BrianS
18-01-2002, 12:34 PM
All,
Here is a query which I have been asked to address. I am interested to hear if anyone else has come across the "Environmental Package" mentioned.
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"I just drove our new car from the dealership into our home garage. The dealership wanted to sell me an environmental package which I declined. I prefer to do my own waxing. Is there a special treatment for a new car.The dealer said the paint needs approximately six months for it to cure . Since I declined their package he did recommend waxing ASAP . The car I bought is A Toyota Camry Le (white) any suggestions? "
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
That's a good question and there are different opinions as to the correct answer. What I will give here is my opinion rather than something written in stone, so you can trust me only if you want to. I reckon its mostly correct.
The Paint used on cars now is far different from paints of about 15 or 10 years ago (depending on the Maker). The Dealer probably has something stuck in his head from a long time ago, or else he is trying to sell that "Environmenta Package" whatever the hell that is. Usually this sort of package can be avoided - its just the dealer trying to give a value-added service which benefits nobody but them and their bank account. If you can find out how much that package was, please let me know. Even the name of the garage - I'll contact them myself.
But back to the early theory. Older Laquer and Enamel paints definitely did need time to "cure". A lot of solvents had to release and evaporate before the paint was ready to be sealed. If you put a layer of wax or similar , nothing could evaporate and the paint would get dull pretty quickly and cause many other appearance-related problems as well. The term letting "paint breathe" comes from this - (if you have heard of it!) The Paint manufacturers usually recommended allowing 4 weeks before applying anything over it as the paint can't breathe - instead it will suffocate and die!! But that was the old paint.
Today's Urethane / Polyurethane paints are something way better than before. Firstly, there is a catalyst added to harden the paint right from the start. The vehicles are coated either in an "electrically charged" environment for even coverage, or else sprayed on with an "atomizer" so it is very, very fine and the coat builds up nice and evenly (layman's terms - there is a far more in-depth explanation, but I don't want to bore you!!). But with today's paint they are also put through higher temperature baking process, and so the paint is cured in 72 hours or less. This is true of Jap, German, American, French cars, whatever - there are only about 2 or 3 actual auto-paint manufacturers that supply auto manufactures.
Because it is ready this soon, it needs protection against the environment and UV rays. "We don't recommend that you wax but please consider our Environmental package. It costs £200 and will be of huge benefit" Yeah Right!! Purchase a good polymer / wax sealant for £10 or £15 and give it a couple of coats over a weekend, and Brian's your Uncle!!
Take Care Out There
Brian
Here is a query which I have been asked to address. I am interested to hear if anyone else has come across the "Environmental Package" mentioned.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"I just drove our new car from the dealership into our home garage. The dealership wanted to sell me an environmental package which I declined. I prefer to do my own waxing. Is there a special treatment for a new car.The dealer said the paint needs approximately six months for it to cure . Since I declined their package he did recommend waxing ASAP . The car I bought is A Toyota Camry Le (white) any suggestions? "
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
That's a good question and there are different opinions as to the correct answer. What I will give here is my opinion rather than something written in stone, so you can trust me only if you want to. I reckon its mostly correct.
The Paint used on cars now is far different from paints of about 15 or 10 years ago (depending on the Maker). The Dealer probably has something stuck in his head from a long time ago, or else he is trying to sell that "Environmenta Package" whatever the hell that is. Usually this sort of package can be avoided - its just the dealer trying to give a value-added service which benefits nobody but them and their bank account. If you can find out how much that package was, please let me know. Even the name of the garage - I'll contact them myself.
But back to the early theory. Older Laquer and Enamel paints definitely did need time to "cure". A lot of solvents had to release and evaporate before the paint was ready to be sealed. If you put a layer of wax or similar , nothing could evaporate and the paint would get dull pretty quickly and cause many other appearance-related problems as well. The term letting "paint breathe" comes from this - (if you have heard of it!) The Paint manufacturers usually recommended allowing 4 weeks before applying anything over it as the paint can't breathe - instead it will suffocate and die!! But that was the old paint.
Today's Urethane / Polyurethane paints are something way better than before. Firstly, there is a catalyst added to harden the paint right from the start. The vehicles are coated either in an "electrically charged" environment for even coverage, or else sprayed on with an "atomizer" so it is very, very fine and the coat builds up nice and evenly (layman's terms - there is a far more in-depth explanation, but I don't want to bore you!!). But with today's paint they are also put through higher temperature baking process, and so the paint is cured in 72 hours or less. This is true of Jap, German, American, French cars, whatever - there are only about 2 or 3 actual auto-paint manufacturers that supply auto manufactures.
Because it is ready this soon, it needs protection against the environment and UV rays. "We don't recommend that you wax but please consider our Environmental package. It costs £200 and will be of huge benefit" Yeah Right!! Purchase a good polymer / wax sealant for £10 or £15 and give it a couple of coats over a weekend, and Brian's your Uncle!!
Take Care Out There
Brian