How often do you wax your truck?

[KARNUT]

The only wax I use is spray on once a year when the weather cools down, just to do more of a detailed cleaning after going thru the drive thru car wash. I used to go ape shit crazy with my cleaning and waxing. Than I notice that a little spray wax was just as good. That gives me back a half a day every weekend I use to lose, going OCD over my rides. The things you learn when you get older and the body forces you to slow down.

[Cowpie]

The only wax my pickup gets is what I opt for at the automatic car wash. I haven't physically waxed a vehicle since..... 1980 I think.

[00Silverado4x4]

The only wax my pickup gets is what I opt for at the automatic car wash. I haven't physically waxed a vehicle since..... 1980 I think.

Same here, only it's been since about 1997 or so for me.

[GMP]

What's your opinion on tst paint protection offered at the dealers. Worth the money or just a gimmick to add cash in the pockets of the salesman.

[STINSAN3]

What's your opinion on tst paint protection offered at the dealers. Worth the money or just a gimmick to add cash in the pockets of the salesman.

Not really worth the extra money.

[Colossus]

Not worth it. Doesn't do any good. Just a way for them to make more money off of you.

[Cowpie]

I got one of the paint protection deals, AutoArmor, only because I can't keep the pickup clean for 24 hrs where I live. It spends most of it's time dirty, muddy, or dusty with an occasional run thru the car wash, just to have it dirty again by the next day. Since the pickup will never get a hand wax job, ever, and it is going to have dirt on it most the time along with the winter stuff, it seemed a little prudent to seal the paint job before it left the dealer, brand new. I wouldn't consider it once it left the lot. The only part of the vehicle that stays somewhat clean is the interior. One of the joys of having to travel several miles of gravel roads to and from the house. But UV is not that big of a deal. The pickup, when not being used, sits in a heated garage. It is not a daily commuter vehicle. My Freightliner semi truck is the daily commuter vehicle. And it never gets waxed either except for RainX surface treatment at the Truck wash.

[LaserBlueZ71]

As one poster mentioned, sealant is the way to go.

 

Sealant can give you up to 6 months of protection, wax will give you about 6 weeks probably. I won't use any products other than Adams for everything. There is simply no beating that stuff.

[greg_tahoe84]

Well I put on more than a week ago Meguiar's Ultimate Liquid Wax, which is more of a synthetic sealent. I like the results.

 

 

It has been through rain and it has held up very nicely. The water beads up nicely.

[LaserBlueZ71]

Please tell me you clayed the vehicle first? If not, all you did was seal in contamination that will be more difficult to remove when you take the time to do your first clay.

 

And no, brand new vehicles are not perfectly clean. By the time a vehicle makes it to the dealership, the paint is extremely rough.

[02suburbanZ71]

For the perfect exterior you 1- wash, 2 clay bar, 3 buff with compound and wool pad, 4 buff with a blue foam pad and polish, 5 wax the vehicle by hand or with a buffer.

 

At my body shop that is what we do. I run the buffer at 2300 for all applications and once you do these steps along with the clay you will be amazed

[RyanbabZ71]

Between clay and polish add a wash

 

 

Ryan

[LaserBlueZ71]

Between clay and polish add a wash

 

 

Ryan

Actually, you don't really have to do that.

 

This may only apply with Adams products, but I go directly from Clay to Revive. Revive is basically a very deep paint cleanser and really brings paint back to life. This will leave you with a perfectly clean, clear finish afterwards. Try washing, then claying, then use revive. You will be blown away at how incredible smooth your paint is after you wipe off the revive. It's like a brand new sheet of glass X10.

[02suburbanZ71]

 

Clay bar with aim final inspection

[MB2008LTZ]

^^^^^^ HOLY CRAP MAN ^^^^^ some labor went into that job....!!!!!!!!!