I'm completely baffled...

[CieraSL]

OK guys, maybe you can help me out on this one, because it's got me completely stumped. Every time I wax my car, I get streaking on the hood. Only the hood, mind you. And it seems I only get this streaking with Meguiar's waxes. I have used A12 Cleaner Wax, M06, M26, NXT 2.0, M21 2.0, and every time I get streaking on the hood. Nowhere else. I have used the paint cleaners (Scratch X 2.0, Swirl X, Ultimate Compound) and pure polishes (DC2, M07) and not had any streaking issues. I wanted to see if using a wipe on, wipe off type product would cause any issues, so I tried 3M Performance Finish. Nope, still streaked on the hood. So, last night I laid down a coat of Auto Magic EZ paste wax, which is a carnauba wax, on the hood to see if it would streak. A very nice product, btw. Probably a close favorite of mine next to M26. And...........it didn't streak. At all. So now I'm really confused. Why would some certain products streak and not others? It is the factory hood with factory paint. Temps at time of application and removal were around 70 degrees with low humidity, which is usually how conditions are when I wax. Application and removal processes remained the same as with previous waxes. So, any thoughts on this?

[Murr1525]

Re: I'm completely baffled...

I would guess you have tried different drying times? Letting them sit a bit longer?

[CieraSL]

Re: I'm completely baffled...

I would guess you have tried different drying times? Letting them sit a bit longer?

With my Meguiar's waxes, I usually start with the driver's side front quarter panel, and work my way around the car, doing the hood last. Sometimes, usually depending on the weather and how much time I have, I do the whole car before removing the wax and sometimes I do half the car, remove the wax, then do the other half and remove. Either way, the only place I get streaking is the hood. I let the Auto Magic wax sit for about 10 minutes, it passed the swipe test, then I removed it and it didn't streak at all. The Meguiar's waxes, for me at least, take about 15 minutes to set up and haze. And I can let them sit for 20-25 minutes and still not have any trouble removing them - only the hood gives me trouble. I like the Auto Magic wax because it doesn't take long to set up and haze at all. I have found that if you let it sit on the paint for too long (usually any longer than 15 minutes) it becomes a booger to remove. Wonderful product for a carnauba wax.

[MrCLRider]

Re: I'm completely baffled...

This is a silly thought though but how many towels are you using to remove the product?? Are you starting with the hood first when removing?? Last?? Have you tried to use a different towel for just the hood when removing?? If the towel is the least bit full of product that has not adhered to the clear coat all you will be doing is moving it around and not soaking it up into the towel..did that make sense?

[CieraSL]

Re: I'm completely baffled...

This is a silly thought though but how many towels are you using to remove the product?? Are you starting with the hood first when removing?? Last?? Have you tried to use a different towel for just the hood when removing?? If the towel is the least bit full of product that has not adhered to the clear coat all you will be doing is moving it around and not soaking it up into the towel..did that make sense?

I've tried using a different towel when removing the product from the hood. Still can't remedy the streaking. I apply my coats very thin, so I can usually use the same towel to remove all the wax without getting the towel all loaded up. If I do wind up having a problem removing wax I just go get another towel. But usually one will last me all the way around the car without problems until I get to the hood. Last time I applied M21 it was streaking really bad on the hood, so I put down a coat of M21 over top and wiped it off while it was still wet. That helped, but it wasted product.

[Calais]

Re: I'm completely baffled...

Does UQW streak on your hood?

[CieraSL]

Re: I'm completely baffled...

Does UQW streak on your hood?

Sometimes. Not all the time, but sometimes.

[Eddie6th]

Re: I'm completely baffled...

You've been using Meg's for quite some time. You say the hood only. I think there is something here,but not the waxes.

What is the history of the paintwork on the car?

Is this on the Ciera?

[Tuck91]

Re: I'm completely baffled...

I didnt think M26 and streaking could ever be used in the same sentence.

[Reg]

Re: I'm completely baffled...

Is it possible the hood of your car is too hot when you wax it. It is usually a warmer part of the car with the sun baking on it. Just my 2 cents

[CieraSL]

Re: I'm completely baffled...

You've been using Meg's for quite some time. You say the hood only. I think there is something here,but not the waxes.

What is the history of the paintwork on the car?

Is this on the Ciera?

Yes, this is on the Ciera. I've pretty much only had this streaking problem with my Meguiar's waxes. I had used other waxes before switching to Meguiar's (Turtle Wax, some Ardex wax, some type of Mother's wax) and I don't recall having this streaking problem with them. Given, they weren't great waxes IMO, but I don't recall having this type of problem with them. Waxes I have that are not Meguiar's branded:

Auto Magic Awesome Gloss (a paint sealant)
Auto Magic Banana Magic (a wax with some carnauba and banana oils)
Auto Magic EZ paste wax (a carnauba wax)
3M Performance Finish

When I bought the car, the front bumper (which is fiberglass) was peeling in some areas, revealing red paint underneath. So I suspect the front bumper had been replaced at some point with a bumper from a junkyard or somewhere, and then been repainted to match the car. I had that bumper until I had a fender bender, then I had the front bumper and the headlights replaced. We do not have any service records or such prior to the purchase of the car, but we took it to our mechanic and he checked it out completely before we bought it. To the best of my knowledge, the rest of the car is completely stock and factory painted. I haven't seen anything to indicate otherwise. But like I said, I've had this car for about 4 and 1/2 years and have only stumbled onto this problem since I switched to Meguiar's waxes. Which is why I'm baffled. I would think if there were a problem with the hood I would have streaking no matter what product I used, be it UQD or NXT 2.0. It's just weird. There is nothing to indicate that the car has ever been in a wreck (with me or otherwise), that panels aside from the bumper have been replaced or repainted, nothing at all. And it's got me going screwy.

[CieraSL]

Re: I'm completely baffled...

Is it possible the hood of your car is too hot when you wax it. It is usually a warmer part of the car with the sun baking on it. Just my 2 cents

Nope. I always do my waxing in the evening, usually after 5 or 6 o'clock, when my whole driveway is shaded. And I do it after the car hasn't been driven for a while, so the hood isn't hot from the engine being on. And I would think if the sun were the issue here, then I would have streaking issues with my front quarter panels and my bumper, and I don't.

[Tuck91]

Re: I'm completely baffled...

Maybe pick up a bottle or a gallon of M20 Polymer Sealant. I have layed it on pretty thick at times and it came off very easily and did not streak at all, and I have used M20 Polymer Sealant for a lot of my details where streaking has never occured, and plus it looks awesome on all darker or lighter cars and it has a little cleaning ability as well:















Just some food for thought.

[CieraSL]

Re: I'm completely baffled...

Maybe pick up a bottle or a gallon of M20 Polymer Sealant. I have layed it on pretty thick at times and it came off very easily and did not streak at all, and I have used M20 Polymer Sealant for a lot of my details where streaking has never occured, and plus it looks awesome on all darker or lighter cars and it has a little cleaning ability as well:

Yeah, I wouldn't mind trying M20 out. I've heard great things about the M20/M26 combo. But like I said, on the rest of the car, my Meg's stuff goes on and off like a dream. It's just the hood.

[Tuck91]

Re: I'm completely baffled...

Yeah, I wouldn't mind trying M20 out. I've heard great things about the M20/M26 combo. But like I said, on the rest of the car, my Meg's stuff goes on and off like a dream. It's just the hood.

How about trying some Last Touch at 1:1 or some regular Quik Detailer with a Supreme Shine and wipe the streaks slowly off the hood. Mike Phillips touches on the Final wipe here:

Final Wiping Techniques


If you really want to go extreme, then:

After wiping your choice of wax off the hood, maybe get a small batch of your favorite car wash together and use the 2 bucket method, gritguards, good washing and drying tools. Then just run your wash mitt over the hood very carefully and wipe away the streaks that way, then proceed to dry the car with a Soft Touch Microfiber Chamois or a good ole Water Magnet.