How Do I Care For Ceramic Coated Vehicle?

Hello Tundra detailers. I just picked up a new weekend toy and it was ceramic coated in October. It will be a fair weather driver. It will most likely be used on weekends from late spring thru early fall here in the Northeast US. Do I need to care for the coating in any particular fashion? Just wash and dry? Beadmaker or Griots 3 in 1 Ceramic after each wash? How long can I expect the ceramic to last?

 

I too would like insight as I just had my vehicle done. I've read beadmakers is a great choice.

 

I had mine done about 11 months ago. Typically I do it by hand with Carpro ECH20 rinse less wash and distilled water. Honestly I do take it to a hand car wash when I don’t have time. I was told not to use any sort of wax wash or wax product. I wash it frequently with very little care taken to follow proper cleaning techniques (two bucket method, ETC) and it’s held up amazing. I barely have any swirls and everything wipes off. I could only imagine what the truck would look like if the truck was garage kept and proper washing techniques used. I did read/heard by various detailers/enthusiasts that recommend the wash to have Sio2. Hope some of this helped.

Additionally, the installer said I have to be it treated yearly to keep the 4 year warranty (Xpel).

 

I'm not familiar with SB3 Coatings but they offer their own aftercare line; some of it looks overpriced IMO but they might be highly concentrated too:
https://www.sb3coating.com/collections/aftercare-series

If you know of the coatings composition any product of similar chemistry can be used for maintenance, but often you have to stay within the product line for them to honor warranties if they support warranties.

If you go outside SB3s product line for washing, CarPro Reset, or a similar pH neutral wax free soap, is the way to go. You could also go rinse-less or waterless but make sure they have no waxes; this isn't a great option for heavily soiled vehicles. Just keep in mind waxes will interfere with the coating's hydrophobic properties.

The secret to most ceramic coatings' longevity are maintenance toppers. While not required, some toppers "replenish and restore" the coating's properties where at the minimum add an additional layer of protection. These are typically SiO2 based sprays. Griots 3 in 1 is an example of one (this is technically a stand alone product). It offers great durability in terms of protection though the gloss and luster may not last as long as its protection. You can use a polymer based spray like Beadmaker, too. You are trading some durability for gloss. This may not be a bad thing since the reduced durability minimizes the chance of building up too much product residue if you perform frequent washes.

If you aren't happy with the SB3 coating and you don't care about maintaining it nor do you want to remove it, it is perfectly fine to coat it with you favorite sealant and/or wax and just revolve your wash routine around your new top layer(s). There are so many options and combos suggestions would be endless.

 

Thanks for the helpful info.

 

Your vehicle is covered in Xpel PPF?

 

I'm curious....how much did the dealer charge for the coating? Did they do a complete decontamination +correction prior to installing the coating? It looks like SB3 only allows factory trained installers to apply their coating....did the dealer have their own detail shop install it or did they send it out? I read their warranty......I'd recommend you do...it's pretty restrictive. One thing I noticed....it stipulates bi-weekly washes.....curious how you prove that in the event you make a warranty claim. CarPro Reset is an investment that is worth it for a coated vehicle.

Beadmaker is polymer based, not SIO2 based. That being said, and as Saltyhero13 pointed out, it's lack of durability may actually be a benefit. Another topper you might consider is Ethos Defy....lasts a little longer than Beadmaker. Ethos lists it as a standalone product, but based on my experience with it, that is a stretch.

 

No it’s ceramic coated...

 

did not know Xpel made coatings....just looked it up.....the dealer installed it?

 

No I wouldn’t let the dealer do that...I went to an authorized installer.

I did have them install the PPF installed on my head lights.

 

I've been away for a while and just saw your reply. I recently purchased this car from a private seller in South Carolina who had the car coated and I am in NJ. So warranty is out the window. I was looking for insight on how to care for the coating. The car will only be driven on sunny days and will be garage kept under cover. I appreciate your response.

 

So I have ceramic pro installed on my tundra by an authorized pro applier. For washing, you just need a ph neutral soap. I got a ph neutral soap, foam blaster. MY wash method is always as follows, foam cannon entire truck and pressure wash off. Gets any loose dirt and grime off then go back over with foam cannon and 2 bucket method with hand mit, pressure wash clean and apply ceramic pro sport (which is an after wash care product) to microfiber cloth while drying.

 

So what is upside to a ceramic coated vehicle if you have to apply a topper after every wash compared to doing the same with a sealant. Seems kinda silly to say something has a 3,5 or whatever yr lifespan if you have to keep topping it.

 

The ceramic sport coating I put on after washing is literally just spraying it on a microfiber cloth and wiping it onto the truck. When i'm drying I have one towel with the sport coating soaked into it, i do a pass over the section of truck im drying, then go right back over it with the drying towel. Done. no wax application, no waiting for wax to dry, no wiping dried wax off. so simple and much faster. I've had my truck for a year and a half now and not a single swirl mark or imperfection on it and it has 30k miles. I did the lifetime package which is 5 layers of ceramic coating and a top coat layer. I'll never get another vehicle and not have this applied immediately. saves so much time in taking care of the vehicles exterior.

 

I kinda of see what your saying and I honestly though the same way prior to doing...

Seeing is believing and I don’t mind going yearly for a “refresh”. I get my vehicle’s done once a year by a detailer anyway. I have not found a contaminate that really sticks to the paint...everything has wiped off with a light stroke with a soft cloth. I am not a professional but I have NEVER found any product that comes remotely close in durability, ease of maintenance, and duration of shine to a ceramic coating...

 

First of all....that is one bitchin' ride. Do you know what ceramic was applied? You are in Berlin....so you're only about 30 minutes from me. As far as wash products....CarPro Reset is at the top of many lists for washing coated cars, including mine.

 

Thanks. So easier cleaning. I'm looking at a diy coating.

 

No problem, Night and day difference easier...

 

Take your info off that lol

 

Not familiar with 'Punch it'.....it does not appear to be an SB3 product. That shop gets a great markup for the SB3 soap...unless that price was for a gallon....16oz on the SB3 website is only 10.00. I'd be inclined to pick up some Reset for my wash process, and Ethos Defy as a topper.

 

Punch it is from shine supply. Ceramic safe QD product. I have never used it but I stand behind SS products.

https://shinesupply.com/products/punch-it-16oz?_pos=2&_sid=049075105&_ss=r

 

Bumping this because I also need advice.

I would like to know products to use. Got opti-coat. I can still see compound in my door and a few other things that annoyed me.

Plan is to clean that up and wash it myself, turning down the detailers free wash/demo.

1. Buy a power washer foaming canister (Lowes)
2. Buy XXX car wash.
3. Buy XXX (if needed) ceramic coat up keep product.
4. Buy 2 buckets
5. Buy 2 different color mitts, one for wheels one for paint
6. Buy microfiber drying towels.

I plan to foam, pwr wash, foam, 2 bucket mitt wash, pwr wash, leaf blow, micro fiber hand dry.

Can someone save me some time and recommend products to use and QC my intended process?

 

Before we start, I'm trying to understand something here....your vehicle has not been coated yet, or has it?

 

Yes it has. Not happy with the quality of the work received. Found compound in the door jams and some sort of sludge skunk smelling build up in the bed area. Cleaned out the sludge build up (degreaser?) But going to wash the compound off when washing it for the first time. They told me to wait 30 days also before the first wash. Something I've never read before anywhere else.

Side note is the guy used a drill and compound stuff on the body after the ceramic coat was applied to fix some spots. I didn't think that was proper procedure.

Pissed I used them honestly and won't be bringing it back for them to "show" me how to properly wash it.

 

Can you get the leftover compound to appear on a pic? I'd love to see this. Would you be willing to share the name of the 'detailer'?

 

Not going to name them. They asked to make it right and I turned them down. The pick looking down at the tailgate shows the black substance I have yet to remove from the weep holes. Gonna take the back panel off and inspect when I do. Whatever it is my tailgate was down and it drained into them.

To their credit the dent repair guys did their job perfect. The paint repair and ceramic coat/wash I'd give 3 out of 5 stars.

So, now yall have.the deets. Lay some wash/upkeep knowledge on me.

 

As far as washing goes, if you are using the two bucket method (I don't) get yourself buckets from Lowes or Home Depot, two grit guards, and get the 4-pack of chenille mash mitts from Autogeek (30.00). For a coated vehicle, I recommend CarPro Reset. It is expensive (85.00/gallon)but has an outstanding dilution rate and is a pure soap....no gloss enhancers, nothing left behind, which is what you want. Do not buy a foam cannon at Lowes...get one from Amazon. You can pick up knock offs for around 20.00. Drying towels - Griots PFM.....expensive but worth it. General purpose microfibers can be bought at Costco or WalMart. Reach out to the Rag Company for anything (other than the Griots) that will touch the paint. They will help you out.

For your wheels.....at some point, you will want to invest in some other cleaning tools than just a wash mitt. For a topper/maintenance product for your coating, Xtreme Solutions Topper gets a lot of good press, is compatible with ceramic coatings, and will give you excellent gloss and slickness, as well as extend the life of your coating. As a side note, a quick detailer (Griots Speed Shine) should help you remove that residue from the door jambs.