Normally I am talking about removing nasty scratches but I want to give you a simple take-a-way today that just might just help avoid getting those everyday scuffs & scratches we all hate.
The good news is you own the Ultimate Car Scratch Remover System so you can take care of those random scratches pronto. But what if there was a way to minimize everyday scuffs?
You might be thinking how is that possible? Does Karl have some invisible force field to ward off stray shopping baskets?
…not exactly
Did you know that just by keeping your new car clean and protected you can avoid most close encounters that turn into ordinary scuffs or scratches.
Even if it doesn’t completely prevent them – it will go a long way to minimizing them.
How is that you say?!
A dirty and gritty clear coat finish is like laying sand paper all over your car… gritty side down.
Summer is here and depending on where you live your vehicle will get abused by everything Mother Nature can dish out. Hot sun, rain, dust and grit, tree sap, wind, BUGS, bird spats…
All of these things taken together conspire to damage your clear coat and accumulated dirt and grit make it more vulnerable to normal every day scuffs and scratches.
Did you know that leaving your clear coat finish dirty for extended periods can harm the finish. This is because the dirt stuck to the finish dries out the clear coat and can lead to pre mature failure. It’s like your hands – you know when you get them dirty working outside they get dry and the skin can crack if you don’t wash them and apply lotion.
This week I am going to send you a couple emails ( a mini course ) on how to keep your clear coat finish looking like the day it was brand new…for many years to come. …the easy way.
Today let’s start with your primary defense against Mother Nature and just about anything else that will come in contact with your car finish.
Your clear coat finish needs protection. Without a doubt this SHOULD be a professional sealant (that you apply at home) NOT ordinary paste wax. Hint – modern automobile sealants can last 6 to 8 months – ordinary paste wax 4 -6 weeks!
When you have a top quality automotive sealant on your clear coat finish you accomplish 4 very important things.
First – Protection against the elements ( sun, wind, rain and snow ) without a doubt, most important factor is it protects against the damaging effects of UV rays from the sun.
Most people do not realize that the modern clear coat finish is actually very delicate. A sealant will keep the clear coat from drying out, getting brittle and causing premature failure.
Total failure
Beginning stages of failure "crazing"
I am alarmed these days when I walk through the mall parking lot – maybe you have seen. Roofs and hoods of cars less than 5 yrs old with the telltale “white” spots. This is failed clear coat due to neglect. It does not take long and can happen in as little as 24 months under the right conditions.
Second – Sealants bond to the clear coat and make a slick slippery surface. They have an anti-static property and can repel dust and grit…weird but true. This makes it difficult for “things” to stick. Like bugs, dirt and bird splats. Or when it rains and then dust and dirt land on your clear coat finish.
Third – It makes a “sacrificial” barrier. Say for instance when a bird splat hits – the sealant keeps the clear coat from taking the full brunt of the nasty things in bird splats that can damage a clear coat.
Fourth - By having sealant protection it makes washing your vehicle a snap! This is because things don’t stick so they come off easily. This is especially true with dried bugs on the front of your car in the Summer time.
The advent of modern acrylic polymer sealants for automobiles about 15 yrs ago was a break through. Polymer sealant technology that we now have for automobiles came from the air craft industry.
Ordinary carnauba wax used to be the only option. Carnauba wax is a natural product and simply sits on top of the clear coat….polymer sealants actually form a bond to the clear coat. Carnauba paste wax will evaporate in 4-6 weeks leaving your clear coat vulnerable. Modern high quality sealants can last 6 -8 months in the real world for a daily driver.
And the icing on the cake… modern sealants are a piece of cake to apply …there is no heavy buffing like old fashion paste wax. They apply quickly and buff effortlessly.
So there you have it! In a day or so I am going to share some tips on the do’s and don’ts of washing your car and some shocking news about what is silently killing your clear coat.
I hope this shed a little light on why it’s so important to keep your delicate clear coat finish protected and why a modern acrylic polymer sealant is the only way to go.
Karl
P.S. Oh lordy …and automatic car wash places… check out this blog post … they are worse than anything Mother Nature has in store for your car.
