Question about Step #3 in paint care cycle

[D307P]

I understand the 5 step paint care cycle except #3.
1.Wash
2.Clay
3.Polish
4.Wax
5.Maintain

I have Megs Deep Crystal Car Wash, Smooth Surface Clay Kit, NXT Generation® Tech Wax® 2.0, UQD and UQW. It is step #3 that I am unsure what I need.

I want to work on my wife's 2008 Solstice GXP in Victory Red. The rear quarter panels feel like they have little stones in them so I am figuring the clay will remedy that. The upper part of hood has some small scratches that are visible in the sun, but otherwise the paint is good. The car is garage kept and covered and she won't drive the car in the rain.

In different posts, I see step #3 is Deep Crystal Polish, Deep Crystal System Paint Cleaner, SwirlX, or ScratchX depending on the post. Can anyone help me out? Thanks

[mis3]

Re: Question about Step #3 in paint care cycle

my understanding of the 5-step is:
1. Wash
2. Clay
3. Clean
4. Polish
5. Wax

Clean is to remove all previous wax on your clean. I use DC-1 to Clean. DC-2 is used to Polish. Or you can combine the Clean and Polish steps into one by using SwirlX.

ScratchX is for local light scratches and not a good idea to use it for the whole car.

[Murr1525]

Re: Question about Step #3 in paint care cycle

Technically, it is

1. Wash
2. Clean - Clay + Paint Cleaner
3. Polish - Optional - Pure Polish
4. Wax - 2 thin coats
5. Maintain

At the most basic, you will want to:

Wash
Clay
SwirlX
Wax
Wax

If you need a stronger cleaner, than that would need added in.

[searle]

Re: Question about Step #3 in paint care cycle

Getting back to the original question, Murr1525 hit it in his answer. "Polish" (in the Meguiars sense, i.e. glaze/oils) is always an optional step.
- It is of marginal use on very new cars with paint in good condition, and especially if they are light/white colored.
- It yields better results on red/dark cars, and also especially as the paint becomes older (although I use it on my new red car).
- If you use a pure cleaner (like UC or ScratchX) it is more useful
- If you use a cleaner+polish (like SwirlX) it is probably redundant
- If your wax also includes polish (like GCplus) then it is probably redundant.

In short, it never hurts but sometimes it only marginally helps - but when it does help it can give a wetter/deeper appearance.

So, anytime I do a clay+cleaner step with a cleaner that has no polish, I add a pure polish step before the wax. Have never regretted it.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Question about Step #3 in paint care cycle

Technically, it is

1. Wash
2. Clean - Clay + Paint Cleaner
3. Polish - Optional - Pure Polish
4. Wax - 2 thin coats
5. Maintain

As per usual, Murr is spot on.

Cleaning involves both the removal of bonded surface contaminants (via clay) and below surface defects (via a paint cleaner) assuming an evaluation of the finish reveals both situations to be present.

Once you're done with those two steps the finish should look pretty defect free, clear and glossy. A pure polish such as Deep Crystal Polish, M07, M05 or M03 will basically just add gloss to the finish. These products don't provide any cleaning ability (defect removal) or protection (wax) which is partly why we say this is an optional step. Earlier single stage paints showed more of a visual improvement with a pure polish than modern clear coats do, and darker colors show a greater change than lighter color does. Victory Red is a fantastic shade of red, however, and you may well benefit from the application of a pure polish between your cleaning process and final wax.

It should also be noted that products like SwirlX, M80 Speed Glaze and M83 DACP are cleaner/polishes so they offer some cleaning and some polish in a single step.

[D307P]

Re: Question about Step #3 in paint care cycle

Just trying to upload photo of car to see if it worked. First time trying.

[searle]

Re: Question about Step #3 in paint care cycle

Looks great to me. Are you happy with everything ?

[D307P]

Re: Question about Step #3 in paint care cycle

Haven't done the 5 step yet. This was a picture from when we picked it up in 2008. Paint still looks good butfeels a little rough on rear quarter panels and slight scratches in hood. Probably do it this weekend as my big order from ADS is suppose to arrive Friday. Wanted to try an upload so I can do before and after photos.

[searle]

Re: Question about Step #3 in paint care cycle

Lots like you have a nice base to work on. The clay should remove the roughness, and SwirlX may remove the minor scratches (but may need ScratchX or even UltimateCompound). The red will love the polish. I am sure you will be happy with the results.

Take it slow, and have fun on the weekend. Make your wife buy you a nice dinner when you are done :-)