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 November of 2019
Table of Contents
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rust-Oleum Factor 4 (2oz Kit) | $142.00 | FAIL | PASS (+1) | PASS (+1) | 87.8 GU (-2.2) | 27 Washes (+27) | +26.8 |
| Wolfgang Deep Gloss | $21.25 | PASS (+1) | PASS (+1) | PASS (+1) | 89.8 GU (-0.2) | 12 Washes (+12) | +14.8 |
| Jescar Power Lock+ | $33.00 | PASS (+1) | PASS (+1) | PASS (+1) | 88.2 GU (-1.8) | 11 Washes (+11) | +12.2 |
| Collinite 845 | $14.50 | FAIL | PASS (+1) | PASS (+1) | 89.5 GU (-0.5) | 9 Washes (+9) | +10.5 |
| 3D HD Poxy | $15.00 | PASS (+1) | PASS (+1) | PASS (+1) | 89.7 GU (-0.3) | 3 Washes (+3) | +5.7 |
| Klasse All-In-One | $14.98 | PASS (+1) | PASS (+1) | PASS (+1) | 90.0 GU (+0.0) | 5 Washes (+5) | +8 |
| Adam's Buttery Wax (2017+) | $18.69 | PASS (+1) | PASS (+1) | PASS (+1) | 88.4 GU (-1.6) | 3 Washes (+3) | +4.4 |
| Adam's Sealant | $37.38 | PASS (+1) | FAIL | PASS (+1) | 87.9 GU (-2.1) | 7 Washes (+7) | +6.9 |
| Klasse High Gloss Sealant | $13.09 | FAIL | PASS (+1) | PASS (+1) | 88.6 GU (-1.4) | 5 Washes (+5) | +5.6 |
| Turtle Wax Super Hard Shell | $5.99 | FAIL | FAIL | FAIL | 86.1 GU (-3.9) | 7 Washes (+7) | +3.1 |
Hybrid & Polymer Spray Waxes
| Product | Pint Cost | Easy Use? | Looks Good? | Slick? | Gloss Test | Durability | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P&S Bead Maker | $4.87 | PASS (+1) | PASS (+1) | PASS (+1) | 90.8 GU (+0.8) | 3 Washes (+3) | +6.8 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Is ceramic liquid wax worth the money?
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
Finding out if Turtle Ice Wax is any good!
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
Check out the test procedures and scoring changes in this video. Remember to subscribe and comment about other products you want me to try!
#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!
#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
Visual Appeal: 9 Points
Slickness: 4 Points
Gloss Meter: 8 Points (89.2 GU)
Durability: 8 Points (10 Washes)
Application: 6 Points
Total Points: 35
#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
Visual Appeal: 6 Points
Slickness: 7 Points
Gloss Meter: 9 Points (89.6 GU)
Durability: 7 Points (9 Washes)
Application: 3 Points
Total Points: 32
#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
Visual Appeal: 5 Points
Slickness: 8 Points
Gloss Meter: 5 Points (86.3 GU)
Durability: 2 Points (3 Washes)
Application: 8 Points
Total Points: 28
#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
Visual Appeal: 2 Points
Slickness: 2 Points
Gloss Meter: 4 Points (86.1 GU)
Durability: 9 Points (14 Washes)
Application: 9 Points
Total Points: 26
#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
Visual Appeal: 8 Points
Slickness: 3 Points
Gloss Meter: 7 Points (88.7 GU)
Durability: 3 Points (5 Washes)
Application: 5 Points
Total Points: 26
#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
Visual Appeal: 7 Points
Slickness: 6 Points
Gloss Meter: 1 Points (83.2 GU)
Durability: 4 Points (5 Washes)
Application: 7 Points
Total Points: 25
#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.
Amazon Cost @ Test Time: $6.25/pint
Visual Appeal: 3 Points
Slickness: 9 Points
Gloss Meter: 2 Points (85.5 GU)
Durability: 6 Points (7 Washes)
Application: 4 Points
Total Points: 24
#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
Visual Appeal: 4 Points
Slickness: 5 Points
Gloss Meter: 3 Points (85.7 GU)
Durability: 5 Points (5 Washes)
Application: 2 Points
Total Points: 19
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
Visual Appeal: 9 Points
Slickness: 9 Points
Gloss Meter: 9 Points (90.6 GU)
Durability: 9 Points (12 Washes)
Application: 9 Points
Total Points: 45
#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
Visual Appeal: 8 Points
Slickness: 6 Points
Gloss Meter: 8 Points (89.3 GU)
Durability: 8 Points (11 Washes)
Application: 8 Points
Total Points: 38
#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
Visual Appeal: 7 Points
Slickness: 8 Points
Gloss Meter: 6 Points (88.1 GU)
Durability: 4 Points (3 Washes)
Application: 2 Points
Total Points: 27
#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
Visual Appeal: 4 Points
Slickness: 7 Points
Gloss Meter: 5 Points (86.2 GU)
Durability: 6 Points (7 Washes)
Application: 4 Points
Total Points: 26
#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
Visual Appeal: 5.5 Points
Slickness: 3.5 Points
Gloss Meter: 4 Points (85.6 GU)
Durability: 2.5 Points (3 Washes)
Application: 7 Points
Total Points: 22.5
#6 - Adam's Buttery Wax (2013+ Formula)
Coming in for 6th in this round is the older formula of Buttery Wax that I had laying around. Compared to the new 2017+ formula there differences are subtle. It ties in several aspects, but the main area is that it's harder to apply on a white car due to the 2013+ formula being whiter. It was a smidge less glossy, but within margin of error.
Amazon Cost @ Test Time: N/A
Visual Appeal: 5.5 Points
Slickness: 3.5 Points
Gloss Meter: 3 Points (85.3 GU)
Durability: 2.5 Points (3 Washes)
Application: 6 Points
Total Points: 20.5
#7 - 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
Visual Appeal: 3 Points
Slickness: 5 Points
Gloss Meter: 2 Points (84.6 GU)
Durability: 5 Points (7 Washes)
Application: 5 Points
Total Points: 20
#8 - 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
Visual Appeal: 1 Points
Slickness: 2 Points
Gloss Meter: 1 Points (83.4 GU)
Durability: 7 Points (7 Washes)
Application: 3 Points
Total Points: 14