Ceramic coating worth every penny

[Scarpia]

I got a bottle of Chemical Guys HydroSlick Intense Gloss SiO2 Ceramic Coating HyperWax and used it just after getting my car over two years ago. It's about $40, very easy to apply and held up well.

I just applied a new coat recently and the finish looks terrific, very slick and shiny. My car is garaged and never has gone through a car wash; I have a guy come and wash our cars once a month by hand. Once a week, I wipe it down with detail spray to maintain and it looks like new.

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[EELinneman]

I am unhappy to report that although you can’t tell the difference in the photos I can confirm that it was a total waste of money. After a week or so my car looked exactly the same as it did before I did i

You won't be disappointed as the ceramics will last orders of magnitude longer than wax does.

 

[jay1122]

So what’s the consensus on the best ceramic coating I can add myself to give this a good shot.. I’m kinda down in the promises of third party people promising crazy results.. and no I don’t have 2 days to do this

I thought your car already has ceramic coating. If you are looking for DIY and doing it first time, I would recommend Carpro Cquartz UK3.0. The easiest coating I have used. Leave it on for 5 min you can still wipe off easy. I am currently using Adams advanced graphene ceramic coating, supposedly lasts longer. If you leave it on too long, it takes extra elbow grease to wipe off. If you wipe off too early, the coating is not cured yet.

It is very easy to apply coating. Should only take 2 hours.
1. Wash it real good. Use soaps not containing wax. Wash it twice if necessary. Clay bar and decontamination is optional.
2. Then a full 50% IPA wipe down using microfiber towel.
3. Then apply the coating in section and leave it for a few min depending on temperature. (Do not apply under direct sunlight. You also need enough light to see left over high spots. Overcast day or under shade is my favorite. Garage with good lighting is also good).
4. Full wipe down. I use primary and secondary towels method, one for primary wipe when it is full of coating, another for finish wipe. Make sure to inspect under light no left over high spots.
5. Leave it to cure for 48 Hrs without touching water.

Any one used ceramic coating knows it is worth it. Much easier to clean your car. You can hose off bird drop easily. The water beading will confirm that the coating is at work. It is not about the shine even though the coating does infill the scratch and increase shine a little. Maintenance matters more in maintaining the new car shine. Only wash with PH neutral soap and handwash with microfiber. Harsh plastic brush and automatic car wash will ruin the clear coat with micro scratches thus reduce the shine. If you have too many micro scratches, you need polishing to restore the paint surface and the shine.

 

[jeffMachE]

I'm not really finicky about the finish on my car (even though we tend to keep cars 8+ years). I did an application of a ceramic (Armor Shield by Avalon King) about 6 weeks after I got my car. Did a hand wash, but no clay bar, no formal prep. Took maybe 45 minutes to do the whole car. Its been 18 months since I applied and the car still looks great. I'll probably do another coat (still have some left) this summer. Also helped my son apply the same stuff to his new Model y (within 2 weeks of getting the car). Good hand wash and then maybe 45 minutes to apply. You could easily feel the difference on the surface of the panels after treatment vs. before.

IMHO, this is one of the easiest things to do DIY, doesn't take a lot of work and you get great results. I'm sure my DIY job isn't anywhere close to a professional job, but for $40 and a couple of hours, the results are great.

BTW, we live in CO and have a lot of road salt (mag chloride mostly) in the winter, and the car still looks great after 2 winters. I use an automatic carwash (touchless) maybe 3 times a year.

 

[Mach1E]

What looks great to one person may look different to another. Automatic car washes are just not for me since I see every swirl and the spray ceramic has left me underwhelmed in the past.

But I hear you about the time commitment. I love washing/detailing my car, it’s a nice hobby so I’m lucky to be able to find time to do it after work or while the little ones are at school and such.

Going to be tough when the kids want to “help” me wash the car ?

You made me look.

I have no swirls in the paint. I think I only hand washed it once, automatic the rest of the time and have never waxed it since I got it in 2021.

For sure the automatic is a shortcut and YMMV based on the car wash you use.

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