Hello.

 

To all you chaps that have had a `Ceramic Coating` professionally applied can I ask you about the upkeep afterwards...

This is assuming you've had the whole car treated (inside and out including the alloys) with a 9 year warranty...

Apart from careful washing, what else?

Is `water-spotting` still an issue if its not dried quickly? I live in a very hard water area and always use a drying aid. I that still advisable?

Is using a QD following washing (I use BSD) still a good idea?

Is a `Fallout Remover` still necessary?

Does the car benefit from `claying`?

Does it need polishing?

Waxing?

 

I really would love to know how you chaps keep your car looking smart...something you obviously want after paying all that dosh!

 

Many thanks...in advance.

 

 

The depending on your coating, aftercare should of been explained to you, a good detailer would of explained how. 

Generally a shampoo with no gloss enhancers, etc... such as Gyeon Bathe and Gtechniq Gwash are best, followed up with a sealant such as Gyeon Cure or Gtechniq C2v3 which can be used as a drying aid. You can use a QD as a drying aid if you live in a hard water area but just as good is buying a water filter and rinsing the car off after washing and then drying it. 

I always use a sealant as a drying aid for it's durability and added protection of the coating below to aid it's longevity. 

Remember whatever you use as a drying aid, etc... is what performance you'll get in regards to beading, sheeting water behaviour. 

2 hours ago, Svend said:

The depending on your coating, aftercare should of been explained to you, a good detailer would of explained how. 

Generally a shampoo with no gloss enhancers, etc... such as Gyeon Bathe and Gtechniq Gwash are best, followed up with a sealant such as Gyeon Cure or Gtechniq C2v3 which can be used as a drying aid. You can use a QD as a drying aid if you live in a hard water area but just as good is buying a water filter and rinsing the car off after washing and then drying it. 

I always use a sealant as a drying aid for it's durability and added protection of the coating below to aid it's longevity. 

Remember whatever you use as a drying aid, etc... is what performance you'll get in regards to beading, sheeting water behaviour. 

Hello, `Svend` and thank you for the info.

I'm having `Gtechniq CSU Black` applied to my new car...the dealer is going to drop it off at the detailer after its PDI.

I'm sure the detailer will brief me on the correct aftercare...I was just wanting to `get ahead of the game` so to speak.

Reading your words it does seem that there's not alot of difference between what I do now on my current car (no coating) and the new one WITH the coating.

I'm a tad surprised and disappointed at that to be honest. I was hoping the ceramic coating would save me some effort (I have BAGS of `time`!)

Anyway, we'll see what the detailer has to say.

Thanks again for the advice. Very kind of you.

Regards

Mike.

Edited 7 May, 20197 yr by mandp

13 minutes ago, mandp said:

Hello, `Svend` and thank you for the info.

I'm having `Gtechniq CSU Black` applied to my new car...the dealer is going to drop it off at the detailer after its PDI.

I'm sure the detailer will brief me on the correct aftercare...I was just wanting to `get ahead of the game` so to speak.

Reading your words it does seem that there's not alot of difference between what I do now on my current car (no coating) and the new one WITH the coating.

I'm a tad surprised and disappointed at that to be honest. I was hoping the ceramic coating would save me some effort (I have BAGS of `time`!)

Anyway, we'll see what the detailer has to say.

Thanks again for the advice. Very kind of you.

Regards

Mike.

Can I add...

I see you have the same car as I'm getting (although yours is an estate, mine a hatch).

You have probably read the `doom and gloom` merchants banging on about the unreliability of the 1.5TSI engine...have you had any `issues` with yours?

M.

11 minutes ago, mandp said:

Hello, `Svend` and thank you for the info.

I'm having `Gtechniq CSU Black` applied to my new car...the dealer is going to drop it off at the detailer after its PDI.

I'm sure the detailer will brief me on the correct aftercare...I was just wanting to `get ahead of the game` so to speak.

Reading your words it does seem that there's not alot of difference between what I do now on my current car (no coating) and the new one WITH the coating.

I'm a tad surprised and disappointed at that to be honest. I was hoping the ceramic coating would save me some effort (I have BAGS of `time`!)

Anyway, we'll see what the detailer has to say.

Thanks again for the advice. Very kind of you.

Regards

Mike.

Gtechniq CSU is a new ball game when it comes to coatings, it's highly durable so if you want ease, simply Gwash, filter rinse and dry. If you don't have a filter then best practice would be to sheet off as much water as you can by using an open ended hose to dry the car as much as you wish, then drying the car. But even coated cars, with the best will in the world, will get some water spots as the water dries up leaving mineral deposits behind, the benefit of coatings is the water spots do less if any damage to the car. 

 

7 minutes ago, mandp said:

Can I add...

I see you have the same car as I'm getting (although yours is an estate, mine a hatch).

You have probably read the `doom and gloom` merchants banging on about the unreliability of the 1.5TSI engine...have you had any `issues` with yours?

M.

Only issues has been the stop/start, sometimes it can take a little longer than the 1.4TSi to go, the engine starts, but push the accelerator and there is a bit of lag or it'l move off, then almost stall, but it's less and less as the car beds in. 

10 hours ago, Svend said:

Gtechniq CSU is a new ball game when it comes to coatings, it's highly durable so if you want ease, simply Gwash, filter rinse and dry. If you don't have a filter then best practice would be to sheet off as much water as you can by using an open ended hose to dry the car as much as you wish, then drying the car. But even coated cars, with the best will in the world, will get some water spots as the water dries up leaving mineral deposits behind, the benefit of coatings is the water spots do less if any damage to the car. 

 

Ah, that's more like it...a careful Gwash and a quick dry!

I have looked into getting a water softener but it worked out far too expensive to keep getting the refills.

Thanks, `Svend`.

M.

9 hours ago, Svend said:

Only issues has been the stop/start, sometimes it can take a little longer than the 1.4TSi to go, the engine starts, but push the accelerator and there is a bit of lag or it'l move off, then almost stall, but it's less and less as the car beds in. 

I suppose the Stop/Start issue could happen to any engine so I'll take heart that you have not had any other concerns regarding the 1.5 TSI.

Thank you.

M.

2 hours ago, mandp said:

Ah, that's more like it...a careful Gwash and a quick dry!

I have looked into getting a water softener but it worked out far too expensive to keep getting the refills.

Thanks, `Svend`.

M.

I bought this during a 50% off sale. When it arrived I thought it was inadequate for the task as it was roughly half the size of my other drying towels. How wrong could I be! 

 

My other towels I have to wet a fair bit before they'll cling to the bodywork, but this is like a magnet. Water absorption is fantastic. I had thought about buying the bigger towel, but this size is much easier to wring out. 

 

If you're interested, they have regular sales on. Last week it was 25% off, but they'll probably be another one quite soon. 

 

https://www.ezcarcare.co.uk/collections/car-care-detailing-accesories/products/ez-car-care-mini-edgeless-drying-towel-1000gsm-70-30-blend-green?variant=19491127427159

 

 

20 hours ago, mandp said:

with a 9 year warranty...

 

This is either a typo or the detailer is talking BS!

 

I’ve got a three layer ceramic coating with one of the best top coats there is, ISM Pro and at best, this will last three years, more likely two and a half. 

1 hour ago, Fin69 said:

I bought this during a 50% off sale. When it arrived I thought it was inadequate for the task as it was roughly half the size of my other drying towels. How wrong could I be! 

 

My other towels I have to wet a fair bit before they'll cling to the bodywork, but this is like a magnet. Water absorption is fantastic. I had thought about buying the bigger towel, but this size is much easier to wring out. 

 

If you're interested, they have regular sales on. Last week it was 25% off, but they'll probably be another one quite soon. 

 

https://www.ezcarcare.co.uk/collections/car-care-detailing-accesories/products/ez-car-care-mini-edgeless-drying-towel-1000gsm-70-30-blend-green?variant=19491127427159

 

 

Thank you, `Fin`, but I have bags of drying towels...my favourite being the Chemical Guys Woolly Mammoth. Its so large and absorbent that I have no need to wring it out at all!

M.

51 minutes ago, BGB said:

 

This is either a typo or the detailer is talking BS!

 

I’ve got a three layer ceramic coating with one of the best top coats there is, ISM Pro and at best, this will last three years, more likely two and a half. 

`BS`...maybe, but I was just trying to identify for `Svend`, which coating I was having done.

M.

4 hours ago, mandp said:

Ah, that's more like it...a careful Gwash and a quick dry!

I have looked into getting a water softener but it worked out far too expensive to keep getting the refills.

Thanks, `Svend`.

M.

They are good. You don't need a massive resin vessel like some of them have. I picked my 0ppm water filter for £20, supposed to be good for 20 washes, and it only uses about a fifth or sixth of the amount of resin beads as the large vessels. 

But if you open end sheet as much water as you can off, then use Gtechniq C2v3 (which you can dilute down 2:1 to use as a drying aid) to collect the other remaining water droplets and add that little extra protection. 

1 hour ago, BGB said:

 

This is either a typo or the detailer is talking BS!

 

I’ve got a three layer ceramic coating with one of the best top coats there is, ISM Pro and at best, this will last three years, more likely two and a half. 

No. Crystal Serum Ultra is a dealer accredited application product and Rob in at Gtechniq has extensively tested it with the help from Kelly at KDS Keltec in Gillingham, Kent. 

43 minutes ago, mandp said:

`BS`...maybe, but I was just trying to identify for `Svend`, which coating I was having done.

M.

No mate. You are right. Nine years is the correct number. Make sure it is Crystal Serum Ultra (which is accredited dealer application only) and not just Crystal Serum Lite (which can be bought by anyone and only five years durability). 

Any detailer worth their salt will be happy to talk about care and maintenance of the product. 

 

Edited 8 May, 20197 yr by Svend