Does My Car's Paint Still Have Wax?

What is a Car Wax and How Long Does It Last?

Car wax is usually a carnauba based wax that is used to add a shine and some kind of protective layer on the paint in order to protect the paint against is harsh elements of the road and weather. In recent year Sealants, and Spray Wax's, have all become popular in the detailing world to use as exterior protectants. They all have different durability's but have the similar job. They are meant to add shine and protection to your paint. Now Depending on what kind of protection you use they will have different time limits. Usually for a Sealant it will last anywhere from 6-8 months depending on how well you maintain your vehicle and a typically spray wax or carnauba wax will last anywhere from 2-3 months. The conditions in which you leave your vehicle also play into effect, for example if you apply a wax on your vehicle and leave it out in the sun all the time then chances are your wax isn't going to last as long and wont get to those 2 months of durability. This can also depend on if you use a sealant as sealants tend to have more durability against the sun and will last longer in those conditions. These protectant are meant to protect your paint and if you don't have a protection on your vehicles paint then chances are your paint will fade, become fragile, and look more dull over time.

Is My Car Wax Still On?

In order to check if your car wax or sealant are still in effect and still protecting your vehicles paint you need to start off by washing your vehicle properly and removing the layer of filth that might be on your vehicle. One way to check if your car still has its coat of wax is by having a good look at the paints and see what it looks like in the sun light. Does the paint still look shiny? If its not looking shiny and starting to look dull then chances are you are going to need to apply another coat of wax or sealant. A more effective way to check if your wax is still on is to complete the washing process first then you are going to want to spray water on the paint with a pressure washer or even a hose with a wide nozzle. First you will look at the reaction that your paint has to the water. Does the Water sheet off? Does it bead up? Or does it just stick it the paint and stay on the car. Chances are if your paint is making the water bead up or sheet off then your wax is probably still very durable and working properly. On the other hand if your paint is not reacting to the water in any kind of way then your paint is probably in need of a new coat of wax or sealant. The best thing to do after you have applied a coating of wax is to wash your car at least once a month and apply a wax to maintain the protection of your vehicles paint. You can also result to the best option which is get a professional detailer to clean your vehicle regularly as they will have better equipment and chemicals to clean your car properly and apply a wax on your car as well.