A friend of mine said I shouldn't wax my 2002 Protege at all (yes, at all!) because it would ruin the clear coat finish on the paint.

Does the 2002 Protege even have a clear coat finish on it (I'm assuming it does)? And why shouldn't I wax it after a while? I'm sure the clear coat will fade away with time...And how often should a car be waxed a year (normal usage)?

Things i didn't have to worry about with my POS 95 Corsica....!

Thanks
Michael

 

Smack him or her. No wax or polymer I know of ruins clearcoat. I'd stay away from abrasive compounds, but not a protectant.

Twice maybe? Depends on what you use. Read the instructions.

You need to use a protectant. Sun fades paint, most decent protectants have UV blockers. Bird crap, tree sap, acid rain...all these things tear up unprotected paint. Modern paint is made to be waxed/polymered. Use it.

--dean

 

yes its perfectly o.k. to wax your car just make sure the wax states the obvious --"clear coat safe"....i just waxed mine and its shiny assss!

 

Check out http://www.griotsgarage.com/index.jsp for info on paint care. They sell some excellent products, and have a book about paint car that is very informative. The place is expensive though.

 

Thanks everybody for the clear cut answer! I already told my buddy he was full of sh*t. I think I might print your answers and shove them in front of his nose as well...

Later

 

The myth your friend came up with is not completely off base. New paint needs time to cure before applying a wax or sealant. Since the factory paint is baked on, the curing time is greatly reduced. Reduced substaintially enough that you don't have to worry about curing time on a new car. However, if you have some bodywork done and a panel gets repainted, the paint cannot be "baked on" like the factory paint job, unless trim and other interior peices that may melt or experience damage from the heat are removed. In a case such as that, you shouldn't apply anything for approximately 3 months in order to have some curing time for the paint.

 

I use NuFinish paste. It comes in a orange can. Its a synthetic compound and as such some people say its corrosive to paint and wil actually harm the paint's finish. I personally believe this is untrue, because after every car wash or shower the water beads into very tiny droplets even after almost a dozen washes. The shine is brings is also excellent and very reflective. And because it is synthetic doesn't means its bad for paint when compared to ''natural'' waxes such as carnuba wax. Though it can't be compared due to different contexts, it is generally agreed that synthetic engine oil outperforms and outprotects conventional and organic oils.

 

I would not use NuFinish on a new car. Rumor is that it has abrasives that strip the clear coat to bring back the shine. I remember the old commercials where they would take a car from the wrecker and polish it to a new finish by hand. Can't be done without abrasives or strippers. I would stick with a strait wax. Anyone else here of this??

Don

 

You do need to give the car time for the paint to cure, I waited six moths on both of my cars. Also I have been using Liquid Glass on all of my cars for the past 10 years and it really keeps the paint looking great! I just sold my 6 year old truck that has not been garaged and he said it looked like new. I do not normally buy things from PEP Boys except for oil etc. but you can get it there or else you have to go through a distributor. I only have to wav it every 6-8 months