Optimum Car wax review (silver car)

**sealthedeal** · 08-07-2014, 01:05 PM

Here is my first review on autopiaforums for Optimum Car Wax.

I own a light metallic silver Toyota vitz (Yaris) and initially started protecting my car with sealants only (Klasse derived). By that time I had not acquired any carnauba wax. I really enjoyed using the sealant on a silver color, but was always told by other fellow online detailers that (in the looks department) sealants provide more of a reflective look whereas carnauba provides a more warmer/glowy look. After using the sealant for a good 6 months, I decided it was about time I gave carnauba waxes a try. I wasn`t sure though if the difference would be a noticeable one or not, hence I did not want to spend big. I have been an avid reader on the various detailing forums, and OCW always had a very high regard from everyone that used it. Given my liking for spray based sealants and to avoid a disappointment of having spent too much, I decided to give OCW a try.

Manufacturers description of OCW:

Optimum Car Wax is the only spray car wax that provides the durability of a paste wax and long-lasting UV protection. A combination of high-grade Carnauba wax, sealant polymers and UV inhibitors forms a protective layer on the painted surface to protect the paint from sun damage and environmental elements for up to 5 months.

Quite a claim from a spray wax, as none of the other natural spray waxes never really make such claims of performing like a paste wax and/or 5 months durability. The mention of "sealant polymers" does make it look like a hybrid wax and thats probably where the durability comes from but its always referred in the category of natural waxes.

Car Prep
My car was maintained in a really good condition, so I did not go through a full cleansing route.
- I washed the car with Meguiars NXT shampoo,
- Dried it using a Meg water magnet and once completely dry
- Clayed the car with a riccardo yellow clay and Optimum detailer (prepared from its concentrate with 1:6-7 dilution)

Optimum Car wax application

I then took a Meguiars supreme shine towel in one hand and OCW in another. Trigger Spray with a moving hand for increasing the mist coverage, use one side of the towel for spreading (and this side of the towel i continued to use for spreading everytime since it was wet with the product after a couple of panels). Had another dry MF at hand and after the product was spread, I just wiped it clean (although there wasn`t really a residue to clean). The product seems to melt into the surface. Smaller panels needed a half spray, medium panels (doors/hood) needed 1-2 and three sprays for the roof. Took me 25 minutes and around 1oz of product (i may have gone heavy on some panels) to do the car.

Results

Very very impressive. I could see instant gloss and bling and most important the wet effect of this wax is great. I had started late in the day and by the time I finished, it was beginning to get dark. A few pictures are from just before sunset time and then I had to go out as well and there AT NIGHT, UNDER A YELLOW LAMP post I took some other pictures. I will let the pictures do the talking from here on (all pictures taken from a Samsung S3):

The slick door handle:

Rear side glossy shot:

Roof reflection shot (beginning to get dark now):

And following are some shots at the same night when I went out and pictures taken under a street lamp post (hence the goldenish tinge).

Hood shot with Metallic Flakes popping and wet/slick surface:

Some more metallic flakes:

And now some full car shots (under the yellow lamp post):

and another one:

3 weeks later
3 weeks later, the OCW was holding up pretty well and beading up nicely. The just waxed gloss was a bit reduced (not much) and in an effort to regain that gloss, I tried a new combo. I had heard that optimum products mix well with each other and read of several detailers mixing OCW in their ONR with success. So I took a small mist sprayer and put 1/2 oz Optimum QD (diluted 1:3) and 1/2 oz OCW. Its mixed well, was much like a QD to apply and restored that day 1 gloss. Some more pictures 3 weeks later.

Durability
The above application was done around the Feb14 timeframe, so I did let it stay there for a good 2 months and it was still beading nicely. I even applied a thin layer of ocw on the side door glasses and they sheet well too.

Final thoughts on OCW
Optimum car wax is an excellent value for money wax, that definitely matches the attributes of a paste wax, ridiculously easy to apply (not sure if the experience is similar for a darker colored vehicle but it was a breeze to apply on a lighter colored car). It did not mute the flakes (but I have *heard* 3-4 layers of it do start to mute some flakes). On top of all, its so cost effective (even much more in its gallon version) that its a no brainer to not have this in your detailing arsenal.