You paid how much for that F-350? And you’re thinking of rubbing a 10-cent coat of wax on it? Isn’t it odd that some of us don’t place much importance on cosmetic maintenance…until the paint begins to peel or the leather starts to rot?
| 0906 8l 02 10 Myths About Car Care Products Meguiars Swirl Remover
About 10 years ago, there was a myth going around that if you applied a certain brand name dressing on your tires, after time, the rubber would crack. Well, it turned out to be not exactly 100 percent truthful—certain silicones used back then could clog the microscopic pores and not allow the rubber to breathe, but most of the blame was put on ultraviolet rays and the ozone.
Things have changed a lot in a decade, and we’re learning more about the chemicals used in the production of car care products. There’s a move to environmentally friendly products, and most of the major brands are adopting some kind of green platform. What this means to you is, by and large, the car-care-product industry is looking out for the enthusiast.
The manufacturers of car care products do exhaustive research to deliver products that give us that shine, or put the new car smell back in your rig. Brand names like Meguiar’s, Mothers, and Turtle Wax have been around for decades and they’ll be here tomorrow, because these are the folks who, as Barry Meguiar often says, are “car crazy” too. They know how much we love our rides, and it behooves them to educate us so we can make good decisions that can extend the life of our vehicles. You might or might not agree with everything they say, but it’s worth considering before you reach for the cheap can of wax and decide it really doesn’t matter after all.
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To learn more about other myths regarding car care products, we contacted the folks at Turtle Wax and asked them to respond to 10 very typical questions about car care products. In a matter of days, we had some answers.
Myth #1
New Vehicles Do Not Need To Be Waxed Or Polished.
False. Today’s auto paint finishes are designed to resist fading, cracking, and peeling. The clear topcoat can be easily dulled and marred by abrasive soils and environmental pollution. Regular car care is needed to maintain a car’s aesthetic beauty. Car wax will clean, shine, and protect automotive finishes and act as a protective barrier from everyday wear and tear. Waxing or polishing on a regular basis will help prolong the beauty of a vehicle.
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Myth #2
Waxing Once A Year Is Enough To Take Care Of A Car’s Exterior.
False. Car care requirements depend on environmental conditions, including the amount of sunlight, rain, snow, road conditions, soil exposure, pollution, and salt exposure. Another factor is whether a car is garage-kept or constantly outdoors. Usually, car wax beading is a great indication of when a car needs to be re-waxed. If the beads are smaller than a quarter in a rainstorm or after washing, the wax barrier is still active. If water starts to form elongated beads or water forms a thin sheet on the horizontal panels, it is time to re-wax.
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Myth #3
Waxing Too Much Will Remove Paint.
False. Wax and polishes do contain liquid cleaning ingredients as well as fine polishing agents to remove surface contaminants. These cleaning ingredients do remove some very fine scratches, and wax polymers fill in deeper imperfections. Car wax interaction with the paint is only at the paint surface where weak and damaged paint can be corrected. Waxing and polishing a paint finish in good condition does not result in measurable clearcoat paint removal. Therefore, a paint finish can be waxed numerous times and as often as necessary.
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Myth #4
The Longer The Duration Of A Wax Job, The Better The Shine And Protection.
True. Generally, an auto enthusiast who takes time and care to thoroughly clean, shine, and protect exterior surfaces will cover exterior surfaces uniformly. The quality of the final vehicle appearance is generally proportional to the time and care in detailing the vehicle. It is also important to note that protective and shine qualities of different wax products vary. It is best to use well-known high-quality wax products rather than unknown bargain brands.
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Myth #5
Spray Waxes Don’t Adequately Shine Or Protect As Well As Liquid And Paste.
Generally, true. A spray wax may have all the shine qualities and protective qualities of a liquid or paste wax. However, a spray wax lacks the cleaning ability of a traditionally applied wax. Good, effective cleaning is necessary for better wax or polymer bonding.
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Myth #6
Bug And Tar Removers Should Be Used First Before Washing The Car.
False. First, it is always best to wash the vehicle to remove loose soils and surface contaminants. Use a bug and tar remover to remove stubborn stains that are not removed with washing. There are exceptions to this rule. When tar is very fresh and sticky, use the remover first, and only where necessary. This will prevent damaging a wash sponge or wash mitt.
Myth #7
The Longer Wheel Cleaner Remains On A Wheel, The Better It Will Clean.
False. There is a danger in allowing a wheel cleaner to remain too long on a wheel. If the wheel cleaning product starts to dry, it can re-deposit soils, making wheel cleaning more tedious. Always spray a wheel cleaner onto a dry, cool wheel. Clean one wheel at a time. Scrub and rinse within one minute for best results.
| 0906 8l 06 10 Myths About Car Care Products Turtle Wax Wheel And Tire Cleaner
Myth #8
Tire Dressing Products Used Too Often Can Cause Tire Sidewalls To Develop Cracks.
False. Tire care products contain silicone polymers to seal shine, protect the tire sidewall, and protect the rubber from oxidation due to UV radiation exposure and ozone attack. Ozone is a form of oxygen that compromises air quality in hot summer conditions. In the ground-level atmosphere, ozone can damage rubber and cause it to crack. The silicone polymers in a tire shine prevent this type of damage.
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Myth #9
Using A Protectant Too Frequently On The Interior Can Cause Leather And Interior Plastics To Crack By Drying The Material Out.
False. Plastic and leather materials are soft and pliable due to chemical ingredients used to process or manufacture the interior material. Over time and exposure to hot conditions, these interior materials lose these key softening ingredients. Plastic shrinks, becomes brittle, and cracks. Leather becomes stiff and develops heavy age lines and becomes dull and faded. Interior leather conditioners and vinyl and rubber protectants help prevent plasticizer loss to those ingredients that inhibit the aging process.
| 0906 8l 07 10 Myths About Car Care Products Turtle Wax Interior Care
Myth #10
Dishwashing Detergent Is Safe To Use As A Car Wash.
True, but not recommended. Any dishwashing detergent is meant to remove contaminants from the surface. That includes stripping the polymers of the paint surface. It is recommended that you use a safe car wash detergent that is diluted with water in order to avoid rubbing paint off your car.
