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  1. #1
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    Does direct sunlight shorten car wax life?

    I started wondering about this. Searching for "direct sunlight car wax" just gave me a bunch of web pages that talk about applying the wax in direct sunlight. I'm talking about if a lot of sunlight can shorten the life of the layer of wax that is already on your paint.

    Reason why I'm asking. Last year or two, I've been experimenting with a few different types of waxes, and writing down my observations. I noted in early spring this year, that I was getting over 2 months of lots of beading on a wax job, and only applied a new job because a couple panels were losing it (the others still looked almost as good as new).

    In August, however, I was seeing the wax layer lose its beading within 2 weeks. I'm talking about the same two cars, both pretty much out in the air 24/7.

    So I'm wondering does this reflect more direct sunlight in August than in early spring? Or perhaps simply the fact that I might have applied/left a tad more wax on, earlier in the year? Or in fact, would more direct sunlight shorten the life of a wax layer?

  2. #2
    Super Member Eldorado2k's Avatar
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    Re: Does direct sunlight shorten car wax life?

    In regards to "wax" [meaning carnuba based wax and not sealants] yes, direct sunlight can affect its durability because it will begin to evaporate from the surface at temperatures of 180 degrees and above... And if you consider that on a hot summer day here in California the temperature of a panel on a black vehicle can easily reach 260+ degrees, well you can pretty much figure out why you noticed a shorter life in your test during the summer.

  3. #3
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    Re: Does direct sunlight shorten car wax life?

    "Sealants" will generally hold up better than "waxes" in heat/sunlight.

  4. #4
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    Re: Does direct sunlight shorten car wax life?

    Interesting. Yeah the waxes I have been experimenting with lately have been TW Carnuba liquid paste, and Collinite. I don't know if Collinite 845 is carnuba or not. It doesn't mention it at all. But no sealant.

  5. #5
    Super Member Rsurfer's Avatar
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    Re: Does direct sunlight shorten car wax life?

    Quote Originally Posted by prr View Post
    I started wondering about this. Searching for "direct sunlight car wax" just gave me a bunch of web pages that talk about applying the wax in direct sunlight. I'm talking about if a lot of sunlight can shorten the life of the layer of wax that is already on your paint.

    Reason why I'm asking. Last year or two, I've been experimenting with a few different types of waxes, and writing down my observations. I noted in early spring this year, that I was getting over 2 months of lots of beading on a wax job, and only applied a new job because a couple panels were losing it (the others still looked almost as good as new).

    In August, however, I was seeing the wax layer lose its beading within 2 weeks. I'm talking about the same two cars, both pretty much out in the air 24/7.

    So I'm wondering does this reflect more direct sunlight in August than in early spring? Or perhaps simply the fact that I might have applied/left a tad more wax on, earlier in the year? Or in fact, would more direct sunlight shorten the life of a wax layer?
    Most definitely, UV light is a killer of any paint protection(wax, sealants, coatings) including clear coat.

  6. #6
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    Re: Does direct sunlight shorten car wax life?

    Here is a link for a thread by Mike when he was at the Meguiar's forum: Working in the sun? How HOT does your car's paint get?

    Various outside temps were taken, for cars with different types of paint. I only wish we would know what the ambient temperature of the day was, when those pics were taken.

  7. #7
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    Re: Does direct sunlight shorten car wax life?

    Another thread with a guy who took temps of car surfaces when it was 80 degrees out: How much hotter is a black car than a white car in the sun?

    I can see the dark grey car hitting 180 when it was hotter out, in the middle of the day (and one of my cars is metallic grey).

    So heat, as well as UV light, will work off a wax.

    Well that would explain things, then...

  8. #8
    Super Member FUNX650's Avatar
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    Re: Does direct sunlight shorten car wax life?

    Quote Originally Posted by prr View Post
    I'm talking about if a lot of sunlight
    can shorten the life of the layer of
    wax that is already on your paint.
    Sunlight's heat, along with its UV-rays, are
    very damaging environmental factors. Let's
    face it: they're probably the most damaging
    factors there are...to each and everything
    that just happens to be "under the Sun"!

    Quote Originally Posted by prr View Post
    So I'm wondering does this reflect more
    direct sunlight in August than in early spring?
    The more the increase to heat and UV exposure,
    the more the damages that will occur. (To be
    sure: I categorize the shortening of a car wax's
    expected life-span as damaging.)

    Quote Originally Posted by prr View Post
    Reason why I'm asking.
    Last year or two, I've been experimenting
    with a few different types of waxes,
    and writing down my observations.
    One important thing to remember is that
    an unprotected car is much more susceptible
    to damages than a protected car. Keeping a
    sacrificial barrier of either a Wax, Sealant, etc.
    on the vehicle at all times is recommended...

    But, IMO, since you're keeping track of your
    vehicles' protection...that means that you’re
    well ahead of the game. I applaud your efforts.


    Bob
    "Be wary of the man who urges an action in which he himself incurs no risk."
    ~Joaquin de Setanti

  9. #9
    Super Member Mantilgh's Avatar
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    Re: Does direct sunlight shorten car wax life?

    Just a thought and a few questions.

    Maybe there was more airborne contamination at that time that caused the lack of beading.

    How did you test the beading, and did you test beading before and after the wash?

    What wash product/products are you using?

    If you are not, try testing the beading before and after a wash with a wash soap that does not have any "wax" or added protection. Also, some soaps may leave a residue behind that negatively affects beading.
    ____________
    "The more answers I seek, the more questions I find."

  10. #10
    Super Member swanicyouth's Avatar
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    Re: Does direct sunlight shorten car wax life?

    Quote Originally Posted by prr View Post
    Interesting. Yeah the waxes I have been experimenting with lately have been TW Carnuba liquid paste, and Collinite. I don't know if Collinite 845 is carnuba or not. It doesn't mention it at all. But no sealant.
    Collinite vrs TW.

    This thread sux.

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