Can you polish / wax 3rd gen black plastic fenders & composite bed

Back in the day it was a no no to get wax on any black plastic trim. Does anyone have any advice for the 3rd Generation Tacoma Off Road? I searched but couldn't find any information. Thanks in advance for your input

 

It was - and still is - a no-no to get wax and / or polish on black textured plastic. This would be the kind one finds on the top bed rails, door and tailgate handles, wheel well flares and side mirrors. The textured plastic gives the fillers in many waxes and polishes a great place to call home and is very difficult - but not impossible - to get out. That said, the composite bed is a bit different. Parts of it are smooth while other parts have a bit of texture. As OCD as I am, I've never tried to wax the inside of my bed. But if I did, I'd be willing to bet the textured parts would cause issues.

Interesting tidbit: Waxes with no fillers in them don't seem to cause nearly the headaches on black textured plastic as waxes with fillers.

 

Just use 303 Aerospace Protectant. Stuff works well.

$24 303 Products Aerospace Protectant – UV Protection – Repels Dust, Dirt, & Staining – Smooth Matte Finish – Restores Like-New Appearance – 32 Fl. Oz. (30313CSR)

https://www.amazon.com/303-30313-CS...id=1522879801&sr=8-2-spons&keywords=303&psc=1

 

Thank you for the response. I will take care to not get not to get wax on the plastic. Any advice on how to wax up to the plastic, especially on the fender flares and bumpers, without getting wax on them? Mask with painter's tape? Seems like a lot of work.

 

Thank you for the tip.

 

Remember, traditional Carnauba Wax is pretty much a product of the past. As good as it was for many years, compared to more modern products, it really doesn't make much sense to use it anymore. Synthetic Sealers last more than twice as long, but can sometimes still mess up textured black plastic. So for both wax and sealers, avoiding the plastic - sometimes by masking it with Blue Painters Tape - is a good idea.

The other thing you could do is go with some of the more recent Coatings. One that I'd personally recommend for even folks inexperienced with using coatings is CAR Bulletproof Coating. It's quite user friendly and you can use it on black textured plastic. That means you don't have to worry about masking or trying to avoid the plastic trim at all. Oh, and it lasts even longer than wax or synthetic sealers.

 

Adams Polish VRT is amazing, and has SPF-35!! Their products are all I will ever use! A bit more expensive than the crap retail stores sell but worth it!

 

Try Car Pro PERL. I was a VRT fan, but PERL blows it out of the water.

 

Don’t waste your time or money using 303. Great interior and works fine exterior as long as no rain. Try Gtechnique C4 its a coating instead of a dressing. I have easily gotten a year out of it. Better than constantly reapplying 303.

 

I am all for a better mouse trap. Do you have a link?

 

Meguiars Ultimate Liquid Wax will not stain black plastic.

$42 Meguiar's G18216 Ultimate Liquid Wax, 16 Fluid Ounces, 1 Pack

https://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-G18216-Ultimate-Liquid-Wax/dp/B004HCM9H4