Rinse, Wax Sequence

[dlc95]

Hi everyone!

I have a question regarding when to use my drying agent, and sealer wax / protectant. Is it best to wax before drying agent, or after? I currently use a rain rinse for the drying agent, but I'm going to add some side rain manifolds to get better coverage. I was going to do shower heads for the sealer wax.

Thanks!

Dan

 

[rph9168]

Sealant before the drying agent.

 

[robert roman]

“….when to use my drying agent, and sealer wax / protectant.”

Cleaning chemical contains agents that create a hydrophilic or more wettable surface.

If you rinse with fresh water, there will be little or no sheeting or beading of excess water and the vehicle will be difficult to dry.

One reason for this is contact angle. For example, untreated glass has contact angle of about 20 degrees - water lays flat and appears to cling to surface.

Most drying agents contain mineral seal oil which has contact angle of 80 degrees. So, water sheets and beads up and makes vehicle easier to dry.

One benefit of protectant is high contact angle. Double Bond contains Teflon which has angle of 100 degrees, Rain-X total body is 110 and hot wax containing carnauba wax or super hydrophobic polymer is about 120.

Protectant requires a final rinse with fresh or spot-free water.

Since protectant have higher contact angle than drying agent, there is no need to apply it.

 

[TEEBOX]

Thanks Bob! That is an answer that I was always questioning. Going to save me some drying aid now!