Q & A

[Tortaruga]

This is from a detailer's website I was looking at:

Q. Do you use natural carnauba wax?
A. Rarely. Perhaps on very sensitive surfaces. Carnauba waxes are pretty useless as far as we are concerned. They have zero UV protection, very little protection from the elements that weather and driving conditions cause and are very, very overpriced for what is in the jar. They have a "large" molecular structure when they bond with paint. Most contaminants and problematic substances (bird-droppings, acidic rain) have smaller molecular structures and simply penetrate carnauba. (Its not quite that simple, but that's a brief explanation!).

Does everyone agree with this?

[Gene Hunt]

I use AG HD wax. Perfect results & if you search ebay can be had for a really good price.

[stealthwolf]

You're not gonna get a bulletproof layer over the paintwork through any wax or sealant. They help with the final effect of the detail - the shine. They make it easier to clean/maintain the finish. You're putting on a microscopically thin layer of product. The clearcoat does the main job of protection and has UV protection "built in". Waxes and sealants can have UV absorbers/inhibitors put into them.

If you want something better, you need to look at nanotech stuff. This provides better barrier protection but at the same time is usually very expensive and needs to be applied using stringent conditions. However, you can still apply a  wax on top!

[maxload]

Carnauba wax is derived from a type of palm tree that is native to Brazil and is nature's hardest, purest and most transparent wax. Many show car owners and car care enthusiasts (we'll call them the purists) have long argued that natural carnauba wax produces a richer, darker, glossier finish than other types of last step product, particularly when used on darker coloured cars. A coating of carnauba wax always beads water nicely and can help to mask minor defects in your paint. However, in most cases the durability of carnauba wax is quite low; under our climate in the UK a coat of an average quality carnauba wax will typically last somewhere between two to three months, depending on the time of year, the mileage you do and whether or not you garage your car overnight.

In contrast to naturally derived carnauba wax, synthetic polymer sealants are the product of modern technology and typically comprise very complex formulas containing either polyamino-siloxane or polyethylene-acrylic polymers. Many car care enthusiasts (we'll call them the realists) have long argued that synthetic polymer sealants are superior to other types of last step product, as they produce an ultra slick finish that is extremely durable. Under our climate in the UK, a coat of synthetic polymer protection will typically last somewhere between three to four months, depending on the time of year, the mileage you do and whether or not you garage your car overnight. However, the finish produced by sealants is typically less glossy and far sharper looking than that produced by carnauba wax and can actually highlight defects rather than mask them.

http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acatalog/choosing-paint-protection.html