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NOT WAXING
- Thread starter grbr95
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Am I missing something here. Isn't clearcoat a clear paint layer most of us are trying to protect with different waxes and sealants?
I suppose a waxed new looking car even if its not is right up there with having a green mowed lawn but that's why auto stores have a cleaner /wax isle and there is a subject here in BITOG.
I suppose a waxed new looking car even if its not is right up there with having a green mowed lawn but that's why auto stores have a cleaner /wax isle and there is a subject here in BITOG.
jmacmaster,
Clearcoat is a paint. It is what gives your vehicle shine. You want to protect the clearcoat from weathering, acid rain, bird droppings etc. Without protection it will dryout, dull and crack or even peel down to the color layer.
Clearcoat is a paint. It is what gives your vehicle shine. You want to protect the clearcoat from weathering, acid rain, bird droppings etc. Without protection it will dryout, dull and crack or even peel down to the color layer.
I agree. My point is that I believe that washing as needed is the best protection. If washing doesn't remove all contaminants, use a paint cleaner. Waxes simply don't last long. You'd have to wax at least 4 times a year to have a protecting coat of wax constantly on the vehicle. And if you run it through a car wash, the powerful soap they use strips off the wax. As I said, I ran a Dodge pickup I purchased new for 11 years while only waxing it once and when I gave it to my son a coat of Maguiars Scratch-X and a coat of wax made the paint look like new.quote:
Originally posted by Russell:
jmacmaster,
Clearcoat is a paint. It is what gives your vehicle shine. You want to protect the clearcoat from weathering, acid rain, bird droppings etc. Without protection it will dryout, dull and crack or even peel down to the color layer.
JMMacMaster - your point is you were lucky Dodge made the clear coat on your truck well enough to get away with serious neglect. Being lucky isn't the basis for advice to others not to wax and care for their clearcoat finishes.
Same for the poster - white is often the color and finish you can get away with the least care. It's one of the reasons people buy white.
All that said here is there is camp that believes 2 -4 times waxing per year gives finish protection the longeset and there are some who don't.
Same for the poster - white is often the color and finish you can get away with the least care. It's one of the reasons people buy white.
All that said here is there is camp that believes 2 -4 times waxing per year gives finish protection the longeset and there are some who don't.
jmacmaster,
I see cars all the time that are obviously not waxed, but appeared to be washed often and are clean. On some cars the paint looks fine with a few swirl marks etc, while others look terrible, faded, damage from birds. Often wondered why.
BTW, I use a synthetic sealant with a wax topper. I have found the clear coat on BMWs is easily damaged by bird droppings and this technique with hand washing helps.
I see cars all the time that are obviously not waxed, but appeared to be washed often and are clean. On some cars the paint looks fine with a few swirl marks etc, while others look terrible, faded, damage from birds. Often wondered why.
BTW, I use a synthetic sealant with a wax topper. I have found the clear coat on BMWs is easily damaged by bird droppings and this technique with hand washing helps.
I think its clear from my two posts above that I'm not advising anyone to do nothing BUT wash a vehicle. I said that washing, when needed, is the BEST thing you can do, that when washing doesn't get all the contaminants off you can use a paint cleaner, and that waxes don't last long. I didn't wax the Dodge truck, except once in 11 years, because I was sick of waxes that didn't last more than a couple months. As a matter of fact, at the time I gave away the Dodge truck I bought two new vehicles, and now I use a paint cleaner once a year on each of my two vehicles and try to wax each twice a year. However, in my opinion you'd have to wax every 2-3 months to keep a protective coat of wax on the clearcoat. I'm not willing to do that to two vehicles -- its too much work. If anyone IS willing to do that, more power to them.
It is also my opinion, based on research I've done, that both the paint and the clearcoat now applied to new vehicles is much better than it used to be in terms of its resistance to oxidation and to damage from the sun, the elements, bird droppings and tree sap, pollution, and other contaminants.
I use Maguiars Deep Crystal System Paint Cleaner. It removes a lot of contaminants that washing misses. My wife neglects to wipe the bird droppings off her 03 Subaru Forester. I've used that paint cleaner on droppings that have been there for days and the paint where the droppings were looks the same as the surrounding paint. And I see no damage to the clearcoat.
It is also my opinion, based on research I've done, that both the paint and the clearcoat now applied to new vehicles is much better than it used to be in terms of its resistance to oxidation and to damage from the sun, the elements, bird droppings and tree sap, pollution, and other contaminants.
I use Maguiars Deep Crystal System Paint Cleaner. It removes a lot of contaminants that washing misses. My wife neglects to wipe the bird droppings off her 03 Subaru Forester. I've used that paint cleaner on droppings that have been there for days and the paint where the droppings were looks the same as the surrounding paint. And I see no damage to the clearcoat.
Interesting. As much as I like Meguiars stuff,quote:
I use Maguiars Deep Crystal System Paint Cleaner. It removes a lot of contaminants that washing misses.
this product did not work for me at all. I followed the instructions, although the paint did not look any better then after the wash. My car is white though.
I live where there are 56 apts in South Florida.The people who never wax their cars the paint will get chalky looking and start to fade after about 3 years in this burning sun.The heat index is about 105 with the temps in the low 90's.The ones that wax them still look new after 7 years.Most wax them at least ounce a month due to the burning sun and pouring rain which is sometimes daily.
But i see the point that some say it gets dirty as soon as you drive it.After only minuites the car already a alot of dust on it from all the dirt from the constuction going on here.Plus the morning dew dosen't help.Plus it seems everywhere i park a landscaper is using that nasty blowing machine blowing the grass everywhere but mostly on my car.
But i see the point that some say it gets dirty as soon as you drive it.After only minuites the car already a alot of dust on it from all the dirt from the constuction going on here.Plus the morning dew dosen't help.Plus it seems everywhere i park a landscaper is using that nasty blowing machine blowing the grass everywhere but mostly on my car.
Keeping the surface clean goes a long way toward preserving shine and clarity. Leaving contaminates on the surface causes 'etching', having a dulling effect on the clearcoat, and if neglected for long enough will compromise it, leaving your paint unprotected. (yes, modern paint jobs are a flat base-coat covered with clear-coat.) My sister's 2001 Tacoma sits outside all day in Atlanta while she's at work, but is garaged at night. She's waxed that truck twice since new and the truck still looks brand new....because she's fanatic about keeping it clean. Water droplets barely bead on her truck, but it still has the lustre of a new vehicle. I'm actually amazed considering the UV battering it takes daily, but it's a testament to cleanliness (and the quality of Toyota's paint).
That sounds like my silver 95 GMC that has sat outside in the California sun for over 11 years. The truck has had it's share of small annoying shoddy GM quality issues, but the paint durability has been outstanding. I'm not even close to fanatical about keeping it clean.quote:
Originally posted by CBDFrontier06:
Water droplets barely bead on her truck, but it still has the lustre of a new vehicle. I'm actually amazed considering the UV battering it takes daily, but it's a testament to cleanliness (and the quality of Toyota's paint).
My new Scion is being taken care of with my new philosophy on detailing:
Once or twice a year, I'll give it the full-on detail, waxed top to bottom, sealed, etc.
Every couple of months, I'll do a quicky detail with Ice or other wipe-on/off product.
Every time I get the car washed, I wax a panel or two. That way, I can go to the parking garage during lunch and do the job in less than 20 minutes, rotating through the panels every other wash or so.
The car is always shiny, protected, etc., but i don't dread the whole process, and it's quick.
Getting old I guess, but it's working nicely so far.
Scott
Once or twice a year, I'll give it the full-on detail, waxed top to bottom, sealed, etc.
Every couple of months, I'll do a quicky detail with Ice or other wipe-on/off product.
Every time I get the car washed, I wax a panel or two. That way, I can go to the parking garage during lunch and do the job in less than 20 minutes, rotating through the panels every other wash or so.
The car is always shiny, protected, etc., but i don't dread the whole process, and it's quick.
Getting old I guess, but it's working nicely so far.
Scott
I agree! You need polish/wax and so on to protect from the environment. If you want the wax to last a little longer use a sealant either way IMO its a must! water, bird droppings and other contaminates can and will etch the paint. I will put my black truck(its only 2.5 years old ans waxed every 4 months) up against a non waxed vehicle any day.quote:
Originally posted by Russell:
jmacmaster,
Clearcoat is a paint. It is what gives your vehicle shine. You want to protect the clearcoat from weathering, acid rain, bird droppings etc. Without protection it will dryout, dull and crack or even peel down to the color layer.
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