What Wax To Use?

[ApolloBluecat]

Hi guys

My first post :D

I have a Yaris 1.8 SR in metallic black, and like all black cars when it's clean it looks great, but when it's dirty it looks really dirty.

I use IXTAR wash wax followed by AutoGlym super resin polish ( once a month) and occasionally AutoGlym Hard wax. Whilst the bodywork is in excellent condition it sometimes appears smeary eventhough I have thoroughly removed the wax.

I have considered getting some AutoGlym High Definition wax as I have heard some good reports about that product. I was just wondering what people think of this if they use it, or if they can recommend another manufacturer to try in order to banish the smear effect.

Many thanks in advance

[Raeman]

Hi Apollo and welcome to the Yaris forum.

The smear effect might be down to what you use to wipe the polish off with. I allways use some stockinette, which does a great job and leaves the paint even all over.

AG HD wax is good stuff. Have you tried the meg's range or the Autosmart range?

I have some Autosmart mirror image and it's brilliant, lasts ages and works amazingly well on darker colours esp black.

After you have washed the car, make sure to dry it fully with a quality micro-fibre towel.

Much easier to wax after then.

[alfiejts]

Hi and welcome.

I too have always used wax to protect after polishing, (and have used Autoglym products for many years) but reading the latest dedicated "detailing" forums, the current school of thought is that wax is at its best on solid paint colours only.

The suggestion is that for clearcoat metallics, an acrylic glaze is the best thing to use after polishing, as it provides better optical clarity and allows you to see through to the metallic paint flake better.

I've just redone my wife's Decuma (dark) Grey Yaris SR and my silver Audi A3 with the Werkstat Acrylic kit from Polishedbliss.co.uk, after much discussion about what I should use on the audi-sport detailing forum and I'm very pleased withthe results compared with my previous polish & wax method.

I've posted the details of this on the Toyota Car Care & detailing forum here...

http://toyotaownersclub.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=98485

and these are the results

If you decide to stick with a wax finish though, I think the smearing is due to too much wax being left on the paint. Try a microfibre cloth to buff off the surface, as hopefully that will remove the excess that's causing the smearing.

After a previous AutoExpress test, I moved from using Autoglym wax to Collinite 476S wax. No smearing, high shine and high durability, but the results of the Werkstat kit are even beter....

Let us know how you get on.....

[ApolloBluecat]

Thanks for the quick reply guys. I will definatlry look into some of your suggestions.

[Matt_SRD4D]

I LOVE waxing / polishing my car, as i dont drive it in the week and its under cover, i usually get about 5-6 layers on it in a quiet week.

I use the Collonite wax and its simply amazing stuff, ive tried so many products that are really bad, they all claim to be the "next best thing" but simply, for a WAX, you cant beat simple plain Carnauba Wax.

Collinite - 476S - Less Wax / Longer Lasting

Collinite - 925 Marque D'Elegance - Higher Carnauba Content, better looking but softer finish.

Cleanyourcar.co.uk

[rallybunny]

I LOVE waxing / polishing my car, as i dont drive it in the week and its under cover, i usually get about 5-6 layers on it in a quiet week.

I use the Collonite wax and its simply amazing stuff, ive tried so many products that are really bad, they all claim to be the "next best thing" but simply, for a WAX, you cant beat simple plain Carnauba Wax.

Collinite - 476S - Less Wax / Longer Lasting

Collinite - 925 Marque D'Elegance - Higher Carnauba Content, better looking but softer finish.

Cleanyourcar.co.uk

Another vote for Collinite from me. :D May look expensive, but it lasts for ever - we were given 1/4 of a tin, and have done both cars in the household quite a few times now, and there is still some left. Gives an amazing finish too.