The Best Winter Wax Is...

[swanicyouth]

I've been using Pinnacle Synergy as the wax on my daily driver since the summer. I've used Collinite, etc... and have decided Synergy lasts longer than any of them. I've been neglecting my DD because the weather here has been terrible: lots of snow and salt. Last winter I used Collinite 915 as my winter wax. While it's an excellent wax, it did not hold up to the snow and salt on the lower panels of my vehicle.

It seems a lot of people look at beading on the hood or roof, the parts of the car that tend to stay the cleanest. The hood and roof tend to always bead for me - almost with any product. They don't get much of the road sludge. I wanted to look at the filthiest part of the car - the car the gets the most snow and the the most salt - the lower panels. This is the real test of durability IMHO. Is there any wax left under all that salt?

So, I wanted to see if Synergy was holding up. It has been on there maybe 3 months. First, this is what I am starting with:

Yeah, it's pretty bad. It's been caked in salt for a couple of months. First thing I did was rinse down the left side of the vehicle; just the 2 panels (F & R doors). They were pretty filthy; so just water won't bring back the beading as you can see:

Then, I got some highly concentrated CG's Citrus Red (1:22) and cleaned just the bottom half of the rear door panel waterless wash style. The goal here was to have one clean panel to see if the wax was holding up and a dirty panel next to it to compare it to.

I specifically chose this soap because it's fairly aggressive, has a reputation for "stripping" wax, and has no gloss enhancers that could cause false beading.

As you can see, Synergy is holding up to the snow and ice (after rinsing off Citrus Red):

Dirty panel / no beading on bottom half (just rinsed with water):

Here is a 50:50s of the dirty vrs clean areas (some clean overlap on front door):

As you can see Synergy is beading well (right) compared to dirty area. I'm convinced Synergy may be the only "wax" that can truly hold up to these conditions.

After the whole cleanup and another coat of Synergy & Tuff Shine:

Synergy may be expensive, but this truly is a case of you get what you pay for. Just as an FYI; I got Synergy for free. So if it sucked - I'd have no buyers remorse and would tell you.

 

[dsg03gt]

The pathfinder looks good. I remember it from the PA detail day. I have a jar of Synergy I won in a contest I have yet to try. Been looking forward to spring to put a coat on.

 

[custmsprty]

Great comparison. Every time I see pictures of vehicles covered in that corrosive road film it makes me glad I live in Florida! That just hurts to look at. Synergy looks like it lives up to its price though, that's for sure.

 

[2black1s]

The best winter wax is to keep your car in the garage from the first snowfall until the spring rains have washed the salt away!

Sorry but I couldn't help myself. I know that wasn't the answer you were looking for.

I feel sorry for you guys who try to keep nice cars in severe climates. I grew up in Ohio so I know exactly what you are going through. I now live in CA (since 1980). To be completely honest, if I had to go back to Ohio or somewhere with similar weather, I'd have a winter beater and my nice car would never see the snow. Heck, here in CA I've had cars that I wouldn't even drive in the rain.

 

[swanicyouth]

The best winter wax is to keep your car in the garage from the first snowfall until the spring rains have washed the salt away!



Sorry but I couldn't help myself. I know that wasn't the answer you were looking for.



I feel sorry for you guys who try to keep nice cars in severe climates. I grew up in Ohio so I know exactly what you are going through. I now live in CA (since 1980). To be completely honest, if I had to go back to Ohio or somewhere with similar weather, I'd have a winter beater and my nice car would never see the snow. Heck, here in CA I've had cars that I wouldn't even drive in the rain.

Lol. This is my winter beater.

 

[JHL88]

Thanks for posting this. Im in the same ship as you searching for a wax/sealant that will hold up to salt/dirt/snow on lower panels. It ate up my Powerlock last year after about 1.5 months of constant salt which I was disappointed about.

This year I tried Adams Liquid Paint Sealant topped with Adams Quick Sealant and it has actually held up thus far. They are based in Colorado so I'd assume they'd make protection stand up to the winter road grime.

Looks like I will try Synergy next year (I already have a pot)

 

[Desertnate]

I'm surprised the 915 didn't do it for you. I've used 845 the last two winters and it was still going strong on all panels after 5~6 months. Last winter the car spent months on end encased in salt/grime and it was still going strong when I polished it off in the spring.

 

[DetailKitty]

Nice write up! Thx for making want to spend a butt-load of money on a wax :laughing:
I may have to look into that for the truck :dblthumb2:
At least the tin would last forever I'd think.

 

[WantcarPerfect]

Your results look great but at the price of Pinnacle Synergy, I use a coat of Pinnacle Liquid Souveran and top with Pinnacle Souveran paste. I then put the extra $60 I save in my pocket. I am thinking about trying Pinnacle Signature Series II and keeping $95 in my pocket. I really like Pinnacle Products but $195 for a tub of wax is beyond what I will pay. I am also looking at trying Wolfgang Füzion because for $195 at least you get two tubs. The combination of Liquid Souveran and topped with a good wax works well for me in the harsh Chicago Winters, were they never run our of salt. Keeps my car looking good and much easier to clean.

 

[KenR]

The Synergy results look excellent. But if you want to compare vs. Collinite's longest lasting wax, I would go against 476.

 

[expdetailing]

The Synergy results look excellent. But if you want to compare vs. Collinite's longest lasting wax, I would go against 476.

If memory serves me correctly, in the "Biggest Wax Test Ever,"
Colli 476 was not a front runner. 915 beat 476 easily.
You can google the test. It's quite interesting.

 

[Angus]

Your results look great but at the price of Pinnacle Synergy, I use a coat of Pinnacle Liquid Souveran and top with Pinnacle Souveran paste. I then put the extra $60 I save in my pocket.

Keep in mind Synergy and Souveran are two very different LSP's. Souveran is a beauty wax perfect for show cars/ garage queens where limited durability/ longevity isn't an issue. I love Souveran for it's the depth of shine and easy of application but know it's limits. Synergy on the other hand is a blend of nano-glass ceramic particles and carnauba wax giving you long lasting durability and depth of shine. You may be saving $$$ up front but you'll need to spend more time and effort keeping up with Souveran.

IMHO, sealants are cheaper and offer excellent winter month protection. Whenever you want that extra pop, hit it with a little Souveran love rops:

 

[FUNX650]

Synergy..."wax"...

^^^ :iagree: with the: " " ^^^

Yes...
Different brands of car-care products have their own "naming systems".

-But is Synergy a true representative of
what is usually considered a car Wax?


Bob

 

[swanicyouth]

^^^ :iagree: with the: " "^^^



Yes...

Different brands of car-care products have their own "naming systems".



-But is Synergy a true representative of

what is usually considered a car Wax?





Bob

Dunno. It looks like a wax, it's sold as a wax, it applies like a wax, and it removes like a wax.

So, to me it's a wax.

 

[281]

Great comparison shots, thanks for sharing!

 

[NYV6Coupe]

I've never used Synergy but I have used 476 to get me through western NY winters for over 15 yrs & it has provided incredible durability & protection. 2 layers in October & I know i'm good until spring with periodic wand washes as the weather allows. Got to be at least 35 degrees for a bucket wash

 

[jshaf]

have used 476 last two years, stuff is awesome, used 845 before that and it was very good also. 476 is the best for longevity that I have used, when you go to do the spring detail in April it is still beading.

 

[Ebg18t]

In all reality ya'll have had a pretty tough winter up north. For any product (non coating) to hold up for the bulk of the winter that is pretty good. It is tough to keep cars clean up north and repeated storms isn't helping. Just because it isn't beading doesn't mean there isn't still ptotection in place. Synergy seems pretty sweet, but it comes at a price. Might be worth just getting the car coated.

 

[swanicyouth]

In all reality ya'll have had a pretty tough winter up north. For any product (non coating) to hold up for the bulk of the winter that is pretty good. It is tough to keep cars clean up north and repeated storms isn't helping. Just because it isn't beading doesn't mean there isn't still ptotection in place. Synergy seems pretty sweet, but it comes at a price. Might be worth just getting the car coated.

The problem with a coating (how I see it) is its not readily/easily renewable. Any LSP will perform its best on day #1 of application. Coating will degrade and waxes will degrade. This include looks and water behavior.

I's rather use a "wax" since it's easily and readily renewable. You just need to wash, clay, re-wax - and your back at square one. A coating? It's a whole headache. Coating boosters? ReLoad - forget it. Too many issues there. PBL - costs way too much for what it is and reviews are spotty.

Coatings will not give you a just waxed look either - no matter how short lived that can be. The coating will look it's best on day 1, and it's all down hill from there. A wax is the same - but it's quite easy to top it off.

 

[The Guz]

Good review.

The problem with a coating (how I see it) is its not readily/easily renewable. Any LSP will perform its best on day #1 of application. Coating will degrade and waxes will degrade. This include looks and water behavior.

I's rather use a "wax" since it's easily and readily renewable. You just need to wash, clay, re-wax - and your back at square one. A coating? It's a whole headache. Coating boosters? ReLoad - forget it. Too many issues there. PBL - costs way too much for what it is and reviews are spotty.

Coatings will not give you a just waxed look either - no matter how short lived that can be. The coating will look it's best on day 1, and it's all down hill from there. A wax is the same - but it's quite easy to top it off.

This makes a lot of sense.