No evidence of waxes or sealants adhering after a few weeks

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michelliot

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I have had this issue pretty much from the purchase of my car. It's an '08 Accord. When purchased they offered me a exterior treatment stating that I wouldn't have to wax the car for years. OK....Didn't wax it for the majority of a year and ended up with bird droppings etching into the surface of the hood. When bringing it to a local detailer, he said there really wasn't any protection on it. He polished out the etchings and treated the surface with a wax or sealant. This was in 2009. But the issue of no protection lasting on the car still exists and I probably wax it every 6-8 weeks. Initially, the protection characteristics are evident.

A month ago, I gave the car two coats of Optiseal and a coat of Pinnacle Sig ll. Last night I washed the horizontal surfaces to rid them of leaf remnants from the weekend. The surfaces cleaned fine but after rinsing, there was no beading or sheeting action. The water just laid there on the surface as a sheet. For the history of this vehicle, protection duration has always been an issue and I have no explanation for it. The surface is smooth as silk to the touch and the reflections are mirror-like, but no evidence of surface protection. FRUSTRATING. Outdoors 24hr/day but still.

Thanks for any incite.

elliot
 
Re: Waxes and sealants don't adhere to surface

Smooth as silk to the touch means nothing, have you clayed, polished, or done any prep other than washing, seems to me that's your issue. You can't just throw a wax on and pray.
 
I have clayed often and when necessary and I've hand polished the hood at least but the situation remains.
 
michelliot said:
I have clayed often and when necessary and I've hand polished the hood at least but the situation remains.
Click to expand...

Are you removing the polishing oils? Also get a machine, hand polishing only gets you so fat! Also, your car sits outside 24/7 perhaps you're not removing all the fallout and crap on there. Still sounds to me your paint isn't properly prepped. Hope you figure it out.
 
As already stated, I would first make sure above surface bonded contaminates are not the culprit.

While you have stated that you have clayed the vehicle, I did not see any mention of performing the baggie test to ensure the contaminates have truly been removed.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...nspect-above-surface-bonded-contaminants.html

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...ns/22015-how-often-do-i-need-clay-my-car.html


Once you have determined that the surface is completely clean, you can visually inspect for below surface defects (ie swirls, scratches, marring, etc) and remove those via machine polishing if you so choose.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/ask-expert-featuring-mike-phillips/55512-s-not-hard.html

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...sults-their-first-time-machine-polishing.html

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUHRnHsSXZU]Part 1 - How to remove swirls, scratches and water spots using a Porter Cable 7424XP Polisher - YouTube[/video]


If the surface is free of any defects, or that is simply not in your scope of the project, then you can proceed to applying a quality layer of protection.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...categories-waxes-paint-sealants-coatings.html

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...-will-brand-x-car-wax-paint-sealant-last.html

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...ble-immiscible-wax-paint-sealant-bonding.html


Thanks to Mike for making all of these articles so easy to find and use as resources: http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...ke-phillips/23722-articles-mike-phillips.html
 
There are a lot of places where even the toughest waxes and sealants will die in 3 months without boosting after a wash. For instance Arizona or Florida parked outside 24/7.

Imo if you want long term protection go with a coating.

Either that or boost protection with a spray wax or sealant after washing or while you dry the car.
 
Trouble is I do that as well at times but beading and sheeting actions still only last a few weeks. Perhaps a 7424XP is in the immediate future.

Thanks and be well.............elliot
 
Lots of good advice in here already. Bout the only thing I can add is that opti seal and SSII aren't exactly the longest lasting LSPs out there to begin with. I think a month out of either with a car parked outside 24/7 sounds reasonable. You might want to get a sample of blackfire wet diamond or Wolfgang DGPS on your next order.
 
michelliot said:
But the issue of no protection lasting on the car still exists and I probably wax it every 6-8 weeks.

Initially, the protection characteristics are evident.


A month ago, I gave the car two coats of Optiseal and a coat of Pinnacle Sig ll.

Last night I washed the horizontal surfaces to rid them of leaf remnants from the weekend.
The surfaces cleaned fine but after rinsing, there was no beading or sheeting action. The water just laid there on the surface as a sheet.

For the history of this vehicle, protection duration has always been an issue and I have no explanation for it.

The surface is smooth as silk to the touch and the reflections are mirror-like, but no evidence of surface protection. FRUSTRATING.

Outdoors 24hr/day but still.
Click to expand...
First of all: I believe your wax and sealant initially adhered to the vehicle's paint.

However, and with it being outdoors 24/7 (and a DD?)...
Waxes and Sealants are known to erode away over time,
and with exposure to the Outdoors. They do not become "un-adhered", so to say.

They must be "renewed", as it were, on a timely basis:
As you have stated you previously have done (probably every 4-6-8 weeks).

And...(believe it or not):
What car wash shampoo you wash your vehicle with, and how well any
films associated with the car wash shampoo are completely rinsed away, or not...
may also have a bearing on waxes and sealants beading/sheeting characteristics.

Also:
Is beading and/or sheeting:
An actual, accurate indicator of waxes' and sealants' providing protection?

Finally...(and don't be/don't become frustrated):
-No Wax or Sealant is considered a permanent "sacrificial barrier"...
As I mentioned earlier: Renewal at intervals.

-Intervals ?: Whenever you are unhappy with how the current wax/sealant is behaving, is the time to
put a brand spanking new coat of your favorite LSP on the: "as you have prepped the vehicle".

-"Prepping": Can run the gamut: from a simple, straitforward wash-n-dry;
to one that also includes decon/clay/polish/etc.; You must be the Judge on that issue.


:)

Bob
 
dpk20x and FUNX725,

I agree with you wholeheartedly that the protection life of these products are limited and that occasional resurfacing is needed. EXCEPT the products on my other vehicle, which gets the same treatment, last several weeks longer. They're both in headlight contact with each other and what one gets, so follows the other. No jealousy on my driveway.

You guys do make sense and I try to be as diligent as I can. Maybe the time frame isn't what I thought. After a certain age you have to double what you think it is. Naaah, not that bad.

Regarding product, what's a decontaminate (ironx etc.) recommendation besides claying, which I enjoy doing from often. Or a prep product before applying protection. Maybe there IS a film, I'm just not removing but this has been going on for years and only with this car. Again many thanks.......elliot
 
michelliot said:
dpk20x and FUNX725,

I agree with you wholeheartedly that the protection life of these products are limited and that occasional resurfacing is needed. EXCEPT the products on my other vehicle, which gets the same treatment, last several weeks longer. They're both in headlight contact with each other and what one gets, so follows the other. No jealousy on my driveway.

You guys do make sense and I try to be as diligent as I can. Maybe the time frame isn't what I thought. After a certain age you have to double what you think it is. Naaah, not that bad.

Regarding product, what's a decontaminate (ironx etc.) recommendation besides claying, which I enjoy doing from often. Or a prep product before applying protection. Maybe there IS a film, I'm just not removing but this has been going on for years and only with this car. Again many thanks.......elliot
Click to expand...

If you clay and use a paint cleaner, with no swirl removal your car will be shinier and better protected than 99% of people
 
Klasse AIO/SG Combo lasted nearly the whole summer down here in Florida, car was outside 24/7

I'm now testing Wolgang WDPS 3.0 on the same vehicle.

I agree with Bob, beading is not necessarily an indicator of long term protection. It will bead less over time but does not mean their is no protection still there.
 
What are you washing the car with? Some detergents will strip waxes and sealants. Are you taking the car through automatic car washes?
 
Bite your tongue, ClayR.
Never been through an auto wash since I felt the consequences 4 years ago. I use Maxi Sudz in the foam gun and Pinnacle shampoo in the bucket applied with 4/0 steel wool pads. Only a capful of product in each, after which, I blow dry the car. So I try to keep the friction with the paint to a minimum.

Granted, there are plenty of swirl marks and scratches that I haven't been able to compound out by hand, but maybe some of you are right. Beading and sheeting may not be a telltale sign of protection because it's never looked and felt as good as it does now. At times, there is so much contrast in the shine that my maroon car appears black. Oh, bye-the-way, I actually use a sheepskin mitt.

Next time I plan a full regimen of care, I'll try a paint cleaner before waxing or sealing.
 
michelliot said:
Bite your tongue, ClayR.
Never been through an auto wash since I felt the consequences 4 years ago.
I use Maxi Sudz in the foam gun and

Pinnacle shampoo in the bucket
applied with 4/0 steel wool.
Click to expand...

^^^If this is true^^^

BITE YOUR TONGUE, as well... michelliot!!!

And...
It'd be a thousand wonders if you didn't have troubles with LSP's durabilities!!


:eek:

Bob
 
Guess you missed the end of the paragraph Funx, can you erase your response? Didn't mean to create any turbulence
 
michelliot said:
Guess you missed the end of the paragraph Funx, can you erase your response? Didn't mean to create any turbulence
Click to expand...
Sorry...Guess I responded in advance of your amendment to that post.
Sorry...I don't have the power to do any erasing. Perhaps a Moderator will oblige?

:)

Bob
 
can do my latest as well,
wish we could do it ourselves, why bother another

enjoy the day Funx
 
what LSP are you using? Some last much longer than others.
 
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