Shiny cars are the best. The shine, while it makes the car look great, indicates a level of protection on it, and that’s what waxing does to your car.
However, unlike a ceramic coating, waxing doesn’t last years and needs occasional application, and this can make people “overwax” their car.
But is there anything like that?
Quick Answer
As a general rule, you cannot wax a car too much; doing that will not damage your paint. Damaging your car due to too much waxing is a myth and doesn’t exist.
If you feel the need to up your car’s paint protection, you can always wax the car. Since you can wax your car often, is that a pass to wax your car often?
Why don’t you stick around to find out?
Can You Wax A Car Too Much?
Waxing is a layer of protection on your car’s paint and is an effective way to maintain it.
This helps the paint to remain shiny for years, which is a pride for a car owner.
However, a partial disadvantage of waxing is that it doesn’t last long and needs occasional application; you may be worried that it can lead to “too much waxing.”
Quick Answer
As a whole, you cannot wax a car too much, and it won’t cause any problems with the paint.
While it is unlikely to wax your car every week after a wash, you can’t cause any damage by waxing too much.
However, waxing your car too much is just plain wasteful. Adding layers of wax won’t increase the car’s glossiness or add more protection layers.
Only the first layer of waxing will bond to the car; the other layers are add-ons and won’t improve anything.
You don’t have to wax every time as long as you know when to.
One way to determine when to wax your car is by checking whether its water repellency is still intact, and you can do that through a water beading test or finger test.
Water Beading Test
A water beading test is the most effective way to test whether your car’s repellency is still intact.
This involves misting the surface with water instead of blasting with a hose, as this will just push the water off the surface.
Lightly mist the surface with water and check how the water reacts.
A sign that the wax isn’t as effective is when the water doesn’t bead and instead coats the paint.
In addition, if the water beads are less pronounced and look fatter, you need to re-wax your car.
Therefore, you may need to top the wax with a spray coat or use a proper coating.
Finger Test
After waxing your car for a while, you become accustomed to how a waxed car looks and feels.
A newly waxed car feels slick and lets your finger slide smoothly on the surface.
However, the car needs new wax if the surface feels gritty and your finger feels some resistance.
How Often Should You Wax Your Car?
Waxing your car isn’t an everyday thing, and knowing when to wax your car will prevent instances of “too much wax.”
While it is impossible to over-wax your car, it is important that you wax only when needed to prevent unnecessary spending.
Quick Answer
As a general rule, you should wax a car at least twice or thrice a year to maintain its effectiveness on the vehicle.
However, this may vary depending on factors like the elements, type of wax, and how often you wash your car.
The Elements
Overexposing your car to harsh elements will make the wax wear off quickly.
You can also determine when you need to wax by testing it.
Type Of Wax
Wax varies, and so does its effectiveness. Most waxes last between two to three months before losing their protective abilities.
While some, like synthetic wax, can last up to a year before you need to reapply it.
Cannula wax can last two months, while show wax can start breaking down after a week.
While manufacturers may claim that their wax lasts long, you should always test whether it is functional after two months.
Wash Frequency
If you wash your car too often, you may need to wax it often.
Car shampoos and snow foams break down wax layers every time you wash, even the pH-neutral ones.
Therefore, you need to check your car after each wash.
If you wash your car often and park it outside, you may need to wax it monthly; however, not so often if you store your vehicle properly.
Conclusion
There is nothing like too much wax, as it doesn’t make any difference whether you apply layers of wax. However, it’s not economical.
Instead, you should stick to the two to three months reapplication for effectiveness and save money.
Furthermore, you can always test the protective abilities of the wax to check if they’re intact before applying any wax.
Key Takeaways:
References:
https://autocarehq.com/can-you-wax-a-car-too-much/
https://autocarehq.com/the-simple-trick-to-tell-when-a-car-needs-waxing/
https://www.carcarehacks.com/can-you-wax-your-car-too-much/#how_often_should_i_wax_my_car
https://pressurewasherify.com/blog/car-wax/
https://www.jdpower.com/cars/shopping-guides/how-often-should-you-wax-your-car
