Do I really need to wax?

G

goceltics34

New member
Hello all! I am a definite newbie here and have a question for you. I have a 2004 Acura TL in excellent condition. I have been washing it nearly every weekend (weather permitting). The other day I tried claying a small portion of the trunk because I was told that even new cars need to be clayed. Upon completion of the small section, there was absolutely no debree or discoloration on the clay at all. Not a single difference. I want to know if I should continue to clay the entire car or will it be a waste of time? I don't want to waste the time if I don't have to. What do you think? Do you think it is ready for a polish with WG Deep Paint Polish?



Thanks for you help.

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You should continue to clay. Just because that small section you clayed came out clean doesn't mean the rest of the car is good to go.



You may found after doing the whole car that it didn't need to be clayed, but you won't know unless you do it. If your clay comes out clean after doing the entire car then thats a good thing.



Its your personal preference.
 
If the paint feels smooth all over, then maybe you can skip the clay. Polish probably wouldn't hurt either. I don't consider it a waste of time.

Definitely should wax it though, especially if you haven't done so in a 2-3 months.
 
For the clay, I would suggest trying it on the lower part of your door panels, or some other area. Not every part of the car is going to be the same. You can also go by feel instead of what you see. After washing, put your hand in a plastic bag and feel the paint. If it isnâ€â„¢t perfectly smooth, you should clay. After claying, use the plastic bag again and you will feel a difference. Those are just some things to try out.



As for waxing, I DEFINITELY recommend it. You donâ€â„¢t necessarily have to go through polishing, although a light polish wouldnâ€â„¢t hurt. But put wax on there. It will help to make washings a little easier in my opinion, and it will help protect against "bird bombs" and the rest of the elements.



Hope this helps :D
 
i have a 2002 accord and when i clayed it i noticed this seems for me that the most affected areas were on the top of the vehicle and the body lines all the flat and smooth places felt clean
 
On Saturday morning, I put a sealant on an Acura TL (pearl white, with a build date of 01/05). I washed and clayed the car, as a matter of course.



There was SUBSTANTIAL improvement in the feel of the paint.



I highly recommend the procedure!



Jim
 
Cleaning and Protecting:

Is a three-step process comprising?



·Washing-to remove loose dirt and road film that sits on top of the paint film surface (Use a car wash concentrate and water)



·Cleaning- removing any oxidised, oil stained paint and imbedded contaminants like road tar, silt and acid rain deposits that cannot be removed by washing alone (Using detailers clay, then a polish or a pre-wax cleaner)



Protecting- providing the essential oils, restoring the finish with a high-gloss durable protective shell (Polish, Synthetic sealant and/or Carnauba wax)

JonM
 
Thank you very much for your help. I guess I will spend the time to clay the whole car. By the way, how long should the proceedure take if done properly?
 
You could clay as you wash, using the water and shampoo as the lube, this would save you some time, you could probably wash and clay that car in 40 minutes I would have thought. I think though that if you take the time to clay, then you should protect the finish, and adding a wax will not only enhance that lovely coloured vehicle of yours, but will protect your efforts too.





Beautiful colour ! :)
 
I appreciate the nice comments Axe. Can't wait for this darn rain to stop here in Southern California so I can attend to my car.



Thanks again all.
 
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