Ask-A-Pro: New Car Prep

I am getting a new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland and I want to know how long I should wait until I put sealant and wax on the exterior. I have ordered the products through your site.

Thanks, Dave Nordquist

Hey Dave,

First off, congrats on the new car purchase!  It’s always a nice feeling to buy a new car and get that fresh new car look!  Below is a new car prep process that I would do as soon as I buy the car…there is no reason to wait!

Here is a breakdown of how I perform a new car prep:

First off, wash the car with something like chemical guys citrus wash and gloss at a higher 2oz:1gal ratio (CGCW:water)
and then clay the car with lots of clay lube and a fine clay bar.  I highly recommend the DI fine grade clay bar and chemical guys clay luber.

After claying the car, you either want to wipe the car down with Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) or rewash the car to remove the clay lube residue.
Follow the clay treatment with a round of polishing to remove any marring from the clay bar of previous washing.  Something like Menzerna 203 or Menzerna 85rd should do the trick here with a white or black polishing pad on the Porter Cable 7424XP.

After the polishing session, wipe the car down again with IPA, or go over the paint with Chemical Guys EZ Creme Glaze on a black or blue pad.

Next up is the Protection step – for this I like Blackfire Wet Diamond as my go to sealant for extreme slickness and long durability.  Allow the sealant to sit on the paint and cure for about 20-30 min and then remove with a microfiber towel.

Tidy up the rest of the car and you are good to go!

Remember to freshen up the sealant protection every 4 months or so and polish at least once a year to keep your car looking fresh.  (I recommend every 6 months for the polishing and every 3 months for waxing)

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