Optimum Car Wax

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ZaneO

New member
Product: Optimum Spray Wax



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Price: $15.99



Manufacturer's Claim:



Optimum Car Wax is the only spray car wax that provides the durability of a paste wax and long-lasting UV protection. A combination of high-grade Carnauba wax, sealant polymers and UV inhibitors forms a protective layer on the painted surface to protect the paint from sun damage and environmental elements for up to 5 months.



Packaging: The product comes in a ergonomic spray bottle that provides a good spray pattern.



Usage: I applied to a freshly washed and dryed surface that was in good shape. I sprayed one squirt per panel and buffed. It tended to leave "high spots" here and there, but that may be user error. It took me about twice as long as a normal QD'ing, but overall that's still pretty quick for waxing.



Overall Thoughts and Notes: Overall, it's an easy product to use. The appearance was improved from the un-waxed surface, but it wasn't an overly dramatic difference. It had decent gloss and a slightly muted (carnauba) finish. It had decent slickness. My durability findings are quite disappointing to this point given the manufacturer's claim (I got less than 6 weeks as a stand alone), but other than that it's a good product.
 
High spots could mean that you didn't shake it well enough. When I tried it straight on, I experienced the same. Properly mixed, shaken, it is more stable/durable.
 
ZaneO said:
(I got less than 6 weeks as a stand alone), but other than that it's a good product.
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Yep, the 5 months claim is typical marketing BS that most manufacturers have a habit of doing. I guess they think that most of the folks who are going to buy their products are "naive"... makes them look bad at places like this.



On the other hand, around 6 weeks from a spray wax sounds pretty decent, and certainly exceptable for me. I just wish these manufacturers would be honest, and state "real-world expectations".



Thanks for the review.
 
I really love OCW on my M3 -- I use it after every wash. But the M3 is garaged and is really pampered, with a coat of something good (Souveran, S100, CMW, Nattys Blue, etc) every other weekend. The OCW definitely DOES give an extra wet glossy look after a wash.



BUT, I find that OCW is NOT sufficient as a stand-alone LSP for my black 540i, which is parked outside. Three weeks is about all I get for beading on the 540i when I use OCW.



For a car that is a daily driver that is parked outside, then I doubt that you'll find that OCW is sufficient as a stand alone LSP. You'd be better off with a good long lasting sealant (KSG or Z2Pro).
 
A couple of months ago I made the switch from foam apps to mf & terry apps. No reason really, other than to try something new.
 
I made the switch FROM MF to foam because I felt the MF applicator pads were eating up (becoming saturated with) too much of my product and I was wasting it. I have seen no ill effects using a foam applicator pad.
 
While easy to use, OCW didn’t meet my expectations as a dedicated LSP. Gloss and shine seemed to be average, although certain colors lost the *POP* associated with other pastes or sealants. Durability is questionable at 4 – 6 weeks. LSP aside, OCW doesn’t make much of an impression as a QD either.
 
OCW is NOT a QD in any way shape or form. It only is applied like one.



OCW should NOT be applied with a foam applicator as it will absorb the polymers. Best applicator is a low plush MF or perhaps a diaper material.



Applying too much OCW can result in streaks, applying too little can result in what some may deem as high or low spots.



I always prime my applicator towel with one squirt or mist and then also mist the paint and then I rub OCW into the paint until gone, flip the towel and buff. I have never had issues with streaking.



Durability is always going to be subjective. Everyone thinks because in 2 weeks it's not as slick as when I put it on it must not be working. That's misplaced hype trumped up by the detailing community. I have the new Opti-seal which leaves behind little to no slickness but it has outlasted pretty much everything I have tried to date.



Waterbeading is not the ideal measuring stick for durability either. Sealants don't bead well so perhaps while the carnauba is not there could it be possible that the polymers are still present? How do we know that a wax or sealant is no longer present based on water beads alone? It's a good indicator but not the final one.



It all comes down to personal taste, afterall its just wax. Besides most of the people worried about durability are the ones re-applying something new to their cars every 2 weeks :nixweiss :chuckle:



Anthony
 
Anthony Orosco said:
Durability is always going to be subjective. Everyone thinks because in 2 weeks it's not as slick as when I put it on it must not be working. That's misplaced hype trumped up by the detailing community. I have the new Opti-seal which leaves behind little to no slickness but it has outlasted pretty much everything I have tried to date.



Waterbeading is not the ideal measuring stick for durability either. Sealants don't bead well so perhaps while the carnauba is not there could it be possible that the polymers are still present? How do we know that a wax or sealant is no longer present based on water beads alone? It's a good indicator but not the final one.
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Anthony, this question has nothing to do with OCW, but you say above that you use neither slickness nor beading as a durability/longevity indicator...so what do you use?
 
Anthony Orosco said:
OCW is NOT a QD in any way shape or form. It only is applied like one.



OCW should NOT be applied with a foam applicator as it will absorb the polymers. Best applicator is a low plush MF or perhaps a diaper material.



Applying too much OCW can result in streaks, applying too little can result in what some may deem as high or low spots.



I always prime my applicator towel with one squirt or mist and then also mist the paint and then I rub OCW into the paint until gone, flip the towel and buff. I have never had issues with streaking.



Durability is always going to be subjective. Everyone thinks because in 2 weeks it's not as slick as when I put it on it must not be working. That's misplaced hype trumped up by the detailing community. I have the new Opti-seal which leaves behind little to no slickness but it has outlasted pretty much everything I have tried to date.



Waterbeading is not the ideal measuring stick for durability either. Sealants don't bead well so perhaps while the carnauba is not there could it be possible that the polymers are still present? How do we know that a wax or sealant is no longer present based on water beads alone? It's a good indicator but not the final one.



It all comes down to personal taste, afterall its just wax. Besides most of the people worried about durability are the ones re-applying something new to their cars every 2 weeks :nixweiss :chuckle:



Anthony
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Anthony, thank you for telling it like it really is so we can make the proper evaluation with an open mind.
 
I've had the problem of high spots with OCW also. I guess I'll just have to shake more from now on.



I've never used OCW as a standalone LSP yet. I've always used it as a booster for my carnauba pastes. In this role, it works extremely well.
 
Anthony, when you apply OCW, do you dampen your MF / Towel with any water...or just use the OCW straight?

Also; what brand car wash / shampoo would you recommend with OCW. I am looking for something gentle, which I can use on a weekly basis.

BTW, I recently made the change to the Optimum Product line (Optimum Polish and Wax). Personally, I really like the end result and look of the product (the car had Zaino previously). The car is garaged, so appearance is most important to me...and I am pleased with Optimum



Photo below of my 02 Vette with the Optimum Polish and Wax. Not the best pic, but you get the idea.



 

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Anthony Orosco said:
Besides most of the people worried about durability are the ones re-applying something new to their cars every 2 weeks
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Or those who wish to believe the claims of the manufacturer that state 5 months which I feel safe in saying, many people here who has used this product will agree is not true. (except maybe Scottwax who seems to get super longevity out of his LSP's or maybe others like him in Texas or that region).



I live in New Jersey, a region of the country known for acid rain. IF and I mean IF, OCW lasts 5 weeks (and I'm being generous) then I'm lucky. The water is "dead" on the car at that time - no sheeting, beads or real slickness. Just messy, flat pools of water.



This, IMHO, is the "flavor of the month" syndrome working, organically making it's way through the forum like a virus. This is not to say OCW is a bad product. It's relatively cheap with all the coupon codes out there, easy to use and fun to try new products. Nothing wrong with it at all.



But, durability claims by the manufacturer leave a bit to be desired. I'd like to think Autopians arent suckers for marketing.



Note, all the other manufacturers out there are making spray sealant-type products because they know it hasn't really been done before and it provides a new source of marketing which leads to more revenue. You'll see, soon another form of product will be created, delivered in a new, unique fashion and then everyone will migrate over to it.
 
Setec Astronomy said:
Anthony, this question has nothing to do with OCW, but you say above that you use neither slickness nor beading as a durability/longevity indicator...so what do you use?
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Some companies say that the true indicator is the sheeting.
 
Anthony & Larry - if beading and slickness aren't good indicators of durability, how does one monitor the durability of products?? I understand that you both sell the product, but I'm interested in your respective answers.



FWIW, my testing was done with an open mind, and my results seem to be right in line with most others.
 
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