How to maintain ceramic coating?

[Therealmattlex]

What is the proper way to maintain ceramic coating?

do I still use something like wizards mist and shine or a ceramic quick detailer? Or do I just rinse with water and dry?

I’ve always used conventional wax a few times a year. Do I still want to wax it occasionally or does the ceramic coating take car of that?

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[Postal Bob]

Unless the car is very dirty, I just use a rinse with water, and dry with an electric leaf blower.
To maintain the coating, use a ceramic boost spray when clean. No need to wax, the ceramic coat takes care of that.
You can also use ceramic detail spray to wipe it down.

 

[Pistol_91]

Best way to maintain and keep your coating is 2 easy steps.
1. Don't get it dirty.
2. Don't ever wash it.

Washing it removes the coating over time. I bought a "3 year" coating from a reputable detail shop years ago, it was gone within a year. It did work well though when it was on. I just think they lie about how long it lasts though.

 

[GTP]

Best way to maintain and keep your coating is 2 easy steps.
1. Don't get it dirty.
2. Don't ever wash it.

Washing it removes the coating over time. I bought a "3 year" coating from a reputable detail shop years ago, it was gone within a year. It did work well though when it was on. I just think they lie about how long it lasts though.

I agree with every word. Ceramic has made my car easier to maintain, but it doesn't last as long as the claims. Which makes me wonder if it's even worth it, and as compared to clay bar and sealing once a year.

 

[Evolvd]

Best way to maintain and keep your coating is 2 easy steps.
1. Don't get it dirty.
2. Don't ever wash it.

Washing it removes the coating over time. I bought a "3 year" coating from a reputable detail shop years ago, it was gone within a year. It did work well though when it was on. I just think they lie about how long it lasts though.

The issue is use. If you hardly drive your car, keep it clean, and don’t use harsh chemicals unless absolutely needed, coatings will last a long time. What erodes them is abrasion. If there’s no abrasion, there’s no failure. Those “claims” are best-use assumptions. There’s not a single coating that won’t fail over time…it all comes down to how you care for it. Washing a car does not erode the coating unless you’re washing it with sandpaper

There’s also road grime and fallout that clogs a coating making you think it’s failed when all it needs is a good decontamination.

 

[Evolvd]

What is the proper way to maintain ceramic coating?

do I still use something like wizards mist and shine or a ceramic quick detailer? Or do I just rinse with water and dry?

I’ve always used conventional wax a few times a year. Do I still want to wax it occasionally or does the ceramic coating take car of that?

To answer your question:

Wash it often with a good quality soap. Don’t worry about PH level, that doesn’t determine how harsh or light a soap is.

If you notice water not beading up as well then it’s time to do a decontamination wash. Follow that up with a standard soap wash and then top off the coating with a good quality SiO2 spray.

Coatings only work as well as you maintain them. They are not a miracle solution for laziness or complacency. If you need more info, @DFB5.0 is an excellent source of info in this sub-forum and has many threads about all aspects of detailing. There’s also folks like me who are passionate about detailing but aren’t as driven to talk about it like Deyon

 

[cerbomark]

no wax . sio2 spray to touch it up. IMO wax is putting a less slick coat than the ceramic.

 

[Justpassingas]

My car is a daily and I’m no expert on what’s the best way but what I do is wash the car using a soap gun with a ceramic car wash soap from Chemical Guys,blow dry it and towel it with a clean micro fiber cloth. Maybe once a month I’ll use Turtlewax Ceramic Spray coat. Works for me

 

[GTP]

The issue is use. If you hardly drive your car, keep it clean, and don’t use harsh chemicals unless absolutely needed, coatings will last a long time. What erodes them is abrasion.

Well sure, if I hardly drove my car and kept it clean then I wouldn't even need ceramic at all.

As for abrasion, that's what seems is needed for a daily that also sees track use.

 

[Evolvd]

Well sure, if I hardly drove my car and kept it clean then I wouldn't even need ceramic at all.

As for abrasion, that's what seems is needed for a daily that also sees track use.

For track use you’re much better off with PPF

 

[Blu22HPP]

Maintenance is key to how long it can last. Use a harsh soap or chemical on it and you will wear away the coating faster. This is the coating I got 2 years ago (4 year coating). I bring it in yearly for a decantamination wash and boost. Otherwise, I wash every 2 or 3 weeks (stored winters) with a ph balance soap (Adams Car Shampoo). Power washer, 2 bucket, along with foam cannon and use a leaf blower to dry. To much soap can clog up the coating. I only use a detailer every other wash to help maintain.

 

[GTP]

For track use you’re much better off with PPF

Which I also have.

 

[Stage_3]

Depending on the coating that you got on your car, some make a "maintenance" spray for just that, maintenance.
I had my daily driver professionally ceramic coated with Car Pros ceramic coating. It's their 3 year ceramic coating. I use this product called, CARE, which was developed by Ceramic Pros, as a drying aid/maintenance item every time I wash the car.


Still looks pretty killer.

 

[skinnyb]

Biggest maintenance on a ceramic coated car is to keep it clean. Wash regularly with the proper wash methods using a high quality ph neutral soap, and a coated car is a breeze to clean for the most part. This keeps the coating at tip top shape. Once every few months a good decon wash with a higher PH soap is good to make sure everything is squeaky clean, and even an acidic leaning soap if you have lots of mineral content in the water and/or water spots. And I do use a SIO2 detail spray during the drying phase as lubrication for the towel as well as to help "top off" the coating pretty much every wash... I personally do not recommend any kind of wax based product as it tends to clog up the properties of the coating and render it ineffective...

 

[DougS550]

What is the proper way to maintain ceramic coating?

do I still use something like wizards mist and shine or a ceramic quick detailer? Or do I just rinse with water and dry?

I’ve always used conventional wax a few times a year. Do I still want to wax it occasionally or does the ceramic coating take car of that?

Well, my opinion if its worth it?? You still cannot run through a Brush type car wash and it is recommended to hand wash with a

What is the proper way to maintain ceramic coating?

do I still use something like wizards mist and shine or a ceramic quick detailer? Or do I just rinse with water and dry?

I’ve always used conventional wax a few times a year. Do I still want to wax it occasionally or does the ceramic coating take car of that?

Well, On my Mustang I drive on week ends and never in the rain or off pavement, its nice and easy to wash ever 3 weeks. I just spray water on it with my low pressure electric sprayer and Blow off with my leaf blower. I finish with a fine microfiber cloth. I also spray on Meguiars detail spray or the SIOS spray. Fo my daily driver, its kinda a pain. I try to hand wash every two weeks and and end with the same after wash detail treatment. BUTTTT: The ceramic coating gives the paint an immediately deep shine which I never duplicated with a car wax or ceramic spray application. It does make your paint very deep color looking to say the least. Is it with it? Just depends on your life style and deep pockets. Good Luck

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