Uhm rather than disagree with some of the posts so far I will answer the questions as best I can. It's tough, these days it seems every manufacturer calls their product a polish.
Basically to summarize paint cleaning products, they are described by their abrasiveness. Compounds are the most abrasive, while polishes or glazes are the least. As you make a decision to clean the paint, you decide how bad your paint is. Best way to do this is look at it under fluorescent (artificial) lighting and see the fine scratches (if any). You can hurt your paint with just about any product if you apply it incorrectly. You basically have only about 2 or 3 trashbags thickness of paint if you can imagine. So if you use a machine buffer, make sure you do not apply in an area too long as you will burn the paint. And if using a hard abrasive, be careful of the edges or creases in your paint as you can potentially damage those.
1. does the factory put on a wax?
Not that I'm aware of, unless your dealer does it on the lot showing the cars off as best they can
2. when do you use a wax cleaner/is it needed? after wash /before claying and polishing?
To start a good detail job:
1. Use clear-coat safe bug/tar remover to get any road grime on the fenders and wheel wells.
2. Good wash with dish-washing soap to remove any old wax.
3. Claying is first. Claying the vehicle is to remove "bonded" contaminants. That is, paint overspray or baked in bug guts etc. Anything that sticks to the paint and can't be washed off. If you can "feel" something when you rub your hand over the paint, but you can't "see" it...that's generally what clay will remove. (Use the directions provided with your clay package - I get mine at autozone.)
4. Fine Scratch remover (Choose your level of product for your specific needs - if you have an old vehicle, chances are you have alot of imperfections and might need a compound. Newer vehicles might only need a polish in step 5)
5. Polish
6. Glaze
7. Wax
3. if 1. is yes would i even need to use a wax cleaner after two years from factory? does wax wear off?
I have never bought into the cleaning and waxing in-one products personally.
Each product has a specific use.
Cleaner - removes minor blemishes, hazes and paint oxidation
Wax - puts a layer of wax on the clear to protect
So in order of most abrasive to least abrasive:
Compound - most abrasive, removes major swirls, scratches and sanding blemishes in the clear
Fine Scratch Removers - removes minor scratches (from brush washes for example)
Ultra Fine Scratch Removers - removes even more minor scratches
Polishes - very very fine abrasive to put the shine back into your clearcoat and typically does not offer any protective qualities
Glazes - gives the paint a very wet look, puts oils back into the clear - typically no protective qualities
Wax - protects the paint from the elements
Yes wax wears off - washing, sun, rain etc will wear off wax quickly. You use your vehicle, so you be the judge of how long between waxes. I do mine 2-3 times per year, and use Meguiar's Ultimate Quik Detailer 2/3 times per month.
4. which process i.e. (claying,polishing,waxing) is there a risk of taking off clearcoat?
Any abrasive cleaner removes very fine layers of clear coat. For example, a "compound" cleaner will remove substantial amounts of fine layers of clearcoat as it helps you remove fine to moderate scratches or swirls in the clear. On the other hand, a true polish has a low abrasiveness as it cleans and nourishes your clearcoat back to a shine. Glazes may have what's called filler, that is to say they have a filler that essentially hides some paint imperfections like swirls.
5. when does a glaze come into play or is it the same as a polish?
(see above)
6. for a two yr old factory paint job what would be a recommeded process?
if polishing is necessary should i just do the light polish or med. and light?
I personally would go with a clay, very fine scratch remover, polish, glaze and a wax.
B
