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Product Review: Meguiar’s NXT Tech Wax 2.0

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Meguiar's NXT Tech Wax 2.0 Review

Most of us are very familiar with the back and forth that happens in the detailing world as to whether or not, as professionals, we should use products that the general public is familiar with. Of course Meguiar’s is on the top of that list of names people are familiar with. For those of us that have been in the detailing industry for a while, we know that Meguiar’s has recently gone through a lot of changes, and while their products in the early to mid 90’s were sub par in many circles, they have really revamped their product line.  One of their newer and more popular products is Meguiar’s NXT Tech Wax 2.0.  This is one example of a product Meguiar’s took a look at and completely rebuilt (chemically speaking) from the bottom up.

So, before I get into some of the finer details of the Meguiar’s Tech Wax 2.0 itself, let’s look at how it does differ from the Tech Wax 1.0 (upgrade!). While the general thought was that version 1.0 was a good product as far as durability, it was very difficult to apply and you needed to keep re-applying it to your pad since it dried up pretty quickly. The second issue was removing it. Since you did need to reapply the wax itself to the pad quiet frequently, it was hard to put a thin layer on and therefor it caked up and was difficult to wipe off.

Version 2.0 completely changed that. It’s a very easy product to use, and you do not need to reapply it constantly to the pad. Personally, I apply it most often with a Dual Action polisher and I only apply a small amount to the pads about every three panels if I am using it as a LSP.  It’s also very easy to apply by hand (it even comes with a cool blue Meguiar’s applicator pad). As far as wiping it back off, I will get into that later. One other huge difference is the Tech Wax 2.0’s ability to remove and hide minor damage such as oxidation and micro marring compared to it’s predecessor.  So, let’s get into it.

What It Is: With all the debate over sealants vs. carnauba waxes, it’s hard to tell with some products exactly what they are. The Tech Wax actually falls somewhere between a carnauba wax and a sealant as far as its durability and longevity.  Since it does have some polishing ability, it is actually more of an All In One then a “wax”. It gets its cleaning ability from Calcined Kaolin Clay.  The protection that it gives your paint comes from Polyglycerol Ester which can be described as a “waxy substance” but actually is not a carnauba wax. I contacted Meguiar’s to get the whole story and they told me that the Tech Wax 2.0 is a completely synthetic wax with no carnauba in it.  So while the polyglycerol ester will give you more protection than a traditional wax will, it will not protect as long as some traditional sealants like the Menzerna Power Lock or Blackfire Wet Diamond.

Preparation: Preparation is the key to a great final result and dramatically effects the longevity of any wax or sealant. For information on how to properly prep the paint on your vehicle, please read PREP TIME!!! A couple of steps before polishing by Eric ShusterAsk-A-Pro: The Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) Wipedown  by Todd Cooperider, and other articles written about how to prep the paint before applying your wax or sealant.

Application: As I mentioned, you do not need a ton of the Meguiar’s Tech Wax 2.0, only a very thin layer to get maximum effect. Meguiar’s does recommend putting on two coats just to achieve total coverage, but they are also in business to make money, so if you use twice as much, they sell more (think of lather, rinse, repeat on shampoo bottles). If you are using a machine to apply the Tech Wax 2.0, just make sure you go back and apply the product by hand to areas you could not fit the machine. You do not need to use a ton of this product either. The Tech Wax 2.0 contains Hydrotreated Distillate and Isoparaffinic Hydrocarbon. Both of these components keep Tech Wax 2.0 from drying up on your application pad and makes it easy to spread in a thin layer.  Check out every 2-3 panels to make sure there is still product on your pad and you should be fine.

Drying Time: Personally, I have never found drying time to be an issue with the Meguiar’s Tech Wax 2.0. It’s not a product that you immediately need to remove, so that’s not an issue. Also, I have never found it to be a product that is difficult to remove if it has been left on a surface for a long time. All in all, once you have applied the Tech Wax 2.0 to the whole car, you can wait about fifteen to thirty minutes before removing the product.

Longevity: The longevity of any product is difficult to give an accurate measure of since one person may not prep the paint the same way another person might. In my experience with my preparation, I have seen the Tech Wax 2.0 last anywhere from a month to three months depending on the time of year and how the customer treats the car afterwards. It’s important to note again that this product is not a carnuba wax, but it also does not quiet live up to the definition of a sealant either. I can’t stress enough how important the preparation is to the durability and longevity of this product as well as all other waxes and sealants.

Uses: Personally, I feel that the Tech Wax is a great All In One to use when you are short on time and need to get a temporary deep wet look without having to go through a major paint correction process. It’s a great AIO product to use as a maintenance or express detail if you are looking for a great, temporary shine in a short amount of time. Since it does have very mild polishing and cleaning abilities, it certainly does bring out the color of the paint and will help to emphasize any metallic flake in the paint.
One final use I have for the Meguiar’s Tech Wax 2.0 s to use on rims if I want to really make them pop when prepping a show car for my customer. Keep in mind that since the rims of your vehicle are exposed to a very harsh environment, the Tech Wax will not provide a high level of protection and should not be relied on for long term protection.

Final Steps After Application: To avoid streaking and overuse of other products, I have found that using cold water to moisten a Microfiber Towel and following up with a dry microfiber towel works just as well as a final wipe down with a spray detailer.  Now this is where I have an issue with the Tech Wax 2.0. On high impact colors such as dark blues, maroon reds and of course black, you can see that it tends to leave an oily residue behind that may not be visible until you bring the car out in the sun or put it under high intensity lights. It does leave the same residue on low impact colors such as silvers and whites as well, it’s just not as evident.  The oily residue is even more evident in climates that have high humidity. To help prevent this from happening, use the cold, moist microfiber cloth and the dry cloth as described above and very slowly make sure you wipe every inch of the exterior paint, or just allow the oil to dry in the sun a little and then wipe it down with a cold microfiber towel.

Pros of Meguiar’s NXT Tech Wax 2.0:
1). Ease of use
2). Great go to All In One product
3). Durability when paint is prepped properly
4). Smells good

Cons of  Meguiar’s Tech Wax 2.0
1). Can be difficult to remove oily residue especially on high impact colors
2). Humidity dramatically effects drying time
3). Not as durable as some similarly priced sealants or AIOs

Why should I add this product to my detailing arsenal: Overall, it’s a great inexpensive All In One product that is very easy to use at any level. It’s also very easy to get if you are ever in a bind and you find yourself out of your favorite All In One since I have found it pretty much everywhere auto supplies are sold.

26 comments on Product Review: Meguiar’s NXT Tech Wax 2.0

  1. Tim says:

    I too have this product in my arsenal. I think it goes on easily and comes off the same way. It was the first sealant I had ever purchased. I love its durability. It is a little pricey for an over the counter product in my opinion.

    Thanks for the review Kevin.

    Tim

  2. Kevin says:

    Tim,
    Thanks for the comment. Yeah, the price is a bit of a factor considering other over the counter products, but it’s around the same price as AIO’s for the size of the bottle, give or take a dollar or two.

  3. Aman says:

    Just added this to my “arsenal” (a bucket in the trunk of my car). I too noticed some residue when my car was in the sun. My car’s Graphite Pearl, a Honda dark blue with its fair share of flake.

    Interested to see how it holds up on the wheels. Have had it on for less than two weeks, hoping it has some brake dust repelling abilities.

  4. Ron Ayotte says:

    I find that NXT 2.0 tends to look “streaky” on dark metallic colors, but that the streaky appearance evens out after a few hours.

  5. Mike says:

    This product blew my mind!. I was not expecting it to do as good of a job as it did. As a matter of fact I have used several other products available both in regular stores as well as for the professionals and this product can be compared among the best of them when used properly.

    Great product as far as I’m concerned. Thanks.

  6. poots says:

    Great product. Highly recommend.

  7. Rick Hanna says:

    I am an auto body and paint guy and have built many many show cars. I tried this product and was very impressed on how easy it was to use. I did a custom paint job on my BMW SUV, wet sanded and polished the paint. Not supposed to use wax on fresh paint but I don’t see a problem so far. Very impressed with the product.

  8. Oliver Klozzoff says:

    I found this to be one of the worst auto finish products I’ve ever used. Left my black car greasy and dull. I had to wax it after I applied NXT to make it presentable. This product is not recommended. Everyone who likes it seems to make excuses for it: proper prep, dry time, damp cloths afterwards. It’s crap. I use many Meguiars products. I’ll never use this garbage again.

    • jodi says:

      Oliver, I can confidently say you are wrong, wrong, wrong. I have used this product for years on several different vehicles and it it without question the best protectant I have ever used. When wiped off it leaves a surface that is as smooth as glass. And it lasts like a Sherman tank.

    • Jerr Bromenshenk says:

      I have 100k+ miles on a truck with black cherry paint. It’s had hard use. I recently washed, used clay bar, touched up scrapes, and buffed. Then I used the NXT liquid. It went on easily in a THIN coat. Before removing, I waited 15-20 minutes, I then did a quick rub with dry terry cloth towel, followed with a micro-fiber bonnet on a buffer. The hand towel left some streaks and residue, but I just did a quick rub down – I’ve arthritis in elbows and thumbs, so just did a quick pass to get rid of the majority of the dry NXT off of the surface. The buffer easily removed all of the swirls and streaks – the truck gleams like a mirror.

  9. notchy says:

    Absolutley amazing wax/sealant.l used this on my red mustang the car is always kept immaculate (93 mustang with 31000 original miles) the car always looked super clean but after I used this wax wow its red paint turned deep mirror like gloss paint I was so impressed.l also used this on my 06 f350 black and wow it took the truck to a new level.lt actually looks better then new!!! My car I waxed on and off by hand.The truck I waxed by hand and used a buffer for polishing……..try this wax you will be very happy.

  10. PEK says:

    This is my wax/sealant of choice. It is synthetic so it acts like a sealant, but has an awesome deep shine like a good wax. Easy to machine apply and buffs nicely. I keep it fresh with the spray wax between applications. My Mustang is a deep blue metallic and literally looks wet with Tech Wax. This is a great product.

  11. kevin says:

    I’ve used the nxt 2.0 wax for the past 4-5 yars and its great stuff in my opinion..my car is no show car but the paint is still very good for being 18 years old and this wax really brings out the metal flake and gloss very nicely. I’ve used the wax on several different cars (brand new and used) over the years with the same results. I’d say my only complaint is that it doesn’t last very long, after 2 or 3 washes the wax has worn off. I don’t care what people say about it lasting one to three months, once the paint loses it’s “smoothness” it won’t protect from the elements nearly as much. Everyone’s opinion is subjective however, you really can’t compare products between show cars and daily divers as the results will be totally different depending on the cars finish, driving habbits and how often it’s washed and taken care of.

  12. Ashwinearl says:

    The night I used this it had sprinkled just a small amount. The next morning there were white spots where the rain had dried. Other waxes had not left this residue? Did I do something wrong, like use too much?

    • Reece @ DI says:

      There are many things that can cause this. The wax may not have been cured all the way causing the layer of protection to not hold up against the rain. Another problem could have been with the rain. The rain could have simply ate through the wax, causing it to etch into the paint. Using to much could have caused the wax to take longer to cure, allowing the rain to eat through the layer of protection. I would recommend removing the wax to see if the etching made it to the paint. If the etching of the water marks did make it to the paint you are going to want to polish them out and then reapply the wax as thin as possible. If you have any other questions please do not hesitate to ask contact us via email! (https://www.detailedimage.com/Contact/)

  13. Ed says:

    I used this product first on my son’s 2005 navy blue Jeep Grand Cherokee never parked under shelter. Obviously, I should have rehabed the paint surface. The application looked streaky and you could see sections of “wet paint” vs. unimproved paint. I likely did not leave the product on long enough to cure. And ignored other prep steps. I used it on my daughter’s wedgewood blue Highlander and it did beautifully, without prep. Most recently, on my wife’s 2003 pearl white ES 300 Lexus and 2012 pearl white RX450h, I used the Clay Kit, then the Ultimate Compound, then the NXT 2.0 and the results are amazing. I can see where two applications of NXT 2.0 will be even better. I sure hope it lasts more than 3 months.

  14. Bob says:

    Hi, I’m buying a new Indian motorcycle which has a well reported problem with the clear being too thin. Can you please advise if this course of action is recommended? Immediately the new bike is home, wash the bike to remove whatever the dealer applied to give it a shine (usually Mr Sheen furniture polish) – I thought Meguiars Soft Wash Gel.

    Then use the Tech Wax 2.0. Repeat every 3 or so months. Does that sound like a plan? Or would you recommend another wax, or in between treatments, like the quick detail spray?

    Thank you, excellent blog by the way.

  15. louis calagis says:

    Gentelmen I just used ntx tech wax 2.0 on my car and I can only say by far the best product on the market. My only problem I bought this in West Virginia at Lowes and I tried Lowes in Charlotte NC AND THEY DONT HAVE IT, get busy and get it down here, thank YOU Louis cALAGIS 2810 patten hill dr. Matthews nc 28105

  16. shellysummer says:

    best product i have used easy on easy off great lustre

  17. Miko Boy says:

    NXT 2.0 (I’ve used both liquid and paste) is definitely is not the best sealant/wax out there, yes it could be a bit more durable but I find it easy to use, especially the liquid. It could help if it doesn’t streak since it has a nice deep, candy-tone shine to it. The paste version requires just a bit more effort in application and removal, so it’s just a bit more time consuming but I found that the paste doesn’t streak, both liquid and paste doesn’t leave powdery residue in tight areas. Not exactly a bad compromise.

    As with many products out there, proper surface preparation is needed for optimum results and maximum durability. Regular use of a Quick detailer and spray will keep it going strong.

    The official meguiars says NXT 2.0 really comes alive on light colors, I’ve used it on different colors ranging from silver, maroon, metallic black, and it worked great on all of them. Metallic flakes pop, conceals some minor swirls (maybe not a good thing to some, but for people without the luxury of time, it’s a time saver).

  18. Melissa says:

    Hi there.
    I’m currently using this product on a rv for a client. It looks really smeary and blochy. I’m doing everything the directions says except I might be using to much product?
    Any tips please. This is the first time I’ve done any kind of waxing, except on a floor

  19. Benton Powell says:

    I’ve shown cars since 1958. My first was a Studebaker Starlite Coupe and I used the best polish. I could find. Of course, it was Meguiar’s. In this past decade I’ve shown 3 Acura NSXs and of course, All detailing was by Meguiar’s. But Meguiar’s has proven itself in a new way… on my PIANO. I have a Yamaha C3 Conservatory Grand and you should see how the new NXT makes that polished ebony “POP.” I’ve used a lot of my show car experience on both the NSX cars and now the Yamaha grand. Believe me, I’ve tried everything to make this piano’s poly clear coat look magnificent !!! I first used clay and the Quik Detailer for a lubricant. After a careful buff with a super soft microfiber, I then applied three coats of NXT 2.0, carefully polishing each application with a detail quality microfiber. I put an open magazine up next to the final buffing and you could actually read the whole page in the NXT polished clear coat on the piano. My daily driver? A Kona blue Mustang that looks almost as good as my piano! NXT 2.0, you’re the BEST EVER!

  20. Michelle says:

    I’ve heard you can use wax on your glass. Can this product be used on glass? I used it on a deep burgundy Accord and the results were great! I washed, clayed, polished and two coats of Tech Wax 2.0. I will post later how long it lasts.

  21. martin says:

    I have a Sliver 2002 Toyota Corrola owned since new, maybe 12 years ago I started to use NXT and the car still looks beautiful. I have been using it on a Yellow Jensen Interceptor for 18mths and again makes my Jensen beautiful.

  22. Larry Volke says:

    I have used NXT since they gave me a sample at a corvette show about 10 years ago. It works great and I always get compliments on my shine. I will continue using it on my cars and Harley. I love it and will continue to use it.

  23. Gary and Daisy Lee says:

    Meguiar’s is a good DIY product. Easy to use with decent results. But there’s nothing like the tried and true carnuba based wax and the prep required to make it work. There are NO shortcuts to 1st class finishes. Show cars/bikes use GLAZE for that temp deep shine. One good wash and it’s off. I’ve never seen Meguiar’s use by pro-detailers who swear by 3M Perfect-It products. 3M has been at it far longer than Meguiar’s and involves a bit more thought and effort to bring out the best with 3M auto paint products. Glasurit advises their customers to use nothing but high-gloss hard wax on their coatings. Europe uses nothing but. 3M is about $30/qt and is color coded meaning the bottle top color is the color of the pad to use. Just sayin’…

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