Which Combo is more durable?

[Andrew C.]

Is NXT or 21 alone more durable than NXT or 21 with 26 put on top of that?

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Which Combo is more durable?

R&D states that NXT Tech Wax 2.0 is our best protecting paint protectant, M21 is probably the same or close.

As for longer lasting, Meguiar's doesn't make any claims as to how long a wax or paint sealant will last as there are too many variables involved. Instead Meguiar's teaches people to actively maintain their car and that would include applying another coat of wax or a paint sealant as a part of a regularly scheduled maintenance plan.

Kind of like changing your oil before the bearing in the motor seize up. Most people change their oil at 3000 miles even though if they go to 3001 miles the engine won't likely suffer any damage.

Same idea for maintaining your car's finish, figure out a schedule that work for your lifestyle and periodically re-apply your favorite wax or paint sealant often enough that the paint doesn't need to be cleaned all over again. How often? Depends upon how the finish is treated, the more use as a daily driver the car sees, the more washing the car is exposed to, the more often you should re-apply a wax or a paint sealant.

Even washing will tend to micro-abrade a coating off the paint, at least if you look at washing from an extreme point of view, washing doesn't add more wax or paint sealant so what's the opposite of adding?

NXT, M21 and M26 are all top shelf products, find the one you like the best as far as applying, removing and appearance of your car's paint and then re-apply the product in a timely manner and your car's finish will always look showroom new.

[Andrew C.]

Re: Which Combo is more durable?

R&D states that NXT Tech Wax 2.0 is our best protecting paint protectant, M21 is probably the same or close.

As for longer lasting, Meguiar's doesn't make any claims as to how long a wax or paint sealant will last as there are too many variables involved. Instead Meguiar's teaches people to actively maintain their car and that would include applying another coat of wax or a paint sealant as a part of a regularly scheduled maintenance plan.

Kind of like changing your oil before the bearing in the motor seize up. Most people change their oil at 3000 miles even though if they go to 3001 miles the engine won't likely suffer any damage.

Same idea for maintaining your car's finish, figure out a schedule that work for your lifestyle and periodically re-apply your favorite wax or paint sealant often enough that the paint doesn't need to be cleaned all over again. How often? Depends upon how the finish is treated, the more use as a daily driver the car sees, the more washing the car is exposed to, the more often you should re-apply a wax or a paint sealant.

Even washing will tend to micro-abrade a coating off the paint, at least if you look at washing from an extreme point of view, washing doesn't add more wax or paint sealant so what's the opposite of adding?

NXT, M21 and M26 are all top shelf products, find the one you like the best as far as applying, removing and appearance of your car's paint and then re-apply the product in a timely manner and your car's finish will always look showroom new.

Mike, I would if I could I used to wax every month when I lived at home so durability wasn't too much of a factor for me. My dilemma now is that I am at school and don't have the facilities to be washing and waxing my truck. It sits in a parking garage in LA most of the time, so it is covered from sun, but it still tends to pick up dust just sitting. So I was just wondering what some people think would last longer based off of personal experience and not Meguiars. I am for sure going to do NXT or 21, since it "usually" lasts longer than 26 alone, but I am not sure whether to put a layer of 26 on top of that?

I know that if my truck were outside in LA that I would have tons of fallout landing on my paint but after claying I surprisingly barely had anything, which I think has to do with the truck being in a parking garage. So in a way there aren't too many factors being imposed on the waxes durability since it won't be washed much, isn't in the sun, not driven very often, mostly just sitting.

Unfortunately after today, my truck probably will only get the chance to be washed 2 or 3 times until the very end of May when school gets out and I probably won't have a chance to wax until then

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Which Combo is more durable?

So I was just wondering what some people think would last longer based off of personal experience and not Meguiar's.

I'm sure others will chime in with their suggestions...

[akimel]

Re: Which Combo is more durable?

Based not on personal experience but on what I have read in the MOL archives, I would have to guess that two coats of M21 would be more durable than M21 topped with M26. Gotta go with the pure sealant.

And let me throw a spanner into the works. There are some experienced MOL members who believe that M20 is the most durable of the now available Meguiar's waxes. Again, no experience here, just reporting what I have read.

Cheers,
Al

[jfelbab]

Re: Which Combo is more durable?

I might suggest an alternative for you. Buy a bottle of Quik Wax. Every couple of weeks run your vehicle through a Laser Touchless Car Wash if you don't have the facilities to wash it by hand and then go over it with a Quik Detailer and some clean mircofibers followed by a coat of the Quik Wax. This will keep your car protected and looking good and the time involved is rather little. You should be able to QD and Quik Wax it in under 20-30 minutes.

[gjohn28]

Re: Which Combo is more durable?

Many people feel NXT is Meguiar's most durable protection and is similar in formulation to 21. Consequently, I would think NXT or 21 topped with another layer of NXT or 21 would probably last a little longer than either one topped with a layer of 26.

Although I’ve not tried it myself, I’ve read/heard many times that NXT or 21 topped with a layer of 26 is an absolute killer combo as far as depth and richness of shine, especially on darker paint and keep in mind that while NXT and 21 may have a little more durability, 26 is still no slouch. I’ve used 26 on two black daily drivers and felt the protection lasted a good 2-3 months.

Either way, maybe try 2 layers of NXT or 21 on your hood and a NXT or 21 and 26 combo on your trunk lid and see which combo works best.

[gjohn28]

Re: Which Combo is more durable?

Either way, maybe try 2 layers of NXT or 21 on your hood and a NXT or 21 and 26 combo on your trunk lid and see which combo works best.

Sorry, I just realized this statement may not make much sense. Obviously, you'd probably want to do the rest of the car with one combo or the other, not just the hood and trunk lid. Unless you're OK with having just a shiny hood and trunk lid for several weeks until you can make your decision...

[Nappers]

Re: Which Combo is more durable?

My personal favorites are M16, M26 and NXT. I have M21 1.0 but I don't use it much and it's not as easily available (as M16 is, but I have plenty for a while ).

In my experience, the M26 seems to be the "toughest" in our rural area with road salts in winter, dusty conditions in summer and a little rain inbetween it all. NXT gives the best shine no doubt and M16 is just great and seems to be a tough wax.

The big word is "Depends" on conditions. Our road salts are nasty up here on the I-5 corrider and in our county, turns the cars white and sticks to everything. I spent 2 hours the other day washing the Neon and it was still beading from a late hoorah of M16 application in the mid to late fall (can't remember when I put it on).

M26, in my experience, opinion is a great wax with great gloss, it also dries clear so the little tiny pin hole sized chips on the front of my Neon doesn't get clogged up with white residue. I tend to use M26 in the summer months. Actually I use a ton of waxes......

I never tried the M26/M21 combo or others, I just put on 2 coats of whatever wax I feel like for the day..... But, NXT, M26 and M16 are my go to with M21 as a close tie for the top spots and I also have ColorX, M19 (just got), NXT 1.0, Cleaner Wax and Gold Class(which looks great on the Yukon with Gold paint).

Gibberish, probably made it worse eh?

Just remember, using any stronger cleaner to remove any grime from the paint above the normal car wash will remove wax. Like the quick spritz of a wheel cleaner on that little bit of tar on the lower part of the door, the spray pattern will strip the wax and it won't bead, not sure how I know that

Also, the coin ops usually use a strong soap. I took the Neon in a month or so ago, but I still had protection the other day when I washed.....be aware of that when calculating wax longevity.

L8R

Aaron

[Andrew C.]

Re: Which Combo is more durable?

Sorry, I just realized this statement may not make much sense. Obviously, you'd probably want to do the rest of the car with one combo or the other, not just the hood and trunk lid. Unless you're OK with having just a shiny hood and trunk lid for several weeks until you can make your decision...

It still really doesn't make much sense considering I don't have a trunk lid because I have a truck

[Andrew C.]

Re: Which Combo is more durable?

I might suggest an alternative for you. Buy a bottle of Quik Wax. Every couple of weeks run your vehicle through a Laser Touchless Car Wash if you don't have the facilities to wash it by hand and then go over it with a Quik Detailer and some clean mircofibers followed by a coat of the Quik Wax. This will keep your car protected and looking good and the time involved is rather little. You should be able to QD and Quik Wax it in under 20-30 minutes.

I also may try using quick wax after the few times I get to wash the truck. I just went ahead with 2 layers of NXT for now (applying second coat tomorrow morning). I'm getting some 16 soon so I'll have to eventually test that out. Thanks for your input

[gjohn28]

Re: Which Combo is more durable?

It still really doesn't make much sense considering I don't have a trunk lid because I have a truck

Touche! Should have noticed your avatar...

Regardless, sounds like your are doing what Mike P. often advises - push yourself away from the keyboard and go out and start polishing some paint and see what works best for you. Good luck and have fun.