Foaming wax/ccp

[briteauto]

I visited a wash yesterday that had "foaming wax" on the top package. It had the same foam consistency of a detergent or presoak, but when rinsed, it displayed the water shedding properties of a ccp. This wash had no foam polish or conditioner or tri foam.

I know a lot of us use a foam polish or foam conditioner or tri foam on our top package, followed by a ccp. Other than the display properties of the foam polish or conditioner, I am not sure if it yeilds much of an actual result on the results of the car. I have read on this forum of operators using foam brush detergent as their foam polish/conditioner step - that cannot really be doing anything to enhance the quality of the car.

Is a foaming wax/ccp a viable substitue? It provides the foam show and the water shedding properites all in one product. I am thinking you can save chemical costs (by using only one chemical) and still get the same show and result.

Any input would be appreciated.

Mike

 

[rph9168]

Mike,

I believe the product you are referring to is called a foaming clear coat protectant. Most of the major brands offer this type of product in their line. The product was originally developed to improve rinsing of the conditioners in short tunnels and automatics. If you apply it with a K-nozzle it will foam and dissipate without significant rinsing. Many on the market today have different colors and fragrances to choose from. If you use it as a tri-color it will foam almost as well as a conditioner or polish wax and improve rinsing and drying.

I don't think you should eliminate the CCP by using it as a conditioner. Although the results would probably be good I think customers might think they are being cheated. I recommend it to operators having rinsing issues with their tri-foams and if the cost is not significantly different from a standard CCP as their CCP application. As I mentioned, if you apply it through a K nozzle or with air it will foam slightly and provide a nice show.

In a self service I think the foaming results would not be as good as foam brush detergent and the cost would be prohibitive to use in the foam brush. In the case of conditioners I have seen some self service operators use foaming polish instead of foam brush detergent which would assist in rinsing. Foaming conditioners are usually just colored soap like conditioners. BTW I have seen many automatic operators that are using conditioners use foaming brush soap in their tri foams - it is usually less expensive and produces much the same show and results.