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I've been tending toward synthetics, and have a friend who's a carnauba fan. This article on Autogeek covers the differences pretty well. I know carnauba contains oils that effect the appearance. But, are these oils better for your paint?? That is, is carnauba "healthier" for your paint than synthetic, over the long haul?
You may want to try both a coat or 2 of synth, followed with a coat or 2 of carnuba. Synth for durability carnuba for depth. Detail spray between waxes.
This is my regimen:
Wash
clay
wash
cleaner (not cleaner wax)
Polish
Synth wax
carnuba wax
Detail spray
I do this twice a year. Good luck
As far as carnuba being healther for the paint, with clear coat nothing actually contacts the 'paint'. The wax helps keep the clear coat from getting scratched
And, a cover is a good investment!
Contrary to company slogans about "feeding" and "nourishing" your paint, paint isn't hungry and doesn't need nourished.
The oils in carnauba serve two purposes. The biggest one is to soften the carnauba along with the solvents. The second purpose is to make the paint look wet (usually applied right before a car show). Carnauba is fine for garage queens or those that apply wax often. If your car is a daily driver that sits outside i'd use a sealant. If you want to apply a carnauba over that, it's up to you.
Clear coat is a polymer laid over the top of paint. The vast majority of VOCs come right out within the first couple on months. This is why nobody recommends waxing over a new paint job.
Now take a look at 15-year old clearcoated paint that has had no care. Looks just fine to me once it get some decent oxidation and scratch care.
The paint is just a series of fine particles adhered together with some base. It does not need Nourishment or Food, or Oil. What is the chemical basis for that? Nothing. Show me one peer-reviewed paper from a paint chemist that say it is needed!
Wax just protects the clearcoat, mechanically, and creates a nice sheen. NOTHING else.
Synthetic wax protects the paint the longest, decent carnuba is typically harder but lasts a very short time. No magic with either. Most people use a decent synthetic and top with carnuba.
Use Dawn enough on your hands and it kinda softens them some, plus it does help pull some unwanted grease off your hands. So, I don't think it's all that bad, but I don't use it myself.
Carnauba or synthetic?
with Ubetit.
