Any experience with a Deionized Spot-Free Car Rinse

Just wondering if anyone has had any experience with using one of these? I'm thinking about buying one just not sure if they are worth it

 

I haven’t used that one, but I use the CR Spotless all the time. Whether or not it’s worth it is up to you. It’s expensive to maintain. The resin doesn’t a super long time, and is expensive to replace.

It’s such a game changer for me that I continue doing it. The fact that you don’t have to dry at all is huge for me. Before I got it, I was in a constant battle to get everything washed, rinsed, and dried before water spots set in. Especially a pain during the Texas summers. Now I don’t have to worry about it at all.

Even when rinsing and drying immediately, there’d still be a slight haze that I had to go back over with ONR. First time I used this, I immediately noticed how much brighter my paint looked without that haze.

Best price I have found on resin is around 200 bucks per cubic foot. I don’t have a good estimate for how long each refill lasts. It varies depending on how many cars I’m doing, and how sparingly I use it. My water is also extremely hard, so I go through it faster than the average person would. It also depends on the gpm of your pressure washer.

It’s an amazing tool to have, just be aware she’s a greedy mistress. This unit is way cheaper than the cr spotless, which is 400 bucks. It looks smaller though, and doesn’t have the cart like the one I have. I wouldn’t think the bigger size and cart are worth another 300 bucks though.
I’d say go for it if you can afford it. It definitely makes washing vehicles (and house windows) a lot easier.

Only advice I’d give is to not order their refills. Buy the resin by itself and refill the cartridges yourself. Much cheaper that way. Only use it for the final rinse so you don’t waste resin.

 

I too have been debating on getting the CR Spotless System. Although lately I've been hiring a mobile car wash guy to come wash my vehicles when they are extremely dirty. When they are not too bad I use Optimum No Rinse.


https://crspotless.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIkJPA3vKQ7AIVUr7ACh0A5wPDEAAYASAAEgIwAfD_BwE

 

I appreciate the info its definitely something that interest me. I'll keep you posted on which way I decide to go

 

Hi, Jason!

Hey, where do you get resin? I recently bought the Costco version and the resin is enclosed in a tight-woven fabric bag that fits in the main body. Doesn’t look like the same bag may be opened/reused.

 

I've been researching this as well. I asked about it on another thread and @Rex Kramer suggested a Griot's version. I had been looking at the CR versions. They have a tool to input you TDS and it will tell you how long it should last.

Costco has one???

 

How does simple softened water perform when when rinsing and drying? I know it's not deionized but do the spots at least wipe off easier?

 

It depends on how hard the water was before it was softened, you should be fine if the raw water is 7 gpg or less and only if you rinse & dry in the shade.

 

I just know that softened water spots easily wipe off in the house compared to unsoftened.

For the price of a few fittings it would be easy to splice in a softened water bypass to an outdoor tap, I'll put that on my "to do" list. I know it wouldn't be touchless drying but still a lot better than a hard water rinse.

 

https://dirinse.com/product/1-cubic-foot-of-d-i-resin/

The CR Spotless has cartridges that go in the tubes. They try to get you to exchange the used cartridges with them, but it’s pretty expensive. It’s over a hundred bucks to exchange for fresh ones. I just open up the cartridges and refill them myself. I can refill them several times over that way.

If anyone finds a cheaper source for the resin, I’m all ears. I have managed to make it last a lot longer than I originally did by only using it for the final rinse. I was originally using it from start to finish.

Then there was that time I finished my truck and decided to start power washing my driveway. Completely forgot I was still hooked up to the spotless unit and wasted a buttload.

 

My wife got mine when Autogeek was running a 25% off sale, so I did save a good bit. Just be on the lookout for a sale when you’re ready.

 

This one: https://www.costco.com/unger-profes...ar-wash-system-bundle-.product.100670295.html

 

These systems have been popping out more, then when I did mine. I looked at what was available at my time frame and went the DIY route. I ended up sourcing all the materials and added an additional filter to take out any contanimants prior to the resin. It's been in my system for over a year and I'm still on the original resin. I was my vehicles every 2 weeks.

 

You dont need to buy the resin from CR spotless or any other like company. The resin used is the same resin you will find in any fish aquarium store. The resin being used is what they use for fresh water aquarium builds. Save yourself money and buy direct.

 

Thank you!

 

If you have a whole house Cat-ion water softener you can add a single tank of An-ion resin specifically for rinse water. Your softener will regenerate with salt, but the An-ion resin can only be regenerated (cleaned) using acids. Most An-ion tanks are exchange tanks that the supplier regenerates off site.

 

Damn that is expensive!!

 

The screws should all be facing the same direction on your wall plate.

 

Yo! Dig this setup! Can I ask what you used? I can figure out the plumbing, what did you use for the cartridges/resin?

 

Mind posting anymore details on your system? What'd you buy, where'd you source etc. Piqued my interest.

 

My brother in law just got his GM 3500 professional ceramic coated- the shop recommended using a filter on the hose, like what you would use for camping. While cheap and easy, they said it does really help with the water spots.

I would think the units posted that are specifically meant to filter out contaminants would be awesome- little pricey. I am going to try one of these. Anything to help with water spots on a black truck that does not cost a fortune is a go to me.

 

Don't waste your money on those, the TDS will still be in your water.

 

You guys jinxed me. I changed my resin out the other day. Went to use it for the first time yesterday and it wasn’t working properly. The meter was jumping all over the place, and no matter how many times I took it apart and put it back together I couldn’t get it to read zero. Now I have to figure out the problem.

I actually had to dry my truck.....like a damned caveman.

 

Jason I positioned the screws just for you my friend. I figured if anyone would notice it would be you......

 

So this is what I'm using as my setup;
3pcs. Pentek Big Blue 20 oz. Filters
I use 1 for a sediment filter, and 2 for the resin.

$59 Pentair Pentek 150233 Big Blue Filter Housing, 1" NPT #20 Whole House Heavy Duty Water Filter Housing with High-Flow Polypropylene (HFPP) Cap and Pressure Relief Button, 20", Black/Blue

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0014C3IOS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

2pcs. Refillable water filter cartridge, 20 oz.
using these for this for the resin media

CuZn - Refillable Empty Water Filter Cartridge, 4.5"D x 20"H - CLEAR, Compatible With 20" Big Blue Type Filter Housings

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GIHSECE/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

1pc. sediment filter 5 micron

$40 Aquaboon Whole House Water Filter Cartridge Replacement - 5 Micron Water Filter 20 x 4.5" - Sediment Filter Polypropylene Compatible with Pentek DGD-5005-20, 155358-43, iSpring FP25B, 2 Pack

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LZOZ85L/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

1pc Dual TDS monitor (Measuring water coming in and out of system)

$25 HM Digital DM-1 In-Line Dual TDS Monitor, 0-9990 ppm Range, +/- 2% Readout Accuracy,Blue & White

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001EHAZGW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s04?ie=UTF8&psc=1

2 bags, DI mixed bed resin

$53 Resintech MBD-30 Nuclear Grade Mixed Bed DI Resin, 5LB SOLD BY CFS

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07MPCN68G/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

Since putting the De-Ionized system in my garage. I went ahead and added this to my main house water supply, made a huge difference in the water. I ended putting in a 3M Aqua-Pure AP902 Whole house water Filter.

$336 3M Aqua-Pure Whole House Sanitary Quick Change Water Filter System AP902, Reduces Sediment, 5621101

https://www.amazon.com/3M-Aqua-Pure...id=1601644586&sprefix=3m+aqua,aps,141&sr=8-20

 

Here ya go......

2 bags, DI mixed bed resin

$53 Resintech MBD-30 Nuclear Grade Mixed Bed DI Resin, 5LB SOLD BY CFS

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07MPCN68G/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

Sorry to lean so heavily on your experience: what kind of bags are they in? Something I can put right into the housing, or something that can be a self-contained filter?

 

Jason, when you discovered that your unit was not working did you pull a Captain Caveman on it?

 

Hi Sunny,
Its simple, when you get the resin in. Your going to fill the refillable water filters. Open and empty one bag in each container

2pcs. Refillable water filter cartridge, 20 oz.
using these for this for the resin media

CuZn - Refillable Empty Water Filter Cartridge, 4.5"D x 20"H - CLEAR, Compatible With 20" Big Blue Type Filter Housings

$27 Refillable, Empty Water Filter Cartridge Universal Big Blue (4.5" D x 20" H) Clear by CuZn
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GIHSECE/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


Then those filled containers go one each into the blue containers.

Hope that helps, and questions dont hestitate to ask.