Help! Quik Wax

[Heiress Hilton]

I just used Quik Wax on my car last night and it seemed to look good, until i got to work this morning and my car looks soo streaky and smeary! I have about had it with that product! Is there any suggestions of what i can do now? Should I just rewash my car or try rubbing the car down some more with a cloth like i did last night? Thanks!

[Snowman]

I possibly would first try just going over the car with some Quick Detailer before going through the entire washing process again. It may have just needed to be worked in a little more with the cloth. Have yet to actually use that product (Quik Wax) but these are the steps I would take.

[the other pc]

I'd go with Snowman's advice and try QD first to see how that goes.

When I've seen streaking in any wax it's usually been caused either by inconsistent application/removal of the wax or by applying it to a base finish that wasn't pristine.

Quik Wax, being so light, flashes off the carrier very quickly and seems to me to be more sensitive to being applied to a hot surface than say, #26. If the car is getting any direct sunlight, if it hasn't been in the shade long enough or if the weather's just plain hot you have to be extra careful to spread the Quik Wax out thinly and evenly (and quickly).

Applying wax thinner is always better. Quik Wax, being a spray, might seem to go on thin automatically but I think it's pretty easy to apply it unevenly if you're not careful. The thinner it goes on the easier it is to remove evenly and completely too.

Any inconsistencies in the finish can also lead to streaking. I'd guess that it's usually a microscopic layer of oxidation, perhaps too small to be obvious but enough to make the surface just a little too porous. Maybe a very thin layer of some kind of contaminant that won't wash off easily would do it too. Either way, cleaning the finish to expose smooth, pristine paint should do the trick. You might try DC step 1 cleaner, ScratchX, MPPC or something similar.

Has the car been clayed and cleaned lately? If not, it might be worth picking a test spot in the area with the worst streaking and giving it a try.


PC