waxing too much?

[bmwannabe]

Im a fanatic about keeping the car clean, and im wondering if there is such thing as too much waxing?

[GaryE30]

Depends I guess. Are you asking like the amount you put on, or how many times you do it within, say a week? I wax my car every other time I wash it, and I wash it every weekend. I don't know if it harms anything, but 2 times a year I'll go over the whole car with Ivory soap to clean anything off and start over. Works great for me.

[LikeCDoos]

, but 2 times a year I'll go over the whole car with Ivory soap to clean anything off and start over.

Ivory soap?? is that like a bar of soap you shower with?? just curious

If i wax my car too often the second time i try and i haven't waited long enough my first wax job almost "protects" my paint job too much and the second coat will just beed up and not rub in

[Tara 318is]

umm k 1. i have no idea why you use ivory soap. dish soap is far too abraisive, and shower soap has too much shit to keep your skin soft. There is car wash soap for a reason.

2. to answer your question, unless you are using some Zymol concours or equally high quality wax, (and given the amount you wax your car I doubt this because with that frequency at $130 per can you'd probably be driving something else) then every time you wax your car, you are increasing oxdation of the paint, and wear on the clearcoat. That's just the way it is.

the *safest* way to wax is to do the following:

wax at most once a month
use a non-wax removing carwash (they make these)
when you wax, use a high quality wax like the Zymol Concours
use only a NEW applicator (or wash your hands as with the zymol) and new cotton terry towels to buff
in between major waxings, use some spray detailer, making sure that the car is dust free and that the cloths you use to buff have no dust on them.

With the above precaustions, your paint should last you a long, long long time.

[darien28]

we run a detailing service and wax our own cars about one a month.

using a combination of meguires professional (yellow bottle) and p21s products.

in between waxed, we use Meguires "Final Inspection" for everything from paint to windows... and Lexon vinyl and rubber treatment for dashes, all plastics and trim, and even tires. then we use this plastic polish spray in a can for the lights. makes them look like new.

oh, and for wheels, p21s gel wheel cleaner.

[LikeCDoos]

2. to answer your question, unless you are using some Zymol concours or equally high quality wax, (and given the amount you wax your car I doubt this because with that frequency at $130 per can you'd probably be driving something else) then every time you wax your car, you are increasing oxdation of the paint, and wear on the clearcoat. That's just the way it is.

How are you increasing oxidation and wear on the clearcoat if you use "cheaper" waxes. i've always just used Meguires, and after my paint looks and feels 100% better.

btw is this kris or tara??

[Erick]

Kris.

I need to wax my car... it's been almost 1/2 an year already.

[bimmerphile]

2. to answer your question, unless you are using some Zymol concours or equally high quality wax, (and given the amount you wax your car I doubt this because with that frequency at $130 per can you'd probably be driving something else) then every time you wax your car, you are increasing oxdation of the paint, and wear on the clearcoat. That's just the way it is.

How are you increasing oxidation and wear on the clearcoat if you use "cheaper" waxes. i've always just used Meguires, and after my paint looks and feels 100% better.

Quite simple, it's the quality and purity (rather the impurities) in the white/yellow carnauba that is in the wax. The more impurities in the wax (meaning the more abrasives and solvents left in from the process of making the wax) the more shit that gets locked between your paint/clearcoat and wax. what happens when you take a harsh solvent (even in an extremely minor amount) and stick it against your paint, and then seal it over? well, it's going to wear at your clearcoat. when it wears on your clearcoat, it wears on the protective coat that blocks UV from the paint, and UV + paint = oxidized paint.

[RCWells]

2. to answer your question, unless you are using some Zymol concours or equally high quality wax, (and given the amount you wax your car I doubt this because with that frequency at $130 per can you'd probably be driving something else) then every time you wax your car, you are increasing oxdation of the paint, and wear on the clearcoat. That's just the way it is.

How are you increasing oxidation and wear on the clearcoat if you use "cheaper" waxes. i've always just used Meguires, and after my paint looks and feels 100% better.

Quite simple, it's the quality and purity (rather the impurities) in the white/yellow carnauba that is in the wax. The more impurities in the wax (meaning the more abrasives and solvents left in from the process of making the wax) the more shit that gets locked between your paint/clearcoat and wax. what happens when you take a harsh solvent (even in an extremely minor amount) and stick it against your paint, and then seal it over? well, it's going to wear at your clearcoat. when it wears on your clearcoat, it wears on the protective coat that blocks UV from the paint, and UV + paint = oxidized paint.

Whew! :drink:

[mph]

There seems to be a lot of confusion between 'waxing' and 'polishing.'

Waxing will eventually ruin the clearcoat. Polishing won't.

[Nate325ic]

umm k 1. i have no idea why you use ivory soap. dish soap is far too abraisive, and shower soap has too much shit to keep your skin soft. There is car wash soap for a reason.

you use dish soap (which isn't bad for the paint) to strip the wax off, you do this every couple times you wax your car, wash your car first with dish soap to get all the old wax and residue off, then do you your normal car wash/wax process

[LikeCDoos]

Quite simple, it's the quality and purity (rather the impurities) in the white/yellow carnauba that is in the wax. The more impurities in the wax (meaning the more abrasives and solvents left in from the process of making the wax) the more shit that gets locked between your paint/clearcoat and wax. what happens when you take a harsh solvent (even in an extremely minor amount) and stick it against your paint, and then seal it over? well, it's going to wear at your clearcoat. when it wears on your clearcoat, it wears on the protective coat that blocks UV from the paint, and UV + paint = oxidized paint.

Learn something new everyday...so i should stop using the Meguires 3 step process along with detailing clay?? What other alternatives can i use that arn't $100+ per can/bottle?

[bmwguru007]

Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to detailing products. I use and recommend Zaino. It is a little pricey initially, but you get what you pay for. It is much easier to apply and remove than a traditional wax and also lasts much longer. My car still beads water 5 months after my last Zaino application.

[Digitalwave]

Learn something new everyday...so i should stop using the Meguires 3 step process along with detailing clay?? What other alternatives can i use that arn't $100+ per can/bottle?

You should only clay bar your car twice a year MAX. And the Meguiars 3 step includes a cleaner wax which is highly abrasive and should only be used on the worse/dirtiest finishes... and even then, it should only be used once or twice to get the paint clean, and then not used anymore.

[bimmerphile]

Quite simple, it's the quality and purity (rather the impurities) in the white/yellow carnauba that is in the wax. The more impurities in the wax (meaning the more abrasives and solvents left in from the process of making the wax) the more shit that gets locked between your paint/clearcoat and wax. what happens when you take a harsh solvent (even in an extremely minor amount) and stick it against your paint, and then seal it over? well, it's going to wear at your clearcoat. when it wears on your clearcoat, it wears on the protective coat that blocks UV from the paint, and UV + paint = oxidized paint.

Learn something new everyday...so i should stop using the Meguires 3 step process along with detailing clay?? What other alternatives can i use that arn't $100+ per can/bottle?

well, no, not necessarily.

Claybar your car at most twice a year. Perhaps more if you live somewhere like LA where the air blows ass, and can screw up your paint.

The meguiar's system is good, but even if you were re-waxing your stuff once a week with the Zymöl concours, I'd still say the same thing, because you're likely rubbing in more particulate each time you wax.

http://www.autopia-carcare.com/how-to.html

http://www.autopia.org/download.php?op=getit&lid=1

^--- d/l me

that is an excellent resource to check out to make sure your technique is right, and they offer some good pointers for overall car care too.