A slightly less than simple regimen: wash, sealant & wax ?

[e30]

When I've applied BOTH a long(er) duration sealant (e.g. Megs #21) and a short(er) duration wax (e.g. Megs #26), what's the procedure for regular maintenance?

I'd imagine something like: 'Once a month' simply 'GoldClass' wash & RE-wax, then at the end of the sealant's duration 'Dawn' wash (&/or IPA), re-seal, re-cure & re-wax?

In a 2-layer protection -- sealant + wax -- how do you actually know when to just re-wax on top of the existing sealant layer, and when to strip/reapply the sealant ( We *DO* strip the old sealant, right? not just apply a new coat over what's left?)

[wifpd4]

Re: A slightly less than simple regimen: wash, sealant & wax ?

Still considering myself a learning, noob, my practices may not be the best, but they kind of work for me. I've never used Dawn to clean my car(s) always used an automotive soap, whether Gold Class, Ultimate Wash and Wax or something in a foam gun like SuperSoap. In my case, either the wax has worn off or I use automotive clay to remove any wax remnants.

I like to start with a base of Ultimate Wax and build on and maintain that. If I use a natural wax, like Gold Class Carnauba Plus, on top of Ultimate Wax it is for aesthetics rather than longevity. That means I rarely do that in the winter. Meguiar's states on properly prepared paint and properly maintained, Ultimate Wax has the longest longevity of their waxes.

So if I hand wash, I use Ultimate Wash and Wax and at a minimum and follow with Ultimate Quik Wax as I dry. If I run the car through a touchless wash I follow up with Ultimate Wash and Wax Anywhere. Always trying to maintain the base coat of wax. Because my own car is a daily driver, rarely garage, I wash a variety of ways and probably need waxed monthly (at minimum, but sadly that never happens).

[e30]

Re: A slightly less than simple regimen: wash, sealant & wax ?

Thanks, but not my questions.

I'm asking how to know when to replace just the wax layer, or both the sealant & wax layers.

If re-doing just the wax layer, is wash sufficient before re-waxing? Certainly claying at this point would dig through the *sealant* as well ...

And, if doing both layers, whether to (always) strip the remaining *sealant* with clay before reapplying some more, or just layer it over what's remaining?

[DrdetailNashville]

Re: A slightly less than simple regimen: wash, sealant & wax ?

No reason to strip off old sealant/wax unless you have some paint correction you want to do. Sometimes wax can hide defects. If your car is looking the way you want it to, then just keep up your regular maintenance.

[e30]

Re: A slightly less than simple regimen: wash, sealant & wax ?

No reason to strip off old sealant/wax unless you have some paint correction you want to do. Sometimes wax can hide defects. If your car is looking the way you want it to, then just keep up your regular maintenance.

Ok, got it.

Eventually, though, even with "just" wash-n-wax "regular maintenance", at some point it's time to replace the sealant, right? I've heard #s for sealant longevity that range from 1-6 months.

How do you know when it's the right time? Just regularly schedule it?

[Detailing by M]

Re: A slightly less than simple regimen: wash, sealant & wax ?

you re-wax when there is no wax left on your car.
wax is made to fall off. Taking dirt and contaminates with it.

As you wash your car, a little wax leaves your paint. As time goes on you'll notice dirt sticking to the paint and bumps from air born contaminates that are bonding to the paint.
So you re-wax when your not happy with how your paint looks.

As far as striping wax or sealant, you never really have to do this unless you want to see your paint without any enhancements from the wax/sealant or your board.
I'll strip a spot the hood just so I get an idea of what the paint actually looks like, but it's not a common practice I do on every car.
My regular maintained cars never get stripped. Just polished or waxed.

[Murr1525]

Re: A slightly less than simple regimen: wash, sealant & wax ?

If you like the carnuba wax on top, you may like to use the Gold Class Spray Wax after washing.

That will extend the life of the regular wax on the car, and boost the looks back up.

[e30]

Re: A slightly less than simple regimen: wash, sealant & wax ?

you re-wax when there is no wax left on your car.
wax is made to fall off. Taking dirt and contaminates with it.

As you wash your car, a little wax leaves your paint. As time goes on you'll notice dirt sticking to the paint and bumps from air born contaminates that are bonding to the paint.
So you re-wax when your not happy with how your paint looks.

So that's the telltale indication of when it's time to re-WAX.

As far as striping wax or sealant, you never really have to do this unless you want to see your paint without any enhancements from the wax/sealant or your board.
I'll strip a spot the hood just so I get an idea of what the paint actually looks like, but it's not a common practice I do on every car.
My regular maintained cars never get stripped. Just polished or waxed.

So you NEVER reapply sealant once it's been applied the 1st time? Just the wax on top of it? If that's the case, what are the discussions about sealants "lasting" far longer than waxes -- say, up to 6 months -- but still, eventually, needing reapplication?

[Murr1525]

Re: A slightly less than simple regimen: wash, sealant & wax ?

Well, cant say there is a certain absolute sign of needing to re-wax... some of it is feel/looks... Generally for me, I can start to notice when the rinse water isnt flowing off as easily anymore.

I believe PWMD is lumping sealants/waxes together. He is just saying that the paint cleaner or cleaner/polish will remove old products left behind, so no need for a dedicated 'stripping' step.

[wifpd4]

Re: A slightly less than simple regimen: wash, sealant & wax ?

Well, cant say there is a certain absolute sign of needing to re-wax... some of it is feel/looks... Generally for me, I can start to notice when the rinse water isnt flowing off as easily anymore.

I believe PWMD is lumping sealants/waxes together. He is just saying that the paint cleaner or cleaner/polish will remove old products left behind, so no need for a dedicated 'stripping' step.

e30,
As Murr has stated for re-waxing, plus I notice when I use Ultimate Quik Detailer there is a slight drag on the microfiber when wax is going or gone.

For me when I re-wax, I like to polish first with something like M205, D301 or one of the cleaner waxes. So a) the base coat of wax is gone from natural wear and tear and repeated washing or b) it's removed during the action of polishing. And frankly I don't care if the base coat is "completely" gone or not, I just wax over it as long as it is clean. When I start from scratch, I clay the car.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: A slightly less than simple regimen: wash, sealant & wax ?

First off, there is no real need to apply both a sealant and a wax as both do the same thing. If you're using a wax on top of the sealant because you like the way looks, that's fine, you just don't have to use them both. In fact, some might argue that if you're applying a sealant that offers a high level of hydrophobic protection you're actually compromising that benefit by putting a wax on top of it.

But whether you use just one of these or both of them, maintenance is going to be the same. Frequent removal of light dust and other contaminants, plus washing weekly, are far better than washing just once a month. Remember, too, that exposure is everything here and heavy rain is very hard on traditional waxes. A carnauba that might last 2 months in a warm, dry climate may last just a week if exposed to near constant heavy rainfall. Sealants will hold up to this much better, but are subject to the same sort of natural degradation as traditional waxes.

When waxes and sealants do degrade, however, they don't necessarily do it in a completely uniform fashion. The applied layer is extremely thin and as some parts of the car experience more harsh conditions than others that wax coating will degrade more quickly in those areas. So to view this process as "when the wax is gone but the sealant is still there" sort of both oversimplifies and over complicates things at the same time. Usually a really good indicator for the overall health of the wax coating is how easily a quick detail spray is wiped off and dries. On a fresh coat of wax this process is a snap, the towel just glides over the paint and the QD is wiped up immediately. As that wax degrades this experience is a bit less rewarding and continues that downward trend as things degrade further. Washing and drying are also easier on a fresh coat of wax or sealant, so both are indicators that you're getting close to needing a fresh application. Whether this means applying both the wax and sealant is up to you. And don't judge water beading, especially from rain, as any sort of indicator that your wax/sealant is still there - road grime will promote water beading. A proper washing will remove this road grime and you may then see some serious sheeting of your rinse water on the paint, but until you do that rain water will still bead.

Lastly, whether or not you strip the original underlying coat of sealant is up to you. If you're using the same product again, there really isn't any need to do so. And if it's been a long time since you last applied it, there probably isn't much left anyway. So rather than be overly concerned with when the wax is gone and if any sealant still remains, you'll likely do yourself a favor by just getting into a routine of regular washes (and QD to remove light dust) and quarterly applications of your sealant/wax (weather depending, of course). Clay as needed. It all comes down to what your goals and expectations are for the overall appearance of your vehicle, balanced with how much time and effort you're willing to put in to making it look that way.

[chrisalvarez]

Re: A slightly less than simple regimen: wash, sealant & wax ?

[QUOTE=wifpd4;524887]e30,
As Murr has stated for re-waxing, plus I notice when I use Ultimate Quik Detailer there is a slight drag on the microfiber when wax is going or gone.

For me when I re-wax, I like to polish first with something like M205, D301 or one of the cleaner waxes. So a) the base coat of wax is gone from natural wear and tear and repeated washing or b) it's removed during the action of polishing. And frankly I don't care if the base coat is "completely" gone or not, I just wax over it as long as it is clean. When I start from scratch, I clay the car.[/QUOotTE] very informative. So what is the difference between a synthetic wax like ulw and a sealant

[Murr1525]

Re: A slightly less than simple regimen: wash, sealant & wax ?

Yeah, dont get too tied up between names...

You basically have the carnuba products, and then the synthetic products.

Also, none of Meguiars products are purely carnuba, they will have at least a bit of synthetic stuff in them.

A company might add wax, sealant, protectant, whatever to the name at the end for marketing.

So for instance the Ult. Wax is the upgraded version of Nxt Tech Wax / #21 Synthetic Sealant.

[e30]

Re: A slightly less than simple regimen: wash, sealant & wax ?

very informative. So what is the difference between a synthetic wax like ulw and a sealant

I heard back from Meguairs directly -- by phone and email.

It turns out that "Ultimate Wax" is simply *marketed* as a wax. It is not, in fact, a wax.

It is, rather, Meguiars' "most recent, and longest lasting sealant". And that includes their current Professional line.

And they contradict the "both do the same thing" advice, above. Well, more the 'how' ... and that the sealant's a much more durable protection than a wax.

In any case, they do NOT recommend layering sealants of different types.

They DO say that while one coat is sufficient, up to TWO coats can be applied. Ideally, applied thinly, and with 12-24 hr. cure between the coats.

That sealant coat is where the 'long lasting' protection comes from.

For pure cosmetics, an actual wax -- e.g. GoldClass Liquid -- can be applied, but will not necessarily improve the water/dirt/UV performance w.r.t. the Sealant.

On another note, a chemical-only wash that works for me for sealant/wax removal & finish prep prior to even clay/compound/polish is a regular bucket of Meguiars GoldClass wash with ~1-2 oz. of ChemicalGuys Nonsense. I find Nonsense to be an effeictive, useful, and concentrated APC that's got benefits of near neutral pH, no colorants, and no harsh odors. Meguiars' APC+ I found to be to harsh for my own interests/use.

[davey g-force]

Re: A slightly less than simple regimen: wash, sealant & wax ?

With regards to your question about how to tell when your sealant/wax is gone or when it's time to re-apply wax, there is a technique known as the "Squeak Test":

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?6825-The-Squeak-Test-How-to-test-for-the-presence-of-wax&s=