Wax/seal the paint on brand new car?

[Luna7897]

I am buying a brand new 2012 Honda SUV (silver), and I have been doing an extensive amount of research about whether or not I should wax or seal the paint as soon as I pick it up. The dealer is washing it, but not applying any wax or sealant.

Does anyone have any good advice, considering the type of paint Honda uses today, about whether I should do this right away - and what exactly I should use? If you have some favorite products you use professionally that would provide long-lasting protection (at least for this initial application), that would be really helpful.

I am aware that some people don`t believe in waxing a new car right away, but it appears that a lot of the opinions on this have changed with the new paint formulas in use today.

Thanks!

[autoaesthetica]

99 times out of 100 your brand new car`s paint(which is factory baked thus eliminating the "wait" myths) is bare and needs protection ASAP.



The 1 stray time might be something cheap a dealership puts on it - but I doubt this if they aren`t being paid for it.



Collinite 845 is easy on/easy off that can be found OTC in most areas. It`s a great start and you may stick with it for years.

[pwaug]

Your paint has been baked on at the factory and by the time you get the car is weeks old. From a "do it yourselfers" perspective and to keep it simple: DON`T, DO NOT let the dealer wash it or wax it. Drive it home, wash it using good washing technique (do some reading on this and other detailing websites), clay it (again do some reading for proper technique) and give it a coat of a good sealant that will last for a few months. There are allot of good sealants out there Zaino, Poxy etc, but to keep it simple you can use Duragloss 105 and all their products which are resonably priced and high quality. You can order everything at their website Duragloss Car Care Products (http://www.duragloss.com/) and only pay $4.95 in shipping for your entire order or go to your local NAPA, tell them what you want and they will have it for you in 24 hours.

[Ch96067]

I think if you can have the dealer not wash your car, it would be preferable. You will get this comment a lot here :).



It seems the concesus is that new cars are clay and wax seal safe right from the start. So I would go ahead asap and clay and wax/seal.



Long lasting protection could come from sealants (FK1000p, Collies etc.) or even longer from permanent coatings (Opticoat etc.).

[Brad B]

Clay it, polish it and seal it now, Grasshopper. :)

[autoaesthetica]

Your paint has been baked on at the factory and by the time you get the car is weeks old. From a "do it yourselfers" perspective and to keep it simple: DON`T, DO NOT let the dealer wash it or wax it. Drive it home, wash it using good washing technique (do some reading on this and other detailing websites), clay it (again do some reading for proper technique) and give it a coat of a good sealant that will last for a few months. There are allot of good sealants out there Zaino, Poxy etc, but to keep it simple you can use Duragloss 105 and all their products which are resonably priced and high quality. You can order everything at their website Duragloss Car Care Products (http://www.duragloss.com/) and only pay $4.95 in shipping for your entire order or go to your local NAPA, tell them what you want and they will have it for you in 24 hours.





I always overlook this even though I am regular user of DG. I would order direct from them as the Carquest and NAPA stores sometimes have been sitttttttting and sitting for quite some time. Great line of products.

[Ron Ketcham]

YUP!

Am still amazed by a couple of things.

1. People confuse OEM paint cure and "bodyshop" refinish cure.

2. If they are worried about how "old" the paint finish is, all they have to do is look in the driver`s side door jam at the sticker.

It gives the month and year the vehicle left the plant! Most are at least 30 days or longer since production when the dealer finally sells it.

Grumpy

[David Fermani]

The dealer is washing it, but not applying any wax or sealant.




Does anyone have any good advice



Yes. Start your car paint`s life off right and DON`T let the dealer touch it! Not even something as a minor wash.

[Bill D]

Definitely no dealer prep or wash if any kind. I`ve once even personally removed the white plastic Rapgard off the car rather than have the dealer do that. Lots of marring or even worse damage avoided :)

[Scottwax]

Yes. Start your car paint`s life off right and DON`T let the dealer touch it! Not even something as a minor wash.



Pretty much what I was going to say.

[Dan]

Yes, insist the dealer stays away from the paint. Remove the plastic yourself as they will try to use a solvent afterwards. Most cars can use a claying as well even if they haven`t sat for long.

[911fanatic]

My last two cars have been driven off the lot with the plastic still on the car. Its not worth taking the chance. Then wash, clay and seal it yourself.

[JohnZ3MC]

Since you haven`t done a lot of this stuff in the past, here`s a bit of a primer:

A carnauba wax is a natural product.

A sealant is an artificial, man made product.

Both offer protection to the surface of the car but sealants offer longer protection than carnauba waxes.



For looks, a good rule might be `sealants for lighter colours, carnauba waxes for darker colours`.



Finally, I second the idea of not letting the dealer even wash your car - do it yourself and you`ll know it`s done right.

[Dan]

My last two cars have been driven off the lot with the plastic still on the car. Its not worth taking the chance. Then wash, clay and seal it yourself.



A few people have driven off with the plastic on the car and then discovered defects in the paint. I`d rather discover those on the lot before I took off as things might get ugly afterwards.




A carnauba wax is a natural product.

A sealant is an artificial, man made product.

Both offer protection to the surface of the car but sealants offer longer protection than carnauba waxes.





While that may be a good generalization, carnaubas in general offer better protection against bird bombs, and various other etchings.

[Bill D]

Some dealers may give you a hard time regarding keeping the plastic intact. They say they want to inspect the body for damage before it leaves the lot so if they agree that you do the removal, should still be okay.