So I got Meguiar's 3 step wax process... followed the whole thing through. During the day it looked really sweet. Damn shiny everywhere.

Later at night I dropped off my friend somewhere and noticed that in the dim parking lot light, a billion tiny scratch marks are readily visible all over the car. MOST UNCOOL. I am guessing it is either from the towel (it was 100% cotton too), or the factory clear coat (thin one at that) doesn't like Meguiars very much.

Any easy cure for this? It looks like the factory clear coat was scratched up pretty bad.

 

What color is your EVO? I think Meguiars has some good products, but be careful of any multi-step process that includes a polish step. The polish contains micro sized abrasives which are meant to help clean off the paint surface prior to waxing.

I have personally used this in the past and have had similar results to yours. It leaves the paint looking great in the daylight, but in the dark with headlights playing off the paint....ouch!!! Particularly bad with black or other darker colored paints.

Be careful of cleaning cloths that use a synthetic edging thread, as this thread can also scratch your paint.

The best way to limit damage when cleaning and waxing your car is to jet off any surface grit, and always wet the surface thoroughly before hand-cleaning with a quality car wash and clean mitt/rag. I mention this because many folks just start washing on a dry surface car, and this will guarantee scratches.

I watched a boob in a Cosmos (black mettallic)M Roadster wash his car down today with one of those big car wash bristle brushes. This is sure death to the paint ....I cannot imagine why people don't use good common sense.

Anyway I apologize for digressing but prep is an important part of finish care. Once you wash and dry your new car carefully, the only wax product you should need is a high quality non-abrasive type wax. Avoid cleaner waxes as they also have small abrasives like the polishes.

Also, avoid waxing your car too much as it can lead to premature finish wear.As will improper buffer usage.

Hope you get your finish lined-out. You may want to talk with a reputable detail shop or body shop to get their help and expertise if its really bad.

 

First off wax doesnt really get rid of scratches.... only way to REALLY get rid of scratches is to buff your car. To get rid of DEEPER scratches you would need to sand down the area, followed by a buff, then a wax.

"EDIT" sorry i didnt really answer your question but most likely it was the towel you used to dry your car or whatever you used to apply the wax.

 

Oh zstryder do you wash your own car or go to the carwash??

 

I have a blue Evo.

Actually, the multi step thing did have a "polish" process. argh.

Boo to that! Well, now I know I won't be using that junk again, what should I do? There aren't a whole lot of body shops around here that I know of (small college town). Is there anything I can do to not mess up the finish any more?

 

Well I wash my car myself, but this is the first time I've used this multi step process treatment. As you can tell, it didn't fare very well. The car looks rather stunning during the day but when you get close and the light reflects off the car, it's nothing but tiny scratches all over the place.

 

There is nothing wrong with using a polish if done correctly. It can actually improve and deepen your shine. Stuff like Zaino and Race Glaze, which are well known and widely used on new cars are in fact a polish and not wax. I used Meguiers clay bar, polish and professional wax on my Evo and it turned out great. I was VERY careful about the towel and cleaning products being clean and free of debris. The car was washed real well first and nothing but 100% cotton and soft polish towels were used. I also use 2 buckets to wash. One to dip and rinse the rags in and one with the clean car soap. Another tip is to NOT use circular motions but follow the lines of the panel...front to back on the top panels and up and down on the sides.

 

only thing i can say is micro fiber towels.... You will almost never get any scratches from those towels if they are kept in good condition. I help manage a detail shop

 

tip for those of you who have NO CHOICE but to wash your car when its hot as hell outside. is spray your whole car down, Wash a panel at a time (half the hood, fender, top half of roof, window section of doors, bottom section of doors, and whatnot). after you do wash that panel spray it down with water along with the whole car again. Just make sure your car is 100% wet when washing.

 

Man this is so frustrating. So what, should I just take it into a shop and have them buff it out? And maybe have them do the wax there too while they're at it... *sigh* what waste of time AND money...

 

Most likely what you are seeing at night are not scratches in the paint, so to speak, but "scratches" in the wax from buffing. When artificial (non diffuse) light is hitting your car, the apparent scratches are really just the "paths" the fibers in whatever buffing cloth you used "cut" into the wax layer. Don't worry-- your paint is fine. You can't see it in the day because the diffuse ambient light permeates the wax layer better (casting light literally out of the wax towards your eyes) whereas artificial light, being from one or few sources, casts more shadows in the "valleys" of the scratches cut into the wax.

Sorry to use the "parentheses" so much, just trying to be as illustrative as possible...

heff

 

I use mothers "cleaner if needed" polish and then wax on cars after the paint dries!

As for my evos I will wait 90 days for clear coat to dry! I've worked at a dealership during my yourger years and was informed not to polish/especially wax cars. I've heard polish is ok but wax is a definitly a no no. Your paint is probably 4 weeks old if you just recieve your car the wax will tear the paint "clear coat apart" because it's wet and you'll see swrils.

The polish may still take the swirls out. I use pad, wax by hand and then terry cloth to wipe it.

 

I read all these threads that dealers waxed their cars upon receiving them?

heff, if these are scratches in the wax so to say... how would you rememdy them? Or do I just wait until the wax wears out and maybe use a better applying material next time?

 

Try another VERY LIGHT (2nd) coat of wax, and then buff w/ either a microfiber towel or 100% cotton terry (nothing pilly). Then, if it's a hot day out, spritz w/ distilled water and do a final light buff. Then do the hokey-pokey...

Hope that helps you acheive the liquid-show-winning-shine that Evo deserves!

heff

 

I've noticed that after the treatment my car feels much "smoother" when you run your hand over it, like it's got some layer of gloss over it or something. Perhaps that's a result of the wax? I dunno, I'm scared to do this wax stuff myself now, maybe I ought to get someone professional to do this stuff.

EDIT: I went out and looked at it again... it looks more like swirlies than scratches now. Very distinct swirls.