In the last year or so, I have used a number of different spray waxes and sealants.
Each of the products I used were thoroughly researched before purchasing, and I have found that they each serve a different purpose in my collection.
Since not every user will need the same level of flexibility in their collection, please feel free to use my comments to help you make a wise decision on what to purchase. I am also very interested in hearing your individual experiences with these products.
These are the products that I will be discussing:
1) CarPro Reload (2013 and 2014 v1)
2) Optimum Car Wax
3) Meguiars D156 (bulk version of Ultimate Quik Wax)
4) C.A.R. Products Topper
Ease of Use:
1) Meguiars D156 - hot panels, cold panels, damp panels due to nighttime weather conditions, over-application...it doesn't matter. This stuff wins hands-down for ease of use.
2) C.A.R. Products Topper - No streaking under a variety of conditions, even with over-application.
3) Optimum Car Wax - decently easy to use, but it really does not like warm ambient temperatures. To be fair, the back of the bottle does warm against using it on panels over > 120F...but I have had the product leave noticeable streaking in 80-deg weather. Using it in moderate weather (55-75F) with the two-towel method yields the best results.
4) CarPro Reload - this stuff can be very finicky. The trick is to apply to sparingly to an ultra-plush towel and immediately follow-up with vigorous buffing by another ultra-plush towel. The towel must be very very plush with a lot of fine fibers or else you may not "grab" all of the residue.
Gloss/Appearance:
1) CarPro Reload - extremely glossy. It gives a very "glass-like" appearance. I don't think it hides defects very well, but the product was never ever intended for that purpose.
2) C.A.R. Products Topper - very glossy, richer appearance than Reload. Some amount of filling.
3) Meguiars D156 - deep carnauba like appearance. Fills decently well - probably good for a production detailing environment.
4) Optimum Car Wax - adds noticeable gloss, but very little filling for a spray wax. Glass-like look.
Slickness:
1) CarPro Reload, C.A.R. Products Topper, Meguiars D156 - tie. All are extremely slick.
2) Optimum Car Wax. Not as slick as the other two, but fairly close. This product is strange in that it takes a few hours for the surface to become very slick. Must be the bonding/curing process?
Performance (not durability):
1) CarPro Reload - almost coating-like performance. Great dirt-repellency, phenomenal water beading. The surface is very easy to wash.
2) Optimum Car Wax - decent, performs like a higher-end traditional paint sealant.
3) C.A.R. Products Topper - not sure, see below.
4) Meguiars D156 - untested
Durability:
I've only tested Optimum Car Wax and C.A.R. Products Topper for durability. Optimum Car Wax was still beading well (by well, I mean tightly) during a wash after 3 months of being applied to bare paint. C.A.R. Products Topper was gone after two weeks (first wash after application).
I have not tested the others long enough to arrive at a conclusion.
Cost:
Prices can vary greatly depending on the place of purchase, but for comparison purposes, I will use MSRP.
1) CarPro Reload - $35 for 500ml or $230 for 5L
2) C.A.R. Products Topper - $23.50 for 16oz
3) Optimum Car Wax - $15.99 for 17oz or $49.99 for 128oz
4) Meguiars D156 - 128oz for $34.99 (Auto Detailing Solutions does sell a 32oz sampler for $12.99)
Conclusion:
Meguiars D156 - great for a quick spiff-up after a wash. Very inexpensive and ridiculously easy application under a variety of conditions. Decent filling capabilities as well. Meguiars really did their homework and testing on this product. I think this one will see a lot of use by me for the stated reasons.
Optimum Car Wax - useful as a standalone product (on bare paint). Very good durability for a spray-on product. Needs to be applied sparingly in moderate weather, but the streaking issues are definitely manageable.
CarPro Reload - great compliment to paint coatings. Best results will likely be seen by experienced detailers. Works well as a standalone sealant if properly applied.
C.A.R. Products Topper - I sold it.
Each of the products I used were thoroughly researched before purchasing, and I have found that they each serve a different purpose in my collection.
Since not every user will need the same level of flexibility in their collection, please feel free to use my comments to help you make a wise decision on what to purchase. I am also very interested in hearing your individual experiences with these products.
These are the products that I will be discussing:
1) CarPro Reload (2013 and 2014 v1)
2) Optimum Car Wax
3) Meguiars D156 (bulk version of Ultimate Quik Wax)
4) C.A.R. Products Topper
Ease of Use:
1) Meguiars D156 - hot panels, cold panels, damp panels due to nighttime weather conditions, over-application...it doesn't matter. This stuff wins hands-down for ease of use.
2) C.A.R. Products Topper - No streaking under a variety of conditions, even with over-application.
3) Optimum Car Wax - decently easy to use, but it really does not like warm ambient temperatures. To be fair, the back of the bottle does warm against using it on panels over > 120F...but I have had the product leave noticeable streaking in 80-deg weather. Using it in moderate weather (55-75F) with the two-towel method yields the best results.
4) CarPro Reload - this stuff can be very finicky. The trick is to apply to sparingly to an ultra-plush towel and immediately follow-up with vigorous buffing by another ultra-plush towel. The towel must be very very plush with a lot of fine fibers or else you may not "grab" all of the residue.
Gloss/Appearance:
1) CarPro Reload - extremely glossy. It gives a very "glass-like" appearance. I don't think it hides defects very well, but the product was never ever intended for that purpose.
2) C.A.R. Products Topper - very glossy, richer appearance than Reload. Some amount of filling.
3) Meguiars D156 - deep carnauba like appearance. Fills decently well - probably good for a production detailing environment.
4) Optimum Car Wax - adds noticeable gloss, but very little filling for a spray wax. Glass-like look.
Slickness:
1) CarPro Reload, C.A.R. Products Topper, Meguiars D156 - tie. All are extremely slick.
2) Optimum Car Wax. Not as slick as the other two, but fairly close. This product is strange in that it takes a few hours for the surface to become very slick. Must be the bonding/curing process?
Performance (not durability):
1) CarPro Reload - almost coating-like performance. Great dirt-repellency, phenomenal water beading. The surface is very easy to wash.
2) Optimum Car Wax - decent, performs like a higher-end traditional paint sealant.
3) C.A.R. Products Topper - not sure, see below.
4) Meguiars D156 - untested
Durability:
I've only tested Optimum Car Wax and C.A.R. Products Topper for durability. Optimum Car Wax was still beading well (by well, I mean tightly) during a wash after 3 months of being applied to bare paint. C.A.R. Products Topper was gone after two weeks (first wash after application).
I have not tested the others long enough to arrive at a conclusion.
Cost:
Prices can vary greatly depending on the place of purchase, but for comparison purposes, I will use MSRP.
1) CarPro Reload - $35 for 500ml or $230 for 5L
2) C.A.R. Products Topper - $23.50 for 16oz
3) Optimum Car Wax - $15.99 for 17oz or $49.99 for 128oz
4) Meguiars D156 - 128oz for $34.99 (Auto Detailing Solutions does sell a 32oz sampler for $12.99)
Conclusion:
Meguiars D156 - great for a quick spiff-up after a wash. Very inexpensive and ridiculously easy application under a variety of conditions. Decent filling capabilities as well. Meguiars really did their homework and testing on this product. I think this one will see a lot of use by me for the stated reasons.
Optimum Car Wax - useful as a standalone product (on bare paint). Very good durability for a spray-on product. Needs to be applied sparingly in moderate weather, but the streaking issues are definitely manageable.
CarPro Reload - great compliment to paint coatings. Best results will likely be seen by experienced detailers. Works well as a standalone sealant if properly applied.
C.A.R. Products Topper - I sold it.
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