I am somewhat partial to black vehicles (and sleds) IMO...nothing looks better than a clean well polished black car. I have my mustang and I have it professionally cleaned once a year, namely to get that gray film off that others of you that own black vehicles know what I am referring to. Shoot2kill suggested using Meguiars "Insane shine" on my sled which I have been very happy with and I also am a big fan of Meguiars products. With the advent of these "Ceramic" waxes has anyone used them? do they protect better against or deter the gray film that is so much fun to remove from black painted vehicles? We just purchased another black vehicle, this one has metal flake in paint and within a couple weeks it is hard to see metal flake. I have not put any kind of wax on vehicle yet, was just curious if anyone has used the new "Ceramic" products and if it helps against the dreaded gray film. other than for a few weeks of the year my sled is indoors and doesnt see the environmental contaminants like the vehicles do so dont think however Insane shine works well on sled it may not do what I want on a vehicle that spends most time outdoors.
Automotive waxes???
- Thread starter euphoric1
- Start date
I know...I know... easy answer...don't buy a black vehicle and yes jime I've used a clay block and I agree it does a great job but lots of work, would be different if I kept vehicles primarily indoors but I don't other than Mustang 6 months out of the year. Was hoping todays "ceramic coatings/waxes would help minimize the film
600_RMK_144
Well-known member
A lot of folks shy away from paint coatings. There are some super simple DIY products out there which I would recommend over a traditional wax. And they don't typically get a "gray" effect. If you would entertain that, Undrdog HCC is a phenomenal coating with a super simple install process. Highly recommend checking them out. If you are looking for a more affordable solution, their Underdog Pro coating is great too. But for a new vehicle, I'd highly recommend going all in with HCC!!!
heckler56
Well-known member
My leased vehicle (black) came with a ceramic coating. It helps but I am not sure it is worth it. Winter grime still clings on as well as other road dirt. When I had my Sprinter van RV, people were all the buzz for coating. Based on their experiences there are different levels of ceramic coatings with varying lengths of time they are good for (1yr, 3yrs, 5yrs). Prior paint prep also seems to have allot to do with results and maybe my dealership prep has allot to do with my experience(?).
I grew up Meguiers and have used Griots products the last 15 years. Both brands waxing options taking the time have delivered that “depth” of paint shine and good for a year.
With professional ceramic applications costing $500-$2,000+, I would rather pay a pro to wax my car than get a ceramic job.
I grew up Meguiers and have used Griots products the last 15 years. Both brands waxing options taking the time have delivered that “depth” of paint shine and good for a year.
With professional ceramic applications costing $500-$2,000+, I would rather pay a pro to wax my car than get a ceramic job.
dfattack
Well-known member
Or have that same pro apply ceramic…
It all depends on your budget and time available to do it yourself. I don’t have the time and suck it up and have a detailer apply a 7 year ceramic. I easily get 4-5 years on a coat. The amount of prep is very important before applying the coating. I can definitely tell the difference when a vehicle is coated vs not and the dirt rinses off much easier with the ceramic. I too use griots products but don’t have the time to wax. I clean and maintain and the ceramic makes it easier to wash by hand or even running it through a car wash in the winter when it’s not as easy to hand wash. I even brought a boat to my detailer to have a ceramic coating applied to it this past fall. It’s a 2001 mastercraft boat that I love and it literally looks brand new. It will be interesting to see how the hard water spots come off when I wash it next fall.
Agree with this. If you have the budget, the ceramic coating is definitely worth it. Simple maintenance of it will make it last and easier to clean. I don't think I'll ever have a vehicle without getting it ceramic coated. The dirt/grime/bugs/etc simply wash away with the pressure washer. Any that are really stuck on there may require some light elbow grease to help get them off.
I have been Ziebart Diamond Gloss my vehicles for years. Every spring I have them detail it back to showroom new. I checked into ceramic but the quality work cost in the thousands and would require up to 3-5 days to apply. It also required it be inspected (for a fee) every year. Not worth the hassle IMO when Diamond Gloss is a lot less and provides just as good protection. I think its more of a fad like nitrogen in the tires. Proof IMO, everyone who has it ceramic coated brags about it at every opportunity.
Black GMC Sierra here..........
Black GMC Sierra here..........
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And all this time, I've been spending my money on beer and snowmobiles!
You guys take this waxing pretty seriously. I just apply a Wet Wax about six times each summer when I handwash the vehicles. During the winter months I try to wash them whenever the weather allows and the roads dry off. By springtime, I pressure wash the underside to get the winter crud off and then restart the process. As for the toys, I've been using a product called Racers Edge for a nice polish. Kinda pricey but gives them a nice shine.
Seriously though, me and the guy across the street are the only ones that wash and detail our vehicles. Everyone else treats theirs like rented mules.
dfattack
Well-known member
partially agree. Yes, it costs a lot. average vehicle is around $1,800 and I've had several different companies do the work before settling on the guy I use now.
I've never been forced to have it inspected. Never even heard of that. Definitely don't think it's a fad. The better manufacturers of the ceramic make a great product. The expensive part ends up being the prep. They will spend a day fixing imperfections (paint correction) depending on how bad it is. Even brand new vehicles have been wiped at the dealer before delivery with terry cloth towels that leave marks in the clear coat that might not be visible to the naked eye before ceramic but will be exaggerated AFTER the ceramic is applied. For whatever reason the ceramic coating tends to enhance minor imperfections therefore the need to do the paint correction.
Again, all depends how much time you have and how much you are willing to spend. For those that have the time great. One of my friends does just that. Me, I don't have the time. It's a one time expense if you keep vehicles less than 7-8 years.
saber1
Active member
I use a ceramic polish Called Next Gen wipe on wipe off lasts for 2 to 3 years gives my black Truck that beautiful dark deep shine
getnexgen.com
Nexgen Ceramic Spray Coating | Rated 5 Stars | Nexgen
Nexgen ceramic spray contains 13% SiO2, the most concentrated DIY ceramic coating on the market. Maintain a perfect finish, every time.
getnexgen.com
what I am looking for is something that will prevent that gray film from environmental contaminants, let me rephrase that....I am looking for something that will minimize the removal of the gray film that forms on painted surface of vehicle, the shine...I have my favorite waxes for that but when it comes time to make that black vehicle shine again its a lot of elbow grease with a surface cleaner to remove it to restore the deep black shine. Do any of these coatings do that? pretty sure I cannot stop the gray film but will it make it easier to remove it once it has collected on the painted surface?
Agree with all of this, definitely not a fad.
The cost in ceramic coating is upfront. As mentioned, reputable places will do a polish/paint correction to get the paint as close to perfect as they can prior to applying the ceramic coating, and yes even on brand new cars for the reason dfattack mentions.
One positive for the brand I have is, the company/product have a product that I need to apply 2x a year to sort of revitalize/refreshen the ceramic coating. While it is effort required on my end, I'm okay with that if it means it keeps my ceramic coating strong.
How much are you spending on the on the product you use, including the annual spring detailing you're having done? Guessing you're spending around $300 per occurrence. Doing that for 7 years would put you past the cost of ceramic coating as that cost is not thousands, it's over a thousand, but not more than two. So as long as you have the time to wash and vacuum your own vehicle, you're money ahead by ceramic coating it. But as dfattack said, it's all about how much time and the upfront costs, if you can swing it.
Nope $129 a year for detailing, I never hand wash my truck, too old for that nonsense anymore. First Diamond Gloss application was $295 and that include a loaner car for the day. Ziebart is local, closest professional ceramic shop is 100 miles distance. They told me they need the truck for a week, do not provide loaner which means to get home I need to rent a vehicle. Also the price quoted for a full size GMC truck was $2495 and I would have to have an annual inspection (not free) due to the harsh winters in da U.P., to maintain the warranty. Ceramic coating might pay off for a garage queen but the weather conditions in Michigan are hard on any surface coating.