Paint Sealant vs. Car Wax
Generally speaking, car wax gives your paint a better finish and glow, whereas paint sealant is much more durable and produces a high gloss mirror-finish.
Written by Andrew Biro
Reviewed by Melanie Reiff
Table of Contents
- Paint sealant vs. car wax
- What is car wax?
- What is paint sealant?
- Ingredients of paint sealant and car wax
- Sealant and wax application process
- How do car wax and paint sealant affect car paint?
- Does paint sealant or car wax last longer?
- What’s the aesthetic difference between paint sealant and car wax?
- Can you use both sealant and wax?
- Which is better—wax or sealant?
- How to find cheap car insurance
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Generally speaking, car wax does a better job at bringing out your vehicle’s natural color, giving it a soft glow and reflective finish, whereas paint sealant is much more durable, lasts longer, and provides a high-tech mirror finish perfect for modern vehicles.
If you want to keep your car’s paint job looking shiny and clean for years to come, you’ll need to properly care for it by regularly applying car wax and paint sealant, two products that help shield your vehicle’s clear coat layer from UV rays, dust, dirt, and other harsh elements.
Of course, if you aren’t familiar with the intricacies of auto detailing, sealant and wax may seem like the same thing—and while they are similar, there are a few key differences to note. That’s why
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Paint sealant vs. car wax
When it comes to protecting a car’s paint job, the uninformed car owner may see no immediate difference between paint sealant and car wax—and while it’s true that they serve similar purposes, they have a few major differences.
One of the most important differences between paint sealant and car wax is in how they actually go about protecting your paint—car wax merely sits on top of the paint’s surface. In contrast, sealant forms a perfect chemical bond with your clear coat layer, resulting in a sort of glassy shell.
While car wax primarily uses natural ingredients to keep grime and dirt from damaging your paint, paint sealant is a synthetic, polymer-based product whose artificiality allows for a more durable, long-lasting finish.
Similarities of sealant and wax
Despite their key differences, paint sealant and car wax serve the same base purpose—to form a protective layer over your vehicle’s clear coat to minimize the likelihood of scratches on your car paint and damage from the elements.
No matter where you live and drive, your vehicle will be exposed to everything from rain and dirt to UV rays and ambient moisture, all of which can wreak havoc on your paint job over time, leading to an expensive repaint.
Car wax and paint sealant can help prevent that, but they don’t do so in the same manner.
MORE: How to remove bugs, tar, and sap from car paint
What is car wax?
Traditionally, car wax is made using carnauba wax, a substance secreted by the leaves of a particular species of palm tree indigenous to Brazil, whose natural properties include moisture and heat resistance.
Carnauba wax is harvested in the form of flakes or powder; once processed, it is mixed with other natural waxes like beeswax and certain oils, as well as some synthetic materials to create the product known as car wax.
When applied to your vehicle, car wax sits atop the paint, acting as a shield against UV rays, rain, dirt, dust, and other substances that can damage the clear coat layer.
Types of car wax
Of course, not all car waxes have the exact same properties—in fact, you should be aware of three types of car waxes: natural, synthetic, and car wash wax.
- Natural—usually contains around 30% harvested carnauba wax and produces the best shine, but degrades faster than purely synthetic wax products
- Synthetic—as the name suggests, synthetic wax does not contain natural ingredients, which actually helps it last longer than traditional carnauba-based waxes
- Car wash—waxes branded as “car wash wax” contain mild cleaning detergents and help remove dirt and grime from your vehicle; they essentially clean, polish, and protect your paint all at the same time
Beyond these main categories, however, there are three more types of waxes—liquid, paste, and spray—separated by their physical state.
- Liquid wax—generally last the longest as they tend to contain more synthetic ingredients than paste or spray wax, but they also require a higher level of expertise to apply
- Paste wax—usually contain more carnauba wax than their spray or liquid counterparts, resulting in the best finish, but is more expensive and does not last as long
- Spray wax—does not last nearly as long as a liquid or paste wax, but is lauded for its ease of use and cheaper price tag; best suited for new cars and touch-up work
What is paint sealant?
Paint sealant is an artificially engineered compound designed specifically to bond with the clear coat layer of your car’s paint job and serves much the same purpose as car wax—to protect your paint from the elements.
Due to its artificial nature, however, sealant is much more durable than wax and does a better job of protecting your paint from chemical erosion, UV rays, and other contaminants. Sealant also has a higher surface tension than car wax and is in fact hydrophobic, which allows it to repel water and other liquids with greater ease.
Types of paint sealant
At the macro level, paint sealant can generally be separated into two types—polymer and acrylic—but there are several subtypes you should be aware of:
- Ceramic coating
- Polymer protectant
- Binding polymer monomer
- Synthetic polymer
- Cross-linking acrylic polymer
- Water-based polymers
And while this may seem like quite the variety, there isn’t any drastic difference between sealant types—they all use synthetic materials and solvents to protect your paint from water damage, oxidation, road grime, UV rays, dirt, and the like.
MORE: How to paint car wheels
Ingredients of paint sealant and car wax
Generally speaking, car wax is mainly composed of natural ingredients like carnauba wax, beeswax, various oils, and other naturally-occurring substances. To a lesser extent, waxes may also include artificial ingredients like polymers, synthetic oils, and resins.
Car paint sealant, on the other hand, is completely artificial and contains no natural ingredients—instead, it consists primarily of resins, petroleum derivatives, and polymers (e.g. ceramics, plastics, etc.). It is these synthetic ingredients that give sealants their increased strength and durability, allowing them to last longer than most car waxes.
Sealant and wax application process
There is no one-size-fits-all application process for either paint sealant or car wax, meaning you should always adhere to the specific instructions included in the product you’re using.
For example, the application process for paste wax differs from that of spray wax—and both processes differ from the application of liquid wax. Of the three, spray waxes will be the easiest to apply, whereas paste and liquid require much more precision and care.
One must also consider temperature, weather, and other environmental factors when applying sealant or wax, as neither do well in extreme heat, high winds, or damp conditions. Ultimately, the best thing you can do is carefully read the product instructions and follow them as accurately as possible.
You can apply both wax and sealant with either a traditional sponge/microfiber applicator or a random-orbit polishing machine. Depending on the product, you may need to wait 30 minutes after the first application before removing any residue.
How do car wax and paint sealant affect car paint?
As per their engineering, car wax and paint sealant are designed to protect your car’s paint job, making it very difficult—but not impossible—to damage your paint during the application process.
However, if you are using a multi-purpose wax or sealant, such as one that also polishes or cleans, you will need to be extra careful when following the application instructions, as they contain abrasive particles that can scratch your paint or leave swirl marks if improperly applied.
Car wax and paint sealant can also damage fresh paint if the paint has not finished curing—for this reason, always wait the appropriate length of time after painting your vehicle to apply wax or sealant.
MORE: How long will a repainted car’s paint job last?
Does paint sealant or car wax last longer?
By design, paint sealant has a longer lifespan than car wax does, and can go several months to a year without needing to be reapplied. This makes sealant a perfect choice for those who drive their vehicle daily or regularly in harsh conditions.
Car waxes, however, break down much more quickly due to the many natural ingredients they contain. Most waxes will only last between 2 - 3 months before needing to be reapplied, but daily driving and extreme conditions can push that closer to 4 - 6 weeks.
What’s the aesthetic difference between paint sealant and car wax?
High-quality carnauba wax does an incredible job of bringing out the natural colors of your car’s paintwork and giving it a smooth, reflective glow that simply can’t be achieved through the application of sealant.
On the flipside, paint sealant is the product of choice for those looking to give their vehicle a high-tech, glossy mirror finish.
Can you use both sealant and wax?
Yes, you can usually use sealant and wax on your vehicle’s paint—but you’ll need to ensure the products are compatible with one another first to avoid canceling out their respective properties.
If you do decide to use both sealant and wax, make sure to apply the sealant first, as it needs to make direct contact with the paint (or rather, the clear coat layer) to be effective. Applying a layer of car wax on top of the sealant will give your vehicle that nice reflective glow you’re looking for.
Which is better—wax or sealant?
Generally speaking, paint sealant is going to be the better option as it does a better job of protecting your vehicle’s paint job for longer periods of time than car wax does, but that doesn’t mean wax is wholly inferior or without its uses, as it can be applied on top of sealant if desired.
High-quality carnauba wax, for instance, is preferred amongst those who own classic or vintage show cars, as wax helps bring out a vehicle’s natural color without adding too much gloss or reflection. In contrast, sealant is the product of choice amongst those who own modern sports cars and luxury vehicles, due to its high-tech shine and mirrored finish.
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FAQs
What goes first: wax or sealant?
If you plan on applying both wax and sealant, you’ll need to apply the sealant first, as it won’t be able to do its job properly if it doesn't make direct contact with the clear-coat layer.
Are wax and sealant the same thing?
No, car wax and paint sealant are not the same thing, though they do serve similar purposes in that they help protect your vehicle’s paint job.
Can wax be used as a sealant?
True carnauba wax—or any of those waxes which contain natural ingredients—cannot be used as a sealant, but synthetic waxes are practically indistinguishable from paint sealant, as they contain wholly artificial ingredients.
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