Easiest way to prevent clear coat failure on older DD in Florida weather 24/7?

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jem7sk

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I have a 9 year old Subaru Impreza that sits outside 24/7 in the central Florida sun and weather. I only wash it about once a month with a nice hand wash. I really don't enjoy polishing anymore but do have a PC dual action. It seems I'll polish it out once a year and wax it with Big White Hi-Temp Paste Wax. I'm not sure how long the stuff lasts but I doubt long enough for the year.

What would be the best/easiest/quickest method to make sure my car is protected at all times to prevent Clear Coat failure. It seems that everyone that I know has clear coat failure on their cars after about 10-12 years here. I'd like to implement something in my method above that wouldn't take up any more time that what I normally do but provide much more protection. Is it possible? How would you do it?
 
I live in Central FL too and if I had a DD outside like that I would religiously wash it.IMO once a month isn’t frequent enough.

I’d also invest in getting it coated for optimum UV protection. No need to polish it unless there are defects in the paint and the majority of defects come from improper washing techniques so I would learn correct methods for washing. The coating is what is going to help save the paint.
 
Get a cover…in Fla, there is little you can do once degradation starts, Especially if you have Japanese paint. Move to a garage, carport or a cover. Get it out of the UV.
 
I don’t use covers because when the wind moves, even if you have them strapped down, they can micro mar the paint. I learned the hard way and had to polish.
 
You can get covers that don’t scratch, I used one daily for 2 1/2 years on a Corvette C7 down here in Ft. Lauderdale never had a scratch problem.
 
I don’t remember now, but it had like a silk lining that touched the paint. It did not scratch. It was a genuine GM accessory. Car was coated at that time with CQUK.
 
In my experience in Tampa UV attacks the horizontal surfaces faster i.e. hood, roof and rear deck lid. I would focus on keeping those protected religously.

If you can manage at least a biweekly wash and ensure those surfaces are protected with a robust LSP.

I've kept cars in the family for periods longer than 10 years and have never had clearcoat failure but admit, I'm anally diligent.
 
309c3dbb02504c593c948f1865d9592e.jpg


Not as good as a coating, but OCW has patented UV protection in an easy to use spray wax.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
My vote goes to using a car cover.

Any marring from a cover is easily correctable. UV damage - not so much.

As for covers and scratching/marring... Yes, it will happen. Regardless of the cover type some marring is unavoidable. It may not be the cover itself that causes the marring... It's the movement of the cover in the wind and the dirt between the cover and the paint that causes it, and you don't have complete control over those variables.
 
Meguiars #7 is supposed to “feed” the paint.
 
Bill D said:
I live in Central FL too and if I had a DD outside like that I would religiously wash it.IMO once a month isn’t frequent enough.

I’d also invest in getting it coated for optimum UV protection. No need to polish it unless there are defects in the paint and the majority of defects come from improper washing techniques so I would learn correct methods for washing. The coating is what is going to help save the paint.
Click to expand...

PaulMys said:
309c3dbb02504c593c948f1865d9592e.jpg


Not as good as a coating, but OCW has patented UV protection in an easy to use spray wax.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

If I used this as a drying aid after a car wash bi weekly would it give sufficient protection?
 
Bill D said:
I live in Central FL too and if I had a DD outside like that I would religiously wash it.IMO once a month isn’t frequent enough.

I’d also invest in getting it coated for optimum UV protection. No need to polish it unless there are defects in the paint and the majority of defects come from improper washing techniques so I would learn correct methods for washing. The coating is what is going to help save the paint.
Click to expand...

What coating would you recommend and how long would it last? Could I get away with just claying the car prior to coating?
 
jem7sk said:
If I used this as a drying aid after a car wash bi weekly would it give sufficient protection?
Click to expand...

It would be way better than using nothing.

And I wouldn't use it as a drying aid. Just use it as intended.

I applied a spray-wax to my full-sized Ram just last night after a quick wash, and it took all of 10 minutes. :)
 
PaulMys said:
It would be way better than using nothing.

And I wouldn't use it as a drying aid. Just use it as intended.

I applied a spray-wax to my full-sized Ram just last night after a quick wash, and it took all of 10 minutes. :)
Click to expand...

I'd be curious to know what you used and how long it lasts? This might be the way to go for me.. that is quick. I saw a recent video from a diy detail supply business on YT with the former guy from Optimum Car Care.. where they used their sealant as a lube for their clay mitt and clayed and sealed at the same time.. I might have to give that a go when it is time to clay.
 
jem7sk said:
I'd be curious to know what you used and how long it lasts?
Click to expand...

Personally given how much or how little time rather, that you want to allot yourself for cleaning your car. Given all your info i would skip a wax. In my experience, wax only lasts MAYBE 1.5 months. And thats with normal weekly washes.

You only doing it once a month sounds like you should ceramic coat your car.

But with what little time you want to give to it, i would atleast go with a spray sealant. If you want to go cheaper try out 3D bead it up. It is so dang easy to use, and can be had for 35 bucks a gallon. Can be used on everything.


Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk
 
jem7sk said:
I'd be curious to know what you used and how long it lasts? This might be the way to go for me.. that is quick. I saw a recent video from a diy detail supply business on YT with the former guy from Optimum Car Care.. where they used their sealant as a lube for their clay mitt and clayed and sealed at the same time.. I might have to give that a go when it is time to clay.
Click to expand...

I used DuraGloss Aqua Wax. That was just to top off the Collinite 476S that I applied in late October. (It is still working great)

I didn't mention its name because I just wanted to give you an idea of how quickly a spray wax can be applied.

And the spray waxes only last about 2 weeks. (For me).


As others have said, a coating or lite coating might be right for you, but in the meantime, something like OCW would definitely be better than nothing at all......
 
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