Team-BHP > Modifications & Accessories


Reply
  Search this Thread
34,609 views
Old 14th June 2007, 15:50   #1
BHPian
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: India
Posts: 160
Thanked: 3 Times
How often to wax?

There seems to be some disagreement as to how often one should apply wax.

Formula1 claims their wax protects for 12 months:
Formula 1 - Carnauba Wax


But that seems like a long time.

So,

1. How often do you/should you re-apply wax?

2. Do need to/should you remove the previous coating of wax down to the bare paint before rewaxing? If so, how? After all, the car wash shampoos claim to not remove wax.

And I don't think you want to use Vim.

3. After the car has been waxed, what do you do the next day when there's a fine layer of dust on it? Most everybody from taxi driver on up in India takes a dry cloth to the car.

Doesn't this contribute to hairline/other scratches?

Last edited by aah78 : 14th June 2007 at 20:32. Reason: size tags removed
caliper is offline  
Old 14th June 2007, 16:06   #2
BHPian
 
abhilashvk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Bangalore/Calic
Posts: 367
Thanked: 32 Times

I wax my car every month. I use either Turtle or Formula 1and I do not remove the previous layer. I park my car in the open so with time and regular washing the layer of wax gradually disappears. Every month I throughly wash the car with Sonax car wash and apply the wax . Also i do not recommend to wipe the fine layer of dust cos this causes fine scratches so I wash the car with water. Some people recommend the use of fine brushes/dusters.
abhilashvk is offline  
Old 14th June 2007, 16:24   #3
BHPian
 
menonrajesh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Bangalore
Posts: 211
Thanked: 2 Times

I use Formula 1 Carnauba Wax once in a month.

I wash the car with Sonax Car wash shampoo with sponge,rinse with running water and dry the surface.After that I apply the wax.Normally I do it in the morning hours and is done at my basement car park.I leave the car as it is after wiping the wax off.If I take the car out on the same day, I insist my person who regularly washes it, to wash it all over, once I return.
menonrajesh is offline  
Old 14th June 2007, 17:30   #4
BHPian
 
Hellcat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Bangalore
Posts: 222
Thanked: 5 Times

Washing and waxing your car regularly helps, Wax helps in protecting the paint from fading; plus the car looks shiny. I wax my car twice a month. A High quality car wax stays on the car for about two months, but with the weather conditions, dust and bird's dropping etc, I end up washing the car everyday, so I need to wax the car twice a month.

So far, I haven't seen a single car wax product that stays for more than a year. In order to maintain protective coat any product needs to be reapplied periodically.

I use SONAX Extreme Active Shampoo, Carnauba Cleaner Wax and Turtle Wax Gloss Detailer.

Also check this thread by Rudra, Great article.
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/techni...-clean-16.html

Last edited by Hellcat : 14th June 2007 at 17:38.
Hellcat is offline  
Old 14th June 2007, 17:40   #5
Newbie
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Bangalore
Posts: 23
Thanked: 0 Times

Abiliash, You car is seriuosly shining like new one. Me too wax the car once , I have been using the sonax wax, But in my place as it is dusty i find it is eaiser to find a coat of dust on the car after waxing. Some how i feel like the wax is attacting more dust on to the car. By the way, I havent cleared the previous wax. Once i got it wax polished from Green Tracks near the silk board jucntion in houser road (before the brige) It was seriuosly a excellent work.. but they charged 650 for that
FAst 'n furious is offline  
Old 14th June 2007, 18:20   #6
Team-BHP Support
 
Zappo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Hyderabad
Posts: 5,917
Thanked: 2,651 Times

uhh... once a month, twice a month!!! I think you guys are overdoing it people. Too frequent applications can actually kill the luster of the paint after a couple of years. In fact I think the most recommended practice is once every 4-6 months. 4 month is probably ok under Indian conditions. That is what most people including even the showroom folks suggest.
Zappo is offline  
Old 14th June 2007, 18:27   #7
BHPian
 
adman77's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Mumbai
Posts: 383
Thanked: 4 Times

As soon as the hair grows back. Specially in the armpits, otherwise it starts stinking.

Last edited by adman77 : 14th June 2007 at 18:29.
adman77 is offline  
Old 14th June 2007, 19:27   #8
Senior - BHPian
 
esteem_lover's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Madras/Py
Posts: 7,556
Thanked: 500 Times

Once in 6 months should do. Important to remember that there is some after wax care that should be taken to keep the gleam, else you might start waxing every week.
esteem_lover is offline  
Old 14th June 2007, 20:28   #9
BHPian
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: India
Posts: 160
Thanked: 3 Times

Quote:
Originally Posted by Zappo View Post
uhh... once a month, twice a month!!! I think you guys are overdoing it people. Too frequent applications can actually kill the luster of the paint after a couple of years. In fact I think the most recommended practice is once every 4-6 months. 4 month is probably ok under Indian conditions. That is what most people including even the showroom folks suggest.
OK, so how do you keep it looking good in the meantime? (sincere question)
And what's your opinion about taking a dry cloth to the vehicle like taxi-wallah's do every day?
caliper is offline  
Old 14th June 2007, 20:31   #10
BHPian
 
anonymous's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: NCR
Posts: 565
Thanked: 25 Times

I think we need to change the topic here.

How often to wax?
anonymous is offline  
Old 14th June 2007, 20:44   #11
Team-BHP Support
 
CrAzY dRiVeR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Bangalore / TVM
Posts: 17,126
Thanked: 73,296 Times

Quote:
Originally Posted by adman77 View Post
As soon as the hair grows back. Specially in the armpits, otherwise it starts stinking.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rlather View Post
I think we need to change the topic here.

How often to wax?


On a serious note,

I have been using Amway Silicon glaze for car and bike, and it does a good job of keeping the shine as it is. Now how often should i polish with it?

Any other users?
CrAzY dRiVeR is offline  
Old 14th June 2007, 22:44   #12
Senior - BHPian
 
vivekiny2k's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: cincinnati, jabalpur,chennai
Posts: 1,264
Thanked: 209 Times

Quote:
Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR View Post


On a serious note,

I have been using Amway Silicon glaze for car and bike, and it does a good job of keeping the shine as it is. Now how often should i polish with it?

Any other users?
i think it's a polish (that removes a part of paint everytime you apply it, to make it shine. and not a coating (wax).

after a few application, you will lose your paint
vivekiny2k is offline  
Old 14th June 2007, 23:44   #13
Team-BHP Support
 
Zappo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Hyderabad
Posts: 5,917
Thanked: 2,651 Times

Quote:
Originally Posted by caliper View Post
OK, so how do you keep it looking good in the meantime? (sincere question)
And what's your opinion about taking a dry cloth to the vehicle like taxi-wallah's do every day?
Actually once you have done a good job of it and do not wash it with lot of scrubbing it lasts a good while. In the meantime something like a california duster helps. you can sweep all the loose dust particles from the body of the car without any scrubbing.

Opinion about cloth therapy? well, the cabbies are something different. they just take any cloth that they find handy. that probably works with their non-metallic whites. however for personal cars (with mettallic colors) I think a good idea is to keep those soft chamois type of cloth. Use that in dusting the car. Its soft enough to not cause any damage. Its a good idea to change the cloth every month. Typically you get them on all traffic signals for Rs10 a piece.
Zappo is offline  
Old 15th June 2007, 00:13   #14
BHPian
 
xinome's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: I am lost....
Posts: 339
Thanked: 0 Times

allrite can some of guys do us all a favour KINDLY PLEASE!
Next time you guys do wash and wax your car do post pics of the procedure, how to apply and the final outcome.

can turn out to be a sweat thread also who knows mods might make you a distinguished member for doing so much!

cheers
xinome is offline  
Old 15th June 2007, 00:18   #15
BHPian
 
cheap_deal's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: unknown
Posts: 465
Thanked: 8 Times

doing it once a month is a bit too much. not more than 4 times a year even for indian conditions IMO. also a good quality synthetic wax stays on the car longer. good if you can use a clay bar on the car before waxing, will remove lot of dirt invisible to the eye.
cheap_deal is offline  
Reply

Most Viewed
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Team-BHP.com
Proudly powered by E2E Networks