Every 6 Month Wax/Polish

T

TimL

New member
I recently purchased a 2007 F150, with white clear-coat paint.

I'm looking for suggestions on a product to protect the paint. I'm not looking for a show car shine, I just want to protect the paint.

I also want something that will last for at least 6 months. I would like to wax/polish the truck in the spring and in the fall.

It needs to hold up to a couple of washes a month in the summer, and a wash per month in the winter (if the weather allows). It will also have to stand up to Michigan winter roads.

It doesn't have to be easy to apply or remove, since I will only be using it twice a year. I plan to do all the work by hand, no mechanical polisher.

I have had one person recommend "Black Magic", and a couple of people recommend "Nu-Finish".

I would appreciate any advice you folks can offer.

Thank you,

Tim
 
Everyone has their opinion, but I would look at the Collinite 845. Supposedly pretty durable and easy to use. I also hear if you get it on blac trim, it won't stain (although I can't confirm this).
 
I was going to say the same thing. You'll probably get a couple of different recommendations, but as stated already, Collinite 845 seems to be the first wax that come to mind when it comes to durability.



Of course, how long a wax lasts depends on other factors as well (how much the car is driven, if it's garaged, location) but 845 would seem to be one good option for you.



And :welcome to Autopia!
 
You'll get a hundred different replies to your question as everyone has their favorites, but do a little searching and reading on this and other websites to find the products which meet your needs.



Generally speaking synthetic sealants will last longer than a wax. I have the same requirements as you living in New Hampshire and have found Zaino and now Duragloss products to be excellent as far as durability. I switched to DG because they are less expensive and perform as well as Z products.



However, to get good durability through the winter I think you'll need to apply a little more often than 6 months-especially if you use commercial washes in the winter.



Once you get the hang of thin coats of sealant you can put it on and buff it off in 45 minutes or less--by hand. I layer 3 or 4 coats (applied 3 or 3 weeks apart) of Z2 and now DG 105 in the fall and it lasts all winter long even with an occasional commercial touchless wash.



http://www.zainobros.com/





Duragloss Car Care Products
 
Welcome to autopia. If you try searching for "durable wax" "durable sealant" or anything of the sort, you will find many threads talking about the same products when it comes to durability.



Ultima, Zaino, Collinite, Jeff Werkstatts, Klasse AIO/SG, Duragloss.
 
TimL- Welcome to Autopia!



Simple answer IMO/IME: Collinite wax.



I get much better durability out of their 476S paste than I do from their 845 Insulator Wax, but both are good. A few coats of 476S (just add another one after each of a series of regular washes) will last the six months, or at least come close.



Four coats of 476S on my Blazer lasted from early Sept. until late May, including an Ohio winter.
 
I'd head down to CarQuest and pick up some Duragloss #105 Total Paint Protection. Also grab some AquaWax for use after every wash and I guarantee you will be more than covered on the protection side and it will look great too. Total cost for both products = $20 They are inexpensive, easy to obtain, and last a long time...will easily protect your paint.
 
I would go with Zaino Z-CS Clear Seal, 6-9 months of durability. Use Zaino Z-AIO as a base (btw I love this stuff!!) then a coat of Z-CS and you should be good to go.



I did my wife's Subaru with this a couple of months ago, I also topped with Z-8 for more shine, and so far so good, looks great with good beading.
 
So what you folks are trying to tell me is that there is no such thing as a "twice a year, single product solution"?

It looks like this new vehicle thing may be a little more work than I thought.

Waxing between washes would be possible in the spring, summer & fall, but waxing during the winter wouldn't be possible because I don't have a heated garage.

Thanks for the advice.

Tim
 
No these are good solutions for protection twice a year, DG105. Then after you wash you can quickly add some AW and keep it looking good
 
Well, getting 6 months of solid protection is really stretching it for most products, including even the most durable sealants. Alot depends on the elements, weather, snow, salt, humidity, rainfall etc etc etc. If you bump it to 3 times a year, like you said, spring, mid summer and fall you should be just fine. In the sealant category, you can't go wrong with Zaino for its durability
 
TimL, waxing 3 times a year vs. 2 times a year really isn't gonna make that much of a difference. I'm pretty sure you'll be able to squeeze out a total of 6-7 hours every 365 days :)
 
I would recommend Zaino for durability, and if washing during winter is not possible, try ONR (Optimum No Rinse) in your garage. Do a search on ONR in this forum.
 
Maintaining your finish rests on your shoulders. If you feel ok with just "waxing" it 2 times a year, eh , its your 30k investment.



If it were me, i would take it alittle more serious and ask " what can i do to protect my vehicle and make sure i get good money on a trade in, someday"



Do some poking around here, the detailing bug might just get you too lol.
 
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