Paint issue on 25’Silver TRD OR.

The Supersonic looks real good in the Sunlight. However in the shade it looks like a common red.

 

I just ceramic coated my new truck(3TY built 04/25) and therefore discovered any perfections in the paint. I must say that I'm super happy with the paint on this truck. It's better than the MGM on my previous '23 TRD OR.

Just thought I'd share some encouragement.

 

What ceramic product/products did you use? I prefer Gtechnic CSL topped with ExoV5. Weekly washes with Koch Chemie GSF and a coat of P&S Beadmaker.

 

I’d be curious if the paint quality varies between the 3TM (Baja) and 3TY (Guanajuato) plant locations. For the 4th gen’s it seems like only manuals are coming from 3TY…

 

My TRD OR premium is a 3TY A/T

 

Mine too

 

Don't laugh...... Turtlewax Hybrid Solutions. I've done one coat and plan to do the 2nd coat today or tomorrow(been in garage till complete). The closest thing I've used to a true ceramic is NextGen. The Turtlewax HS works pretty good but I'm interested in something that will last longer.... but keep things simple.

 

The prep process is kind of a pain with professional ceramics, but they last a year or two. Then when you wash everything just falls off (nothing sticks) and you can dry the whole truck with a leaf blower in a few minutes. I highly recommended it.

 

im a newbie, what does this mean? 3TY?

 

That tells you the county, the manufacture, and the plant.

TACOMA VIN DECODER

3TM = Toyota Mexico Baja Factory
3TY = Toyota Mexico Guanajuato Factory

J = XtraCab with GVWR below 6000 lbs
K = Double Cab with GVWR below 6000 lbs
L = Double Cab with GVWR above 6000 lbs

B = 278 hp AT (SR5/TRD Sport/TRD Off Road/Limited)
C/F = Hybrid (TRD Sport HV/TRD Off Road HV/TRD Pro/Trail Hunter/Limited)
D = 228 hp AT (SR 8AT)
E = 270 hp MT (SR 6MT/TRD Sport 6MT)

A = XtraCab
5 = Double Cab

F = 278 hp 2WD (SR5/Prerunner/TRD Sport)
H = 228 hp 2WD (SR)
J = 27x hp 4WD (SR 6MT/SR5/TRD Sport/TRD Off Road/Limited)
K = 228 hp 4WD (SR 8AT)
L = Hybrid 4WD (TRD Sport HV/TRD Off Road HV/TRD Pro/Trail Hunter/Limited HV)

N = Tacoma

_ = Check Digit

R = 2024 Model Year

M = Toyota Motor Manufacturing de Baja California Plant
T = Toyota Motor Manufacturing de Guanajuato Plant

______ = Serial Number

 

Maybe one day I'll try that. As it is, I clay barred the entire truck and I also prepped the front bumper and hood with rubbing alcohol for extra adhesion.

 

I prefer Carpro Eraser or Gtechniq panel wipe. For paint correction I use Rupes foam yellow pads with sonax perfect finish compound. Any random orbital polisher will work. I have an old Adams swirl killer mini.

 

So do you use that after paint correction for better/longer adhesion? Might give it a try haven't been doing this step so curious about your process.

 

1. wash
2. clay/ (iron remover is optional)
3. wash
4. paint correction
5. panel wipe
6. ceramic application

Panel wipe sprays are the last step before ceramic application. There's some tutorials on Youtube with The Rag Company and Obsessed Garage that explain in more detail.
Key points,
1. the surface has to be very clean
2. ceramics are temperature sensitive and flash times are short; After they flash (they wipe on clear then they turn kind of a rainbow hue) they need to be wiped off quickly and completely.
3. Work in small sections (panel at a time)

I use these to apply ceramics
https://www.obsessedgarage.com/products/carpro-foam-applicator-block?variant=43677847126167

these for polish/compound removal
https://theragcompany.com/collections/wax-and-sealant-towels/products/eagle-edgeless-500

A couple packs of these for ceramic removal
https://theragcompany.com/collections/coating-towels/products/the-pearl

Change towels frequently and put them in a bucket of water with this microfiber cleaner so the ceramic doesn't permanently dry/harden on the towel
https://theragcompany.com/products/ps-detail-products-rags-to-riches?_pos=1&_psq=rags+t&_ss=e&_v=1.0

 

Great info....I learned alot without even opening any links, LOL. I've saved the link to this post for future reference and research.

 

Thanks! I do the same process just without the panel wipe, I'll give it a shot. You don't ever wax over the top of the Ceramic? I only ask as I had some extra Adams buttery wax and I gave it a try over the ceramic and it added a little depth.

 

I have used wash and wax soaps, but I don't recommend. Layers start to build up and reduce the effectiveness of the ceramic.

Koch Chemie gentle snow foam soap with P&S beadmaker works best. Beadmaker will add a lot of gloss.