Remember, inspection is super important when applying a ceramic coating. Most times theyll need to be repolished and recoated. Yes, the concept is the same as waxing apply it and wipe off the excess. I also confirmed it when I stripped the remaining CSL and corrected and coated the whole thing again. Car Buffers, Polishers & Pads - 15% OFF Select Polishers & Polisher Kits! Next up is scratch resistance. I love that. Unlike the claims that some of the cheap DIY coating companies make, applying a coating isnt something anybody can do at least not well. So if Im going to need to repolish my car after 5 years in order to keep it looking great, what good is a coating that lasts for 9?
Every photo in this review was also taken at the time of writing it. Protecting this bike from scratches is a lot to ask of any product. Of course, Gtechniq recommends using their C2V3 spray with Crystal Serum Light and Exo. That means there is a chance you might need to reapply it during the lifespan of Crystal Serum Light. Wait until those turn into rows of dots (like beads of sweat), and thats when its ready to be removed. All the best and thanks again. They also work closely with the Force India (or Racing Point Daddy Stroll as theyre known now) Formula 1 team to come up with coatings that help to avoid the buildup of tar and rubber on race cars. Being concerned with protecting the coating has been in the back of my mind this entire time.
I've tried 2 other coatings and this is the 3rd. If your vehicle is coated with Exo V3, do not do this! It had been somewhat well kept for an average person, but not babied. I had heard that cleaning ceramic coated vehicles was easier but wasnt expecting this much of a difference. Just a rinseless wash. I had to laugh when I read the updates they had made, knowing what my complaints were with V3. Gtechniq stands out from the crowd here in one major way: their coating both beads and sheets water, giving you the best of both worlds. Hey, Im Tim! I think we can assume which of the 2 previous owners was responsible for that.
In the case of both the 4runner and Harley, CSL is still going strong at 2.5 years. It sits outside and is often left dirty for a long period of time. The Harley was 15 years old when I corrected and coated it. By clicking enter you are verifying that you are old enough to consume alcohol. This is Part 1 of a multi-part series of long term Gtechniq reviews. I gave both of these vehicles a full paint correction then applied Gtechniq Crystal Serum Light and Exo V3. Its worth noting that the longer CSL is allowed to cure, the more its going to want to reject the Exo coating (its chemical resistant after all, and it doesnt know that we want Exo on top!). Work in a 2x2 area using overlapping strokes. We recommend the use of 2 cloths at any one time. In contrast, Crystal Serum Ultra is their professional-only coating that is only available to their accredited detailers. I like to use Optimum No Rinse (the blue one, not the green one with wax). Its meant to stand up to far worse things than that.
A line of dots on the applicator should be the right amount for a fender or half a door. Those beads that everyone desires so much have now turned into tiny magnifying glasses. This helps to take any guess work out since the exact time will be different depending on the heat and humidity youre working in. My 4runner gets dirty, whether its road salt built up in the winter or dirt and mud in the summer.
Any wax or gloss enhancer left behind by a soap is so minor that itll likely disappear after sitting in the sun for a few minutes. Gtechniq Crystal Serum Light is considered a prosumer grade product. After less than a handful of washes, the strong cleaner all but stripped off the topcoat, leaving the Crystal Serum Light to fend for itself alone. Its soft and easy to scratch and if there are any marks, you better believe that itll show them. The paint was in decent condition with the exception of some deeper gashes on the rear fender that werent safe to remove completely.
I like to keep myRupesiBrid Nano on standby when Im applying a ceramic coating for this exact reason. Unlike some manufacturers, Gtechniq doesnt make ridiculous claims in their marketing although they do mention a 9h hardness rating which in my opinion doesnt actually mean much. I purchased all of these coatings at full price myself. Water sheeting, on the other hand, causes water to evacuate the surface rapidly instead of staying and forming beads on top. Temperatures as low as -40 to as high as +250c.Crystal Serum Light comes with a 5 year guarantee when applied by a GTECHNIQ Accredited Detailer. We are promised dramatic water beading. Bugs can be a bit of a pain to clean off especially if you leave them for a while.
You can tell it doesnt want to stick to the surface at all.
Soak the included applicator pad with two drops of product from the provided dropper. Please email us first for approval and will provide an authorisation number. Imagine your car got hit by a sprinkler that uses tap water. I dont know that Ill be able to avoid drive-thru touchless car washes over the winter. In my opinion, this is blown out of proportion a bit. Youll also need really good lighting and a clean environment to work in.
Youll just be missing out on those fancy hydrophobic characteristics if the top layer is hurt. So far, Im extremely happy with the results of this Gtechniq/Beadmaker combo. So did the Gtechniq duo do their job?
Ive learned my lesson though. Its a lifted 44 SUV and it gets treated like one not a show truck. Combined with the sun, they dry the minerals in the water onto the surface, leaving watermarks. Both of these seem much happier when theyre kept clean and regularly maintained. Sometimes they can be fixed if you catch them early enough. To be clear, using traditional carnauba wax, spray wax, or polymer paint sealant on top of your ceramic coating is not recommended. I used the 3 towel wipe off method. Make sure the cloths are rotated during residue removal to prevent CSL curing in the cloth- this can make buffing residue difficult, Inspect the surface for residue with a bright, diffused light source, If you remove residue and it cureds fully you should polish the area and reapply CSL, As soon as you finish, put you MF1 cloths in water, wash and dry them as soon as possible, Wait approximately 2 hours after applying CSL to apply EXO Ultra Durable Hydrophobic Coating, or C2 Liquid Crystal. The scratch resistance you get from a coating like this will help to prevent or postpone wash marring and minor swirl marks from appearing. Highly recommend this product. Did 2 washes passage anti ferrous clay bar for decontamination correction polish for microgrooves passage to the product to remove the oils from the polish and application of the treatment in 2 passes with 8 hours apart. Either one of these can be used on their own, but theyre far better together. Im hoping that if I re-apply Beadmaker in the Spring, I might be able to protect the underlying coatings for a couple of years. Great review!! Even without much water beading, I could still notice it easier to clean which indicated the CSL was still there. Before applying any ceramic coating, its imperative that you perfect the condition of the paint as much as possible. In comparison, Ive had exactly that happen with my old Grand Cherokee which was treated the same but wore a traditional polymer paint sealant. Is a 20% increase in performance really worth having to pay a professional $1,000+ to apply Ultra rather than applying CSL yourself? My reasoning for this is because when vehicles are driven, theyre bound to get scuffed and scratched over time. After some research, Ive even found claims that CSL can withstand a very light machine polish to confirm that any old Exo has been removed without diminishing the coating below. Theyve already addressed everything I didnt like about Exo V3 before I even had the chance to share my experience. Yes and no. The way the coating rejects any contaminants that want to stick to the surface is impressive. Hi. Use Code TRC499 for $4.99 Shipping on Orders $39 to $125! In comparison, Gtechniq Crystal Serum Light and Exo are much more straight forward to apply. Washing it after this was like washing an unwaxed car the water just pooled on top with zero beading. Late or missing items refunds (if applicable). Theres a downside to water beading though. The 4runner was 10 years old at the time with over 200,000 kms and had likely never been polished. One thing I must admit though is that I found I was much more likely to remove any contaminants ASAP without giving them too much time to sit on the surface. Its just much less of a headache to clean up afterward which makes these coatings worthwhile. We dont guarantee that we will receive your returned items if you have not followed this process. Thanks for stopping by!
Ive been using it as a drying aid after washing and applying a very small amount. Were also told that the vehicle will be easier to clean, possibly needing less attention.
Exo is in charge of this department and it does a fantastic job. If this is your first visit, be sure to This is a side effect of water beading. We recommend using two microfiber cloths at any one time. Keep an eye out for any leftover residue, which should be removed with your microfiber towel as soon as possible. So keep it clean and stick with proper hand washes. After living with these coatings on 2 very different vehicles for 2.5 years, my opinion is that these are among the best prosumer ceramic coatings on the market. Some people recommend waiting overnight before adding the Exo layer but it isnt mandatory. We will also notify you of the approval or rejection of your refund and deduct any restocking fees. I had a shop use this on my car I absolutely love the performance. The black paint is very soft and easy to scratch and being non-metallic means it shows every little mark. But in real-world lighting conditions, it honestly looks like its been freshly polished. This bike is pretty well cared for. GTechniq EXO and Crystal Serum Light Kit - 50mL. If an item has not been delivered yet, please allow 5-7 working days after Australia Post or courier has started process of tracking and locating parcel before we can refund or send out another item.We will notify you by email or Phone once you have been refunded. They do exactly what theyre advertised to do. I would assume the 4runner coating would be in similar condition too, had I not used an all purpose cleaner on it. More than likely 90% of the time. Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post by Gtechniq. This would be a great test for the coatings scratch resistance.
People love to see nice tight beads of water on their car while theyre washing it or when its raining. Another big claim is that well never have to wax our car again. Lets take a moment to talk about the things ceramic coatings excel at, at least according to their marketing. Exo is applied the exact same way as Crystal Serum Light. Going forward, when a vehicle tends to get dirty break the pressure washer out and attack it that way. I had none of those issues with CSL, even on a dark blue car that exposes every imperfection. Once a single small panel, or half a large panel, is coated, remove residue using a soft and clean microfiber towel. You can also purchase it online here. In my experience, high spots are able to be fixed without too much of a struggle. Our Passion is to provide the best customer service to all our customers on our store. Gtechniqs CSL is probably the easiest coating I've ever put on.
This played a big role in convincing me to coat my 4runner since I knew Id be neglecting and abusing it. In contrast, Exo V3 has held up perfectly fine on the Harley. Its not as simple as wax on, wax off. So occasionally, I would pre-spray it down with a mild all purpose cleaner (diluted no stronger than 10:1) to help break down the dirt and grime before scrubbing it with a mitt.
Chances are theyve been left on there while you finished the rest of the vehicle though, and unfortunately, thatll require backtracking in the process. DIYers are lucky to have access to such a great coating without having to be accredited.
A thorough pre-rinse followed by a regular wash is all it takes to make it look new again. Original Shipping costs are non-refundable. It was most informative and helpful. Put them together though, and you have arguably the best DIY ceramic coating on the market. It was partly my fault for being too rough with it (I wanted to test it, after all). One of the things that made me decide Gtechniqs coatings had the best chance of convincing me to make the switch was their look and feel. Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you may vary.If you are shipping an item over $50, we recommend using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. To become one of those accredited detailers, you need to prove to them that you know what youre doing. Although Ive used Gtechniq coatings on other vehicles during this time, my main test subjects were my personal Toyota 4runner and Harley Davidson Night Train.
They do a ton of product testing and development and have a network of accredited detailers around the world. If you want to follow this rule though, feel free to stick with a ph-neutral soap like Meguiars Gold Class or Griots Car Wash (theres a whole list of other good soaps out there). If you are approved, then your refund will be processed, and a credit will automatically be applied to your credit card or original method of payment, within 3 days.
A subsidiary of Palm Beach Motoring Group, 2019 Autogeek - We Are Car Care! I have applied it to a few vehicles though and it does indeed seem to be easier to work with than V3. The difference is that simply spraying water at the paint goes a much longer way than if the vehicle is uncoated. All Rights Reserved. Some coatings just didnt measure up in this department and featured a rather dull, synthetic look and were grabby feeling. They resist temperatures as low as -40o to as high as +250o C. 5430 West State Street I didnt have any cases where bird droppings or bugs were able to etch into the clear coat. On the subject of chemical resistance, I have to talk about Exo V3 and its durability (or lack thereof). If left for too long, these can etch into the paint and require polishing and redoing the coating. Speaking of the wash process, lets talk a bit about soaps and shampoos. This characteristic also makes bonded contaminants such as tree sap, tar, and hard water spots, easy to remove.Unlike mainstream wax and organic polymer coatings, Serum Light can resist much higher and lower temperatures. It will need to be worked in a bit more, and itll be more likely to smear around rather than be picked up in your towel. Thats exactly how I treated both the 4runner and Harley up until now. You may have heard many people complain about dealing with water spots on coated vehicles. Better than most of the other ceramic coatings Ive seen on the market. Exo is rated to last 18-24 months. Exo does a really good job of this and I believe its the reason why there are nowhere near as many complaints about water spots with Gtechniqs coatings compared to the others. Its too soon for me to tell. Its worth noting that Exo isnt supposed to be in charge of chemical resistance thats Crystal Serums job and it does it well. Is any of this actually true?
The coating does its job and the water forms pretty, uniform beads on the surface. Some coatings even require infrared lighting to cure them properly.
Alternatively use it as a simple call to action with a link to a product or a page. Its been 2.5 years since I began testing out Gtechniq Crystal Serum Light as well as a good chunk of the rest of their product line. Boise Idaho This has been my biggest disappointment when testing these coatings. I dont blame Exo entirely for this failure. Crystal serum lightis the prosumer version of the world famous GTECHNIQ Accredited Detailer Crystal Serum Ultra. Most ceramic coatings offer the wildest water beading out there. Typically, anything that trickles down from F1 tends to be worth taking seriously think paddle shifters, hybrid systems, tire compounds etc.
I cant help but wonder though, would these scratches be even deeper and more noticeable without the ceramic coating? We also believe that we source the Best Car Detailing products in Australia. So far I have only gone 6 months since it was applied but it sheets water just as much as it did 6 months ago. A big thing to mention here is that no ceramic coating is scratch proof (including Gtechniq). The widely accepted rule is that you dont want to use a soap that contains any wax or gloss enhancers. We are a small Australian owned and operated business. A big selling point for ceramic coatings is not having to wax your car ever again. very detailed and thorough and its good to get a Canadian winter perspective as most reviewers dont deal with the harsher climate we have. Im afraid that some of these companies have gotten so caught up in competing with each other that theyre offering us things we dont actually need just to one-up each other. This is pretty cool stuff. There are swirl marks in some of the tighter areas but Im not sure I can place the blame on the coating. It seems that the coatings decision to bead vs sheet is based on how the water is sprayed on the panel. Using this coating seems to make them last much longer which I assume is a testament to some form of UV protection. GTechniq EXO Ultra Durable Hybrid Coating 30 ml. The paint had a lot of scratches and some pinstriping from tight off-road trails when I got it. If Im able to get it out with a quick pass at a low speed, that might mean that Ive been able to take just the peak of the high spot off leaving the rest of the coating untouched. Unlike mainstream wax and organic polymer coatings, Serum and Serum Light can resist much higher and lower temperatures. Even when the car is moderately dirty it doesn't actually appear to be dirty (silver car). So take your time and get it right. Applying a coating properly takes patience, time, and quadruple checking your work from different angles and different lighting. Application is easy, with a slow flash-off time, giving more time to achieve a perfect finish.. A stronger product really doesnt seem necessary based on how Ive seen these perform. I would imagine if you paid someone hundreds of dollars to coat your vehicle, this feeling would be amplified a lot more.