Vehicle Maintenance: Get the Shine Back!
Spring is here and it's time to spruce up your vehicle to reflect the sunshine all around. Good vehicle maintenance means not just taking care of the inside working components of your vehicle, such as the engine, brakes, or air conditioning, but also making sure the outside looks good too. You may be wondering how to get the shine back. Should you polish or wax? The answer is a little of both! Polishing and waxing are two completely different processes for different reasons.
- Polish First: Polishing is a process that uses abrasives to actually take a thin (VERY thin) layer of your paint away. It is during this step that all the shine should appear on your car before applying wax. Otherwise, any fine scratches in the paint or clearcoat will reappear as the wax wears off. If in doubt as to the type of product to use, ask your auto mechanic for a recommendation. Remember, paint and clearcoat are not very thick, especially on factory paint. So, start with a mild abrasive, rather than too harsh.
- Wax Second: Wax should only be applied AFTER the polishing process is completed to your satisfaction. Waxing is used solely to protect the polished shine from the harsh elements. A pure wax has no abrasives and consists of just the product necessary to protect your paint and enhance shine. Make sure you read the labels of the wax products, as some companies call their non-abrasive product a polish. A product that claims to shine and protect in one step usually compromises the process.
- Take a Look: Your final polish, and later wax job, should be along the sight lines that people will use to see the car--basically along the long axis of the car. Your car should now have all the shine you could ever hope for—and with the right wax, will stay looking that way throughout the summer months.
Have questions about the polishing or waxing process? For quality vehicle maintenance to restore the shine of your car, contact our ASE-certified technicians today at Express Care Auto by calling 507-625-8005, or go on-line at www.expresscareautomn.com for more information and to find out about good car maintenance. Our auto shop serves vehicle owners in Mankato, MN, and the neighboring communities of North Mankato, MN, New Ulm, MN, and St. Peter, MN.
Spring is here and it's time to spruce up your vehicle to reflect the sunshine all around. Good vehicle maintenance means not just taking care of the inside working components of your vehicle, such as the engine, brakes, or air conditioning, but also making sure the outside looks good too. You may be wondering how to get the shine back. Should you polish or wax? The answer is a little of both! Polishing and waxing are two completely different processes for different reasons.
- Polish First: Polishing is a process that uses abrasives to actually take a thin (VERY thin) layer of your paint away. It is during this step that all the shine should appear on your car before applying wax. Otherwise, any fine scratches in the paint or clearcoat will reappear as the wax wears off. If in doubt as to the type of product to use, ask your auto mechanic for a recommendation. Remember, paint and clearcoat are not very thick, especially on factory paint. So, start with a mild abrasive, rather than too harsh.
- Wax Second: Wax should only be applied AFTER the polishing process is completed to your satisfaction. Waxing is used solely to protect the polished shine from the harsh elements. A pure wax has no abrasives and consists of just the product necessary to protect your paint and enhance shine. Make sure you read the labels of the wax products, as some companies call their non-abrasive product a polish. A product that claims to shine and protect in one step usually compromises the process.
- Take a Look: Your final polish, and later wax job, should be along the sight lines that people will use to see the car--basically along the long axis of the car. Your car should now have all the shine you could ever hope for—and with the right wax, will stay looking that way throughout the summer months.
Have questions about the polishing or waxing process? For quality vehicle maintenance to restore the shine of your car, contact our ASE-certified technicians today at Express Care Auto by calling 507-625-8005, or go on-line at www.expresscareautomn.com for more information and to find out about good car maintenance. Our auto shop serves vehicle owners in Mankato, MN, and the neighboring communities of North Mankato, MN, New Ulm, MN, and St. Peter, MN.
