I only wash 2x per year

On the salt water recycle: I see no sparkly residue on the frame like I do after a storm so at worse it's very diluted. Very little rust anywhere on my truck is the proof that it's working. 136,000 miles.

On the hand dry: they always get 2 new towels from the clean laundry bin and throw the used ones in another bin. They have a huge industrial washing machine for the rags. Never is there any streaks so it's clean. As I said before my finish is just as good as new. No swirls or scratches even under strong light and my truck is black.

I'm in the minority on running a car through a carwash here. I think they are just fine as long as you know the equipment. Many of those gas station washes do beat the paint with string trimmer brushes and very little water. I think a sponge in your driveway spreads more grit on the paint than a good microfiber brush blasting from the inside out with water.

 

Gotta be honest I’ve never heard of someone really messing up a coating application like that. And it not be something the detailer catches and will correct for you. The coating isn’t visibly thick.

Also not all ceramic coatings are permanent, in fact I’m not sure there is a truly permanent coating. Maybe if you coated a show car that saw the light of day maybe once a year the coating would last the life of the vehicle.

Most coatings I’ve seen are 3-5 years (some 10 years). Ceramics you apply yourself last 1-2 years.

Water spots are also easy to avoid. Even in the worst of areas. The ceramic coat prevents the hard water from doing paint damage.

 

If you are running your truck through a brush wash... no way your truck isn’t swirled to high heaven. You probably just don’t really examine your paint.

Professional wash and autowash don’t belong in the same sentence.

They use harsh chemicals in addition to swirl installing brushes.

 

Oh for sure a pro would fix any issues with their application, me personally I would probably apply one myself so I guess that’s where my fear comes from. It’s a lot of $$ to pay a pro for a good coating, but you get what you pay for in this world.

Also it’s interesting seeing pictures like this of a dryed out coating that hasnt been applied, it looks like glass!

 

I can actually vouch for DIY ceramic coatings being a huge gimmick. I am not a detailing novice by no means. I used to do it for a living, almost 10 years full time. I know how to install ceramic coatings and I actually did on my 2 previous vehicles. I used a 3-5 year coating from Majestic Solutions and did all the correct paint correction and prep. let the vehicles sit inside a heated/cooled garage for 3 full days before ever pulling them out. the coating worked flawlessly on the first one I did. it was a Desert Khaki Subaru Crosstrek. the second one, another Subaru but it was a Lithium Red Pearl Impreza Sport. on the Impreza the coating looked great for all of one month. after that, no matter how many times I washed it it looked like it had a haze on it. the top even started to turn white and oxidize. it pissed me off so bad that I buffed the coating off of that car and went back to using my normal ways of cleaning and sealant every 6 months. it wasn't the installation that was the problem because I had the coating level on each panel just like the previous car I did. to this day I still don't know what went wrong on the car. but I know I won't even consider doing another ceramic coating on anything I own.

as for using an "automated" car wash to wash my vehicles, HELL NO! all of my vehicles are some form of White and I still won't use them. I definitely wouldn't if my vehicles were black or any other dark color. let me tell you a secret about the "drying cloths" these places use. they ALL have ground in dirt and grime in them. they get dropped on the ground, they have wiped out door jambs and whatnot and are filthy. yes, they get washed in a commercial grade washer and dryer but they are still DIRTY and in no way would I trust some teenager who couldn't care less about my vehicle dry it. if that is your thing, no sweat, I get it. but I care more for my vehicles and don't mind taking the time myself to keep them looking good for many years to come.

 

I use this: https://mistercarwash.com/car-wash

My truck sits in a strongly lighted garage which I'm in all the time. I stare at it when walking to it parked. I got an eye exam 2 days ago and my eyes are perfect. It's as smooth as silk. My friends have $80K+ Tesla's, Jags, Rovers, Mercedes, BMWs, etc. and we all use the same car wash. They are showroom perfect. We are just going to have to kindly disagree. I'll continue to do it my way and you can do it the way you deem best for you.

 

I looked at your link, the nearest one to me is Athens GA. I am interested though, you have me intrigued. are they brushless? we have automated car washes all over our area, and I do mean all over. one on almost every main street. but all of them use either brushes or micro fiber "mops" to wash your vehicle. my boss even uses one on his $70K Dodge 2500. I just can't bring myself to use it. he is a member of the one he uses too where he gets as many washes as he wants for something like $36 a month. can you please show some pics of your paint under bright lighting? I am not hating, truly I am not. I am actually curious to see your paint. if its a good as you say, maybe I will change my mind. just when you get a chance, id like to see them. no rush.

 

I know someone who washes their Bently in an autowash too... doesn’t make it a good idea.
Plus why the hell spend that much on a car and not pay for a professional hand wash?

My dad used to dry his Porche with old bath towels after only rinsing the car with a pressure washer (he thought his car didn’t have swirls either).

All it takes is one mud crusted Jeep to go in before you and cause grit contaminated brushes spinning at a high speed.

I’ve never seen a single car not get swirled in an autowash with brushes.
They use harsh chemicals that strip protective coatings and dehydrate plastics and rubbers. It will age a car substantially to use them.
Plus a lot of the wheel or tire shine they use it not safe for painted, powdercoated, or forged chromed wheels.

Plus if were talking Tacomas... Toyota paint is pretty soft compared to most luxury vehicles and are more sensitive to marring and swirling.

I took my truck through one this summer... I’m going to have to paint correct in the spring (and I drive a white truck).
But thats what I get for being lazy. I know better.

 

Completely disagree with DIY coatings being a gimmick. For starters only use coatings from a reputable company. I follow several detailers/companies and never heard of Majestic Solutions. Something was either wrong with the coating or application to make it oxidize. How old was the paint your were applying it to? Suggesting doing more research before you write off as a gimmick on one failed application.


And for those that think Super White is a dull

 

maybe "gimmick" was the wrong word. the paint it went on was 9 months old, for both vehicles actually. I was referred to Majestic Solutions from a friend who details still for a living. I had never heard of them either but he uses them so I gave it a try. I just know for me, I don't have a need for ceramic coatings. I wash and maintain my vehicles a lot. maybe even too much if you ask my wife, lol.

and my Super White shines too. mine isn't dull at all. mine isn't a year old yet but it shines like a new penny.

 

Did you do paint correction before application?

 

Here's what I do OP:

1. Wash truck AT LEAST once a month. It's fun to do on a Sunday.

2. Paste wax entire truck with Meguires every six months after washing. Nothing wrong with breaking up the job up by doing the roof and hood one week, then doing the sides and tail gate the following week.

3. Use liquid wax after washing when needed. This gets me through for the months in between paste waxing. I like Lucas speed wax (or whatever it's called).

BTW/FWIW I bought a gallon of Turtle wax back in 2003/2004 and still use it. It's the blue formula that has conditioners mixed in. Not sure of the exact name because I changed the bottle out and tossed it.

Also get yerself a microfiber sponge. Use your old sponge on the lower part of your truck where the road grit tends to collect. Use the new microfiber sponge on the mid an upper sections.

Another thing is use two wash buckets: one with soap and one without soap for rinsing dirty sponge.

If you watch the car restoration shows on TV like Wheeler Dealers the single most expensive thing is the paint job usually. Detailing is also expensive. However it costs next to nothing to do routine washing and waxing yourself.

 

yeah I did paint correction one day, let the car sit inside overnight, then did the prep for the coating the next day. after the prep I installed the coating about an hour later. it looked great for about a month. then...it started to change. my only guess is that the coating had started to go bad. that is the only thing I can think of that caused it. it worked flawlessly a week prior on another vehicle. and that vehicle looked great up to the point when I traded it for my Tacoma.