Today when I was at the dealer having my running boards and mudguards installed, they also cleaned, waxed, and buffed the car (had to get some small scratches out).
The guy who was doing the actual work told me that I should have the car waxed every 3 mos.....
Of all the cars I've ever owned, I think I maybe waxed one or two of them twice...EVER!
So my question is, is it necessary to wax often in order to maintain the high gloss look of the paint work?
TIA
__________________ 2011 Highlander SE V6 (as of 1/29/11) Black exterior/Black leather interior...Tech Pkg...Aluminum Running Boards...Mudguards...Chrome Exhaust Tip...OEM All Weather Cargo Mat
Today when I was at the dealer having my running boards and mudguards installed, they also cleaned, waxed, and buffed the car (had to get some small scratches out).
The guy who was doing the actual work told me that I should have the car waxed every 3 mos.....
Of all the cars I've ever owned, I think I maybe waxed one or two of them twice...EVER!
So my question is, is it necessary to wax often in order to maintain the high gloss look of the paint work?
TIA
Mine will be two years old in April. I waxed it once...maybe twice during the first summer. I'm sure it would help the finish if I did it more, but it does take alot of time to do...time that I just don't have...and as far as paying to have it done...I just have other places to spend my money.
__________________ 2009 Highlander Limited
2005 Corolla CE, Canadian Edition, Silver with grey interior, automatic transmission, CD changer, cruise control, rear bumper protector.
That sounds about right. If you're looking for gloss/paint protection, I'd probably do it every 2 months or so. If you park your car in a garage then maybe 3-5 months. But once or twice in the lifetime of a car is a bit extreme. Natural carnuba wax lasts 1-2 months depending on paint and weather conditions. Synthetic waxes like Meguiars NXT wax lasts maybe double that time. And as they say, your mileage may vary. I would suggest reading the stickies at the top of this forum. They offer a wealth of information. After doing that and you still have more questions, feel free to ask them.
Thanks for the info....sorry to the mods as I initially posted this in the wrong place.
My HL is kept in the garage and I also get covered parking while at work so that helps. Maybe I'll stick to a twice a year routine.
__________________ 2011 Highlander SE V6 (as of 1/29/11) Black exterior/Black leather interior...Tech Pkg...Aluminum Running Boards...Mudguards...Chrome Exhaust Tip...OEM All Weather Cargo Mat
wipe with a microfiber towel on the hood. if it squeaks, there is no wax left. need to wax. I say 2X a year would be minimum. Im ashame to say I dont even get to some of my cars once a year.
wipe with a microfiber towel on the hood. if it squeaks, there is no wax left. need to wax. I say 2X a year would be minimum. Im ashame to say I dont even get to some of my cars once a year.
General rule, not one to live/detail by. I do this test on all my customers cars when I strip off the protection so I can polish it. It works but not on all paints. Just clarifying this for other people
__________________
1996 Beige Lexus ES300
2010 Blue Ribbon Metallic Camry LE
I got mine the the first day, got it home and clay bar it and then waxed it, and then do it every 6 months after that but I do clay bar it each time its waxed. it is parked in a garage most of the time but Florida sun is h-ll on paint.But thats just me.
I got mine the the first day, got it home and clay bar it and then waxed it, and then do it every 6 months after that but I do clay bar it each time its waxed. it is parked in a garage most of the time but Florida sun is h-ll on paint.But thats just me.
Hmmm, I don't even know what a clay bar is! I have never waxed a car in my life and in all honesty, don't plan to start now...but I DO want to take care of my new HL so I'll have to take it somewhere to get it done. The guy at the dealer who did mine told me to bring it back whenever I want and he'd do it....not sure what he charges though. What would be reasonable?
__________________ 2011 Highlander SE V6 (as of 1/29/11) Black exterior/Black leather interior...Tech Pkg...Aluminum Running Boards...Mudguards...Chrome Exhaust Tip...OEM All Weather Cargo Mat
OK, I am a freak when it comes to this stuff. My HL sits in a garage, I did the whole car with NXT wax, good stuff, no white powder. Truth be told everyone's new HL will look great when it is new. This is an example of what a car that is maintained can look like years from now. This car is a 2004 and people ask me if it's brand new.
This car got claybar, cleaner wax followed by mirror glaze, a coat of Meguiars Gold and a week later a top coat of NXT. Check the roof reflections.
OK, I am a freak when it comes to this stuff. My HL sits in a garage, I did the whole car with NXT wax, good stuff, no white powder. Truth be told everyone's new HL will look great when it is new. This is an example of what a car that is maintained can look like years from now. This car is a 2004 and people ask me if it's brand new.
This car got claybar, cleaner wax followed by mirror glaze, a coat of Meguiars Gold and a week later a top coat of NXT. Check the roof reflections.
__________________ 2011 Highlander SE V6 (as of 1/29/11) Black exterior/Black leather interior...Tech Pkg...Aluminum Running Boards...Mudguards...Chrome Exhaust Tip...OEM All Weather Cargo Mat
Looks Great,I'm Like a freak too,I clean mine every week and claybar and waxs it.Everyone would like to have them when I readly to get rid of them,Would like to know what NTX wax is,I have always did the meguiar three step. Has anyone used that stuff toyota give you when you get your car!
Simply put, wax -- either natural carnauba or synthetic -- protects your investment. It is the sacrificial layer between the elements and your paint.
Depending on the weather the vehicle sees will depend on how often you should wax.
We usually say 4-12 weeks, but you will have to decide. As one person above mentioned, when the water stops beading, that's a reasonable indicator, though there's generally still protection left, but it's starting to look dull. The more often you apply wax, the less work it will be in that you may not have to polish, but instead simply refresh the wax.
Using a "Wash and Wax" product as well as a "Spray Wax" product after washing can each help extend the life of a traditional wax job.
The Following User Says Thank You to MothersPolish For This Useful Post:
Looks Great,I'm Like a freak too,I clean mine every week and claybar and waxs it.Everyone would like to have them when I readly to get rid of them,Would like to know what NTX wax is,I have always did the meguiar three step. Has anyone used that stuff toyota give you when you get your car!
Per NXT: Tech Wax 2.0, a synthetic, scientifically engineered paint sealant, is an alternative to traditional wax. The benefits of a paint sealant are many: fool-proof, fast, easy application, longer lasting, equivalent protection! If you prefer the appearance of a wax (said to be a glossier, wetter, richer appeal) but like the durability of a sealant, you can layer a wax over a paint sealant
So I did mine in reverse, I should NOT have done NXT on top of wax but could have done wax on top of NXT.
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