New vehicle ceramic paint prep.

My ol lady just got a brand new Pathfinder. We’ve had it for two whole days. I’ve always taken care of my vehicles and want to get a jump on this one in regards to the paint.

From everything that I have read, prep is key to ceramic coating a vehicle. How much prep would new vehicle need? Would just a wash and isopropyl spray cut it?
Thanks in advance.

 

Cutting corners won't work with professional ceramic coatings. Do the prep and take your time. The professional ceramics aren't as forgiving if you don't wipe them off completely. Also, you won't get the full longevity and it's not worth the effort if you cut corners.

Even new paint has rail dust/industrial fallout, ect. An iron removal spray and or clay bar followed with paint correction and then decontamination before applying coatings will be required.

I did wash, clay and a mild paint correction. (Adams swirl killer mini, rupes white pads, Sonax Perfect finish) I left some imperfections in favor of more clear coat. Gtechniq panel wipe to prep after paint correction followed by 1 coat Gtechniq CSL which cured overnight after the final wipe. Next day I did 2 coats Gtechniq Exo V4. Adams glass sealant on windows. Entire process took about 3 days.

Maintenance washes are Koch Chemie GSF or Adams blue/purple shampoo followed up with P&S Beadmaker. I like the beadmaker a lot, but it really attracts dust. (dust will static cling to the paint) On the plus, everything just falls off when you maintenance wash making clean up a breeze.

Obsessed Garage and The Rag Company have everything you'll need. Otherwise pay a professional.

 

Thank you. Time is my biggest dilemma. If I can do it in one day -correctly- it’s worth my time/money to do it myself. Three days changes that. Ugh, I hate other people working on / touching my vehicles. I’ll have to do some research on a shop near me.

 

As @MGMDesertTaco said don’t cut corners. It’s more than a days work even on a new vehicle.

 

Should not take 3 days on a new vehicle unless dealer washed it on the lot. It’s doable in a day depending upon coating. There is no need to wait overnight to apply exo after csl.

 

Gtechniq recommends a 12 hour cure time for CSL. Factor in decon/wash, clay and paint correct time depending on paint conditions and vehicle size.
Gtechniq EXO V4 can be applied in 2 layers after the 12 hour cure time for CSL. In my experience EXO V4 only takes a matter of minutes before it begins to sweat and needs to be wiped off. You'll want the larger bottle of EXO V4 if doing 2 coats on a Tacoma.

I took 3 days working a couple hours or so each day. 1st day wash/decon/clay, 2nd day, paint correct, panel wipe, apply CSL, 3rd day 2 coats EXO V4. I kept a bucket of water mixed with rags to riches and chucked the microfibers in as I used them before sending them through the wash. That way the ceramic doesn't cure on the microfiber.

 

You don't have to wait 12 hours to apply EXO over CSL. GTechniq says wait approximately 2 hours. https://gtechniq.com/shop/auto/ceramic-coatings/crystal-serum-light/

My typical process start in the morning by lunch I have wash/clay completed. Then spend after lunch polishing, then panel wipe, and apply coating. It's a full day but it can be done.

 

Assuming you don’t mind “locking in” some imperfections (swirl marks) until the next polish session, I don’t see why a coating couldn’t be done in a day. Wash, clay, decon, application. Especially on a new vehicle.

Seems like more protection than doing nothing and unless your eyes are 12” away, you wouldn’t notice a difference? Especially if using a consumer level product. Am I wrong?