Question about waxing and water beading

[Lav_2002GT]

I polished and waxed (McGuiars polish, Mothers carnuba) my 02 GT about 2 or 3 months ago. When it gets water on it the water beads up but doesnt run off like on my wifes vehicle. The beaded water just sits there till i either drive it or the sun eventually burns it off. I have washed it a few times since i last waxed it. Does this mean that there is still wax on it or that it needs waxing again? Have i washed the wax coat off? I waxed my wifes car recently and water just runs right off it (the same Mothers Carnuba). When I go out to the vehicles there is barely any moisture on my wifes ride but my Stang has beaded water sitting on its flat spots. Whats up?

 

[V_Eight]

You need more wax. I wax mine usually every 3 weeks, so 2-3 months is quite a while for one coat.

 

[Canuck Stang]

If the water is still beading then you still have *some* wax coverage.
The reason the water stays longer on waxed cars is because, on unwaxed cars, the water will spread right out, so more water is covering the cars surface, therefore it can be heated faster and evaporated.
When the wax is all beaded up, there is less surface touching the car (being heated by the sun), so it will stay longer.

 

[97gtblue]

i wax mine when i get it washed everyweek..but its not like a real wax were you spread it on and wipe it off,its the kind at do it your self car wahses..but i wax mine by hand every 2-3 weeks too

 

[Lav_2002GT]

If the water is still beading then you still have *some* wax coverage.
The reason the water stays longer on waxed cars is because, on unwaxed cars, the water will spread right out, so more water is covering the cars surface, therefore it can be heated faster and evaporated.
When the wax is all beaded up, there is less surface touching the car (being heated by the sun), so it will stay longer.

Thats what I thought. I thought the wax was supposed to make water bead but wasnt sure.

 

[99darkgreenGT]

maybe you guys should try out zaino. i haven't polished my car in well over 6 months and water still beads as if it were freshly polished.

 

[Fred99GT]

maybe you guys should try out zaino. i haven't polished my car in well over 6 months and water still beads as if it were freshly polished.

Another vote for Zaino here. I polish mine about once a month but it last a long time between applications.

 

[pimpstang18]

you should use a polymer based wax rather than a carnuba based wax. polymer spreads easier, is easier to remove and provides better protection. we use 4 star ultimate at my detail shop and i also use it on my car, it's by far the best wax i've ever used, when it rains my car barley even gets wet, the water will just bead right off. you can get a bottle of it at http://www.premiumautocare.com/fostulpapr.html for about $20. trust me it's the last wax you'll ever use, just put a few coats of this stuff on your stang and it'll shine even when it's dirty.