Preventing clear coat failure - Honda Civic

[Kyle R]

Two years ago, I purchased a white Honda Civic. It's my daily driver, washed 2-4 times a month and waxed every three months. As we all know, Honda doesn't use the highest quality paint/clear. My question is: which meguiars wax/sealant should I be using to best protect the paint? I'm more concerned with protecting the paint than I am shine. As of now, I'm using ultimate wax/paint protect. Car is not garage kept and is located in NC.

Lastly, I find that I have to clay the rear bumper every time I wax. Seems like it always feels rough while the rest of the car is fairly smooth. Is claying this often safe? I'm under the impression clay is technically an abrasive, but could be wrong. Thanks in advance!

[twisty roads]

Re: Preventing clear coat failure - Honda Civic

Ultimate wax is the best that meg's has to offer (maybe with the exception of recently added Ultimate Fast Finish). I personally would not clay every month. Is it bad for the paint, not exactly as most clays are mild unless you specifically look for something that states moderate/aggressive. If you are getting that much bonded contaminants even with waxing 3-4x/year, you may want to wash with a wash and wax product like Meg's Ultimate wash and wax for a little extra protection. You could also increase how often you wash your car (of course depending on how much time and energy you have). When I was in college I drove a 2001 Honda Accord and used NXT wax 2-3x/year. I never had an issue with clear coat failure. Honda paint isn't that bad unless you neglect it. It sounds like your on the right track

[Nick Winn]

Re: Preventing clear coat failure - Honda Civic

Hey Kyle,

Ultimate Fast Finish is now Meguiar's most advanced full synthetic polymer; best protecting, most durable, and longest lasting. More information can be referenced at the following below links:

Meguiar's Ultimate Fast Finish Product Introduction Thread
Using Meguiar's Ultimate Fast Finish

I would not worry about claying your back bumper every three months. Claying is very non-invasive.

[Kyle R]

Re: Preventing clear coat failure - Honda Civic

Thank you for the reply. Does Fast Finish offer sufficient UV protection? The sun during the summer can be rough in NC.

[Nick Winn]

Re: Preventing clear coat failure - Honda Civic

Thank you for the reply. Does Fast Finish offer sufficient UV protection? The sun during the summer can be rough in NC.

Hey Kyle, yes, any time we refer to "protection" of a wax, we are referring to protection from the sun & water beading protection.

[Cogos]

Re: Preventing clear coat failure - Honda Civic

If you didn't buy the car new, is game over lol you will never know how good or bad the previous owner took care of the paint, this doesn't show up on carfax or whatever, for all we know the previous owner could've washed the car once every 3 months and never waxed it. It is normal for paint jobs to look perfectly normal in the first 2 to 3 years of ownership, even if you don't wash it AT ALL, but the damage is being caused underneath

You will not be able to repair/recover the time lost. Let's say you bought a 3 year old car, in those 3 years, the previous owner, could have never washed, waxed the car at all, and the paint would still not have clear coat damage, now you own the car, you may now wash it and wax it to the max, the but the damage is already done and it will continue compound, all you are doing is prolonging the inevitable, extending the paint's death date

This is why many hondas have so much clearcoat failure, because not only it has crappy paint jobs, but most people who own them, bought them used. I've seen older cheaper cars with pristine paint job than many civics from 2012 that are already have clear coat peeling

How is that possible? simple, those people with pristine paint job, bought their cars new or with very low miles, and took care of them paint to the max from the start

the average honda civic owner does not buy new, thus, he is screwed from the start, the previous owner, probably didn't take care of the paint, took the car through the car wash once a month, no waxes, no cleaning of bird poop

it was game over before you even bought the car, son

[Lydia]

Re: Preventing clear coat failure - Honda Civic

That's rather unnecessarily pessimistic, in my opinion. There's no way for you to know what the previous owner did.

[Blueline]

Re: Preventing clear coat failure - Honda Civic

Just my two cents. If a car has a bad clearcoat application, such is suggested in Honda in previous comments, there is noting you can do. I really believe waxing won't do much, if anything. It is my opinion, the the real culprit in most clear coat failure, and brand, is the sun. I have no idea how much UV protection is in wax, but the best protection is to keep it from sitting out of the sun as much as you can. You can fry eggs on cars left out in the sun. My cars are garaged at home and work, and sure they sometimes sit out in the sun, but repeated, long sun exposure does not do them any good. (waxed or not)

[Lydia]

Re: Preventing clear coat failure - Honda Civic

I'm not disagreeing that Hondas may have bad clearcoats. I agree also that you ought to do what you can do. I just don't care much for the idea "It's hopeless; nothing you can do will help, the previous owner probably already ruined it". But everyone is entitled to their opinion and I shouldn't have said anything.

To the OP, the fact that your car is white could be a good sign since it doesn't get as hot in the sun. FWIW, my sister has a dark green 2001 Accord (not sure if they're notorious for bad CC or not) and even being in FL, its CC is OK. It is parked in the shade a fair amount though. But it's probably only waxed 1-2 times a year (if that).

[The Guz]

Re: Preventing clear coat failure - Honda Civic

Clear coats will degrade over time just like anything else. Good maintenance will help it last longer. Listening to Dr. G on a recent episode of the optimum synergy podcast, he states that the UV inhibitors in clear coat have a half life of 5 years. Every 5 years the UV protection breaks down about 50%. At 10 years it's down to 25%. He goes on to say that this is based on an ideal condition where the paint is not constantly polished as that is removing clear coat. Very interesting to listen to. His background is in paint as well.

[Kyle R]

Re: Preventing clear coat failure - Honda Civic

Thank for the replies. I purchased the car new in 2015, so it's been properly cared for. Washed 2-4 times a month and waxed 4 times a year. I opted for white as it's swirls are less noticeable, leading to less polishing. I have yet to polish it and don't plan on polishing anytime soon.

While I don't have a garage at my place, I do at work. That being said, at least four days a week it's in a covered parking garage from 7am-4pm.

Ordered a can of Fast Finish earlier this week and will be giving it a try this weekend.