Does UQW remove previously applied sealant?

[akimel]

I know this question has been asked before. I suspect that short of actual scientific testing no convincing answer can be given; but the question was raised for me again yesterday. The temperatures moved into the low 50s, so I thought I'd take advantage of the heat wave and ONR my car and apply a fresh coat of sealant. But being down with a cold (not just any cold but a man-cold!), when the time to wax came, I changed my mind decided to just to top-up with Ultimate Quik Wax. UQW is just so easy and it leaves a wonderful crisp shine.

But afterwards, of course, I started to wonder if I had done the right thing. In late October I applied two coats of Wet Diamond to my S2K to get me through the winter. The sealant appeared to be holding up just fine, if beading is a reliable indicator. But now I'm wondering whether the solvents of UQW have removed, if not totally then perhaps partially, the previously applied coats of WD. I know, I know ... it's all obsessive-compulsive detailing pathology ... but it's my pathology, ok? And I bet some of you have wondered the same thing, too. 'Fess up!

I do take consolation in the fact that I'm not alone in wondering about this. Check out this interesting Detailing World thread.

As I said, short of actual empirical data, I doubt we'll ever really know whether UQW (or any other spray-on wax) supplements the pre-existing protectant or replaces it. I'm hoping the former is the case.

If it was any other time of year, I wouldn't give this a second thought, but we're still early in winter.

Al

[Fly Bye]

Re: Does UQW remove previously applied sealant?




There is nothing in the product description that states the product (UQD) has cleaners in it. So, my conclusion would be no, UQD should not remove anything.

[CieraSL]

Re: Does UQW remove previously applied sealant?

I don't think it will remove anything. If anything I believe it will make your existing wax or sealant last even longer.

From Autogeek:
Meguiars Ultimate Quik Wax can be used alone for paint protection, but it also makes a great maintenance wax for existing base coats. For example, if your vehicle has Meguiars NXT Generation Tech Wax, you can use Meguiars Ultimate Quik Wax to reinforce the polymer protection after regular washing.

And you can check out this thread: http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28394

Hope this helps!

[Fly Bye]

Re: Does UQW remove previously applied sealant?




"The administrator doesen't allow editing beyond 5 minutes"




Edit above post: I should have typed UQW








Reason: Typo

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Does UQW remove previously applied sealant?

Interesting discussion over at DW on this topic. Let's see if we can maybe clear a few things up.

First off, anything that is used to hold a dissolved product in a liquid state can be classified as a solvent. If you dissolve sugar in water, the water is essentially the solvent. And while there are indeed solvents of some sort used in the production of any wax, whether paste, liquid or spray, how that solvent works on a raw ingredient versus how it works on a cured application of a product can be very different.

The guys from Dodo Juice make some very valid points in the DW discussion regarding strength or volatility of different solvents and how they interact with things, and the difference between a wax that has been applied and cured and one that hasn't. Many of us have probably played with water paints when we were kids, or perhaps your kids play with them now. You know that the little solid pad of paint is made usable by the addition of simple tap water, but that once your painting is finished you can make the colors run once again by simply adding more water. But that is due to the nature of the ingredients used in kid's water paints. If you've ever bought a bag of ice at the grocery store, or even a carton of ice cream, the ink on the bag or carton is a water based ink. The chemistry is more complex there, with certain amines being added to raise the pH of the water in order to make the carrier resin soluble. But once the ink has dried, once the solvent has evaporated out, the resin cures and bonds to the surface. Getting these items wet will not cause the colors to run, it won't act as a solvent on the cured product. In fact, even raising the pH won't cause a problem - within limits, of course.

In the case of a synthetic sealant where cross linking takes place in order to bond the sealant to the paint, you're now dealing with a different physical state than you were with the raw materials. Even with a carnauba product such as M26, there are still polymers present. The chemistry is complex enough in the liquid or paste version of the wax that applying a spray version on top of a (cured) previous coat isn't going to break it down. Heck, the physical action of wiping your towel over that cured coat of wax is going to be more invasive to it than any light solvent used in the spray product!

While we won't go into the specific solvents used, whether quantity or potency, we can tell you that our chemists develop these spray waxes and detailers with this potential in mind. They are able to quantify the results, and we can tell you that UQW is not removing a previously applied and cured coat of wax or sealant. But can the same really be said about the towel's effects?

[akimel]

Re: Does UQW remove previously applied sealant?

Thanks, Mike. Excellent, substantive, and helpful response.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Does UQW remove previously applied sealant?

Al, something else to keep in mind specifically regarding UQW - it's VOC free. That isn't necessarily the case with some of the other products being discussed on DW - it may be, it may not be; we aren't privy to their specific ingredients. But we suspect from the description of the solvents used in some of those products that they probably are not VOC free.

[Jossy92]

Re: Does UQW remove previously applied sealant?

Thanks for starting this thread.
Sure is easier to remember when you don't have the experience, but something is explained to you.

I had the same question

[KC's]

Re: Does UQW remove previously applied sealant?

Heck, the physical action of wiping your towel over that cured coat of wax is going to be more invasive to it than any light solvent used in the spray product!

well said
I believe the biggest culprit of paint destroyer...is the nut behind the wheel

When any driver got their new ride , the paint is almost in the prefect condition, but sad to say Majority of them dont bother...left this new ride paint deteriorate


I believe if we add water to the existing water will still be ok. if i add alcohol to the existing water , thats make a difference....evaporation...as 2 of these are polymer base

from my personal observations, waxed by gold class..... overnight or after rain drops, residue appears.
when i sprayed on after waxed with UQD, hardly any residue found

some how i discover NXT & UQD a better combination

comparing most driver does physical action of wiping your towel do more harm than help

[RGP]

Re: Does UQW remove previously applied sealant?

Although I lack the empirical data to back this up, I'll add to the confusion.

I smoke, so I spend a lot of time in my garage staring at my car. In one year, I've applied 19 coats of NXT2.0. I mark each on my furnace with a sharpie. Hey, gotta have a hobby!

In the interim, I use both UQD and UQW probably on the order of twice per week; along with the lightest possible dusting with a Cal. duster beforehand.

When boredom overtakes me, I grab the ol' NXT paste and give it another coat. I know it doesn't layer, or at least that discussion is as clouded as this one, but I just enjoy doing it.

Result: The car really does "pop" judging by the overhead light reflections. This extra zing to the finish seems to last for a week or so, even though the car most likely hasn't even left the garage once during the period.

So this begs the question of mind over matter, or product performance. I cannot answer either, but seriously do stand by my personal observations as being rather significant