Your thoughts on "Ceramic" auto wax

Gem99ultra · Mar 23, 2021

The problem is that you waxed your entire car with the ceramic polish. All the TV commercials I see are with the presenter taping off half the hood and waxing only that part. I assume from what I see in the commercials that it is intended for waxing only 1/2 the hood.

I keep wondering what would happen if they waxed the entire automobile, but I've never seen that happen so I assume its a 1/2 hood only wax.

PS Commercials don't lie, right?

ray66v · Mar 23, 2021

Modern paint does not need to be sealed, which is the primary function of auto wax. So actual sealing and waxing is not necessary.

Most "wax" today is primarily made up of silicone, and really not doing much besides making it bead water.

That being said, many people are still going to do it. The critical step is not to just apply the slippery chemicals. It is to do the deep cleaning that should be done periodically, and is often skipped for the easy part.

Things like brake dust are going to adhere to the finish regardless of what you have on it. So, use of a clay bar, or synthetic cloth to remove those foreign particles is the first step.

Then, using a finish cleaner will remove minor surface scratches, and scuffs. There are lots of products that do this, depending on the level of wear, Meguiars is readily available to the consumer. They have two or three finish cleaners in their product line. Crystal finish is a good middle of the road product for most people. This part requires the use of some elbow grease. Don't try to do it all at once if you are not ready to do some work.

Then, if you really want to, you can apply the slippery product, or actual wax of your choice, and pretend it was necessary.

I don't think the ceramic coatings are worthwhile. I don't use them on my cars, and I can get them wholesale.

Tinhack · Mar 23, 2021

Ceramic is for coffee mugs not cars. It's another product to relieve the money from your pocket. Most of the auto-care products are sold to save your time, not your paint.

My last career before retirement was building, painting and restoring antique and classic cars. And I've always been under the hood of my own cars. I'd have to go out and look at the bottles to get the names of the restoration products I used. But for protection and shine it's hard to beat Carnauba Wax. The very best comes in a paste form--Wipe On, Wipe Off. For the best protection and shine it will require yours or someone else's labor.

Avenger · Mar 23, 2021

Project Farm did a comparison of these Ceramic coatings.

Rebeldad1 · Mar 23, 2021

Surf City Garage products are the best I have ever used. Carnauba wax that leaves NO white residue on black plastics. You can wax your plastic with it. Best results when done washing and waxing is to go over it with a polymer detail spray. They have ceramic too. Tire dressing that leaves NO slime on your hands. Great products

kcflhrc · Mar 23, 2021

I came across "Chemical Guys" Products, I will never use anything else

ovrszd · Mar 23, 2021

Tinhack said:
Ceramic is for coffee mugs not cars. It's another product to relieve the money from your pocket. Most of the auto-care products are sold to save your time, not your paint.

My last career before retirement was building, painting and restoring antique and classic cars. And I've always been under the hood of my own cars. I'd have to go out and look at the bottles to get the names of the restoration products I used. But for protection and shine it's hard to beat Carnauba Wax. The very best comes in a paste form--Wipe On, Wipe Off. For the best protection and shine it will require yours or someone else's labor.

When I was a teenager I asked a guy in town that always had his cars shining what was the best wax to use? He said "Elbow grease Richard, elbow grease". I've never forgotten that.

dodge man · Mar 23, 2021

I haven’t jumped on the ceramics bandwagon yet. I have been using synthetic waxes for several years. I like Zano but I think it’s overpriced and it has no cleaning ability what so ever. I have been getting most of my stuff from Griot’s Garage lately and they offer a ceramic that I may try.

I agree with others a rough surface means you need to clay bar. My normal procedure is to take the tar and oil off with mineral spirits first, then clay bar, then wax. I also normally use a Porter Cable power buffer. Power buffers are not near as difficult to use or as hard on the paint as they are made out to be.

Paying for ceramics to be applied? I own a 2010 Challenger and frequent a forum. The people that pay for it seem to like. If you pay over a $1000 for something are you going say it sucks?

Someone else posted and I somewhat agree waxes don’t really seal a car and form this protective barrier. What you are mostly doing is getting the surface really clean a and maybe getting fine scratches out. It also sort of slicks up the surface and make it easier to clean.

fried1765 · Mar 23, 2021

ray66v said:
Modern paint does not need to be sealed, which is the primary function of auto wax. So actual sealing and waxing is not necessary.

Most "wax" today is primarily made up of silicone, and really not doing much besides making it bead water.

That being said, many people are still going to do it. The critical step is not to just apply the slippery chemicals. It is to do the deep cleaning that should be done periodically, and is often skipped for the easy part.

Things like brake dust are going to adhere to the finish regardless of what you have on it. So, use of a clay bar, or synthetic cloth to remove those foreign particles is the first step.

Then, using a finish cleaner will remove minor surface scratches, and scuffs. There are lots of products that do this, depending on the level of wear, Meguiars is readily available to the consumer. They have two or three finish cleaners in their product line. Crystal finish is a good middle of the road product for most people. This part requires the use of some elbow grease. Don't try to do it all at once if you are not ready to do some work.

Then, if you really want to, you can apply the slippery product, or actual wax of your choice, and pretend it was necessary.

I don't think the ceramic coatings are worthwhile. I don't use them on my cars, and I can get them wholesale.

I compounded and waxed my (new to me) 13 year old 251 hour Kubota L48 TLB last Summer.
It looks almost new, and current value is more than twice the current value of my Mercedes E-350!
Car?
Why wax a car?