Wax Shootout - Best Car Waxs and Sealants
Is an expensive wax really better than a cheap wax from the parts store? I will compare a wide array of waxes to find out if $40+ boutique waxes are really slicker, last longer, shine brighter, and bead water better. How do they compare to the cheapest products on the market? Will a $7 wax surprise me?
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Last updated in May of 2020
List of Tests
- Soft99 Fusso Coat - New Formula
- Soft99 Fusso Coat - Original Formula
- Adam's Polishes UV Ceramic Spray Coating
- Chemical Guys JetSeal
- Adam's Polishes Ceramic Liquid Wax
- Turtle Wax Ice Spray Wax
- Rust-Oleum Factor 4 vs Car Guy's Hybrid Wax
- Round #2 - June 2019
- Round #1 - May 2019
Shootout Standings:
This is an in-progress shootout. The table below is a quick way to review all the present day results. Before the end of the year the top contenders in each category will play off against each other. The goal will be to get relative point scoring between the individual round winners and crown a champion for each group.
Traditional Waxes & Sealants
| Product | Pint Cost | Easy Use? | Looks Good? | Slick? | Gloss Test | Durability | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soft99 Fusso Coat Original | $61.60 | PASS (+1) | PASS (+1) | PASS (+1) | 84.1 GU (-5.9) | 70 Washes (+70.0) | +67.1 |
| Rust-Oleum Factor 4 (2oz Kit) | $142.00 | FAIL | PASS (+1) | PASS (+1) | 87.8 GU (-2.2) | 27 Washes (+27.0) | +26.8 |
| Soft99 Fusso Coat New | $113.28 | PASS (+1) | PASS (+1) | PASS (+1) | 85.8 GU (-4.2) | 22 Washes (+22.0) | +20.8 |
| Wolfgang Deep Gloss | $21.25 | PASS (+1) | PASS (+1) | PASS (+1) | 89.8 GU (-0.2) | 12 Washes (+12.0) | +14.8 |
| Jescar Power Lock+ | $33.00 | PASS (+1) | PASS (+1) | PASS (+1) | 88.2 GU (-1.8) | 11 Washes (+11.0) | +12.2 |
| Collinite 845 | $14.50 | FAIL | PASS (+1) | PASS (+1) | 89.5 GU (-0.5) | 9 Washes (+9.0) | +10.5 |
| Klasse All-In-One | $14.98 | PASS (+1) | PASS (+1) | PASS (+1) | 90.0 GU (+0.0) | 5 Washes (+5.0) | +8 |
| Adam's Sealant | $37.38 | PASS (+1) | FAIL | PASS (+1) | 87.9 GU (-2.1) | 7 Washes (+7.0) | +6.9 |
| 3D HD Poxy | $15.00 | PASS (+1) | PASS (+1) | PASS (+1) | 89.7 GU (-0.3) | 3 Washes (+3.0) | +5.7 |
| Klasse High Gloss Sealant | $13.09 | FAIL | PASS (+1) | PASS (+1) | 88.6 GU (-1.4) | 5 Washes (+5.0) | +5.6 |
| Adam's Buttery Wax (2017+) | $18.69 | PASS (+1) | PASS (+1) | PASS (+1) | 88.4 GU (-1.6) | 3 Washes (+3.0) | +4.4 |
| Turtle Wax Super Hard Shell | $5.99 | FAIL | FAIL | FAIL | 86.1 GU (-3.9) | 7 Washes (+7.0) | +3.1 |
| Chemical Guys JetSeal | $20.56 | PASS (+1) | PASS (+1) | PASS (+1) | 82.7 GU( -7.3) | 3 Washes (+3.0) | -1.3 |
Hybrid & Polymer Spray Waxes
| Product | Pint Cost | Easy Use? | Looks Good? | Slick? | Gloss Test | Durability | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonax Brilliant Detailer | $8.51 | PASS (+1) | FAIL | FAIL | 90.3 GU (+0.3) | 14 Washes (+14) | +15.3 |
| Optimum Opti-Seal | $49.98 | PASS (+1) | PASS (+1) | FAIL | 90.9 GU (+0.9) | 5 Washes (+5) | +7.9 |
| Car Guys Hybrid Wax | $6.25 | PASS (+1) | PASS (+1) | PASS (+1) | 87.6 GU (-2.4) | 7 Washes (+7) | +7.6 |
| P&S Bead Maker | $4.87 | PASS (+1) | PASS (+1) | PASS (+1) | 90.8 GU (+0.8) | 3 Washes (+3) | +6.8 |
| Turtle Wax Ice Spray Wax | $7.18 | PASS (+1) | PASS (+1) | PASS (+1) | 90.5 GU (+0.5) | 2 Washes (+2) | +5.5 |
Silica Based Sealants
| Product | Pint Cost | Easy Use? | Looks Good? | Slick? | Gloss Test | Durability | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adam's UV Ceramic Spray Coating | $43.07 | FAIL | PASS (+1) | PASS (+1) | 90.3 GU (+0.3) | 17 Washes (+17) | +19.3 |
| Gyeon Q2M Cure | $41.39 | PASS (+1) | PASS (+1) | PASS (+1) | 86.8 GU (-3.2) | 10 Washes (+10) | +9.8 |
| Adam's Ceramic Liquid Wax | $37.33 | PASS (+1) | FAIL | FAIL | 89.8 GU (-0.2) | 9 Washes (+9) | +9.8 |
| CarPro Reload | $28.39 | PASS (+1) | PASS (+1) | PASS (+1) | 89.7 GU (-0.3) | 7 Washes (+7) | +9.7 |
Ceramic Coatings
| Product | Pint Cost | Easy Use? | Looks Good? | Slick? | Gloss Test | Durability | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adam's UV Ceramic Spray Coating | $43.07 | PASS (+1) | PASS (+1) | PASS (+1) | 90.3 GU (+0.3) | 17 Washes (+17) | +20.3 |
Soft99 Fusso Soft Coat Dark Color - New Formula
Soft99 recently released a new formula of Fusso Coat in Dark and Light versions. I tested the new formula to see how it stacks up against the old one. The old formula was a beast with a 70 wash durability. The new formula unfortunately failed to meet that mark. I actually think the ease of application had some drawbacks, although the visual quality was improved. Overall this is still an excellent product, I just wish the durability didn't take a hit. Not to mention the price nearly doubled. While it's out there I'd recommend snagging the old formula for now unless you absolutely want the little bump in looks.
Amazon Cost @ Test Time: $113.28/pint
Application: PASS (+1.0)
Visual Appeal: PASS (+1.0)
Slickness: PASS (+1.0)
Gloss Meter: 85.8 GU (-4.2)
Durability: 22 Washes (+22.0)
Total Points: 20.8
Soft99 Fusso Soft Coat Dark Color
This is the original formula of Fusso from Soft99 and it made for an amazing car detailing experience today. This ptfe based sealant showed amazing durability which most fans of auto detailing look for. It has such amazing durability that it might just be better than a coating. Unfortunately the Soft99 wax knocked the gloss levels down by 5.9 points on average to 84.1GU. Unfortunately it doesn't make the paint pop as much as other waxes, but still looks very deep. Fusso from Soft99 seems like the most durable wax on the market, at least in my tests! I'm looking forward to testing their new formula which I've already ordered.
Amazon Cost @ Test Time: $61.60/pint
Application: PASS (+1.0)
Visual Appeal: PASS (+1.0)
Slickness: PASS (+1.0)
Gloss Meter: 84.1 GU (-5.9)
Durability: 70 Washes (+70.0)
Total Points: 67.1
Adam's Polishes UV Ceramic Spray Coating
This was my first experience with a UV reactive product. I was very curious to see how it glowed and if that feature would aid in application. Adam's UV Ceramic Spray uses a fluorescent tracer that glows under 395nm UV lights. This spray coating claims to offer 8-12 months of protection and is said to be safe on most surfaces. In my testing I was able to see the glow with a UV flashlight. I was hoping the glow would be more pronounced, but it takes a closer look to see exactly what's happening. The durability was impressive, I got 17 washes out of it! I think the glow feature is a bit of a gimmick, but everything else about this coating is great.
Amazon Cost @ Test Time: $43.07/pint
Application (Ceramic): PASS (+1.0)
Visual Appeal (Ceramic): PASS (+1.0)
Slickness (Ceramic): PASS (+1.0)
Gloss Meter (Ceramic): 90.3 GU (+0.3)
Durability (Ceramic): 17 Washes (+17.0)
Total Points (Ceramic): 20.3
Application (Spray): FAIL
Visual Appeal (Spray): PASS (+1.0)
Slickness (Spray): PASS (+1.0)
Gloss Meter (Spray): 90.3 GU (+0.3)
Durability (Spray): 17 Washes (+17.0)
Total Points (Spray): 19.3
Chemical Guys JetSeal
Another highly requested and popular product. I've never really used Checmical Guys stuff much, but this sealant was intreguing. I expected it to be similar to Wolfgang or Jescar, but unfortunately it didn't meet my expectations. I would suggest using another product as there is little to love about JetSeal, but watch the video and judge for yourself!
Amazon Cost @ Test Time: $20.56/pint
Application: PASS (+1.0)
Visual Appeal: PASS (+1.0)
Slickness: PASS (+1.0)
Gloss Meter: 82.7 GU (-7.3)
Durability: 3 Washes (+3.0)
Total Points: -1.3
Adam's Polishes Ceramic Liquid Wax
This week I had time to test Ceramic Liquid Wax from Adam's Polishes Premium Ceramic Line. Watch me run an array of wax tests to determine the quality of this product. Ultimately I was impressed with the durability of this product, but a little dissapointed at slickness and visual quality.
Amazon Cost @ Test Time: $37.33/pint
Application: PASS (+1.0)
Visual Appeal: FAIL
Slickness: FAIL
Gloss Meter: 89.8 GU (-0.2)
Durability: 9 Washes (+9.0)
Total Points: +9.8
Turtle Wax Ice Spray Wax
This week I had time to test Turtle Wax Ice Spray Wax in new design "Original" bottle by running an array of car wax tests to determine the quality of Turtle Ice Spray Wax. Ultimately I was dissapointed in this product due to the poor durability. However, it was pretty siney in our gloss testing!
Amazon Cost @ Test Time: $7.18/pint
Application: PASS (+1.0)
Visual Appeal: PASS (+1.0)
Slickness: PASS (+1.0)
Gloss Meter: 90.5 GU (+0.5)
Durability: 2 Washes (+2.0)
Total Points: +5.5
#1 - Rust-Oleum Factor 4 Synthetic Wax 345537
In today's competition the Rust-Oleum won out. This is my first time using a wax from Rust-Oleum, a company I usually associate with spray paint. Overall I wasn't a huge fan of the installation, but the durability was incredible at 27 washes. Nothing has ever scored this high in my tests. The slickness, water beading and overall look of the wax were good.
Amazon Cost @ Test Time: $142/pint
Application: FAIL
Visual Appeal: PASS (+1.0)
Slickness: PASS (+1.0)
Gloss Meter: 87.8 GU (-2.2)
Durability: 27 Washes (+27.0)
Total Points: +26.8
#2 - Car Guy's Premium Hybrid Wax
I tested this product before under old test conditions in the second wax shootout of 2019. Unfortunately I used too much product while testing which viewers reported to me. I wanted to re-test it and decided this was an opportune time. While it didn't beat the Rust-Olemu product on overall score or durability, it was very easy to use when spraying just a little. It is also very good looking and slick.
Amazon Cost @ Test Time: $6.25/pint
Application: PASS (+1.0)
Visual Appeal: PASS (+1.0)
Slickness: PASS (+1.0)
Gloss Meter: 87.6 GU (-2.4)
Durability: 7 Washes (+7.0)
Total Points: +7.6
Watch the video of the second round of testing that I performed in June of 2019. Remember to subscribe and comment about other products you want me to try!
NOTE: The points have been re-allocated since the latest change in scoring. This has affected which are overall winners.
#1 - Gyeon Quartz Q²M Cure Silica Spray Sealant
The overall winner of the second round of testing is this Gyeon. It was my first time using this brand and I found it to be very appealing, with my biggest concern being the cost and lack of slickness. Part of the cost concern is how fast spray waxes are consumed. But, I really loved how pretty and durable the results were.
Amazon Cost @ Test Time: $41.39/pint
Application: PASS (+1.0)
Visual Appeal: PASS (+1.0)
Slickness: PASS (+1.0)
Gloss Meter: 86.8 GU (-3.2)
Durability: 10 Washes (+10.0)
Total Points: +9.8
#2 - Collinite 845 Insulator Wax
This product wound up surprising me, it was solid. I was really impressed with how deep and good it looked and it was the glossiest product I tested this round. However, I have concerns around how much solvent I smell and how it was eating up the masking tape. It wasn't that easy to use.
Amazon Cost @ Test Time: $14.50/pint
Application: FAIL
Visual Appeal: PASS (+1.0)
Slickness: PASS (+1.0)
Gloss Meter: 89.5 GU (-0.5)
Durability: 9 Washes (+9.0)
Total Points: +10.5
#3 - 3D Auto Detailing Products HD Poxy Paint Sealant
Another product I've never tried before and a brand I hadn't heard much about until recently. I heard lots of good things and in many areas this product did shine. I was most dissapointed by its very poor durability, but enjoyed the ease of application.
Amazon Cost @ Test Time: $15.00/pint
Application: PASS (+1.0)
Visual Appeal: PASS (+1.0)
Slickness: PASS (+1.0)
Gloss Meter: 89.7 GU (-0.3)
Durability: 3 Washes (+3.0)
Total Points: +5.7
#4 - Sonax Brilliant Shine Detailer
I've tried other Sonax products befor and have generally enjoyed them. I recently heard this detail spray is actually a wax and has some interesting properties. I really enjoyed how incredibly easy this spray was to use. The durability was also amazing. However, I wish it was slicker and it doesn't add much depth/quality.
Amazon Cost @ Test Time: $8.51/pint
Application: PASS (+1.0)
Visual Appeal: FAIL
Slickness: FAIL
Gloss Meter: 90.3 GU (+0.3)
Durability: 14 Washes (+14.0)
Total Points: +15.3
#5 - Optimum Polymer Technology Opti-Seal Spray Sealant
Optimum is a big name and this is a popular product. During my testing I found it wasn't very durible and that it wasn't particularly slick. However, I really liked how visually appealing it was and that it was fairly glossy. The application was ok. The points tied with Sonax, but due to the cost delta I had to break the tie.
Amazon Cost @ Test Time: $49.98/pint
Application: PASS (+1.0)
Visual Appeal: PASS (+1.0)
Slickness: FAIL
Gloss Meter: 90.9 GU (+0.9)
Durability: 5 Washes (+5.0)
Total Points: +7.9
#6 - Klasse All-in-One Polish
This go around I tried two Klasse products. This was the best one of the two in my opinion. It was quite easy to apply and it had good slickness. I think it also looked pretty good, but it was a lot duller than other polished and waxed surfaces.
Amazon Cost @ Test Time: $14.98/pint
Application: PASS (+1.0)
Visual Appeal: PASS (+1.0)
Slickness: PASS (+1.0)
Gloss Meter: 90.0 GU
Durability: 5 Washes (+5.0)
Total Points: +8.0
#7 - Car Guys Hybrid Wax
Never having tried a Car Guys product I was a bit skeptical at the price point and marketing. However, overall I think I was still pleasently suprised. The slickness of this product was excellent and it had moderate durability. I just wish it was easier to apply (hazy) and that it was glossier and prettier.
Note: This product has been re-tested with some new results.
Amazon Cost @ Test Time: $6.25/pint
Application: PASS (+1.0)
Visual Appeal: PASS (+1.0)
Slickness: PASS (+1.0)
Gloss Meter: 87.6 GU (-2.4)
Durability: 7 Washes (+7.0)
Total Points: +7.6
#8 - Klasse High Gloss Sealant Glaze
This was the other Klasse product I tested this round. I found the application to be an absolute nightmare. It was only better than the control in the sense that there was an application to do. Overall the best thing about it is the slickness and just OK durability.
Amazon Cost @ Test Time: $13.09/pint
Application: FAIL
Visual Appeal: PASS (+1.0)
Slickness: PASS (+1.0)
Gloss Meter: 88.6 GU (-1.4)
Durability: 5 Washes (+5.0)
Total Points: +5.6
Part 1 of the May 2019 wax testing. Check out the wide array of waxes I test in my first ever wax shootout!
Watch part 2 of the testing and remember to subscribe and comment about other products you want me to try!
#1 - Wolfgang Concours Series Deep Gloss Paint Sealant 3.0
The overall winner of the second round of testing is a product I have used for a long time. This Wolfgang is overall great with tons of visual appeal, amazing durability, slickness and gloss. It's super easy to apply too. The only complaint I had was the cost, but the day of my testing I saw a new bulk container had come to amazon!
Amazon Cost @ Test Time: $21.25/pint
Application: PASS (+1.0)
Visual Appeal: PASS (+1.0)
Slickness: PASS (+1.0)
Gloss Meter: 89.8 (-0.2)
Durability: 12 Washes (+12.0)
Total Points: +14.8
#2 - Jescar Power Lock+ Polymer Paint Sealant
I've been using this Jescar ever since I saw Matt Mormon use it on his channel, Obsessed Garage. I found in my testing that it is indeed a great product. The visual appeal is excellent and so is the durability. It's very glossy and super easy to apply.
Amazon Cost @ Test Time: $33.00/pint
Application: PASS (+1.0)
Visual Appeal: PASS (+1.0)
Slickness: PASS (+1.0)
Gloss Meter: 88.2 GU (-1.8)
Durability: 11 Washes (+11.0)
Total Points: +12.2
#3 - P&S Bead Maker Paint Protectant
This is a curious product. The cost is incredibly appealing and the slickness it creates is undenyably good. The gloss is mid range, with a solid visual appeal, but where the product struggles is the application and durability. It's a bit of a pain to apply due to the way it smears around and it lasted through just 3 washes.
Amazon Cost @ Test Time: $4.87/pint
Application: PASS (+1.0)
Visual Appeal: PASS (+1.0)
Slickness: PASS (+1.0)
Gloss Meter: 90.8 GU (+0.8)
Durability: 3 Washes (+3.0)
Total Points: +6.8
#4 - CarPro Reload
I'm currently a user of CarPro's CQuartz semi-permanent coating and this Reload product is often used to put a hydrophobic layer back on top of the coating. It is also used on its own as a SiO2 based sealant. I think the slickness is a strong point for this product, with an above average durability to boot.
Amazon Cost @ Test Time: $28.39/pint
Application: PASS (+1.0)
Visual Appeal: PASS (+1.0)
Slickness: PASS (+1.0)
Gloss Meter: 89.7 GU (-0.3)
Durability: 7 Washes (+7.0)
Total Points: +9.7
#5 - Adam's Buttery Wax (2017+ Formula)
I have used this wax for quite some time. I've always known it to have a pretty poor durability, but I enjoyed the ease of application. In this test we see that I was pretty much dead about the terrible durability. The Gloss was weaker than I hoped, and visually it was weaker compared to others, but still ok.
Amazon Cost @ Test Time: $18.69/pint
Application: PASS (+1.0)
Visual Appeal: PASS (+1.0)
Slickness: PASS (+1.0)
Gloss Meter: 88.4 GU (-1.6)
Durability: 3 Washes (+3.0)
Total Points: +4.4
#6 - Adam's Sealant
This result particularly dissapointed me. I've used this sealant for many years, but had recently started using other products. When I went back to test I realized that the performance was pretty poor. It was very dull, unappealing, but the durability is above average. I don't think this one is worth the price.
Amazon Cost @ Test Time: $37.38/pint
Application: PASS (+1.0)
Visual Appeal: FAIL
Slickness: PASS (+1.0)
Gloss Meter: 87.9 GU (-2.1)
Durability: 7 Washes (+7.0)
Total Points: +6.9
#7 - Turtle Wax Super Hard Shell
I picked this bottle up at the local AutoZone as a gag. I never tried a paste wax this cheap before and I wanted to see how something from the store would perform. Overall it came out pretty poor failing on all points except durability. The durability was actually above average, but definitely not the durability the bottle promised.
Amazon Cost @ Test Time: $5.99/pint
Application: FAIL
Visual Appeal: FAIL
Slickness: FAIL
Gloss Meter: 86.1 GU (-3.9)
Durability: 7 Washes (+7.0)
Total Points: +3.1