Disappointed (clay&wax)

M

moto

New member
I clayed my truck after a thorough wash and then I sprayed it with the quick detailer and used the liquid cleaner car wash. I used a Meguairs kit I got at walmart. Afete flaying I noticed an immediate improvement and then after waxing I noticed an even bigger improvement.While I realize that the kit is not the greatest thing on the market,less than a week later the surface of my truck was right back to being rough and looked dirt even after a good wash



Anyone have any idea what I should do or what I didn't do? OR why this happened?
 
Re-clay the car again. There is nothing wrong with what you did or the product itself. You're going to have to blame your environment. You said there was a major improvement after claying and waxing. The clay has done its job in removing bonded contaminates. What might of happened is your car got paint overspray from somebody painting nearby from where you parked because you said it got rough and looked dirty even after a wash. No regular environmental contaminates will bond onto the paint of a car that fast. Ever.



Also try to take a picture of the paint so we can see this "dirty" condition after a wash to confirm if it is overspray or not.
 
Was the paint rough? Was the wash not thorough enough? Or is the environment really that tough?



After the paint has been clayed, there really shouldn't be a need to re-clay for quite some time. Especially if you have a solid layer of protection on your vehicle year round.



In your case, you washed, clayed, QD'ed, and then washed again. A pretty solid routine in my books.



If the paint really is "rough" again, you a) didn't clay well enough and the QD gave you the impression of slick paint and/or b) you need to wash the car more thoroughly because what you're feeling/seeing may be the dirt you haven't washed off the paint. I have a hard time believing that there is so much overspray in the environment to return your paint to the condition it was before, if not worse. Then again, I've heard stranger stories...



Wax does help repel dirt, just don't expect everything to slide off your car because you have some on. Great results can be achieved with any product, don't become disheartened after just one experience.



Good luck!
 
What car wash product are you using? Are you using it at the correct dilution? What kind of wash mitt?



Meguiar's Cleaner Wax is fine for what it does (i.e., removing contamination and previously applied wax), and it leaves a nice initial shine; but it is not known for its durability (though it usually lasts longer than one wash). CW needs to be topped with a more durable wax/sealant. Consider using DuraGloss 105, Collinite 845, or Finish Kare 1000p as your regular protectant. Meguiar's NXT will also give you better durability than Cleaner Wax (though not as good as DG 105, Colly 845, or FK 1000p).



In any case, it may be that give the kind of driving you do that your truck is being exposed to above-normal levels of contamination (or perhaps you were just unlucky this past week). Cleaner Wax will remove the contamination, but as I said, be sure to top it with a more durable wax/sealant.



Another option to consider: use a spray wax like Meguiar's Ultimate Quik Wax or Duragloss AquaWax after washes to restore gloss and shine. Both products are easy and quick to use.
 
akimel said:
What car wash product are you using? Are you using it at the correct dilution? What kind of wash mitt?



Meguiar's Cleaner Wax is fine for what it does ..., and it leaves a nice initial shine; but it is not known for its durability ... CW needs to be topped with a more durable wax/sealant..
Click to expand...



Yeah, my thoughts exactly. It's not all *that* hard to kill off Meg's cleaner-wax with one wash, especially if that wash is mixed a bit strong.
 
I followed the directions properly. I don't think I drive in conditions that are out of the ordinary. I was not around any over-spray or any harmful contaminants. The car was smooth before the QD (using clay bar).



I was using a standard Wal-Mart special microfiber wash mitt.



Maybe a polish is necessary? I knew the clay/wax should of lasted longer than that.



I guess I will repeat the same process and add a proper wax at the end (dedicated Meguiar's liquid wax: NXT).
 
If the car was smooth after claying and waxing it should not feel gritty a week later unless your car got covered with overspray or you didnt do a proper wash. Claying is normally a 1-3 times a year type of thing. I live 2 blocks away from a train station with all the iron and rail dust in the air I still only clay about once every 4-5 months, and even then I dont really pick up much.



You cannot know if your car was around overspray or not because it can travel in the wind. Nothing else I can think of will bond to paint that fast even with a crappy wax on top.
 
moto said:
..I guess I will repeat the same process and add a proper wax at the end (dedicated Meguiar's liquid wax: NXT).
Click to expand...



Heh heh, one might :argue a bit regarding whether NXT is truly a "proper wax" :chuckle: I'd much rather top with Collinite or something else long-lived.
 
Clay won't remove defects/swirls/scratches and a good QD will just cover them up until washed or it wears off.



You may need to get a PC and buff out the defects if you don't want to keep covering up.



The right wax/glaze and a QD can really help cover up defects and give a decent shine, but it will never be the great shine of a properly buffed/ paint corrected car with defects removed.



We'll see how well I can do it. Always had a pro paint correct my cars, but I just ordered a PC and will be giving it my first try.
 
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