When to do the first wax job?

[KO_RAM]

I just picked up my truck last night.

I have a silly question. Should I wait to give it it's first wax job? Is the new paint soft and need to be cured for a while, or is it all right to go ahead and wax it? I know the dealer only gave it a wash.

 

[lschultz]

Personally I waited a couple of months before I waxed mine. I think the paint has to cure awhile but then some don't. I know if you buy the paint treatment from the dealer they put it on right away. I don't know what kind of wax/polish your gonna use but if you get some on the door handles,etc and it turns white after some time you can get it off with peanut butter. Don't laugh it works. I use Klasse All-In-One and then go over it with there High Gloss Sealant Glaze only takes about 2 oz of this. Maybe a little more on a big truck. But it lasts about a year if you follow there directions. Theres lots of wax's out there just pick that you think you will be happy with.

 

[klenger]

IMHO, if you are using one of the spray-on, wipe-off liquid waxes, you can probably do it at any time. If you are going to use a hard wax and buffer, then I'd give a couple of months to cure.

 

[XJSuperman]

If you know the month your truck was built... that will give you an indication of when you can wax it.

My 2004 was built in August of 2003... but I did not take it home until October. I waxed mine right away. Had it been less than a month from the build date I would have waited at least a month.

 

[Yo Hoot]

I had mine for a couple of months. I just spent today doing the once over wash and super detailing... . man I hate doing it.



Tommorrow I'll wax it for the first time. What should I use?



Friday... . off to Muncie... 600 miles.

 

[Dean Upson]

I wait a couple of months after I take delivery, but was told that I could do it right away. I don't think these new paints take as long to "cure". The old paints were better, though.



Dean

 

[rfoust]

I waxed mine as soon as I picked it up. I use waterless Dri-Wash and Guard---spray on/buff in/wipe off stuff. Love the stuff but unfortunately you can only buy it from a dealer. If you use it on the windshield you hardly have to use the wipers when it rains. I waxed it a second time with a DWG product that contains a dust repellant(ionically repels or something) I thought it was a joke but it actually does repel it a little.

 

[BRayls]

Originally posted by Dean Upson

I wait a couple of months after I take delivery, but was told that I could do it right away. I don't think these new paints take as long to "cure". The old paints were better, though.



Dean

I agree that they do not take as long to cure,and factory paint is baked on as well. but working in the autobody bussiness for more than 28 years(sideline the last 10 while at chrysler),I do not agree that the old paint was better. laquer may make a nice finish but it is really brittle and thus chips much to easy for everyday use,IMHO. newer paint is more durable ,resisting chips is a plus. and a good imron paint job is almost as nice when done right. to answer the question ,wax it right away.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Wash?



Wax?



What's that?

 

[FCecelin]

Geez, Mine spent month and a half in Mexico (winter vacation ) and had a cruise and spent a week or so in Newark . I think that was enough time to let paint cure . I know it cured me . . ...

 

[robertyoke]

try mothers clay bar, it's a little more work to do but it's well worth the effort. you wont believe the crap that comes out of the paint even on a new truck, and how smooth the paint is after.

-robert

 

[boonsur]

I believe the factory can bake the paint at a much higher temperature, since the rest of the (plastic, etc. ) components aren't on the vehicle yet. Thus, it is completely cured right away. "Aftermarket" paint jobs cannot be heated as high (to avoid melting, etc. ), so it takes longer for the reactions to complete.

 

[KO_RAM]

Thanks for all the suggestions. My truck was painted in mid-April, so in another week or two, it will be two months I think I'll go ahead and wax it in the next week or so when I get a chance. I've been using Eagle One Wet Polish & Wax on my other vehicles, and I like it quite well.



My E-Brake will be here next week, so I'll try to get the wax job done before I have to install that. The list goes on and on with all the extras. I'll be busy all summer if the money holds out and my wife lets me

 

[DocDetonancour]

You must be kidding? This Patriot Blue chips quicker that anything I have ever seen. In 4 K miles it look worse that my 96 in 70 K!

Originally posted by BRayls

I agree that they do not take as long to cure,and factory paint is baked on as well. but working in the autobody bussiness for more than 28 years(sideline the last 10 while at chrysler),I do not agree that the old paint was better. laquer may make a nice finish but it is really brittle and thus chips much to easy for everyday use,IMHO. newer paint is more durable ,resisting chips is a plus. and a good imron paint job is almost as nice when done right. to answer the question ,wax it right away.

 

[RedDieselDawg]

I have heard about poor paint quality and chipping, but I don't see it. I have 8k miles and no chips so far. I don't have anywhere near the orange peel I had on mylast Furd, a Lightning. I don't see unpainted areas as I have seen reported a couple times. Maybe it's just my truck?



First I got the rear wheel well liners and flaps all the way around. Then I waxed it with good old fashioned yellow paste, McGuiers in this case. I do use thier soft pink paste when it's cold, less than 60 degress, but I prefer the yellow paste, it lasts months. Some guys pride themselves on never waxing, they typically protect thier paint with a good coating of dried mud, lol. That is NOT meant as a flame, just a different approach and probably use than me. Each to thier own. I like to keep mine pretty new looking when possible.



The one thing I have not done in many years is run any ride through the brushes, it should be outlawed, but again, thats IMHO. I don't buy the soft paint thing, thier baked, so I waxed it on day 2 of having it home. Good luck and congrats on the killer machine.

 

[PJ]

Mine is blue and I had chips the day after delivery. Im using the heck out of the touch up paint. My rockers look like they have zits!

Yes, the blue chips just looking at it.

 

[BRayls]

imagine how bad it would look if it was painted in laquer .

 

[LightmanE300]

KO RAM et all. I contacted DC about this very issue before I took delivery of my truck. They informed me that unlike body shop painting and paint jobs of the past, their process leaves the paint cured right away, and it requires no time to breathe/cure before waxing. They commented that I was certainly a careful owner to be calling and asking this , however not to worry and to wax it as soon as I got it. Hope this helps - this is straight from Dodge.

 

[John - K5AWO]

I had a car painted in laquer... big mistake, I can't believe the paint is crinkling up and door chips?? everywhere a door has touched it, it scrapes an area an inch wide by 3 or 3 inches high. (

 

[DPKetchum]

Wax it as soon as you want. I use Mcguires paste.