Question

[airhog]

Hello all just finished signing up for the forum. Just wanted to ak my first question. I just bought a brand new van and wanted to keep it looking showroom new for years to come any great products or techniques to do to it? Also is there anything else I should do to the paint? I live in Winnipeg Manitoba Canada which has a harsh climate and it drops down to -40 degrees celsius. I just wanted to know if it is a good idea to put on a wax on the paint before winter to seal it up?
Thanks.

[Emile]

Collinite Liquid Insulator #845 or Klasse All-in-One are both good winter waxes/polishes. If you want to go very inexpensive, then Duragloss Total Performance Polish #105 or Duragloss Polish & Cleaner #101 both work very well. The Total Performance Polish offers protection up to a year.

If you want to protect it as well as keep it looking showroom new, a lot of people layer several products on top of each other; the first layer offering the protection and durability and the second layer offering the shine.

For example, first you could apply a coat of Duragloss Total Performance Polish #105 and then top it off with a coat of a beauty wax such as P21S. You would just keep applying the P21S once every few weeks (after a nice wash) for the duration of the winter. Once the winter is over, you would just wash, apply the Duragloss once again, and then apply P21S. Then refresh the P21S by applying a coat once every few weeks. Typically, beauty waxes only last for around a month or two so there is more frequent upkeep required with the beauty wax.

[airhog]

Thanks Emile for the adivice. Any more techniques or products out their? I want to as many product names for comparing purposes. If anybody has any more products please list them because it is all appreciated to a newbie.

[Jimmie]

Originally Posted by airhog

Thanks Emile for the adivice. Any more techniques or products out their? I want to as many product names for comparing purposes. If anybody has any more products please list them because it is all appreciated to a newbie.

Not much to add to Emile. A very popular combo in harsh climates (and salted roads) is DG#105 topped with Collinite. Yeah, I'd get it protected before the winter weather.

[Emile]

AutoGeek has a really large variety of products and it really takes just a lot of research and a lot of trial and error to see what you like and what works for you.

Different companies have different products for different purposes and different lines. Read up and try to understand what each company has to offer to make an educated guess. If you are still confused, then just shoot the e-mail a company with your questions, as they are all typically very willing to help a new user out.

AutoGeek has great "Expert Advice" at the bottom of their navigation bar on their homepage which thoroughly teaches you proper methods and techniques.

From what I've seen, the more popular and preferred brands on this forum are the following, in no particular order:

Pinnacle, Wolfgang, Detailer's Pride, P21S, Meguiar's, Poorboy's World, Duragloss, Optimum Polymer Technologies, 1Z Einszett, Collinite, Klasse, and I don't know what else I am missing. Those are all different products with different price ranges.

[sal329]

I would use FK1 Hi Temp 1000p Wax with 2 coats and use Duragloss Aquawax once a month after a wash if you ever get to wash it in such cold weather.

[charliehaley]

Like Emile said, you want to use a sealant for the durability it provides and if you decide to not use a wax on top you can keep it shining and well protected by using a spray wax such as Aquawax after every wash like sal suggested. Don't let everyone fool you into thinking you have to add a wax on top of the sealant if it is not worth the trouble to you. Many sealants give a great shine by themselves and it is easily maintained by spray waxes. But if you want the best look go for a carnauba topper.