I just ordered my new 2002 XLT F-150 truck. I have a few questions on waxing the paint. Unfortunatly my truck has to sit outside, and is going to be my work truck but I still want to keep it looking good as possible. Since the paint is new do I have to wait before I wax it for the first time and do I wax or polish or both or what? What brand and product should I use, do I need to use a clay bar the first time? Sorry for all the questions but I need help. Many thanks!

 

I am going to try to answer these as best I can.

1. You can wax your truck as soon as you want. The paint is completely cured from the factory because it is baked on.

2. You can polish and wax, if you choose. The finish probably does not need a polish though.

3. A clay bar is the best thing you can do right now. Nobody knows how long your truck sat on a rail car before it got to you. You also have no idea how long the truck sat in the dealer lot. All the time it was collecting rail dust and acid rain. I would DEFINATELY clay bar a new truck.

 

Try here:

http://www.autopia-carport.com/

Lots of great info (almost too much at times) from the pro's!

 

Orlando,
Definetly Clay it! You'll be amazed. The wax you use after that is completly up to you. I use Zaino on everything and it lasts the longest of anything I've ever tried. Check out Autopia and see what everyone is talking about. There are a lot of good products out there.

We're all here to help!
TJ

 

My 2002 really didn't need a claying when I was ready to detail it for the first time (after washing, run your hand gently over the paint.........some like to do this with their hand in a "baggie".......if it feels a little rough/bumpy, it could use a claying). OK, maybe it would have helped, but it really wasn't in bad shape. I just went with a mild paint cleanser (p21s gloss enhancing paint cleanser.....this product cleans and polishes, leaving a nice shine) followed by a carnauba wax (p21s........like a few others, this one does not stain plastic). But, as TJ98COBRA mentioned, there's lots of good products out there. Go to the autopia web site that was mentioned by wannanicecar, but plan on many days of confusion as you try to figure out what you want to do with your truck.

Good luck
ernie

 

Don't waste your time on any other wax than Zaino. The stuff is great. Read the boards here. I did and am glad I did.

 

What color is your truck? If it is a dark color, then skip zaino and use Klasse. It really looks great on dark color'ed cars.

I plan on using a fallout acid on my truck tomorrow and then I'm gonna start re-Klassing the whole thing so I should get some good Klasse pictures up in the next week or so.

For a new truck I would wash it well, then clay bar it, then use a mild polish to remove all the swirls the dealership and the clay probably put in it, and then Klasse it.

 

Zaino is fantastic on Black. That is as dark as it gets.

 

Klasse it!!! You will NOT be disappointed.