Layering products on new finish?

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Background: 2022 Pilot SE (New), Garage Queen that will see approximately 100 miles a week in Sunny So Cal weather. Finish from the dealer is in outstanding condition.

Equipment: DA Polisher w/various pads, Foam Gun, Multiple buckets, Clay, MF towels, mitts and brushes. I've used the DA on 3 cars so far and feel that I have a pretty good feel for its use and abilities.


I'm very happy with the way the car sits right now (there is no need for anything aggressive). I'm hoping that a little work with a mild cleaner/wax can take the finish to the next level. Right now I'm leaning towards Meguiar's #6 cleaner/wax. I was going to use a very fine foam pad on my DA and give the car a light once over. I will obviously try this first on one of the panels to determine if this is in fact increasing the brilliance or if I'm wasting my time.

Is there anything I can or should apply on top of the cleaner/wax to increase its durability and gloss? I have a bottle of Turtle Wax Hybrid Solution Ceramic Spray and was wondering if a spritz and wipe down would augment the cleaner/wax protection? Maybe a light coat of Carnauba on top of the cleaner/wax? Will these products play nice together? I'd really like to keep the process down to a cleaner/wax and not turn this into some extended multi-step process.
 
I like your choice of the Meg's #6. It is a great non-abrasive cleaner wax. The only correction ability will come from your pad choice, and process, as the product itself contains no abrasives. Since your car needs no real correction the #6 is a great choice. It will leave a really slick and glossy finish.

Another Meguiar's product that is very similar to the #6, is the OTC version of Cleaner Wax in the maroon bottle. I think you'd be happy with either one. They are two of my favorite AIOs.

As far as extending the durability of the protective qualities, any pure wax, i.e., Ultimate, Gold Class, #26 (all Meg's) may theoretically help a little, but my experience is that the "just waxed" look starts to diminish with the first wash, regardless of the product used. Therefore, I put very little credence in durability claims, either by the manufacturer, or by other users.

As you stated, you'd like to keep it simple... With that in mind, just do the #6 (or the OTC version) and repeat it as often as you find necessary.
 
Its Hope Diamond rare to get a vehicle from a dealer with the paint in "outstanding condition"
 
luckydawg said:
Its Hope Diamond rare to get a vehicle from a dealer with the paint in "outstanding condition"
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Well, let me curb my enthusiasm a bit. It looks REALLY good. That should be a couple steps below "outstanding" LOL.
 
A cleaner wax and carnauba wax are on the low end of the durability scale in terms of protection. I’d recommend applying the Hybrid Ceramic Spray every 2-3 months and you should be protected. Over #6 or over #6 with carnauba likely won’t matter much. If you want to go for longer protection, you’d want to go to a coating or coating light and that might require different polishing to make sure no protection or fillers are left that might interfere with the coating.
 
dgage said:
If you want to go for longer protection, you’d want to go to a coating or coating light and that might require different polishing to make sure no protection or fillers are left that might interfere with the coating.
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I totally understand regarding the benefits of taking it to the next level and I appreciate the comment/info. I just don't feel like that's the direction I'd like to go right now. Spending an extra hour or 2 every 3 or 4 months does not seem that daunting to me right now. But who knows, I may be here 6 months from now asking what the best polish is in order to get that damn AIO off my car and apply some ceramic elixir.
 
Honda Fan said:
I totally understand regarding the benefits of taking it to the next level and I appreciate the comment/info. I just don't feel like that's the direction I'd like to go right now. Spending an extra hour or 2 every 3 or 4 months does not seem that daunting to me right now. But who knows, I may be here 6 months from now asking what the best polish is in order to get that damn AIO off my car and apply some ceramic elixir.
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Exactly. Notice I didn’t say better with a coating. Coatings are good and have their strengths and weaknesses. And so do spray sealants. I lean more towards a coating light with Gyeon CanCoat Evo and then top with various toppers every 2-3 months. Gyeon CanCoat may be under there somewhere but the toppers are what is actually providing the protection and water behavior.
 
Sounds like the TW line of products are a good fit for you-- I like them myself
Though you are fooling yourself if you think your gonna get 2-3 months of quality protection out of much of anything short of a coating or MAYBE a high quality sealant MIGHT get you 2-- but certainly not 3
 
luckydawg said:
Sounds like the TW line of products are a good fit for you-- I like them myself
Though you are fooling yourself if you think your gonna get 2-3 months of quality protection out of much of anything short of a coating or MAYBE a high quality sealant MIGHT get you 2-- but certainly not 3
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I totally understand. I'm just going to go with what I know to start with and branch out as time goes by. As you probably know this can turn into one heck of a rabbit hole and I'm trying to keep my focus.
 
I love Meguiar's M06 Cleaner Wax. I still like to use it whenever I can.

It's got a cut similar to M66 Quick Detailer (cleaner wax for high production shops), but I don't have to buy it by the gallon.

I was very happy with the amount of oxidation and swirls it removed from an old Yukon my bassist had. I use it with the black Buff and Shine finishing pads with a Porter Cable 7424xp on speed 4.5/5.

It does tend to gum that pad up. I have to imagine it's the carnauba starting to cure. To get a better clean for the pad I prefer to use an old, dedicated microfiber to wipe the residue off, rather than just the nylon brush.

I also like 3D Speed, Optimum GPS, and Duragloss 101. I use them all with that same pad and machine. I'm thinking I'll pick up some white Hex Logics or something similar for a little more bite.
 
As far as toppers..

If I were going to do all that, I'd do Optimum GPS, and use Opti-Seal and / or Car Wax for layering purposes.

I'm having good results with them on the family fleet of cars, and my neighbor's two cars. We all have Opti-Seal though. Sometime next week I want to strip the non opti products from their spots on my car, and throw some Opti-Seal on the rest of it. I have part of my trunk still looking good (to my eyes) after being applied in late May. GSP held up for about four months, Car Wax about three/four.

Duragloss 101 / Aquawax / Fast Clean & Shine is another high performer for me.
 
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