Wolfgang inconsistencies?

G

Glossy McGlosserton

New member
I've noticed that there are really inconsistent opinions on Wolfgang, especially regarding durability. Anyone have theories?



Here's my experience:

Clayed. Used WG paint cleaner. Used WG. Easy process with each. Car is a white Honda Civic '03 sedan, and looked great, although I wondered if a slight yellowing took place due to the WG. Car is parked outside, under trees.



First week and a half, car looked great, and bugs and tree sap washed off well at first wash. By week three and second wash, there seemed to be no protection. Bugs were really tough to get off front end. Some brown stains from trees were embedded in finish, did not come off with the WG car wash, and needed to be removed by scrubbing with WG detailer and MF.



My conclusion is that even though there was some beading left, WG wasn't really protecting the paint. My experience is about the same as Geeky Steve's mini-test which showed that WG has relatively poor durability.



I'm going to return to Z2/ZFX this weekend. Sure wish there was a paint prep as part of the Zaino system.



Any ideas from those of you who have had great durability with WG as to how come? :confused: I've got a bunch of this stuff, and if there's a way to get it to work well, I'd like to know about it.
 
I used the same process as you, and I'm still getting beading and some slickness after 19 weeks. I, too, am puzzled by all the differences.



Paint prep is a part of Zaino; it's a part of every product. It's up to you to do it, though. Zaino works well on white and is one of the more durable products out there.



I wish I could make everyones Wolfgang work as well as mine :confused:
 
Yeah, I prep before Zaino, but a dedicated Z prep would eliminate the second wash before applying Z2/Z5. At least, that would be my hope.



19 weeks and WG is still going strong? Wow. Garaged? Has it really been tested by anything like rainstorms, bird bombs, bugs, sap?
 
The vehicle is garaged at night, but sits in the sun for 8+ hours a day. It has experienced several bug and bird filled road trips and approx. 8 washes.



Both the appearance and slickness have diminished significantly, but the Wolfgang is surely still there.
 
I've had good resutls with wolfgangs but I never go a month without detailing my car anyhoo ;) - but it lasts at least that month - weekly washing - garaged at night but parking lot during the day - we have really hard water here so I have to S&W the car after washing but after that it's slick as snot again.
 
One thing I'm noticing is that the people who are getting good durability from WG are keeping up with a strict maintenance regimen (WG QD, WG wash every week, WAUD), and it seems many of them have used a different base (many have used AIO) underneath their WG. Some people also use QEW as their weekly wash. I'm beginng to think QEW has some "wash 'n wax" qualities about it that would cause it to extend the life of LSP's.



Those of us who have gotten poor results have used WG cleaner and sealant without heavey maintenance, just a regular wash (the same way I use klasse, and get good results).



Bill.
 
^ I have limited experience with WG, but I can tell you for sure that QEW has wax in it. When the new QEW is shipped you will many times see a floating "peanut" in it which is in fact a wax additive.



I have found that QEW will leave the surface very slick and IMO extends the life of your LSP.
 
S&W has no QD ability - the only reason I use it is the mineral residue I get from my water - no matter what sealant or wax (and believe me there has been plenty :) ).. I lose my slickness. I have to S&W to get off the film. My guess would be a lot of people may have harder water than they think. If you don't get that off it can build up as well - what you may think of as a loss of durability is actually a build up on top of your sealant.
 
BillNorth said:
One thing I'm noticing is that the people who are getting good durability from WG are keeping up with a strict maintenance regimen (WG QD, WG wash every week, WAUD), and it seems many of them have used a different base (many have used AIO) underneath their WG. Some people also use QEW as their weekly wash. I'm beginng to think QEW has some "wash 'n wax" qualities about it that would cause it to extend the life of LSP's.



Those of us who have gotten poor results have used WG cleaner and sealant without heavey maintenance, just a regular wash (the same way I use klasse, and get good results).



Bill.
Click to expand...



I think Bill's analysis is spot on. When I test a product I use it as directed and don't use any special maintenance procedures. IMO, the product has to stand on its own abilities, w/o "enhancements" or boosters or rejuventors.



Almost any product will last a few weeks. Wolfgang states it will last 6+ months but my tests (and the tests of others) don't support that claim.
 
In my particular case, I used the WG Pre-Cleaner followed by the WG Sealant. The vehicle gets washed every 2-4 weeks with a QD after, but is not babied whatsoever between washes.



FWIW, the first 2 washes were done with EO Wet car wash.



I specifically chose this car (my gf's 4Runner) because it is black, and I knew it would see true daily driving and be exposed to a variety of elements.
 
Personally if I am testing durability, I would NOT QD. I wil apply the wax, then wash as I would normally.



A weekly QD will extend the life of any wax. The right QD anyway.
 
Zane,



It wouldn't surprise me at all if the QD'ing has in fact extended the life of the WG by 6+ weeks. Some of these new QD's are, in many respects, another form/layer of protection being added to the surface. Gone are the days when qd was used primarly for lifting dust, fingerprints, etc without scratching. Qd's are now another way to wax and seal.



Bill.
 
Hmmm seems we are getting confused between boster wax and QD (let's not add in QD+ :) ). A quick detailer does just what you say Bill, maybe has some shine boosters vis a vie silicone to enhance shine but I don't think it can extend the life of a wax or sealant (the obvious exception would be if I were using a "system" where the QD added back the product specifically to extend the life). Nxt for example does not label theirs as a QD but a "booster" wax. Quik Detailer on the other hand is a QD..Final Inpsection is just like what you described. I personally use Poorboy's Spray and Wipe which is not a QD at all in the sense that it only removes surface dirt/what haveyou/ and leaves nothing behind. I use this all the time no matter what the sealant/wax/goop I have on my ride. I think the only way products like that extend the life of the wax or sealant is to remove contaminents that would otherwise degrade the product.
 
groebuck, I have to disagree with your post. :)



I'm not confusing QD's and boosters. The fact is, all QD's, regardless of whether they are part of a system, will help to rejuvinate a layer of wax/sealant.



I've noticed that my paint is much smoother after using final inspection on my SG. I can only imagine what would happen if I used it every week day on my SG. A lot of QD's also contain some carnuba content in them. This will help with beading and slickness, not only on a carnuba topped car, but also on a sealant. Anything will help with slickness beading, etc. And if used often enough, will make a large impact.



Bill.
 
I have had Wolfgang Paint Sealant on my light gray Toyota for 12 weeks and still great beading. I do use the Wolfgang Auto Bath and the QD. I think its the best paint sealant that I ever tryed!!!!!!!!!:up
 
Bill, there is no wax in Final Inspection - about 95% water, proplyene glycol, proplyene glycon ether and conditioners (which account for less than .5%). The only thing it is doing is removing the contaminents on the surface, thus making your finish feel smoother. It's those contaminents left on the surface that are affecting the life of the wax or sealant. Pollution, Acid rain, dust, pollen, overspray..all of it will shorten the life of wax or sealant. A true QD+ (like Nxt Booster wax) is nothing like final inspection, you spray it on let it haze and wipe it off - so yup that will extend the life because you are basically waxing again. So products like Final Inspection will extend the life of the base product but not by adding in anything, just by removing that which causes it to break down.



To be fair though a durability test should be average joe style - apply and see how long it lasts with normal washing. Of course if I was the average joe then nothing would last more than a week! I kid you not I have the hardest water in da world!
 
BillNorth said:
groebuck, I have to disagree with your post. :)



I'm not confusing QD's and boosters. The fact is, all QD's, regardless of whether they are part of a system, will help to rejuvinate a layer of wax/sealant.



I've noticed that my paint is much smoother after using final inspection on my SG. I can only imagine what would happen if I used it every week day on my SG. A lot of QD's also contain some carnuba content in them. This will help with beading and slickness, not only on a carnuba topped car, but also on a sealant. Anything will help with slickness beading, etc. And if used often enough, will make a large impact.



Bill.
Click to expand...



Well said....lets not forget the basics.......



http://www.autopia.org/forums/showthread.php?threadid=34699
 
I am getting decent durability with Wolfgang whether I wash it with QEW or with regular car wash soap. At the 8 week point, the QEW-ed vehicles are somewhat slicker but both bead well and look pretty good. I don't know if WG will last 6 months, but for me, I am confident I will get at least 3 months on my customer's cars. I've used both the WG pre-cleaner and Vanilla Moose as the base and haven't noticed a difference in durability.



I too am at a loss to explain why WG works well for some people and not for others.
 
I agree... I got taken in by WG's slickness from the start and all the hype about it. I only their QD nowadays as their SG simply does not hold for me.
 
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