Can Polish go bad (expire)?

[Modena AL]

Does polish have a shelf life after which it is no longer as effective as it used to be?

I was detailing my car this afternoon and after using a swirl remover / finishing polish combo that I have used before with great results the hood looked horrible! Really bad micro marring all over and no real effect on the swirls that I was going after.

I have three different brands of polish that I use depending on my mood or what I'm working on, and last year I thought the results were not the same as they used to be. Most of it is going on several years old and sits idle for a period of several months until I need to polish. In the last year or so, a few bottles did separate and were useless so they got thrown out. What I still have is not separated and I shook them all up well, but I'm wondering if maybe its just expired and given up the ghost.

Is this possibly the case and I just need to throw it all out and get a new batch? My pads were clean and the orange pad was BRAND NEW out of a sealed bag. My technique hasn't changed and there was nothing on the paint. The only explanation I can think of is that the polish is no good.

Any help or advice would be appreciated.

[C. Charles Hahn]

What products were you using, specifically?

Generally speaking as long as a polish hasn't separated, or if it has separated but will reconstitute properly when shaken, it's still good to use.

I've got a few bottles on my shelf that are probably 15-20 years old, and the product in them is still good.

[Modena AL]

Today it was the pinnacle XMT line. I started with #3 and orange pad and went to #2 with a white pad. the #1 bottle separated a while back (still sitting in my cabinet) and no matter how long I shake it it is still separated..

The other polish I have is the Pinnacle Advanced swirl remover and finishing polish. This is my favorite combo. It worked well the last time I used it (last fall before winter I think) but it wasn't as neat and tidy as it usually is. I think the reason I didn't use these today was because I wasn't sure I would have enough for the job.

My third group of polish is Poorboys. I have SSR1, SSR2, and SSR2.5. Last time I used the SSR2.5 (over a year ago) I got the same results as today and I had to clean it up with the Pinnacle twins. I think one of the others may have separated as well.

Not sure what is going on. I might try tomorrow on a different body panel to see if it is just the hood acting up (was repainted 4 or 5 years ago but I've never had this kind of trouble). Was too frustrated today to continue.

[SLH350]

Don't mean to revive a long dead thread, but I'm having this exact same issue. My wife just got a 2014 BMW 428i and it's got quite a few swirls. I used Megs 105 to correct my car but ran out a while back. The only thing I have that's got some real corrective power to it in my arsenal is a bottle of XMT #3 from probably 10 years ago, at least. I was able to shake it up just fine, it didn't seem to have separated, but after I did a test panel with my 3401 and white hybrid pad (trying to slowly ramp up the aggressiveness as needed) I was horrified to discover i'd swirled my test spot up even worse. Tons of micromarring and 0 improvement in the finish. Maybe XMT just isn't built to be around that long? Makes me wonder if I really need to ramp up to M105 or FG400 or if something with a similar abrasive quality to #3 will work once I have a fresh batch.

[Donnym]

I haven't had any polishes go bad but I have some Blackfire Wet Diamond Sealant, Wolfgang Deep Gloss Sealant and Pinnacle Liquid Souveran that are 4-5 years old and have become the consistency of water, even after shaking them. So in my opinion, yes some products do have a shelf life. I would buy new.

[Kamakaz1961]

IMO yes products do go bad after time. I had about 1/4 of Menzerna FG400 left and it was about 2 years old. I tried to use the last 1/4 about a month ago, however, it came out clumpy and the moment I used it; it dusted and just clumped into little pieces. Luckily, I had a brand new bottle on hand and the difference was significant. Threw the old bottle away.

Additionally, I think it turned bad faster as the cap was defective and could never close so I believe there was air exposure that helped contribute to the product drying up so easy.

I would just get a new bottle and chuck the old one away and problem solved.

[FUNX650]

Don't mean to revive a long dead thread, but I'm having this exact same issue.

The only thing I have that's got some real corrective
power to it...a bottle of XMT #3 from probably
10 years ago, at least.

Maybe XMT just isn't built to be around that long?
Following please find a few statements regarding
"shelf-life", that I've had the opportunity to glean
from several sources, over the last several years:
__________________________________________________

"You can typically expect Meguiar's surface care
formulations to retain their full effectiveness for
three to five years, as long as the container has
been sealed tightly, and has not been frozen".
~ Mike Phillips
__________________________________________________ _

"Because care car products do contain chemicals,
petroleum distillates, solvents, polymers, and so on,
they will have a typical shelf life. As mentioned this
going to be dependent on many factors however".
~Todd Helme
__________________________________________________ _

"As long as I avoid temperature extremes;
keep them tightly closed, and out of direct
Sunlight...most of my detailing products
have lasted a very long time". ~ FUNX650/Bob
__________________________________________________ _

Furthermore...

IMHO/(an editorial):
All car-care products should have their "shelf-life"
as easily accessible as the below Brand/product-line
has so conveniently provided to their end-users.

Note:
When stored at average room temperature
between 65-75 degrees, the following products'
"shelf-life" is as follows:

Z-PC.......3+ years
Z-AIO......3+ years
Z-CS.......5+ years
Z-1..........For optimum results, use before 3 years.
Z-2..........For optimum results, use before 3 years.
Z-3..........For optimum results, use before 3 years.
Z-5..........For optimum results, use before 3 years.
Z-6..........5+ years
Z-7...........5+ years
Z-8..........5+ years
Z-9..........5+ years
Z-10.........For optimum results, use before 2 years.
Z-12.........For optimum results, use before 2 years.
Z-14..........For optimum results, use before 2 years.
Z-16..........3 to 5 years
Z-18..........5 years +
ZFX...........For optimum results, keep tightly capped, avoiding moisture.
Use before 24 months.
__________________________________________________ _

^^^Now...Ain't that something for other
manufacturers to try and emulate?!?!^^^


Bob

[MikeLW]

A good idea would be to date the bottles you have to know how long you have had them. It gives you an idea of how "fresh" the products are. If not you could just guess, I guess. Another thing I do is randomly shake bottles that I havent used in awhile just to keep them mixed. If anything it just makes me feel better, and has no scientific bearing whatsoever on promoting shelf life.