Ceramic Coating feedback?

[FordDiehard]

I'm strongly considering getting the ceramic coating on my Alto Blue Lariat. I welcome any feedback from those who have had it applied to their Mav. Are you still supposed to occasionally wax the exterior as on a normal paint job, or does that mess it up?

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[EngineeredDetails]

I'm strongly considering getting the ceramic coating on my Alto Blue Lariat. I welcome any feedback from those who have had it applied to their Mav. Are you still supposed to occasionally wax the exterior as on a normal paint job, or does that mess it up?

Ceramic coatings are not for everyone. I usually steer my customers away from a ceramic coating if it is their daily driver and are not going to maintain it. Contrary to popular belief ceramic coatings do NOT protect from rock chips nor scratches. What ceramic coatings provide are extreme glossiness, slickness, ease of cleaning, and never a need to wax it again (for the life of the coating), although there are "toppers" you can apply to help boost the hydrophobic properties. I suggest that if you do go the ceramic coating route you have at the bare minimum a plan to hand wash your vehicle at least once a month. Every two weeks would be ideal. Do know that there are some great paint sealants on the market nor that are easier to apply and can last anywhere from 8 months to a year and provide just about the same glossiness and hydrophobic properties as a ceramic coating.

 

[johnny99]

I've been using various Adam's Polish products. Currently waiting to apply my post winter graphene ceramic spray, after a clay bar treatment and hand wash etc. Compared to old school hand waxing, this stuff is a breeze. I havent used any of the more concentrated ceramic coatings, thinking those are probably best left for the pros. Detailing spray after a hand wash as part of the drying process in-between coating applications means a wash and dry takes about an hour or so.

 

[Maverick Life]

there are some great paint sealants on the market nor that are easier to apply and can last anywhere from 8 months to a year and provide just about the same glossiness and hydrophobic properties as a ceramic coating

You have my attention. Recommendations?

 

[EngineeredDetails]

You have my attention. Recommendations?

Best bang for your buck as a consumer grade and easily obtainable is Turtle Wax Ice Seal N Shine. And if you really want to make it pop you can hit it with Turtle Wax Ice spray Wax after every other washing or so just to really extend the protection of the sealant. Those are your cheapest but really good off the shelf items. Jescar Power Lock is also a good one. All these you can top with a wax if you want to. Wax doesn't last very long as a stand alone so you can use it as a sacrificial layer over the sealant if you want. But not required. I personally like DPC TR8 paint sealant but you have to order it and is fairly expensive. It makes blues, reds, and bright colors really pop.

 

[Joe Mac]

I have it on my Shelby and I love it. I will be adding it to my Altio Blue Maverick.
It looks great and water just runs off it.

 

[RonFLA]

Hate being a contrarian but If you look at the origin of these sacrificial coatings and sealants, they are dealership profit generators that are marginally better than regular car wax.

 

[TyPope]

Hate being a contrarian but If you look at the origin of these products, they are dealership profit generators that are marginally better than regular car wax.

False. I ceramic coated my wife's car and my truck 2 years ago and they still looks great and the water just beads right off. And, as you know, keeping the water off the paint itself is important to prevent any seepage into the paint resulting in rust acne.

Could just be lucky, but my experience is that ceramic coating is the way to go. I went from waxing all the cars every 3 months to never having to wax them. I'm hooked. I used Adam's (I believe) which had some kind of UV additive and came with a UV light to help make sure you got it coated good.

 

[TheSEARCH]

First off there are two types of ceramic coatings. The one that are higher concentrated best left to a pro and the ones that they sell at autoparts stores. Youtube has some really good testers of the do it yourself ones. Many to choose from. Typically last 6 months to a year. I use that type and do my car twice a year, spring and fall in NY. I used to use a ceramic sealer Klasse but now ceramic. One comment the pro ones DONT last as long as they claim. I have seen year long tests they fail less than a year. Some do last longer but i say BS anyone says lifetime. MAYBE a few years at best.

Oh wax does not last, no the newer stuff is not snake oil. lol to that highly uniformed comment.

 

[Timothyd]

First off there are two types of ceramic coatings. The one that are higher concentrated best left to a pro and the ones that they sell at autoparts stores. Youtube has some really good testers of the do it yourself ones. Many to choose from. Typically last 6 months to a year. I use that type and do my car twice a year, spring and fall in NY. I used to use a ceramic sealer Klasse but now ceramic. One comment the pro ones DONT last as long as they claim. I have seen year long tests they fail less than a year. Some do last longer but i say BS anyone says lifetime. MAYBE a few years at best.

Oh wax does not last, no the newer stuff is not snake oil. lol to that highly uniformed comment.

Very little lasts as long as they claim. Best to go in as a skeptic and be occasionally surprised when something actually preforms as advertised.

 

[Jatrax]

I have not put ceramic on my Maverick yet. I did have my wife's ID.4 done professionally. The detail shop told me it should last 2 years with care. Provided we hand washed. And they offered a relatively cheap 'renew' at one year.

Like most things you get what you pay for. Ceramic coatings are not snake oil as a group though there are "ceramic" products out there that would qualify for the snake oil category. Use a good product with lots of good reviews or have it done professionally.

And keep in mind this should be a process, not just throwing on some wax or coating. My shop took two full days on the ID.4. Cleaned, hand washed, iron decontamination, clay bar, paint correction and touch up, then applied the ceramic coating.

So far I am super happy with the job he did and will be getting the Mav done when I get a chance.

 

[TedTX]

Two ways to look at this topic based on how old the truck is. Wait til a lot of history scratches and such exists then do a proper color correction and ceramic coating to make it look better than new. Or do it very new and super clean but WITHOUT color correction step. Color correction is a REMOVAL process of a part of the paint clear coat. Avoid this to keep original paint job thick as possible.
I had little choice in that I couldn’t afford a true CC getting Maverick just after Christmas and very dirty left in the Mexican countryside for months til shipped. Took 5 weeks of washing to finally not see hidden tan dust somewhere. So bemoaning each new scratch til about 3 years from now when I get it done. ( just in time to trade it in for a new plugin hybrid AWD )

 

[TedTX]

My rule is save a few months of truck/car payments after your loan is paid off (3 years for my Maverick) and then throw money at ride so you want to keep it longer and save money.
My Prius was paid off two years ago and the professional done color corrected and ceramic coating and headlight restore still looks better than I drove it off Carmax lot.

 

[TheSEARCH]

Very little lasts as long as they claim. Best to go in as a skeptic and be occasionally surprised when something actually preforms as advertised.

I'm going by the tests I've seen done on YouTube by other people I have no personal experience with the professional stuff. But let's be real nothing lasts a decade.

 

[FordDiehard]

Ceramic coatings are not for everyone. I usually steer my customers away from a ceramic coating if it is their daily driver and are not going to maintain it. Contrary to popular belief ceramic coatings do NOT protect from rock chips nor scratches. What ceramic coatings provide are extreme glossiness, slickness, ease of cleaning, and never a need to wax it again (for the life of the coating), although there are "toppers" you can apply to help boost the hydrophobic properties. I suggest that if you do go the ceramic coating route you have at the bare minimum a plan to hand wash your vehicle at least once a month. Every two weeks would be ideal. Do know that there are some great paint sealants on the market nor that are easier to apply and can last anywhere from 8 months to a year and provide just about the same glossiness and hydrophobic properties as a ceramic coating.

I kept my 2017 Focus w/175k for commuting back and forth to work (40 miles each way) and drive the Mav on weekends.

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