How long do these sealants generally last...

[ColonelCash]

Re: How long do these sealants generally last...

M20 --> Collinite 476s or 845 (insulator wax) would be a good maintenance program 476s is a hard paste wax, 845 is a liquid. I have a few of each 476s seems to last longer, but 845 is REALLY easy to work with.

[Clutch34]

Re: How long do these sealants generally last...

I'll take a look into that, thanks!

[Caress Detailing]

Re: How long do these sealants generally last...

The problem is that Durability is perceived differently from person to person, and car to car. For example, I have just one coat of M21 2.0 on my white Ford Ranger applied 5 months ago and it still has tight beads and a great shine. While on my wife's black Subaru, I've seen maybe only 3 months from 2 coats of Zaino Z2 which is supposed to be a really durable sealant. The exception is that her car is outside 24/7 and driven 6 days a week. So I'm going to make a general statement that most sealants will see anywhere from 1-6 months depending on the car and surrounding conditions.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: How long do these sealants generally last...

The problem is that Durability is perceived differently from person to person, and car to car. For example, I have just one coat of M21 2.0 on my white Ford Ranger applied 5 months ago and it still has tight beads and a great shine. While on my wife's black Subaru, I've seen maybe only 3 months from 2 coats of Zaino Z2 which is supposed to be a really durable sealant. The exception is that her car is outside 24/7 and driven 6 days a week. So I'm going to make a general statement that most sealants will see anywhere from 1-6 months depending on the car and surrounding conditions.

A very astute observation, and pretty much spot on. A very durable wax or sealant that is subject to extreme conditions won't last as long as a less durable product that is pampered in a garage and only brought out on rare occasions. The relentless downpours of rain we've had the past week here in SoCal will kill a wax fairly quickly, whereas our usual warm, clear, dry weather will allow for great durability in most cases.

Exposure is everything when it comes to wax longevity. For those of you who take great pleasure in waxing your cars and consider it therapy, longevity is probably a non issue since you're waxing so often anyway. But for a daily driver that sits outside 24/7 and lives in a very wet environment, you're almost forced to wax regularly since you're subjecting any wax to a very tough test indeed.

It wouldn't surprise us to find that most quality sealants on the market are pretty darn close in terms of overall, usable life span. And with variable weather conditions, do you really even want to stretch your wax intervals to once every six months?

[akimel]

Re: How long do these sealants generally last...

And with variable weather conditions, do you really even want to stretch your wax intervals to once every six months?

Quite right. Durability is not irrelevant to me, but I can't imagine myself waiting six months between waxes, unless required to do so by the weather. For example, I applied a coat of Ultima Paint Guard Plus to my wife's CRV in late October. This was the fourth (or maybe even fifth) coat I had applied to it since we bought it in May. Winter has prevented me from sealing it again. I can say that the sealant is still beading well after three months. I am planning on stripping off the sealant with a paint cleaner in April and re-doing everything. I am undecided whether to try to stretch out the present protection until then or whether to add a coat of something if weather conditions permit. I'll probably just wait things out. At this point I am curious to see how long the protectant will last. And once spring arrives I will be back waxing the CRV every other month or so, whether it needs it or not.

But with my S2K I haven't been so indifferent. I applied two coats of Blackfire Wet Diamond in late October and have topped it twice with Ultimate Quik Wax, not because I saw any evidence that the protection was failing but just because I wanted the car to look as good as possible. And when spring arrives, I'll do a full detail and will return to waxing Luthien every month!

So how many people who care about detailing, who care about how their cars look, actually allow their cars to go six months before wax/sealant applications?

[searle]

Re: How long do these sealants generally last...

^ +1

Meguiars, to their credit, dont try to quote specific timeframes since there are so many variables. As well, the wax does just not disappear one day, it slowly is removed by rain and washings etc. The water beading/sheeting is typically the first visible sign to go, but you still have lots of protection remaining after that. So it also depends on what you use to say the "wax is gone".

One note, if you apply a spray of UQD or UQW after weekly washes, they top-up the underlying wax base and keep the wax beauty lasting even longer.

I find that NXT-2.0 tends to "last" around 2 months of daily summer driving and weekly washing, and then I want to re-wax to maximize bedding/sheeting again. In fact, it will probably last 4+ months before being mostly gone. With weekly UQW touch-ups I have gone 3-4 months and then mostly re-waxed "just-because".

For winter protection, I normally do a complete clay+cleaner+glaxe+NXT detail in late October, and then just wash every 2-4 weeks (if/when it is not freezing) until a spring (early April) re-detail, and the NXT-2.0 is just fine during that full 6 months. If we happen to get a really nice/warm weekend during that time I might do a re-wax. During the summer, I want maximum beauty and hence the re-wax every 2+ months - as much because I enjoy the process as it actually being needed.

[ColonelCash]

Re: How long do these sealants generally last...

So how many people who care about detailing, who care about how their cars look, actually allow their cars to go six months before wax/sealant applications?

I can say that I have done so in the past, especially in the colder months. I base my decsion to wax or not around the look of the car. If it starts looking bad, or feels rough to the touch I will wash and wax. Otherwise, I'll wash and let it ride.

Of course, my DD is less pampered than my TA. Collinite goes on the DD (Volvo s70 T5) and M26 + whatever I feel like goes on my garage queen. Volvo sits outside 24/7, so having Collinite hold up for 5-6 month is quite impressive.

[Clutch34]

Re: How long do these sealants generally last...

do you really even want to stretch your wax intervals to once every six months?

No, not at all -- well at least not with my car! lol I was just curious on the durability of the sealants because I know myself and I know that I will sometimesssss get lazy about the up-keep of my car. That's why I want a sealant that is very durable, so it'll keep protecting my car even when I feel lazy. lol

For the most part I'm pretty good about keeping her clean, but the durability will help on my family members' cars as I will definitely not be babying their cars as much as my own!

[Clutch34]

Re: How long do these sealants generally last...

Also, can someone tell me what their process is to re-wax a few weeks/months after the initial application of wax/sealant?

Do you simply wash and wax, or wash, clay, wax, or QD and wax...?

[searle]

Re: How long do these sealants generally last...

Also, can someone tell me what their process is to re-wax a few weeks/months after the initial application of wax/sealant? Do you simply wash and wax, or wash, clay, wax, or QD and wax...?

Clay will remove any wax+glaze. I just wash and then re-wax, typically each month, I do the complete wash+clay+cleaner+glaze+wax spring and fall, and sometimes one more in middle of summer.

For the most part I'm pretty good about keeping her clean, but the durability will help on my family members' cars as I will definitely not be babying their cars as much as my own!

Dont tell the wife I said this, but my car gets wash+UQW weekly and re-wax every 1-2 months. Her car is washed weekly and UQW monthly (while mine is getting re-waxed) and re-waxed spring+fall (while mine is getting the complete detail).

She is happy with hers, and considers mine "excessive" - hence her regular reference to me as a "detailing moron".

[Clutch34]

Re: How long do these sealants generally last...

^^hahaha! nice! well, as long as the cars are looking good, it's all good!

[DejaVu]

Re: How long do these sealants generally last...

Wolfgang sealant will last a minimum of 4 months, and that is through the most brutal winter you can imagine. That is also without topping it up with a spray on wax or even an extra coat. A test was done in England over the 08/09 winter which was a harsh one, and the following waxes lasted a minimum of 4 months with only a few washes between the start and end of the test, no extra coats or spray on wax/detailers.
Autoglym Extra Gloss Protection
Chemical Guys: M-Seal, Jetseal 109, Speed Amor
Klasse AIO and Sealant Glaze
Hi Temp Paste
Zaino AIO, Z2 and Z5
Wolfgang Deep Gloss Sealant.

that is out of around 60 very well known sealants. the same guy did the same test with waxes also, and I used one of the "winners" for this winter, Collinite 476s. So far it's been 4 solid months and I haven't even washed my car once. My car is still beading water very well and most importantly the shine is still there after a rainy day. I can't wait to get the wax off and finally wash it so I can start using NXT 2.0 again.

[Clutch34]

Re: How long do these sealants generally last...

Yea, I think I know what you're talking about it. Was it a thread on AutogeekOnline.net? I found that thread AFTER I had posted this thread. lol Thanks for the info tho!

Do you remember what other waxes were the "winners"?

[DejaVu]

Re: How long do these sealants generally last...

Yea, I think I know what you're talking about it. Was it a thread on AutogeekOnline.net? I found that thread AFTER I had posted this thread. lol Thanks for the info tho!

Do you remember what other waxes were the "winners"?

After 6.5 months of the coldest winter since 1986, the following WAXES were still beading and shining
Autoglym Hi Def
Collinite 915 Marque D'Elegance
Nattys White & Blue
RaceGlaze 55
Swissvax Divine, Mystery, BoS and Concourso
Victoria Concours
***** Vintage and Glasur

The wax I am using 476s didn't last as long as the 915 but I still used it and it's still holding up. Some of those waxes are out of this world expensive, the Collinite and Nattys are very affordable. BUT...wow 476s was the worse experience I've had buffing off my vehicle. I applied it too thick and it bonded to the paint so hard that it took 2 hours of straight buffing with my supreme shine MF towels. that is why I'm so looking forward to using NXT2.0, it's affordable, easy to use and during the warmer months I actually love washing my car and applying wax/spray wax.

[Daniel Kinder]

Re: How long do these sealants generally last...

So far it's been 4 solid months and I haven't even washed my car once. My car is still beading water very well and most importantly the shine is still there after a rainy day. I can't wait to get the wax off and finally wash it so I can start using NXT 2.0 again.

Why haven't you washed it yet?

There's way to remove the wax if you really want it off!