Is M26 Yellow Wax basically Gold Class Plus Wax on Steroids?

[TheStig]

I have always wanted to know how GC and M26 compare. Seems like M26 is a hybrid carnuba/polymer wax just like Gold Class Carnuba Plus, but without the small presence of paint cleaners.

[Top Gear]

Re: Is M26 Yellow Wax basically Gold Class Plus Wax on Steroids?

The way I understand it from threads here is that GC Carnauba Plus is an updated version of itself and M26. They are very closely related, of course, but not exactly the same. M26 perhaps matches more with M105/205, while GC matches more with UC/UP. I think GC has more polishing oils and cleaners. All Meguiar's carnauba waxes are hybrids or blends. Some have more carnauba than others, but none are pure carnauba, and that's probably a good thing, as the blend gives it polymers and other agents.

[TheStig]

Re: Is M26 Yellow Wax basically Gold Class Plus Wax on Steroids?

I have always wondered whether it would be practical to pick up M26 over GC since GC is now the only non-professional product (Mirror Glaze only) I use on my 928.

[TheStig]

Re: Is M26 Yellow Wax basically Gold Class Plus Wax on Steroids?

I have also seen in the search for my info that M26 hides fine scratches better than GC.

[Top Gear]

Re: Is M26 Yellow Wax basically Gold Class Plus Wax on Steroids?

Well, it's worth trying if you're up for it. Not sure about a difference between them in hiding scratches. If anything GC is Yellow Wax on steroids, rather than the other way around. But one of the cleaner-waxes - most of them have carnauba as well - would be better for hiding light defects. For example, I now use Detailer D301 Finishing Wax, which is a carnauba-based cleaner-wax, and generally finishes swirl-free using DAMF where GC may not have always finished quite as swirl-free using thick foam. So, it's hard to say without trying them using the same methods.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Is M26 Yellow Wax basically Gold Class Plus Wax on Steroids?

M26 is what we call a "pure wax", meaning simply that it has no cleaning ability and no polish. It is just wax protection and is designed to be applied as an LSP over a near flawlessly prepared surface. Gold Class Carnauba Plus, on the other hand, is what we call a "polish wax", meaning it provides wax protection but also contains some polishing oils to further darken and richen the color. The presence of polishing oils, simply by virtue of their characteristics, means that GC will likely have a greater ability to hide super fine defects than M26 will. Just keep in mind that anything you apply to the paint and intentionally leave some of it behind (and that is essentially the definition of waxes and sealants) will have at least some ability to fill in these really fine defects.