Why our Car need Wax

When you purchased your most recent car, chances are the first impression you had came from the paint finish. It's what you stared at for nearly an hour, and it's what you admire still today. The manufacturer created a window sticker with an impressive list of features, but all of those features took a back seat to that initial look. We buy with our eyes. This explains why the majority of the cost involved in building a new car factory goes into the paint finish system.

Car makers know your first impression of the paint finish is key to making the sale. The color, vividness and quality of the paint finish matters most. Automotive paint history dates back a full century. Although man has been coating metal, wood and stone for several thousand years, motor vehicle specific coatings were not invented until a few years after Henry Ford founded the Ford Motor Company. These early automotive coatings were varnish products carried over from the horse and buggy industry.

Today’s paint systems, mostly waterborne, multi-stage, clear coat systems, are better than ever. The new paint systems offer extraordinary colors, vivid depth and clarity, extremely high gloss, and new levels of durability.  Still, even with the improvements, new car finishes must be waxed and  properly maintained.

DO NEW CAR FINISHES REALLY NEED CAR WAX?

The improvements in clear coat paint technology have started a distressing trend at new car dealerships. Many new car dealers are telling their clients that the paint on their new car is maintenance-free and does not require car wax. This could not be further from the truth. While the improved paint technology has created a longer lasting finish, the finish does oxidize and it is not impervious to environmental conditions. It still requires regular care, including car wax.

New car dealers who don't preach maintenance-free paintwork seem to go the route of a life-time or 5-year paint sealant upgrade. While not as harmful as suggesting new paint is maintenance-free, a true life-time sealant product is not available. The technology simply does not exist.

Think about it. How can a car wax product with a coating thickness less than one millionth of an inch protect your car for a lifetime, let alone for more than a few months?  It simply can't.  What you're really buying with a paint sealant upgrade is a maintenance contract.  Please read the fine print before you buy the package.

There are distressing signs that the message from new car makers and dealers is having an impact on retail car care product sales.  I have recently noticed a trend with large retailers, starting with Target and K-Mart, that has them pushing car wax products from mid-store to the rear and reducing the shelf space.

Carnauba Car Wax

Carnauba car waxes bead water nicely, absorb the acid content in rain, and hide minor swirls in the paint.   My personal favorite is, a true show car wax. On the minus side, carnauba waxes are not as durable as synthetic waxes.  Depending on your climate, a carnauba wax might last between 30 and 60 days.  Additionally, some carnauba waxes can be temperamental, occasionally streaking under certain temperature or humidity conditions.

Synthetic Car Wax

Made from modern polymers or acrylic resins, synthetic waxes offer excellent durability and ease of application.  Quality synthetic waxes have been known to last 6 to 9 months or longer, and typically wipe on and off very easily.  Synthetic waxes create a very bright shine and rarely cloud or streak on the paint.

On the down side, many enthusiasts feel synthetic waxes lack depth and richness.  Black cars can look a little sterile or silvery in the direct sunlight.  And, the mirror-like polymers can collect minor swirls and actually highlight paint flaws.

Regular waxing is necessary to protect your car's paint from the elements.  In addition to sealing and protecting, waxes and sealants also improve the appearance of freshly washed and polished paint.  If you use the right products, you can successfully layer waxes and sealants to make your paint look deeper and almost liquid.