white brand new car

[fpalattao]

Hi Everyone,

Need some advice. I have a brand new white colored car. I recently purchased the tech wax. And was wondering if it would be enough just to get the meguiars shampoo to wash the car every week or week and half. Then use the tech wax when the water stops beading.

I was thinking dont I have to polish it? My friends are saying I dont need to because its colored white. For a darker car its necessary but for white its not. Also is having the spray wax beneficial after I wash the car. I will be planning to use it when I dont wax.

Any ideas, opinions are always appreciated.

Thanks

[scrub]

If time were an issue then you would be fine. Do some searching on the forum. There are some great reflections on white cars. I fell into the trap thinking new cars don't need... detailing, polish, etc but they do. Most dealerships just remove the plastic and wash the car.

[Mike Phillips]

Hi fpalattao,

Meguiar's calls polishing an optional step, one that most of the benefits will be seen on medium to dark colored cars.

Your plan for car care maintenance sounds good if you want to keep is simple and quick. If you're the type of person that wants to take their car's finish to it's maximum potential, or you find working on your relaxing, then go ahead and pick up a bottle of Deep Crystal Polish, (suggested retail prices is only $4.99), and polish the paint after washing but before applying the Tech Wax.

Another thing I would recommend to help you keep your car looking new for a long time would be a Grit Guard for your washing bucket, and a good supply of new wash mitts.

Grit Guard Insert




As your wash mitts become worn or tatty, delegate them to wheel wells, fender lips, wheels and tires and break out a brand new one for your car's finish. Most people wash their car more than any other procedure so if you want to reduce cobweb-effect in your new car's finish, always practice, reducing the potential. by this I mean, reduce the potential for instilling a scratch by always using good quality wash mitts and other application and removal materials, i.e. applicators, towels, and microfiber polishing cloths, any thing else that comes into contact with your car's finish.

Hope this helps...

Mike

[Boss_429]

fpalattao,

I've had a couple of white vehicles, and detailed many. It's somewhat true......... white won't show imperfections like darker colors. However, even white paint needs an ocassional bit of cleaning/polishing to keep it bright, clean, and free of imperfections. You certainly don't have to go crazy if you don't want, and even though NXT has a tiny bit of cleaning/polishing built in, it's probably not a product you should rely on the get all the contaminates out of the paint.

You might want to consider using an ocassional application of a product like Meguiar's ColorX, or similar all-in-one products, that will clean, polish, and add some protection. You can always top the AIO product with NXT.

[fpalattao]

What is the difference between colour x and scratch x? Which would you recommend for a white car?

Thanks

[Acuracl99]

I Have a white acura and i love the shine i can get from it. Its by no means a black beauty but it does need polishing to keep the white looking good. I would get some colorX as its a very good chemical cleaner that will get rid of any stains on the paint and really briing out the white. A tip for keepin your white car looking great is to make sure your trim/tires and wheels are clean and detailed too.

[fpalattao]

Thanks for the reply. I might consider then getting the colour x. How often should I use this. Every 3 months, 6, every hear.

also correct me if I'm wrong is it safe to apply the nxt tech wax after using colour x. I read in a post that the tech wax needs to bond to the paint well and it cant have any form of oil or wax on it. Does colour x have any oils on it?

Thanks

[Acuracl99]

Cool thing about meguiars is that their products are very friendly towards eachother, yes you can use tech wax over color X.

[jchetty]

i dont know about what u consider polishing...but u definetly want to use something with a mild abrasive as a paint cleaner every 2 months...i garage nightly wash weekly and my paint gets dirty..clay wont remove but meguiars deep crystal paint cleaner with a terry cloth applicator does a good job by hand...i notice my hood was streaking, it was actually dirt and after i used the paint cleaner my paint was so white

[fpalattao]

I might grab it too.... Could you tell me how you apply it... After I wash it then I use the cleaner then the tech wax then the yellow wax right?

[Mike Phillips]

Originally posted by fpalattao
What is the difference between colour x and scratch x? Which would you recommend for a white car?

Thanks

ColorX is a strong cleaner/wax. A cleaner/wax in Meguiar's terminology is a product that cleans, polishes and protects in one easy step.

ScratchX is a dedicated paint cleaner. A paint cleaner in Meguiar's terminology is a product that cleans the paint, not like a car wash that remove loose surface contaminants, but like in an intelligent replacement for an old fashioned rubbing or polishing compound. Meguiar’s makes many different paint cleaners, some are very aggressive and intended for application with a rotary buffer and a wool pad, others are very mild and intended for application by hand. All Meguiar's automotive paint cleaners all use some type of diminishing abrasive. This means the abrasive starts out aggressive to remove defects such as swirls, scratches, etchings and oxidation, but as you work the abrasive against the finish, it breakdown, turning into a polishing rouge and polishing the finish to a high gloss.

This is why Meguiar's refers to our paint cleaners as intelligent replacements for old fashioned compounds. Compounds that use abrasives the do not breakdown are as aggressive at the beginning of the process as they are at the end of the process, so while they may remove defects, they leave behind their own defects, (scratches), and tend to leave the finish looking scratched and scoured. Meguiar's paint cleaners, used correctly, remove defects and typically leave the finish looking as though it were just polished and waxed.

ScratchX is a very safe, mild, yet effective paint cleaner that removes defects without scratching and scouring the finish. It is very effective at removing light scratches and swirls, but this often times requires multiple applications because it is mild and safe. You are better off to use a product that is safe and effective yet requires 2-3 applications because anything that is aggressive enough to remove scratches by hand in one passes is going to be to aggressive. It will leave behind scratches. This will defeat the purpose of trying to remove the original defect.

Here's a how to on using ScratchX and getting good results.

How to remove a defect by hand with ScratchX

Mike

[fpalattao]

Mike you have helped me so much not just in this posting but in other threads. Thanks!!!

Given my time I can dedicate with my car this is what I plan to do and I want to hear your comments/suggestions.

I plan to wash my car every week or week and a half. Using Meguiars DC wash.

Coat with tech wax wait 12 hrs coat it again.
Apply Meguiars pure Carnauba wax.

Use nxt spray wax for maintenance after every time I wash the vehicle.

Every so often I will use Colour X after washing top it with tech wax (2x) and finish off with the carnauba wax.

Does that sound okay?

[fpalattao]

I forgot to ask also what is the difference between colour x and meguiars cleaner/wax?

Is one more abrassive than the other? Which would you recommend I use for my white car?

[jchetty]

i would clay prior to usiing colour x..1.) it will make it easier to spread/remove 2.) you will use less product 3.) you wont gum up your applicator

[fpalattao]

Hi Mike,

I'm still waiting for your reply between colourx and meguiars cleaner wax. From my understanding colour x is also a cleaner wax.

thanks