i wanted to get some advice on protecting the paints etc. and looked everywhere on this forum but i ended up swimming in sea of information.
rainy winter is coming and i have gone year without doing any treatment but just washing every 2 weeks.

I was wondering simple and quick way of doing it. I am deciding wax, but some ppl said sealant is better. Can someone simple, poolproof technique for usage?

If I go for wax, my understanding is i have to strip off residual from prev wax. and some ppl suggesting dawn soap. Is it the same on used for dishwasher sink?

Or If I choose sealant, do I still need to strip off residual?
also i live in apartment and bring my car to self car wash station.
Thanks!

 

I can appreciate your dilemma, having pretty much been there myself.

I settled on Duragloss #105 over Duragloss #601. The products have actual names in addition to the numbers.... 105 is maybe something like "Total Paint Protection" and 601 is something like "Polish Bonding Agent".

These can be applied by hand or with a random orbital polisher. I've done it both ways.

"Supposedly" 105 over 601 will last about 6 months. BTW, this is a "sealant" as opposed to a "wax".

Oh, BTW, you don't want to use Dawn on your car - bad stuff. Use a car wash product. I would not worry about stripping the old wax/sealant off the car. If you want to do something useful, claybar the car before waxing/sealing. You can pick up a Mothers or Meguire's kit from Wal-Mart, Pep Boys, etc.

Good luck!
Steve

 

thanks for you info, but could you mention the type of the product if you mention the brand as i am total noob. etc. whether it is sealant, wax, polish or something.

 

In a garage!
Those are Duragloss products. Although excellent products and product line, they wont make it 6 months. You may get 3 with that combo with upkeep, but even under ideal conditions (as we approach Winter) 6 months would be an extreme stretch.
105 = (TPP Total Performance Polish)
601 = (PBA Polish Bonding Agent)
Duraglosses nomenclature is rather misleading. The 105 is not by definition, a polish as much as it is a sealant. It does contain some cleaning properties, but a very minute amount. The 601 is an adhesive formula, designed to link or bond the sealant to the paint.

 

i think i am gonna try these then, should apply them just after the wash or should I try to remove the residual wax

 

IIRC, the Duragloss 601 product will pretty much remove whatever you apply it over - so no, I would not worry about trying to remove any residual wax or sealant.

I assume you figured out that Duragloss is the brand. You pretty much have to order the stuff, although some of their product lines can be found in some retail locations like NAPA.

I cannot really attest to the durability. I've had it on my car for only about 2-3 weeks. Also I live in Florida, so my winter problems are not the same as most people's.

Good luck and happy polishing!

Steve

 

i liked the faq's i saw on this forum for car care. there's a ton of info and they're very useful.

I use NXT Generation Tech Wax 2.0 from Meguiar's. It smells nice and all water beads up with it. I don't know how long it lasts, but seems to be very long. I know it is a synthetic wax and pretty new. I also tried the liquid clay bar from turtle wax, it smells really good, but i dunno how it compares to a real clay bar but am happy with it. both of these products are 2008 releases i believe and i recommend them.

 

yeah there was a ton of info that is why i got so confused, anyways i just ordered duragloss 105, 601 over the web. But thank you all who has put their opinion here, you guys are so willing to help. Once I gradually cease to be a noob I would be helping others just like you guys )

 

And thus the pattern repeats.