Wax

There are a lot of really good products on the market. Try different ones until you find the one that hits you just right. I have found Zaino to be the best but a pain in the neck since you can only get it by mail order and some of its advocates rival cult followers. Meguiars makes a lot of different products but I really like NXT. Just as simple to put on as Zaino's and available at any auto parts store. Turtle Wax makes "ICE" which is different in that it doesn't show up white on rubber parts so it is less trouble to apply. I found it to be hard to wipe off, but it is all right. Every leading auto wax company has one or two top of the line products and you should try until you can compare and pick. The important thing to remember is that the best "wax" (most of these products contain little or no wax-they are polymer sealants), is whatever one you are likely to use. Having some $80 product sitting on your shelf because it is a pain to apply doesn't do a bit of good.

 

clay bars are a good friend to have, too.

 

Clay bars are great for removing impurities and overspray from the finish of your car, but if you have to do it more than once every year or year and a half, you need to find the source of all that pollution.

I see some people doing it regularly as part of their detailing routine and I don't think that is what it is for. While it isn't hard, I don't want to put that effort into maintaining my car unnecessarily.

 

Actually, a lot of road "grime" that is not tar, overspray, or industrial fallout, is surprisingly stubborn. It takes more than just a wash mitt to get it off. On a white car (mine) you can see it like this period . But if ignored, they pile up. Some you have to flick off with a fingernail, others need the clay. Personally, I don't wanna wax over 100's of little dots and then have it permanent bonded to the clear coat as time goes on. As you said, it boils down to a matter of how obsessive you want to be. If I didn't love my Prius, I'd wash my car once a season.

Here's my regimen for wax: I might wax 3x year.

Wash
Clay
Meguiar's Deep Crystal polish
Meguiar's NXT, 2 coats.

 

Would somebody mind explaining this to me. I remember the infomercials which promoted the polymer stuff, but I haven't seen one for quite awhile. So, when buying a "wax," should I actually be looking for the polymer stuff. What else should I be looking for?

FYI, I haven't had a new (or even close to new) car since 1978 so I never bothered to wax it.

Dumb Mike

 

Wax generally refers to a product made from a natural substance, such as carnauba, which is derived from a palm tree grown in Brazil.

Polymers are synthetic substances.

FWIW, I prefer One Grand Blitz Wax, which is a high quality carnauba wax.

If you really want to learn more, I'd suggest visiting one of the many detailing forums.

 

I disagree.

I live in the SF bay area, which is relatively pollution free, and clay bar my cars 2 or 3 times a year. There's all kinds of stuff than can attach itself to your paint as a surface contaminant.

Try the plastic bag test. After washing/drying your car, put you hand in a plastic sandwich bag, and rub it over part of your car. You'll feel the tiny bumps on the paint surface. Clay your car and retry the bag test--it will be smooth as silk, which also makes waxing much easier.

 

Really?

 

Really!

 

Ok I learn something new each day. thanks

 

The best value in wax IMO is Collinite Super Doublecoat Auto Wax No. 476s. Great stuff, lasts up to six months, water beads like you have never seen, does a good job keeping dirt from sticking to the paint and reasonably priced. I bought 3 cans of it at Harbor Freight for under $4 each last year. Not sure if they still carry it.

 

Well, sure, as long as Congress is in session!

 

Whatever works for you. I just don't have that much energy anymore. Or when I do, I prefer to use it elsewhere.

 

Try googling car detailing. Here is one site that has some information, just remember that all of the sites have some ulterior motive, like selling a product to you.

How To Articles - Car Care Specialties

Here is another:

http://www.doityourself.com/scat/detailing

 

Well, if you really want to learn about auto detailing check out Autopia.org http://www.autopia.org/forum/forum.php

Set aside some reading time though. You have been warned ;-)

 

Yes, they are very good. I couldn't find my link to that. I have read it and it is much more than I need or want to know, but it is nice to know it is there.

 

+1 on the Meguiar's NXT (2.0) and the clay bar first, if the car needs it. NXT go on easy and comes off just as easy.

 

Hello all - Newbie here; I have been lurking for a few months and then picked up a 2010 V a few weeks ago - great car.

I have been using Zaino products for the past 10 years, nothing comes close. ( I am not in any way affiliated/associated with Zaino). I use Microfiber products from Adams polishes because they are really really good. The initial application of Zaino is a real pain, but subsequent maintenance is a breeze and you can easily go up to a year without another application of it if you want.

Zaino is not a natural product like wax is, and guess what? Paint is not a natural product either. The clearcoat on all cars today is really thin and many 'waxes' have abrasives in them which will eventually wear down the clear coat. Also wax yellows with age and has to be reapplied much more frequently that a product like Zaino (which as no abrasives in it) so there is more chance to wear down the clearcoat.

The 'wax' products you can get at most auto parts stores and Walmart are not very good. Oh they may make your car shine for a few day, but they are not really worth the effort.

 

If all you have been using for 10 years is Zaino, how do you know that the "wax" products you can get elsewhere are not very good? I have used Zaino products for years also, but I have decided that, while they are excellent, there are several over the counter products that are just as good. NXT is one. Besides, I am not organized enough to plan ahead and get what I need far enough in advance so I end up driving to the auto parts store or Walmart to get stuff fairly regularly. Besides, going to Walmart does amazing things for my psyche. They think I am Antonio Banderas when I walk in there. Everything is relative, after all.

Zaino is very, very good and Sal Zaino is a great source of information if he still answers the phone up there, but it is no longer head and shoulders above the competition.