Can waxing your MB increase your fuel economy? Three cheers for Griot's products! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

willrev · #1 03-01-2006, 08:16 PM

I want to tell everyone that I am now a believer in the griots garage car care products. They are the best machine polishes and wax I have ever seen and used in my life. Nothing tops these products.

Since it was 75 degrees in NC today on the first day of March I decided to take the day off and wax the Benz.

I removed all the emblems off the trunk and cleaned them. I got out the Makita variable speed polisher and my new box of goodies from Griots.

This is the first time I had ever tried their products. WOW!
I first sprayed the car with their paint prep to remove all the old wax. I then used their paint cleaning clay - a product I have never used anywhere before. You lubricate the clay patty with their Speed Shine in a spray bottle. It made my car baby butt smooth. Then I took one of their orange pads and Machine Polish 2. It removed the scratches in my sun roof finish. Then I buffed it off by hand. I did the whole car again with Machine Polish 1 and buffed off by hand. Then I did the whole car with their Best of Show Wax - applying with the red pad and polisher and then off by hand.

The finish is absolutely unbelievable. I have tried many products but this one works the best. It is pricey, but well worth the extra $$$.

http://www.griotsgarage.com/index.jsp

Will post a picture later! My car was so slick, my normal RPM's at certain speeds on the highway had dropped! Maybe it was a coincidence but I can at least dream a little.

TheDon · #2 03-01-2006, 08:22 PM

in a small way yes it can increase fuel economy.. but by a small fraction since the surface is as smoothe as possible. i saw something like that on CNN . they said driving with your windows open to save gas by not using the AC or drive with the windows up to reduce drag..

well isnt that an oxymoron..

but the waxed car will work .. just not enough to see it ... i want to wax my car but its not worth it the paint is shot

t walgamuth · #3 03-01-2006, 10:59 PM

you could mazola oil it down to make it more slippery.

grin

tom w

Hatterasguy · #4 03-01-2006, 11:05 PM

Griots stuff is pretty amazing. I think when I get my car repainted I will go to all Griots stuff on my paint.

There "quick detail" is great for getting the dust off your paint in the morning. Does a great job on maintaining clean door jams and an engine compartment as well.

suginami · #5 03-01-2006, 11:28 PM

I really like their speed shine product.

Dana B. · #6 03-02-2006, 12:20 AM

Not fond of buffing; you risk swirl marks and paint burns. Does Griott's offer a range of hand waxes that work well?

Mismost · #7 03-02-2006, 12:52 AM

You bet waxing helps your diesel fuel last longer....if you're waxing, you ain't running, therefore burn no fuel! Actual better milage? I don't know...maybe you're driving slower so everybody can see your shiney new wax job.

I think it amazing, we put as about as much energy on our cars as we do in them with all the wrenching, wiping, waxing! It has been decades since I've had this much fun with a car.

J. R. B. · #8 03-02-2006, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dana B.

Not fond of buffing; you risk swirl marks and paint burns. Does Griott's offer a range of hand waxes that work well?

I agree. When mine needs buffing it goes back to the bodyman that initially painted it.

Pete Burton · #9 03-02-2006, 08:17 AM

I was going to buff mine out last month, so I thought perhaps I should hose off all that salt and sand. But after I hosed down a few panels and froze my chamois to them, I thought maybe this isn't the best time. Well, I tried to yank the chamois off (it was on there pretty tight) I heard a POP! It pulled out the dent it was covering!!! Plus, my mileage has improved dramatically! I've been getting at least 35 MPG (mostly around town) according to my fuel gauge. So whoever thinks that detailing a car is a waste of time, I say, eat my sooty exhaust!

boneheaddoctor · #10 03-02-2006, 08:39 AM

Wait until the Ebay gurus start selling 75mpg car wax.

I doubt anyone outside of a controlled lab enviroment can detect a difference but the car WILL look nicer in any case.

stayalert · #11 03-02-2006, 09:38 AM

I got a free sample of their speed shine - It seems they added a scent (perfume) to it - turned me off. I need to put the wheel s on my car and push it into the driveway before I can wash it....of course its about 10 degrees right now so that won't be happening anytime soon

Mr.Kenny · #12 03-02-2006, 10:12 AM

Okay so here come the nerd response to the fuel milage question. (i know it wasn't a question but i gotta throw my 2cents into the ring.)

You would think that a shiney smooth surface would be slicker in the air; au contraire Monfare....
A glossy uninterupted surface allows the air passing over it 'stick to the surface' thus causing a surface drag. If the surface has slight imperfections allows the surface to have eddies of air over the surface, thus has a "lubricant of air" on its surface. Kind of like oil on a bearing, this thin layer of air sticking over the surface is the 'lube' on which the high speed air flowing over the object slips over.( rather than sticking to the suface and causing suface drag.)
This is why race car builders like lots of decals on their cars. No joke. It breaks the suface tension while filling their coffers with sponser $$$.

Google it and check it out. Some Jets have a micro grooved suface on them and racing sailboats the same thing. It works with hydrodynamics on hulls also.

Okay now it's time I crawl back into my corner basement nerd lair & get back to my dungons & dragons game. I think i saw sunlight.

suginami · #13 03-02-2006, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dana B.

Not fond of buffing; you risk swirl marks and paint burns. Does Griott's offer a range of hand waxes that work well?

Yes, you should be able to find them on their website:

www.griotsgarage.com

They have a great catalog with a ton of neat car care stuff, too.

ConnClark · #14 03-02-2006, 12:02 PM

Waxing your car and getting it as smooth as possible will help a little bit (Fish are slimy for a reason). Will you notice it?. Not likely. I remember Nasa actually did a study on this for aircraft. I think the conclusion was it did help but it wasn't worth the effort. Putting a texture on the surface was more effective, unfortunatly it collected dirt, hence increased weight and made cleaning it and inspecting for cracks and metal fatigue very difficult.

Pete Burton · #15 03-02-2006, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr.Kenny

Okay so here come the nerd response to the fuel milage question. (i know it wasn't a question but i gotta throw my 2cents into the ring.)

You would think that a shiney smooth surface would be slicker in the air; au contraire Monfare....
A glossy uninterupted surface allows the air passing over it 'stick to the surface' thus causing a surface drag. If the surface has slight imperfections allows the surface to have eddies of air over the surface, thus has a "lubricant of air" on its surface. Kind of like oil on a bearing, this thin layer of air sticking over the surface is the 'lube' on which the high speed air flowing over the object slips over.( rather than sticking to the suface and causing suface drag.)
This is why race car builders like lots of decals on their cars. No joke. It breaks the suface tension while filling their coffers with sponser $$$.

Google it and check it out. Some Jets have a micro grooved suface on them and racing sailboats the same thing. It works with hydrodynamics on hulls also.

Okay now it's time I crawl back into my corner basement nerd lair & get back to my dungons & dragons game. I think i saw sunlight.

LMAO! you had me going there, at least for a little while

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode