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Kjb131313
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This may be a dumb question but.... I drive about 100 miles round trip to work each day. My Nighthawk Pearl Accord tends to get road debris and bug splatter on it daily. I have had my car for about 10 months and take very good care of it. Recently, a huge brushless car wash opened right down the street from me. They use Armor All products. I have been going through the brushless car wash about 3 times a week. Can you really wash your car too much? I get it waxed every 3 months as well. The car, so far, is extremely shiny. But I am wondering if it is washing off the wax that I get applied every 3 months. What are your thoughts?
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garoto628
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I think the wax is gone after one week of washes... but the wax had already done it's job of shining the car and removing particles from the paint otherwise would not have been able to been removed without the wax. I think washing the car as much as 3 times a week is too much. #1 it'll obviously only be clean when you drive off the car wash lot, and then it dirties again and you wash it the next day. and so on. if you work mon-thrs.. wash it thrus after work.. if you work mon-to fri, then wash it on fri and enjoy a clean ride after that.. you know.. to me, when I wash my car, I would want to enjoy and show it off clean for about a week if I can manage.... and from there I'll just drive it dirty for another week or so and wash again when I feel like it..
sometimes I wash it and wax etc and then it rains the next day... I leave my car garaged until it stops raining... shit I didn't wash my car for nothing! lol..
washing your car too much might wear out your paint or clear coat faster (correct me if im wrong?)..... don't picture your paint peeling off or not shining anymore, just picture that at that washing pace, in five years, the paint would look slightly off from another 5 year old accord same color...
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etml12
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First off what product is being used to wax the vehicle? As far as garoto's comment about durability, I really doubt that the wax would be removed after only 3 washes (one week of washes for the OP). The purpose of a wax isn't to just add shine, it is first a layer of protection that has the benefit of being asthetically pleasing. Also, if a pure wax is being used it has NO cleaning ability and will not remove contamination from the paint surface.
Back to the OP's question. It is probably a little excessive, not to mention expensive, to wash the vehicle more than 1-2 times a week depending on how dirty it gets. Touchless is nice as it won't marr the paint but they tend to use rather strong chemicals in the place of some mechnical mode to remove debris. If you are willing to wash the vehicle yourself you might want to look into some rinsless wash products (like Optimum no rinse wash) and a QD with some protective capabilities (like Duragloss AW). Although requiring some effort these products will be far more economical than the touchless wash down the road.
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televascular
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Kjb131313,
I, like you, am fanatically obsessed with my car's appearance. In the warm season, I handwash weekly like clockwork.
Let me clear up some things: The average car wax, in a single layer, only lasts about 1-2 months. It evaporates quickly, especially if not garaged daily. Unfortunately, the better quality waxes (which have higher concentrations of carnauba) have an even shorter life because they sacrifice durability for shine.
Also, what etml12 said about brushless washes holds true; the harsh chemicals and strong jets wash away your wax with frequent use. The jets can even carry debris across your clearcoat with great pressure, causing micromarring. I think you're washing your car too often.
It seems you share my OCD-detailing nature. Since you're concerned about keeping your paint in prime condition, here's what I recommend: before you worry about wax, get some acrylic paint sealant. I use Klasse High Gloss Sealant Glaze, at about $20 for a container that will last for decades. You apply it to your car just like wax, but it essentially coats your car in an acrylic polymer resin that will protect your paint for 6-8 months. Think of it as the equivalent of five layers of wax. I personally put on three layers in three consecutive days, and reapply every six months. Your clearcoat will never see dirt or debris.
A wax with a good balance of durability and showcar shine is P21S Concours Carnauba Wax. It's highly respected in the detailing community, but pricey at around $30. You should wax monthly, or at least bi-monthly, for continuous protection. Also, its good to use a cleaner wax once in a while to dissolve any build-up and start anew.
If you want to go all the way, you should consider buying a claybar and using an extremely low-cut polish. But that's another entire thread's worth of discussion.
These are all products that I use. I am completely satisfied with the way my routine works, so I'm trying to get others hooked. Check out this site and you can learn more about detailing.
Autopia!
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