Do you test wax/sealant longevity?

[StealthXJ]

This question has been on my mind for a while.

How many people actually go 2 to 3 months or longer before adding more wax or sealant? I ask this because I have never tried to prove a wax or sealant company's longevity claim, as I always top off the initial wax or sealant job usually within a month or really whenever I feel like it. Just thought I'd post the question and see what others have to say.

 

[RaskyR1]

I have with coatings but not waxes or sealants.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

I've done some of this over the years but here's a better way of thinking and taking action...


Perform regular maintenance.


When I was at Hewlett-Packard we called it PMs

PM - Preventative Maintenance


Think of taking care of the outside of your car like changing the oil in your car.

You don't wait till the oil in the engine is so far gone that you toast the engine. No you replace it with new oil BEFORE anything can go wrong.

Treat your car's exterior the same way, re-apply products before they are completely gone.

For example while I keep a coating on the wife's Mercedes-Benz I keep wax on my truck. Now days I regularly re-machine apply a wax and my truck always looks like it was just waxed. And I also take comfort that I know there's a fresh layer of protection.

 

[FishyX]

I've done a lot of 1/2 and 1/2 tests on my cars over the years to see which sealants can make it through the winters. This last winter I did my hood in thirds with Z2/zfx, 845 and DG111/601.

 

[Mike Honcho]

I've done a lot of 1/2 and 1/2 tests on my cars over the years to see which sealants can make it through the winters. This last winter I did my hood in thirds with Z2/zfx, 845 and DG111/601.

And, the results?

 

[PandaSauce]

I haven't done any real tests, but I put my paint through a lot. In January I applied Chemical Guys Jetseal and until today I hadn't applied anything else.

February:

April

May

Yesterday

So while not a real scientific test, I put my paint through a lot of mud and washes and it has seen 100 degree weather and rain and still beads well and feels smooth.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[FUNX650]

What protocol do you use when testing
for the longevity of Waxes and Sealants?

{From what I've gathered over the years:
It's often difficult to reach an agreed upon format.}


Bob

 

[expdetailing]

I've done some of this over the years but here's a better way of thinking and taking action...


Perform regular maintenance.


When I was at Hewlett-Packard we called it PMs

PM - Preventative Maintenance


Think of taking care of the outside of your car like changing the oil in your car.

You don't wait till the oil in the engine is so far gone that you toast the engine. No you replace it with new oil BEFORE anything can go wrong.

Treat your car's exterior the same way, re-apply products before they are completely gone.

For example while I keep a coating on the wife's Mercedes-Benz I keep wax on my truck. Now days I regularly re-machine apply a wax and my truck always looks like it was just waxed. And I also take comfort that I know there's a fresh layer of protection.

Mike, which wax do you use on your truck?

 

[expdetailing]

What protocol do you use when testing
for the longevity of Waxes and Sealants?

{From what I've gathered over the years:
It's often difficult to reach an agreed upon format.}


Bob

How about the "looks" and "performance." Shouldn't be too hard to tell once you've been doing this for awhile.

 

[Mike Honcho]

Mike, which wax do you use on your truck?

<Looks in crystal ball...>

HD SPEED

 

[silverfox]

Those of us in snow country know all too well about longevity. It's crucial in fact.

 

[rwright]

Yes, we test everything on daily drivers. For example, my wife drives roughly 70-75 miles per day which all but about 5 miles is interstate. She parks her car beside a very busy main road during the day but in our garage at night. During initial testing of a product we will let it go 3-4 weeks before washing the vehicle, then it will be exposed to a touchless wash. After that the paint is inspected to check dirt release, then washed with a non gloss enhancing wash (3D Pink). Boosters are skipped on this vehicle on purpose.

The next round of testing usually includes a fresh application of given product, then subjected to weekly or bi-weekly washes using 3D Pink Soap, no boosters. Notes are compared between the two rounds and a plan is "drawn up" to determine when to boost the wax/sealant or when a fresh application should be applied. Some of the stuff I check: water beading, water sheeting, dirt release, bug release, ease of wash, and ease of drying.

 

[FUNX650]

How about the "looks" and "performance."
Shouldn't be too hard to tell once you've
been doing this for awhile.

Please elaborate...
If you have been doing this for awhile
you should be able to provide at least
a few pointers as to what constitutes
"looks" and "performance". TIA.


Bob

 

[Desertnate]

Those of us in snow country know all too well about longevity. It's crucial in fact.

This nails it. I get to do longevity testing every winter.

In the summer months I'm washing my car every week or two and I use a spray wax/sealant as a drying aid. I don't have the time or the desire to be constantly topping off the current LSP or starting over. While those spray products only last a week or two, they would still nullify any results simply with the little protection they provide. I'm on a pretty strick 6-month cycle.

Winter is the real crucible. The LSP goes on and it stays through the cold and dark of winter while being hammered by the environment and harsh waterless wash chemicals. The vehicles get washed about once every four weeks; weather permitting. It's a great testing opportunity: harsh environment, and nothing added to the surface to mess up results.

 

[Kamakaz1961]

This question has been on my mind for a while.

How many people actually go 2 to 3 months or longer before adding more wax or sealant? I ask this because I have never tried to prove a wax or sealant company's longevity claim, as I always top off the initial wax or sealant job usually within a month or really whenever I feel like it. Just thought I'd post the question and see what others have to say.

I will probably never try to prove the longevity of a wax or sealant as I enjoy detailing cars....especially mine....it is a great stress reducing therapy to me....My guess it's the same to you too. Keep on rockin the way you take care of your ride....I like your technique and if anyone came up with a concrete number on the longevity...that would be on my "who cares" list....NO OFFENSE to the people that do care.....

 

[expdetailing]

Please elaborate...
If you have been doing this for awhile
you should be able to provide at least
a few pointers as to what constitutes
"looks" and "performance". TIA.


Bob

Always looking to over-complicate things. Bob, if you can't tell the difference, then I don't know what to say to you.

 

[idriveblackcars]

I haven't done any real tests, but I put my paint through a lot. In January I applied Chemical Guys Jetseal and until today I hadn't applied anything else.

February:

April

May

Yesterday

So while not a real scientific test, I put my paint through a lot of mud and washes and it has seen 100 degree weather and rain and still beads well and feels smooth.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

This forum hates anything CG even though some of the stuff they make is the best. I guess for some it's just hard to accept lol.

I have tried SEVERAL different sealants, I will try just about anything on my own car. And jetseal just rocks. Not only does it last through rough New England winters but it stands up to summers too. It goes on easy and comes off easy and will easily go several months. It's a much better product than the WG sealant which doesn't look nearly as glossy. Jetseal works well,period.

 

[Klasse Act]

I like the look of a freshly waxed car, just sayin' :coolgleam:

 

[Klasse Act]

This forum hates anything CG even though some of the stuff they make is the best. I guess for some it's just hard to accept lol.

I have tried SEVERAL different sealants, I will try just about anything on my own car. And jetseal just rocks. Not only does it last through rough New England winters but it stands up to summers too. It goes on easy and comes off easy and will easily go several months. It's a much better product than the WG sealant which doesn't look nearly as glossy. Jetseal works well,period.

I wouldn't say people hate CG's products, its just with so many great product out there like Collinite and DG it gets lost in the shuffle. I have a Durango to do this weekend and I'm using DG #111/601 because I haven't used it for a while, could go with #476 but it was basically a coin flip I guess you could say.

CG's makes GREAT wheel cleaners, I will always have Diablo in my collection, 16 ounces makes 96, a win win!

 

[JeffM]

CG sells production products in small bottles and markets them as boutique. No thanks.