Quick Detailer Questions

[RandallUmich]

Hi,

I live in Michigan and it just starting to get cold. Cold to the point where I find frost on my car in the morning. After the frost has melted, water spots are left behind. So, I usually pull into a car wash and apply the quick detailer to remove them. Two weeks ago, i applied the quick wax and noticed that the quickdetailer was easy on and off until the end of last week. As a result I put another coat of quikwax on and tried to use the quickdetailer this morning. it was still slow to wipe off. I almost hazes, as if it's affected by teh cold temps. I make sure I have a clean terry cloth by the way. Should it be like that? It says on the bottle that this is a sign that I need another coat of wax, but I don't want to layer my wax too much. maybe it's the cold weather?

[Mike Phillips]

Re: QuickDeatailer Questions

Originally posted by RandallUmich
Hi,

I live in Michigan and it just starting to get cold. Cold to the point where I find frost on my car in the morning. After the frost has melted, water spots are left behind. So, I usually pull into a car wash and apply the quick detailer to remove them. Two weeks ago, i applied the quick wax and noticed that the quick detailer was easy on and off until the end of last week. As a result I put another coat of quikwax on and tried to use the quick detailer this morning. it was still slow to wipe off. I almost hazes, as if it's affected by the cold temps. I make sure I have a clean terry cloth by the way. Should it be like that? It says on the bottle that this is a sign that I need another coat of wax, but I don't want to layer my wax too much. maybe it's the cold weather?

This sounds like it's just a matter of too cold of temperature causing a performance issue. Not much you or Meguiar's can do about this. Have you applied any other wax to the car before using the Spray Wax? Best results from a spray wax are usually achieved on paint finishes that already have a good base of a normal coat of wax, such as the NXT Tech Wax.

Here's some more information on applying Meguiar's product in different temperatures from our new FAQ,

4. What temperature ranges are best for applying cleaners, polishes, and waxes?

When we talk about surface temperatures, we need to consider three factors:

• Surface Temperature
• Ambient Temperature
• Relative Humidity
• Surface Temperature (Actual surface temperature of the vehicle)

The best surface temperature range for applying cleaners, polishes, and protectants is approximately 60? to 80? Fahrenheit. More importantly, the surface does not feel warm or hot to the touch.

Basically, when you're working within this temperature range, it's not too cold, and it's not too warm to realize exceptional results from just about any Meguiar's product.

Meguiar's products will work easily within a much broader temperature range, such as, 50? to 90? Fahrenheit, but guaranteed best results will be achieved in the 60? to 80? range.

Ambient Temperature (Outside temperature)
Ambient temperature is the room temperature or the temperature of the surrounding environment. It's easily possible to have a 10? to 50? difference in ambient temperature compared to surface temperature. This can make the difference between a product that's easy to work with, or hard to work with. Keep in mind, the hotter the ambient temperature, the quicker products will dry.

Humidity (Moisture in the air)
Simply put, humidity is moisture in the air. Technically there is Relative Humidity and Absolute Humidity, but as it relates to:

• Applying
• Working with
• Curing, drying, hazing
• Wipe-off or removal of car care products.

The simple explanation of moisture in the air, or more specifically, the amount of moisture in the air is the major factor, which will affect how easily or potentially difficult a product will be to work with, or a procedure will be to perform.

Low humidity, in warm to hot temperatures, will act to cause liquids to evaporate and dry more quickly. This can make a product difficult to work with or decrease the amount of time the product remains easily workable on the surface.

High humidity in cold temperatures can make products hard to work because it can dramatically increase the amount of time necessary for the product to cure, dry or haze (depending on which product your using).

Low humidity in low temperatures tends not to be a factor in working with, cure times, and when applying and in the removal of cleaners, polishes, and protectants (Low temperatures are a factor, but not low humidity in low temperatures).

High humidity in high temperatures tends not to be a factor in working with, cure times, and when applying and in the removal of cleaners, polishes, and protectants (High temperatures are a factor, but not high humidity in high temperatures)

Extreme temperatures, both cold and hot will make any product more difficult to work with.

Direct sunlight
Direct sunlight will dramatically increase the surface temperature compared to ambient temperatures and make cleaners, polishes and protectants extremely more difficult to apply, work and remove.

Air current/Wind
Air current/air flow, or windy conditions will act to increase the evaporation speed and potentially making some products more difficult to apply, work, or remove. In some cases this can be a bonus, helping a wax to cure/dry more quickly.

Summary
The best conditions for using cleaners, polishes and protectants on automotive paints would be in a cool place, out of direct sunlight, in a surface temperature range between 60? and 80? Fahrenheit, with comfortable to low humidity, with a light breeze to create the perfect conditions for detailing your car's finish.

Common sense and a good rule-of-thumb is to avoid applying any product if the surface is too warm to touch with the palm of your hand comfortably.

50 degrees Fahrenheit = 10.0 degrees Celsius
90 degrees Fahrenheit = 32.2 degrees Celsius

[RandallUmich]

Well, a while back (about June), I used (and still have) the Gold Class wax. The only reason I went teh quikwax route is to test it and because it appeared to be quicker and easier to apply. You mentioned something about NXT wax? Is the Gold class wax not the flagship wax anymore?

[cwcad]

that is a good question and i look forward to a definitive answer.

[Alfisti]

Bump.

[Mike Phillips]

Originally posted by RandallUmich
You mentioned something about NXT wax? Is the Gold class wax not the flagship wax anymore?

Gold Class and NXT Tech Wax are both very unique waxes and both offer different benefits and features. Since NXT Tech Wax has been introduced, its sales and popularity have skyrocketed without cannibalizing, or taking away from the sales of Gold Class. This mean that each of these products have been embraced by different segments of the market.

Both products offer exceptional results and as such neither really takes away anything from the other, so it's not that Gold Class is no longer a flagship product any longer, they are both flagship products.

Mike

[Alfisti]

Thanks for the quick reply, Mike.

Just another question, since I've just imported several jars of GC wax.

Is GC wax a cleaner wax, and if it is, where in the range of cleaner waxes does it lie with regards cleaning ability?