Is it okay to wax (or Zaino) a brand new car right away, or do you need to wait for a while for the paint to "cure"?

I'm hoping to get some information from some folks who REALLY know -- any chemists or professional detailers out there?

Thanks!

 

When was your car made?

I just bought mine with 7 miles on odo, but it was made in Dec, and was on the dealership lot since Feb, so I had no reason to not immediately zaino it.

 

My understanding is that they "bake" new cars when they are painted. This does all the curing necessary. When you take it to a body shop for work, they typically "bake" it too. However, they can't reach the same temp as the interior is in the car as opposed to when it's manufactured. So these paint jobs still need a delay before being waxed. Check with the body shop that did the work for the exact timeframe.

That's what I've heard before...

 

Factory paint = NO

Do it yourself or afermarket paint = yes (depending)

Lets say you paint your car yourself (and you don't have heat lamps) then the paint needs to cure. How long it needed to cure would depend on type of paint used and temperature during the painting process.

 

A few years ago, my car was side-swiped in a hit-and-run incident. The bodyshop had to replace all the panels on the driver's side. The documentation said not to wash the car for 60 days.

(BTW-I had the work done at the dealership because they were approved by my insurance co. and I didn't have to get estimates. It took over a week and they re-assembled the driver's door incorrectly. When I returned the car for them to fix their second-rate work, they lost my car. Moral---Don't go to a bodyshop just because of your insurance co., they are looking at costs not quality.)

Back on topic:
Considering the delivery time from Japan, it should be ok to wash/wax your car.

 

wax away...try the meguiars nxt wax...

 

I just had the front end of my 8 repainted due to a replaced front bumper cover. The cure time for the 3 stage paint requires that I do not wax for 90 days. The surface beads water as if I had waxed it though.

Good luck with your car and wax away and take Wayneside's advice and give the nxt tech wax a try you won't be disappointed.

 

A couple of years ago I had the front bumper on my car repainted and I called Sal Zaino up and asked him how long I should wait before I Zainoed the car. Sal said "two weeks, If it takes any longer than that, the paint will never cure".

As for the factory paint on the RX-8 (or any car coming from Japan), the paint is most definitely ready for 'waxing' by the time it hits the U.S.

 

Hi Air Force RX8
Why did you replace the front bumper cover, if you do not mind me asking? and did you repaint the hood as well? How much did it cost to paint the front end, and are you happy with paint job? I have heard that for the RX8 they mix the paint flakes with the clear coat, and not with the paint. Thanks

Mark