope, it streaks.

My big problem with Trace-less is the dream I was sold at a considerable price, then having it completely fall well below its promise.............................it’s not actually "traceless". Maybe I expected too much? Maybe I'm too critical? Maybe I see what others don't? Maybe I've tried and compared to many products and brands? All I know is that I'm not the only one who has had trouble with Traceless, be that in AU or the USA.

McKee’s N-914 -

Several years ago, N-914 became the MUST HAVE rinse-less wash product. At the time, it was marketed as a product that “left nothing behind”, something certain people though was important. Compared to something like the polymer-based Optimum No Rinse (ONR), N-914 is surfactant based. Some of the early ONR competitors were simply watered down soaps (surfactants), however N-914 wasn’t and that’s where it gained a foothold over the former benchmark, ONR. But that notion of “leaving nothing behind” is flawed, especially how hybrid products with Si02 have become so popular, or the fact people would then go and spray a ceramic-spray sealant all of the car and called it a “drying aid”. Can you see where I find the nothing behind thing ridiculous?

To be fair to McKee’s, N-914 is a nice product. But I don’t think it's markedly better than the competition to warrant the hype, then or now. I found it lacking slickness, to me it had a sticky surfactant feel under the wash media. And despite the claims, you ARE leaving something behind, its simply unavoidable unless you follow with a prep spray or rinse the car afterwards (which defeats the purpose of a “rinse-less” wash).

The funny thing is, I’m seeing multiple suppliers drop the product from their stores.

Koch Chemie GUF –

This is another product that came to market with lofty claims. GUF is a dedicated dressing/protectant for rubber floor mats, one that doesn’t create a slip hazard. As far as I can tell, it’s the only product of its type. So, as soon as it became available in Australia, I ordered a bottle.

Prior to application, you clean the floor mat as usual, then dry. From here, you liberally mist with the product and then level with a towel. GUF has a strong solvent/alcohol aroma, which would explain why it flashes off the way it does. And yet, I can never really see an enhancement after using GUF……………which to me is a complete waste of time and money. And because of that IPA content, I’ve had it kill spray heads.

For rubber floor mats, I have much better luck using a product like P&S Swift, which contains a very mild dressing, so mild it doesn’t cause slipperiness. But at least you can see an improvement.

Koch Chemie Motorplast -

This will be a controversial one, simply because everyone seems to like Motorplast. This product was designed for easily dressing an enhancing engine bays, of which can be applied to a freshly cleaned and still wet surface. Koch Chemie would have you believe that this self-leveling wet application is unique to Motorplast………………but it isn’t, Meguiar’s and other companies have offered something similar for decades.

So why don’t I love this product. Look, its super easy to apply, smells nice, levels off well. But its too glossy for my taste. In theory, you’d just dilute it down………….which defeats the purpose of buying a RTU product. No, something like Megs Hyper Dressing does this task just as well, if not more so than Motorplast, and can be tailored to your taste. For the record, Hyper Dressing at 5:1 (4:1 is considered “natural”, so I go even further than recommended) is my preferred engine bay dressing for a “barely there” look.

P&S Pearl -

Right, so this one is probably relevant to a specific buyer type. On face value, Pearl looks like a screaming deal, easily one of the cheapest high-volume soaps on the market, and one that’s made by an industry favourite. As such, it’s sold as a value proposition, in theory ideal for professional use or those who want their money to go further. For example, 946ml sells for $29.95 ($14 USD), 1-gallon is $57.95 ($26 USD), and 5-gallon is $190.95 ($86.40 USD). But dig a little deeper and that value prospect is flawed.

Pearl is poorly concentrated, which means using 2 to 3 times more soap per application. And even then, it doesn’t foam or provide meaningful suds, lacks slickness, so-so cleaning ability, and the mild lemon scent is desperately dated. What annoys me most is how P&S claim Pearl is a “high foaming shampoo”………………..it’s not even close to that claim, no matter the dilution.

So even if Pearl was more concentrated, it still sucks to use. And that’s not “value” in my book. And those who do, well they obviously failed maths at school.

Dishonorable Mentions -

- The entire Labocosmetic brand, sexy bottles with a sexy Italian accent, but waaay too complicated.

- Sonax Perfect Finish, laced with fillers to mask the less than perfect finish it leaves behind.

- Gtechniq CSL + EXO coating combination, a so-so base coating that needs another coating to make it slick and hydrophobic, in turn doubling the price to coat your car.

UNDERRATED -

Armour Detail Supply Adapt –

This might be a surprise to have an ADS product listed here, mainly because the brand has rapidly grown to be an industry benchmark. And yet so many sleep on Adapt, which is actually one of my favourites from ADS. I think being classified as a “water-less wash” boxes Adapt into a corner and turns buyers away.

I absolutely love Adapt as a drying aid, the added lubrication for safe water-less washing proves useful here too. It’s great on door jambs and light interior dusting or cleaning gloss trims. I also think Adapt smells nicer than Amplify, and has a slicker feel under the towel.

Meguiars Hybrid Ceramic Detailer –

Also sold in the Detailer range as M799 Pro Ceramic Bead Booster, this is a product that I’ve loved using over the years. And yet it doesn’t really get mentioned. And that's a shame because it really is a great product, super easy to work with, available everywhere.

In my case, I use HCD as a drying aid, which provides excellent gloss and slickness with minimal effort required. It’s only failing is the dated fragrance, and the price at full retail. Great product shunned by the brand snobs, which included me before I decided to give it a shot.

Opti-Coat No Rinse –

I believe this is the most underrated rinse-less wash product on the market. In recent years, Si02 infused rinse-less washes have become increasingly popular, and yet Opti-Coat No Rinse has existed long before this fad took off. As with the rest of the Opti-Coat Maintenance Line, this yellow version of Optimum No Rinse was designed to maintain Opti-Coat ceramic coatings, although you can use it on any LSP. I love the slickness of this product, both under the wash media and the final result, and I prefer the mango scent compared to blue ONR.

There are three reasons why Opti-No Rinse isn’t more popular. Firstly, up until recently you could only buy the maintenance line from Opti-Coat installers, usually sold as an add on sale to a professionally applied coating. Secondly, its only available in a small 473ml bottle. And thirdly, its more expensive, which relates to lack of a bulk quantity bottle size. Still, I really enjoying using this product, its waaay better than some of the more popular options on the market.

Carpro Reload 2.0 –

Reload was one of the first ceramic spray sealants to hit the market. Like any new and pioneering product, there were some peculiarities with Reload. What many don’t know is how Carpro subtly updated the formula over time, which addressed some of the application quirks. And with the latest Reload 2.0, it’s a night and day difference to the original. And yet, people completely sidestep Reload because someone somewhere once had it be a little streaky. Then there is the supposed lack of durability. I think people expect too much from a spray and wipe product like this, especially those who are hammering down with alkaline pre-wash soaps, then wondering why a sealant doesn’t last long enough.

Reload 2.0 fixed the application quirks, boosted the longevity, while remaining one of the slickest and glossiest spray sealants available. I also love Reload on trim, it producing subtle but long-lasting enhancement and protection without the potential risks that come with a ceramic coating on these surfaces. And I say long lasting because it takes the same effort to apply as a trim dressing, but won't wash off in the rain or at the next wash. And while Reload isn’t as hydrophobic as a full ceramic coating, it’s hardly a disappointment in that department.

Gtechniq Tri-Clean –

Most of what I’ve tried from this brand has been average at best, Tri-Clean is different. In response to the Covid pandemic, Tri-Clean was developed in conjunction with Biocote®, who are said to be a leader in anti-bacterial technology. As the name suggests, Tri-Clean does three things –

- Provide strong cleaning ability
- Provide disinfectant and anti-microbial properties
- Provide odour-absorbing properties that eliminate rather than cover up odours

Tri-Clean is pH neutral, meaning it can be safely used on all interior surfaces, including leather and Alcantara. I like the way this product wipes on, then flashes away to clean, non-greasy residue free finish. The only thing I don’t like about Tri-Clean is the Pine O Clean/Lysol-like scent, it is a disinfectant after all.

Honorable Mentions -

- Opti-Coat M-Wash, such an amazing soap that no one talks about. Expensive though.

- Optimum Power Wheel & Tire Cleaner, extremely capable, well above some the go-to's in this class.

- Opti-coat Clean & Protect, unlike similar products, this one actually delivers streak free results.

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