Maintaining the Exterior of Your Vehicle

Waxing is not something that we all think of, unless we’re car enthusiasts. The average car owner probably never considers waxing their car. It is true that the paint cars come with nowadays is highly sophisticated compared to the cars your parents used to drive, but this doesn’t mean you should get lazy about maintaining the exterior of your vehicle.

Does your car really need to be waxed? The answer is, probably. Waxing has always made cars extra shiny, and even though the formulas for paint and clear coat have gotten highly sophisticated over the years and do protect the exterior of your car to some extent, the waxing is another precautionary measure against exterior damage that you probably shouldn’t forgo. Things like ultraviolet light, ozone, exhaust, salt, dirt, rain, bug guts, and bird poop build up tiny scratches and oxidation on the vehicle’s clear coat surface. As the paint gets older, that damage causes the surface to get hazy and the shine to go away, but there’s usually no damage to the color layer below. Not waxing will leave the car looking dull and the clear coat exposed to accelerated wear.

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What is Car Wax?

A wax is an insoluble substance that creates a protective layer on your car. A wax in its natural form comes in many guises from vegetable waxes i.e carnauba to animal waxes i.e. bees wax. It is the properties of these substances that allows them to perform a protective function on your car. Then, buff the wax off with a microfiber cloth.

How do you Wax Your Car?

Apply car wax in the shade. If the product dries too quickly or sits on the vehicle too long, it can be difficult to remove. Make sure that your vehicle is clean and completely dry. When you wax, you’ll want to apply the thinnest layer possible and check the label of the wax you are using to make sure that you know how long the wax should remain on your vehicle.

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Maintaining the exterior of your vehicle is important. Without this, your car will not look as good in the long run, or be worth as much when you go to trade it in. In the market for a different car? Check out our extensive online inventory of pre-owned vehicles! Stop by to Queens Auto Mall, Inc. in person to take a test drive!