Will wax provide more protection if not wiped off?

M

mikebai1990

New member
I recently started using Collinite 476 as my main wax for my 2 cars. Like many Autopians, I always wax the insides of the wheels every time I rotate my tires. I'm trying to figure out what method will give the most protection. Naturally, 2-3 layers of Collinite as opposed to 1 layer will provide more protection. My question in this thread is whether or not leaving the Collinite on there without wiping it off will give even more protection. Since I can't see the insides of the wheels, I couldn't care less about the looks. I just want as much protection against winter salts/brake dust/dirt as possible.



Thanks for the help!
 
That's an interesting question, I wonder if anyone has actually done any testing. It does seem that buffing down to that "molecules thick" layer is what gives the surface its slickness; my gut response is that the unbuffed residue will be "sticky" and tend to hold debris that could cause scratching when you actually want to remove the residue. I'm sure someone has actually encountered some unbuffed spots and will give you a better answer than my guess.
 
You might want to try this:



Permanent Insulator Wax (No. S-238)

"This is a carnauba wax for new and old insulators alike, and gives an almost indestructible protective coating. It can increase dielectric strength of new insulators over 10%, used insulator to a much greater extent, and produces a high gloss finish. Works in combination with Collinite's High Voltage Insulator Cleaner for insulators and bushings."



I would buff off whatever you use apply in order to produce the slickest surface possible and if at all possible clean the insides (wheels) with every wash. There are brushes available the would aid in performing this unfriendly but rewarding task.
 
I have left patches of Collinite 845 residue on by mistake, and IDK if it affects durability but after a few weeks it will take some major polishing to get it out. I doubt that the residue has any protective ability though.
 
I did exactly that with some winter snow wheels. I have no idea if it worked better, but at the end of the season the wheels did clean up perfectly.



The debate about this point reminds me of that Ziplock commercial with the bees. You may think that the no-name baggie does as well, but when it comes to the bees you go with the name brand. :) Similarly, having a 1mm thick layer of wax just intuitively must be more protective than .001mm or whatever is left after buffing.
 
My brother in law did this to his Dodge pickup. He had a set of chrome wheels with gold chrome centers. I'm sure they weren't big buck wheels. He left the wax on through one of Utah's winters and when spring came around he went to clean it off and all of the gold anodizing came off as well as huge spots of chrome. :eek: It destroyed the wheels. I'm not sure what happened but kind of thought it trapped the moisture in. Most people wouldn't leave it on for long periods of time like he did but I probably wouldn't do it having seen his results.
 
Wax on chrome wheels is a no-no according to Guru publisher Steve L. Chrome needs to breathe. Goto the Roadfly forum and read Steve's sticky.
 
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