Washing and waxing your car is one of the most satisfying things a car guy can do especially if he/she did it by themselves. It requires a lot of elbow grease but as many of you already know, applying a coat of car wax will protect your car’s clearcoat from the icky stuff that is mixed in with the air, with the rain, with water puddles, and even from melted asphalt. And of course, car wax will give your car a better shine.
Try applying wax to your car someday. it is therapeutic and you'll be proud of your job
But while we’ve already talked about the proper ways to wash and wax your beloved vehicle, we didn’t exactly cover our recommended car wax brands that are available here in the Philippines.
As such, a list of some of the best car wax products available in the country as well as a short guide on car wax products in general.
I. What constitutes a good wax for car?
We’re quite aware that most of our readers are gear heads who already own cars. If we might hazard a guess though, we think there’s still a lot of you guys who haven’t had the glorious experience of waxing their own car.
No, we’re not deriding you regarding your DIY skills because we know that as a car owner (or a future car owner), most of you guys are willing to do it and that you’re thirsting for more knowledge.
As such, we’re quite sure that many of you guys will have this question in mind: what’s in-car wax. Really?
How To: Choosing The Perfect Car Wax and Sealant - Chemical Guys Car Care Wax
Well, car wax, as the name implies, is basically wax. As defined by many sources, it’s “a viscous substance, typically made out of lipids and hydrocarbons.” And yes, there is a surfeit of natural sources for wax.
With regards to car wax, there’s the carnauba plant, other specific types of palm trees, coal, and there are some that come from synthetic materials like silicones.
Also added to car wax are several kinds of oils and solvents because, in its default condition, the wax is typically too hard to spread around the surface of your car. Thanks to these additives, car wax become more spreadable. Note also that some car wax products are based on more than one kind of wax.
>>> You might like to check out: Car Waxing, Detailing & Polishing: What’s the Difference?
II. Types of car wax
If you’ve already taken a gander in sites like Lazada or Shopee to look for the best wax for car in the Philippines, you might have noticed that there are several types. To further school you on car wax, here’s a list of several types.
1. Natural car wax
Natural car wax is made out of materials found in nature, mostly plants. The best and most common of course comes from the leaves of the carnauba plant, and if you want to get scientific, the Copernificia Cerifera palm tree which grows in Brazil.
Here's the carnauba palm in its natural habitat
To further complicate things, carnauba wax products usually come in two grades; a higher, yellow-colored grade which are more expensive but performs better, and the white-colored lower grade.
Natural car wax though needs regular re-application because they tend to wear quickly.
>>> Related post: Car detailing in the Philippines: 7 frequently asked questions
2. Synthetic car wax
As the name implies, synthetic car waxes are produced from artificial sources. They’re more affordable and can last longer when applied to your car. Synthetic car waxes are also typically easier to apply.
The huge downside for synthetic car wax though is its lackluster shine.
3. Rubbing compound
Rubbing compound consists of wax flakes and are potent enough to be able to cover small scratches and paint imperfections.
4. Paste Wax
The first form that car wax came in and it provides a lot of shine due to having been mixed with oils. Applying paste wax is a bit more stressful due to its viscosity.
5. Spray wax
Spray wax is obviously the easiest to apply. Also, they can be used to quickly touch upon spots you’ve missed when applying either a rubbing compound or paste wax. Be careful though when mixing wax brands and/or types.
Easy peasy lemon squeezy
6. Liquid wax
Easy to apply, has the longest effect, typically synthetic and cheap. It’s weakness however is that it dries too quickly and your mistakes will be harder to correct.
III. A list of the best wax for car in the Philippines
Product |
Key feature |
Price |
|
|---|---|---|---|
Collinite Auto Wax |
Last for a long time |
₱825 |
|
Turtle Wax and dry |
Easy to apply and correct |
₱599.75 |
|
Meguiar’s Ultimate Liquid Wax |
Can be applied by either tools or bare hands |
₱2,695 |
|
Mothers California Gold Liquid Wax |
Non-abrasive |
₱795 |
|
Chemical Guys Butter Wet Wax |
A lot of shine |
₱2,049 |
|
P21S Carnauba Wax |
A combination of natural beeswax and carnauba wax |
₱4,256 |
1. Collinite Auto Wax
It comes in paste form in a can and is a mixture of the natural carnauba wax and synthetic wax. As such, Collinite’s car wax is versatile. Note though that due to being a paste type wax, it requires more effort when applying.
The shine provided by the Collinite Auto Wax is smooth and enough to reflect light. Due to the synthetic wax mixed in, Collinite’s can last a long time.
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2. Turtle Wax and dry
It is a blend of carnauba wax and polymers that come in a spray bottle. As such, Turtle wax and dry is easy to apply and easy to correct. Note though that this brand and type isn’t ideal for black cars. The shine can give to cars other than black colored ones is pretty decent.
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3. Meguiar’s Ultimate Liquid Wax
By virtue of being liquid, Meguiar’s Ultimate Liquid Wax is easy to apply and remove. Because this wax is made from synthetic materials, it lasts longer, provides more protection but removing it might take some time. Also, this brand can be applied either by a power tool or your bare hands.
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>>> Read more: Can you tell the differences between car polishing and waxing?
4. Mothers California Gold Liquid Wax
Now, this brand consists of pure carnauba wax. It’s non-abrasive, can provide a lot of protection, and it will provide a lot of shine. A bit of re-application is needed from time to time though due to its all-natural mix and some will find that you’ll need more than one coat for that perfect shine.
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5. Chemical Guys Butter Wet Wax
As the name implies, it is buttery smooth and thus, very easy to apply and remove. And due to being made entirely out of carnauba wax, this brand will provide excellent shine. The downside for Chem Guys Butter Wet Wax is that it doesn’t last too long and its ability to repel water is a bit wanting.
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6. P21S Carnauba Wax
It is the only one in this list to consist both of beeswax and carnauba wax. Due to this mixture, it can provide a great shine while being easier to apply than other car wax brands on this list. Due to the mix though, this brand will tend to be more expensive.
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IV. Best wax for car Philippines: Other considerations
- Watch out for fakes
- Use the proper applicators for car wax.
- If in doubt consult an expert first. Better yet, take your car to a professional car detailer, and feel free to observe and ask questions.
- There are other car wax brands out there so feel free to try them out.
- As with all automotive-related products and chemicals, keep away from children and pets
Did you find this article helpful? If you did, read more helpful tips articles like this one here on Philkotse.com!