How often should i wax my car its a black 00 civic?

I do mine once a week just cause I'm a detail fanatic. But if you just want to get by with the minimum for protecting your car from the elements once every 3 months should suffice depending on the quality of wax you're using. Some claim to last longer, I've never been able to test any wax lasting any longer than 1 month, I can't imagine going a whole month without waxing it. :)

But a good way to guage the wax's remaining effectiveness is to see if water still beads on the surface. If water pools and dries in huge puddles, you need to wax it.

ORIGINAL: jake11375

I do mine once a week just cause I'm a detail fanatic


That's how I usually am. My poor car didn't get that treatment this summer though, as it spent most of it's time in the garage torn to pieces:(

That's how I usually am. My poor car didn't get that treatment this summer though, as it spent most of it's time in the garage torn to pieces:(


I wouldn't mind giving it a rest from waxing if I was getting a turbo or some other engine mods. :D

How did we go from waxing a car to turbo? thats awsome!!! I just used this wax the "Ice" wax u know what im talking about? that stuff is really nice gives a good shine but i dont know how it coats it yet, i used to be a detailer, and my manager told me wax it once a year, i think he was wrong, but i know if u wax it to much doesnt it hurt the clear coat and the paint?

i wax mine whenever its a good season, like summer, spring, and somewhat fall. So i say i'ma wax mine like every 3-4 months and since my wax protects for a long time thats all i need

ORIGINAL: Silentcracker95
but i know if u wax it to much doesnt it hurt the clear coat and the paint?


No, waxing done properly cannot harm your clear coat or paint. Wax is simply a protective barrier from the sun and other harmful elements. can't have too much protection right? Using cheap or dirty towels, rubbing too hard, car wash brushes, waxing over sap, dust and other contaminants.... all these are common practices that DO harm paint.

On the other hand, too much polishing with abrasive compounds can eventually thin your clear and weaken your paint's protection against the elements. A true wax does not contain abrasives.

So the that "Ice" wax stuff good? but my car looks just like urs jake, i love the coupe civics, i got 16's on mine they are gunmetal rims with a polish lip.

^^ Never used it before... I'm not totally against the possibility of trying it out though. I've heard decent reviews about it and some bad. It's difficult for people to be subjective on it because it's a Turtle Wax product. But it seems Turtle Wax is making a comeback from the negative spotlight they've been in for so long. Me personally, I don't care what you call it, I'm not a name brand guy, I use what works...

BTW... get some pics of your coupe up man, we'd like to see it. :)

ive tried but i dont know how to do it wont let me, ill try tonight again for ya. u will love it, i painted my valve cover red with the honda and the honda symbol polish out, with omni power coilovers with omni power cambering kits front and rear with dc headers and greddy catback evo 2, but i need a new catallic coverter, i wonder should i get a new one or a test pipe? my exhaust is loud enough. but ill try tonight for ya.

I Hated the Ice stuff when I used it. Their spray detailer works really good though, provided you've got a good coat of decent wax on there first.

Royal Blue. Period.

Here ya go hope u like

my fav pic

I'm kinda confused...do you apply royal blue like any other wax?

Okay im getting used to putting pics on here so bear with me lol

ORIGINAL: Silentcracker95

my fav pic


Engine bay looks pretty good man. If you want that extra bling under there, take some of those Armor All Wipes, and use them to wipe down all the black vacuum lines, and the spongy type insulated lines. It'll look more like this..



local://upfiles/2331/12860C123299480F8DCF5AD760A470F0.jpeg

With the Royal blue, I like to use the "wax on, wax off by hand" method. Just make sure you do it in sections (Hood, then fenders, then sides, then truck, etc..)

today i'm bout to wax my car with Speed Bead from http://www.moreshine.com/ (used it before and it works wonders) and wi'll show u a before pic and then after. So sit tight for a few hours haha

Yeah i see what ur talking about ill have to do that, but i dont open the hood much. i will try to get a pick with the coilovers but kinda hard to get a good angle.

Nice ride silentcracker. Looks real good. [sm=smiley20.gif]

Thanks i have had it about 5 months, so i think ive done alot since then but ill try to get more going. like the sway bar i got looks so nasty, i just got cambering kits on it so alot better traction. thats why i said almost looks just like urs.

What didnt you like about the Ice forty? I just used it a week or two ago and loved it. if nothing else, just for the fact that is doesnt mess up the black trim. maybe when i get my car repainted (including most of the trim) Ill go back to a nice thick carnuba, but for my 12 year old paint, the Ice worked great. and the whole process took half as long as with the old paste wax i used to use, so ill be more likely to keep up on the waxing.

well in the summer about every saturday the car will get a good cleaning..but its up for the winter so not to much going on with it

black cars are a pain to keep clean. i usually just give it a good cleanin every month...

Here you go Sacs (http://www.hondacivicforum.com/m_230287/tm.htm)

Cliff notes, it added to depth to the look of the paint, didn't mask swirl marks or small scratches, etc.. It just didnt get the job done, at all. Here are comparison pics.

Ice..
http://www.hondacivicforum.com/upfiles/2331/1AB68A95EE5B4F31BA8EA7F770174F29.jpg

Royal Blue..

http://www.hondacivicforum.com/upfiles/2331/1C3E93C4692B4823A321FE357B129198.jpg


In person it is SO much more noticable.. But, if you look at the ice pic, things look blurry and in darker areas, theres no detail. In the royal blue pic, even though I'm farther away, you can still distictly see me.

I don't know, I'm pretty anal about my paint's appearance

Your paint looks sopping wet Forty, good work man. [sm=smiley20.gif]

Thanks bro-dizzle! :D

I gotta say too, everytime I see one of your posts, I pause to look at the sig, sooooo shiney!

^^ :) I can see where Royal Blue gave you more pop, depth, and clarity over ICE. And that's saying a lot because photos take away a lot of details. Zaino has a similar effect on lighter colored cars. But that Royal Blue looks amazing, I might have to add it to my detailing arsenal. :D

Definitely, at least give it a shot and see how it compares to your current products.

I have three days off this week. i think i may give them a call and see how much it costs to send me a couple of bottles... Royal Blue FTW!!!

ORIGINAL: Forty04

ORIGINAL: Silentcracker95

my fav pic


Engine bay looks pretty good man. If you want that extra bling under there, take some of those Armor All Wipes, and use them to wipe down all the black vacuum lines, and the spongy type insulated lines. It'll look more like this..



local://upfiles/2331/12860C123299480F8DCF5AD760A470F0.jpeg

With the Royal blue, I like to use the "wax on, wax off by hand" method. Just make sure you do it in sections (Hood, then fenders, then sides, then truck, etc..)


WOW! Your engine compartment looks great! How do you clean the underside of the hood? And how often do you dress up (detail) you engine? Pardon my boldness-what kind of climate do you live in? And one more - do you wax parts of the body inside the compartment?
Very nice ride - and great detail work! [sm=smiley20.gif]

ORIGINAL: Motor35

WOW! Your engine compartment looks great! How do you clean the underside of the hood? And how often do you dress up (detail) you engine? Pardon my boldness-what kind of climate do you live in? And one more - do you wax parts of the body inside the compartment?
Very nice ride - and great detail work! [sm=smiley20.gif]


Thank you sir!

My climate is hell, errr...only the opposite. I live in Michigan, where we basically have two seasons, Winter, and Construction. If my engine bay isn't filled with dust, it's caked with road salt, so getting it to where it is in that picture is no easy task. I first cover everything electrical, spray the block with engine degreaser, then spray out the entire engine way with a hose. I then wipe down everything that I can reach to make sure its all smooth and clean. Then, I use wax (Royal Blue) on everything you see that is red. All hoses (vac lines, electrical ducting, etc..) as well as anything else black (battery, brake booster, etc etc etc..) is treated with Armor All Wipes to give them a nice shine.

As for how often I do it.. I don't do it at all in the winter, it's just too big of a pain in the ass with all the road salt I get in there due to traveling all over the place. SO, come Spring time I usually have a 6-8 hour session of only engine detailing (the picture you see above resulted in me getting the worst sunburn of my life, use sunblock, for the love the god :D). Then, once the main overhaul is done, it's usually easy to just wipe everything down with a wet rag, and more Armor All wipes every couple weeks, and always before a show or track night.

Hope that helps!

ORIGINAL: Forty04


ORIGINAL: Motor35

WOW! Your engine compartment looks great! How do you clean the underside of the hood? And how often do you dress up (detail) you engine? Pardon my boldness-what kind of climate do you live in? And one more - do you wax parts of the body inside the compartment?
Very nice ride - and great detail work! [sm=smiley20.gif]


Thank you sir!

My climate is hell, errr...only the opposite. I live in Michigan, where we basically have two seasons, Winter, and Construction. If my engine bay isn't filled with dust, it's caked with road salt, so getting it to where it is in that picture is no easy task. I first cover everything electrical, spray the block with engine degreaser, then spray out the entire engine way with a hose. I then wipe down everything that I can reach to make sure its all smooth and clean. Then, I use wax (Royal Blue) on everything you see that is red. All hoses (vac lines, electrical ducting, etc..) as well as anything else black (battery, brake booster, etc etc etc..) is treated with Armor All Wipes to give them a nice shine.

As for how often I do it.. I don't do it at all in the winter, it's just too big of a pain in the ass with all the road salt I get in there due to traveling all over the place. SO, come Spring time I usually have a 6-8 hour session of only engine detailing (the picture you see above resulted in me getting the worst sunburn of my life, use sunblock, for the love the god :D). Then, once the main overhaul is done, it's usually easy to just wipe everything down with a wet rag, and more Armor All wipes every couple weeks, and always before a show or track night.

Hope that helps!

Hey Forty-you can just call me giiiirl! ;) Thanks for the details. This weekend I stocked up on the products you mentioned. When I got loads of work done on my car recently, I paid $50 for an engine steam clean and they did a crappy job. I was not happy. You have inspried me to do it my damn self! I am in Tucson and everything here is just dry and dusty. This weekend we are warming up to 72, so my car and myself have BIG plans :D Thanks again. -Kricket

ORIGINAL: Motor35

Hey Forty-you can just call me giiiirl! ;)


Whooops! My bad, sorry about that :D

I envy you and your 72 degree weather...it's about 25 and snowing here [:@]

Hey Forty! Have you ever used wadding polish? MAN! That stuff is great! Used it to shine up my exhaust. It removes all dust and water spots. My tip looks brand new again :) ....well, except for a gash on the underside, but otherwise, shiney and clean. ;)

ORIGINAL: Motor35

Hey Forty! Have you ever used wadding polish? MAN! That stuff is great! Used it to shine up my exhaust. It removes all dust and water spots. My tip looks brand new again :) ....well, except for a gash on the underside, but otherwise, shiney and clean. ;)


MINT! I'll have to give it a shot, where did you pick it up from?

I've kinda given up on my exhuast tip after an unfortunate incident after installing the boost... I had my tip a tad too close to my bumper and...yeah, it melted all over my damn tip. I'm looking into some twin loop setups right now and once that goes, I'll be all about trying to keep it blingin'. THanks for the heads up!

Damn i just realized hat i forgot to call them when i had those days off[:'(]

I got it at Auto Zone. It is by Eagle One. It is awesome! It is kind of like cotton, you rip off a piece, rub it on any type of aluminum, steel or metal then buff with a microfiber cloth. I also got some brake dust etching off of my steel wheels with the same stuff. Added bonus, it was only about $5! I LOVE IT!!
Sorry to hear about your melting bumper. Good to hear you have a plan. :)

^^ I can vouche for that. Good product polishing aluminum or metal. [sm=smiley20.gif]

Jake, you are my hero. I see cars all day long and black.... ALWAYS the worst. If you dont take car of your car, (all things to keep it clean) then its going to look awful. Once a week is what i would go for, not me though, til i get a paint job of course.