F-Type ( X152 ) 2014 - Onwards
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Installing soft water/conditioning system in my home...for the Jaguar!

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #1  
Old 11-18-2014, 04:00 PM
buickfunnycar.com's Avatar
Veteran Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Monterey, CA
Posts: 1,924
Received 333 Likes on 231 Posts
Talking Installing soft water/conditioning system in my home...for the Jaguar!

Lol...Wifey thinks it's for her hair and skin when in reality...it's so I don't have to deal with all the hard water/calcium deposits on my exterior Black Pack!

Through Costco,it'll get installed next Tuesday and I can wash it out in the sun and it won't spot!!!
 
  #2  
Old 11-18-2014, 04:05 PM
zach05855's Avatar
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Calgary Alberta
Posts: 531
Received 258 Likes on 148 Posts
Default

I am not sure that will work as you are not demineralizing the water, only removing some of the minerals.

I tried that too and actually have two water softeners, but you will still have a TDS of 50-80 depending on your source water.

.
 
  #3  
Old 11-18-2014, 04:06 PM
DJS's Avatar
DJS
DJS is offline
Veteran Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Metrowest Boston
Posts: 6,240
Received 2,087 Likes on 1,389 Posts
Default

Neat idea. I find it challenging to dry the car before water spots form. Guess my technique needs improvement.
 
  #4  
Old 11-18-2014, 05:15 PM
WaltB's Avatar
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Dallas, Texas
Posts: 207
Received 98 Likes on 56 Posts
Default

I use the CR Spotless system and then blow dry it. Works great.

CRSpotless Water Systems? Spotless Car Wash De-Ionized Spotless Water

Walt
 
The following users liked this post:
Sultan1966 (08-31-2022)
  #5  
Old 11-18-2014, 05:20 PM
swajames's Avatar
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 906
Received 227 Likes on 172 Posts
Default

I also have a CR Spotless - it really does make a difference.
 
The following users liked this post:
Sultan1966 (08-31-2022)
  #6  
Old 11-18-2014, 05:24 PM
gotwish's Avatar
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Memphis
Posts: 190
Received 26 Likes on 19 Posts
Default

I use a silicone water blade and then a blower--works great.
 
  #7  
Old 11-18-2014, 05:24 PM
jmfan's Avatar
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: California
Posts: 531
Received 178 Likes on 87 Posts
Default

Like Walt B said a water deionizer (DI) works best. This is what many car dealers use to clean the rows of cars on their lots without drying them. You can literally rinse a black car in the hot sun and the water will evaporate spot free.

Here is another system available:

Portable Water Deionizer - Cleaning Tools - Car Washing - Car Care - Griot's Garage
 
  #8  
Old 11-18-2014, 05:25 PM
Kjamo's Avatar
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Pac NW
Posts: 202
Received 28 Likes on 18 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by buickfunnycar.com
Lol...Wifey thinks it's for her hair and skin when in reality...it's so I don't have to deal with all the hard water/calcium deposits on my exterior Black Pack!

Through Costco,it'll get installed next Tuesday and I can wash it out in the sun and it won't spot!!!
That's funny. Sounds like something I would do.

My wife is notoriously late for EVERYTHING. I like to be early. Once while planning for a hiking trip the following morning with her - after she went to bed, I set every single clock in the house forward an hour, including her watch just to be sure we would leave on time.

It wasn't until we were sitting in the emergency room that afternoon that she figured it out. I'd put an agave cactus thorn through a nerve in my wrist and couldn't get it out. I know, serves me right.
 
  #9  
Old 11-18-2014, 08:00 PM
Mulmur's Avatar
Veteran Member
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Mulmur, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1,420
Received 259 Likes on 205 Posts
Default

I have a good water softener and last year installed an outside tap for the same reason.. to wash the car with fewer spots. It is a lot better than before, yet you still need to dry it off as it will still spot to a certain extent.. at least mine did.
Lawrence
 
  #10  
Old 11-18-2014, 08:14 PM
StealthPilot's Avatar
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: South east
Posts: 910
Received 147 Likes on 115 Posts
Default

I have also had great success with CR Spotless.
 
  #11  
Old 11-18-2014, 08:19 PM
JimC64's Avatar
Veteran Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Glasgow, Scotland UK
Posts: 47,302
Received 9,006 Likes on 4,113 Posts
Default

Never had problems with water spots.

I use just regular water, wash and rinse and then dry with clean fresh microfibre towels.
A blower is also a good idea and will work well.

The silicone blades, not so much as they will inflict scratches / marring over time.
 
  #12  
Old 11-18-2014, 09:13 PM
mshedden's Avatar
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Central Virginia
Posts: 701
Received 192 Likes on 128 Posts
Default

Soap and detergents work much better in soft water compared to hard water, so a softener is a good idea in general around the home.

The water softener trades sodium ions (from the salt you add) for the calcium ions in your hard water - this will not result in water that does not spot, but any spots you do get are easier to remove. If you towel dry the car it won't be an issue.

Getting rid of all minerals in water is possible, but wasteful of water (Reverse osmosis wastes about 5 gallons for every gallon it makes), or really expensive - de ionization cartridges are expensive. I used to have a reef aquarium (salt water) and making pure, de-ionized water for it probably cost a dollar a gallon or more and was a hassle.

Distilled water (get at supermarket) contains next to no dissolved solids - you could dump some over the parts of the car you are concerned about and it shouldn't spot.

Soft water and towel drying is probably the best solution.
 
The following users liked this post:
Foosh (11-18-2014)
  #13  
Old 11-18-2014, 11:14 PM
gotwish's Avatar
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Memphis
Posts: 190
Received 26 Likes on 19 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by JimC64
Never had problems with water spots.

I use just regular water, wash and rinse and then dry with clean fresh microfibre towels.
A blower is also a good idea and will work well.

The silicone blades, not so much as they will inflict scratches / marring over time.
I have to say I used silicone blades on my BMW 650 for eight years and never noticed any scratches or marring, but perhaps I didn't pay enough attention?
 
  #14  
Old 11-19-2014, 07:41 AM
StealthPilot's Avatar
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: South east
Posts: 910
Received 147 Likes on 115 Posts
Default

I use CR Spotless. And then sometimes I power-dry the car with the Master Blaster. Other times I just let the car air-dry. either way the car looks great with no water spots.
 
The following users liked this post:
WaltB (11-20-2014)
  #15  
Old 11-19-2014, 07:44 AM
rkrenek's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Dallas
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
Received 10 Likes on 8 Posts
Default

+1 for CR Spotless. I've been using it for several years and works great.
 
  #16  
Old 11-19-2014, 08:06 AM
mshedden's Avatar
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Central Virginia
Posts: 701
Received 192 Likes on 128 Posts
Default

A good, natural chamois leather works wonders at removing water - very soft, and no lint. Maybe too 'old school'...?

Hmm... come to think of it, using a good chamois rinsed and wrung out using a gallon of distilled water might be a perfect solution...
 

Last edited by mshedden; 11-19-2014 at 08:09 AM.
  #17  
Old 11-19-2014, 07:21 PM
JimC64's Avatar
Veteran Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Glasgow, Scotland UK
Posts: 47,302
Received 9,006 Likes on 4,113 Posts
The following users liked this post:
WaltB (11-20-2014)
  #18  
Old 11-20-2014, 11:18 PM
WaltB's Avatar
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Dallas, Texas
Posts: 207
Received 98 Likes on 56 Posts
Default

Stealth Pilot and JimC64,

Thanks for mentioning the Master Blaster. I had been using an electric leaf blower. Not anymore, just ordered the 8HP Master Blaster. Will hang it on the wall and use the 30' of hose I also ordered to reach around the car.

Walt
 
The following users liked this post:
JimC64 (11-21-2014)
  #19  
Old 11-21-2014, 07:26 AM
Foosh's Avatar
Veteran Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Maryland, USA
Posts: 6,177
Received 1,026 Likes on 854 Posts
Default

Yes, thanks for mentioning this product. I'll be ordering one not so much for my cars as this. It will be a real time-saver.
 
Attached Thumbnails Installing soft water/conditioning system in my home...for the Jaguar!-img_0889.jpg  
The following users liked this post:
JimC64 (11-21-2014)
  #20  
Old 11-21-2014, 11:16 AM
buickfunnycar.com's Avatar
Veteran Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Monterey, CA
Posts: 1,924
Received 333 Likes on 231 Posts
Thumbs up

Ordered one this morning as well...
 
The following users liked this post:
JimC64 (11-21-2014)


Quick Reply: Installing soft water/conditioning system in my home...for the Jaguar!



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:14 AM.