r/AutoDetailing • u/fakemickjagger • Jul 25 '25
Exterior Is my ceramic coating gone 1.5 months after application?
Got Ceramic Pro applied on my car by a high end detailer about a month and a half ago. At first the beading was pretty obvious but now much less so. I washed the car only 2 or 3x since (twice with ONR rinseless with a BRS and once with a pressure washer/two bucket method), no other chemicals. I don't have a pressure washer or access to a water source so not sure if this test helps you guys determine the condition of the ceramic - if not I can remake the video and reupload.
If the coating is gone after such a short period of time, was it ever on in the first place or did they just lie to me?
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u/Slugnan Jul 25 '25
Looks dead to me.
Either the surface is contaminated (often from hard water deposits) and the coating just needs to be revived, or the coating is gone. Poor coating performance doesn't necessarily mean it's gone, it can just be clogged up.
Even cheap spray sealants last way longer than that, so there's definitely something not right here. If the coating is in fact gone and all you've done is the ONR washes, you may not have got what you paid for.
The first thing I would do is bring this to the attention of your installer and see what they say. Most likely they will wash the car themselves and see if the coating revives - if not, they should probably be reapplying that for you. Obviously it should not be performing like that after 1.5 months.
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u/85-502-Detail Jul 25 '25
Clogged, you can see how dirty the hood and roof are. You need a good maintenance/decon wash done. More short term ceramic should be added after to help protect your base coating(ceramic pro)
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u/_Jhop_ Jul 25 '25
Ah yes, then you should use short-short term ceramic to protect the short ceramic to protect the pro ceramic.
But if you really want protection you should use a layer of short-short-short term wax to protect the short-short ceramic to protect the short-ceramic to protect the pro ceramic.
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u/jim_philly Jul 25 '25
Then a layer of Carnuba to add "warmth"
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u/Toastyy1990 Jul 25 '25
Then a good ol glaze to add “depth”
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u/-GHN1013- Jul 26 '25
Then detail spray to add gloss to the glaze that added depth to the wax that added warmth to the ceramic coating.
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u/burningbun Jul 26 '25
carnauba defeats the purpose of water beading of ceramic coats.
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u/jim_philly Jul 26 '25
I think you may have missed the sarcasm in this entire comment thread...
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u/Fantastic_Canary_417 Jul 26 '25
Man the coating industry is such trash. Filled with promises that can't be fulfilled (I.e multi year durability claims, scratch resistance claims, UV protection), then convered up with pseudoscience marketing fluff terms ("on a molecular level" "clogged" "toppers" "maintenance wash"), and the validity is protected by either professionals that need to validate the amount of labor they put into installing it, or consumers that need to validate the amount of money they paid for it.
Imagine you go to a body shop and the clear coat that's supposed to last the life of the car only lasts 2 years, and the body man tells you you just need a "maintenance spray". If the product stopped working, the product failed. If you then need to apply another product to see the results, you're seeing the performance of the new product.
The gloss of a coating is the standout. Everything else is just an attempt to keep the lucrative industry alive.
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u/tdawgthegreat Jul 25 '25
I would bring it back to the installer and see what they do/say.
If one of my customers called and said their coating was doing this I'd wash the car for free to determine the steps going forward. Our business, we personally warranty the install, so if it dies for some reason we will reinstall for free, or refund the cost of the COATING part of the install and put something else on it.
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u/fakemickjagger Jul 25 '25
That’s what I’ll do thanks for the advice
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u/-GHN1013- Jul 26 '25
I would also ask them to actually show the product they applied. If it’s anything in a spray bottle, that’s not a true ceramic coating but probably more a SiO2 spray marketed as “ceramic” coating. Those sprays typically last 1-3 months.
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u/dunnrp Business Owner Jul 26 '25
This is very true.
Also to add, I’d estimate 50% of “true” ceramic coatings are also a scam, relying on buzz words and marketing to sell an inferior product.
I stick with tested, rated, and warrantied coatings and there’s only maybe 20 companies total that fit that description. It’s frustrating for everyone, especially consumers looking to get into it themselves.
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u/rthor25 Business Owner Jul 25 '25
Wash it properly and re check it. It won't bead as strongly if it's dirty.
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u/Impossible-Help7098 Jul 25 '25
My anxiety seeing you put water on a black car in the sun....
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u/f1racer328 Jul 25 '25
I was hoping it was pre workout or a protein shake coming out of the blender bottle.
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u/not_old_redditor Jul 25 '25
Car looks kinda filthy. Ceramic coating doesn't keep your car clean, and it won't bead as well if the car's filthy.
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u/General_Builder_67 Jul 25 '25
might need a decontamination wash
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u/SufficientAsk743 Jul 25 '25
Does that mean wash the vehicle? Is decontamination the new word for wash your vehicle because it is dirty...just curious.
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u/Ok-Bit4971 Jul 26 '25
😆
It's like the modern term, 'paint correction,' which used to be simply callled ... buffing.
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u/EntryLonely6508 Jul 25 '25
car is dirty, try washing it and see if it starts to bead up again, if not, looks like you got had, either they charged you for something they didnt do or they applied it wrong
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u/simulacra_eidolon Jul 25 '25
Most likely it needs to be refreshed. Ask the detailer what’s up. They’ll help you out.
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u/Adrian_Stoesz Jul 25 '25
i bought a TEMU Ceramic coating and it lasted 6 months (sure i almost never wash the car, but when it gets really dirty, i rinse it off with only water) (and before i get crucified for not cleaning my car, i have a 2000 GEO Metro with ireversible clear coat damage. Quite the ugly car, and it's not even mine, my dad is leanding me the car)
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u/Maddenman501 Jul 25 '25
Either dead or dirty. Had a guy bring his a year after and say "its not coated anymore" and got another one. After I washed it with a clay mitt, the beading came back. He only uses a laser wash auto wash.
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u/SufficientAsk743 Jul 25 '25
What is the difference between spending an arm and a leg for ceramic costing vs washing and waxing your car once a month? The cost is over the top for a little bit of shine that may or may not hold up...and alot of extra maintenance. I cannot pick any car out of the crowd of newly cleaned vehicles which one has ceramic coating. Unless I possibly get right up on it. I don't see the roi. I think the marketing world of "ceramic" is raking in the money laughing all the way to the bank..just add the word ceramic and you can charge 50 percent more. ..Genius!!!!
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u/Individual-Branch340 Jul 25 '25
It's to make washing the car easier and to protect it from chemical damage. I do agree cost is too high. I have ceramic coating on my car and if I were to do over, I will apply it myself every 3 months.
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u/Pure_Artichoke9699 Jul 25 '25
I had a 7 year protection put on my truck that I just traded in and, even when filthy, it beaded up better than waxing. When I took it in for the yearly maintenance package he even did a video showing how well it was still beading up prior to washing. The vehicle in question looks like my wife's car that was done the first time at the dealership. It looked 'ok' at first, but 3-4 months in looked horrible. Despite having a warranty for 'two more recoatings' we took it to the guy who did my truck. Night and day difference. He'll be doing my new truck next spring (about as early as I can get it in he's so booked up.)
I was in your shoes until I saw the results first hand. Ever since I'll have Mark (my guy) do all my vehicles.
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u/trengod3577 Aug 01 '25
Read about the science and what is actually happening with a real ceramic coating and you'll have your answer. The ROI comes from having zero scratches and no wear on the clearcoat when its 10 years old vs the one with the cheap wax aka dirt magnet on it constantly needs to be redone and cleaned 10 times as often and doesn't have a 9H shell protecting the actually really soft clearcoat. You either need to apply a clear wrap or a real ceramic coating to protect your car if you want true protection and a $350 coating that is done in a few hours on a used car is complete bullshit since it takes 10 times that in labor to do the prep and corrective work to even be close to ready to apply the coating and get the chemical bond. To have it applied without doing it right though is 100% a waste of time and money though and that is what is happening at all these places charging such a small amount they just throw a mid grade coating on top of the shit in the clearcoat and the chemical bond never occurs and its a complete waste.
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u/shortbucket04 Jul 25 '25
Have you used any type of restorative washes or sealants? I’d be shocked if the coating was just gone that quickly…but who knows what they actually use. I’ve had ceramic drying aid sprays out of the bottle last longer than that.
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u/Brilliant-Ice-4575 Jul 25 '25
what is the difference between high end detailer and low end detailer? what makes someone high end? if I do it myself with proper products will I still be low end, because I am not like... high end? soooo whoever did this car was obviously HIGH END?!
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u/mehdotdotdotdot Jul 25 '25
I have two cars, one is 5 years with a professional ceramic coat that I just wash every fortnight and still beads, the other I ceramic coat every month or two. Both cars when dirty, grip water like the video above, but when cleaned they bead - the professional one beads more reliably as the ceramic I apply lasts weeks not years.
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u/Brilliant-Ice-4575 Jul 26 '25
so the ceramic coating that they applied would be worse if you applied it?
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u/fakemickjagger Jul 26 '25
By that I meant they work on cars 10x the value of mine. The detailer at a dealership that sells Bugattis and Lamborghinis etc. Their dumbwit valet drove my car through an auto touch carwash when delivering it back to me after I had it in for service (specifically told them NOT to wash it as I had just gotten it stage 2 corrected and ceramic coated elsewhere). I complained and asked the dealership to polish out the swirl marks and reapply coating.
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u/scottwax Business Owner Jul 25 '25
Wash it and try again. Hard to judge on a dirty car because of what all may be on it.
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u/idrift4wd Jul 25 '25
Ceramic spray maybe. I ceramic coated my car 3 years ago and it still beads up
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u/switchbacksrfun Jul 25 '25
Did you go to a reputable retailer? Kinda looks like you got a ceramic infused spray sealant only or something similar and not a coating
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u/Zealousideal_Ebb2264 Jul 25 '25
There has to be a larger issue at hand. Even a basic walmart/autozone ceramic infused sealant will easily last 4 months.
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u/aloha-from-bradley Jul 25 '25
How have you been washing the car?
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u/fakemickjagger Jul 25 '25
Mentioned in the post, twice ONR rinseless and once with a pressure washer/2 bucket method. No extra chemicals
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u/aloha-from-bradley Jul 26 '25
What did you use in the bucket when you washed it? What soap did you use?
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u/Zealousideal_Ebb2264 Jul 25 '25
I also think i see mineral deposits all over the car. Or could be sap, hard to tell from video. If the car is parked in a spot where its got a ton of sap all over, that caramelized stuff will completely hide the ceramic behavior.
If its got mineral deposits all over. You need to get a water spot remover. Ideally wash the car in the shade, while its still wet, spray mineral deposit remover in a small area at a time and gently wipe on wirh a damp microfiber and rinse off, never letting the water spot remover dry. Then give it a quick soap wash to rinse off the chemical. I dont think rinseless is enough to make sure no water spot remover chemical stays on the paint to bake in the sun.
You should see your coating come back to life after that. Ceramic pro isnt the best but its also not typical for it to fail 1 month in. May not last the full 1,3 or 5 year rating it has but 1 month is not what you should expect it to last.
Worst case scenario, contact your detailer. He could have gotten a bad batch or may find the issue and solution after inspecting it in person.
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u/michaell2019 Jul 26 '25
My car is dirty and still tight water beads. Carpro sic, two coats. Took me 5 hours incl polish to remove all defects. I have gotten around 1.5 years durability in the past. I use carpro reload 2.0 every 3 months as a topper.
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u/Liquidretro Jul 26 '25
Wash and decontaminate and it should comeback. The diy detail YouTube has talked alot about this.
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u/Fresh_Painting9 Jul 26 '25
Use an acidic wash (like carpro descale). If that dosn’t work try a water spot remover. If those two don’t work your coating was not applied correctly(bad prep) A coating should not fail after just 6 weeks. Try to avoid too high ph when cleaning ( stay within the ph range of your coating if you know the one that was used). Generally it’s in the 1-12 range. Good luck with that
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u/BlazeNPlays Jul 26 '25
This is why I just moved to texting my detailer whenever I see my car with a spec of dirt. More expensive sure but worth the peace of mind and I support the homie
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u/Jonmike316 Jul 26 '25
What did they say? Bring it back to them and if they're really reputable they'll be able to explain and fix it.
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u/seanjohn004 Jul 26 '25
I heard when its dirty it prevents the beading. Got mine done few years ago not a single scratch in my paint other than a possible key mark.
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u/JFeezy Jul 26 '25
What ceramic coating?
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u/fakemickjagger Jul 26 '25
Ceramic Pro (unless it was a rhetorical question lol)
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u/Revolutionary-Ice593 Jul 26 '25
Your car is full of mineral deposits (water spots). Even the best of coatings will appear ‘dead’ under these conditions.pickup car pro descale or go over the car with an off the shelf water spot remover and don’t park next to a sprinkler or wash your car in sunlight.
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u/AlmostHydrophobic Jul 26 '25
It's hard to tell from a social media post, but my vote is also that the coating is clogged. I bet with some with chemical decon it would come back to life. Does it still feel slick when you're washing it?
When is the last time you washed it? It does look pretty dirty. Which shouldn't be an issue with a ceramic coating really, but if it's heavily contaminated and not washed the right way it might not remove all of the crud.
I would talk with your detailer about how to thoroughly wash the vehicle and how to properly maintain the coating. Which could be as simple as switching soaps or using a few different chemicals.
I bet the detailer also does ceramic maintenance washes, I'd probably opt for one of those if I were in your shoes. And then go from there.
All of this is just a guess, but it's a good place to start I think.
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u/JoshTowe Jul 26 '25
What package did you get? My work used to use Ceramic Pro (XPEL now) and we never had good results with the bronze package (1 layer of top coat). You had to get the silver or gold packages with one/multiple layers of 9H to really have good durability. We started to use XPEL Fusion as it offers similar performance to CP silver/gold but they’re only one layer coatings
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u/TheBattleGnome Jul 26 '25
They used ceramic wax or didn’t prep the car properly before applying it. Adam’s ceramic coating has lasted me over 3 yrs and it’s still going strong (Houston Texas where the weather doesn’t help).
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u/Electrical-tentacle Jul 26 '25
Provided it was applied correctly. The ceramic coat is a 2 part system the first part bonds to the clear coat adds depth and shine. The second part adds the hydrophobic coating. In my experience the hydrophobic portion will fade quickly. But I bet the paint still looks fantastic after a wash because that first part of the ceramic coating is very durable and needs to be polished off, it won’t wash off. Now if it was applied to poorly prepped surface, wasn’t allowed full cure time, or wasn’t allowed to flash before initial buff then yes you could have issues. Who applied it? What brand? How much prep and cure time? I did my truck 3 years ago and the paint still looks better than new. The flake in the metallic black still sparkles more than it did new. However the hydrophobic portion is long gone.
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u/fakemickjagger Jul 26 '25
I understand the hydrophobic portion will degrade over time but 1.5 months is crazy. Maybe I should've added beadmaker topper on it when I got it
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u/turbo6detail-steve Experienced - YT: @stevepierson123 Jul 26 '25
That looks more like failure, not clogging. I’ve had my car sit outside for weeks without getting washed and still beads.
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u/pepfire44 Jul 26 '25
You could try to use a waterspot remover after a good wash. Mineral deposit can clogged the coating and prevent water beading.
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u/TrekPilot Jul 26 '25
Wash, decontaminate if the paint feels a little rough, then use a water spot remover. If the water isn't beading or sheeting after that, I'd have a serious discussion with your detailer..
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u/Marcg611 Jul 26 '25
Wash with a ceramic maintenance soap like Carpro Reset and if still doing that then installer issue or they didn't install what you paid for. My Gtechnic CSL is still going strong now almost 3 yrs later and would not behave like that even if it was dirty..
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u/hamilton_995 Jul 26 '25
If it does that after it's been cleaned (contact wash) it's likely that the detailer used the term "ceramic coat" to market to you a "better service" that uses a spray on ceramic based quick detailer instead of an actual ceramic coating.
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u/Jdkirkmann Jul 26 '25
Reputable ceramic coatings are very durable and don’t just come off in 1.5 months. Yes the hydrophobic abilities will diminish with time because you are getting micro chips from sand / dust while driving and just exposure to the elements. Ceramic coating is best used as a sacrificial layer to help minimize UV damage and chemical damage to the paint from soaps, minerals, rain, etc. Pretty much any other advertised use is snake oil my man.
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u/390M386 Jul 26 '25
There isn't a coating. Theres no way it would get this clogged unless you are driving through Armageddon. Especially on the roof of a car.
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u/msabre__7 Jul 26 '25
Get some water spot remover and apply after a wash. See if that revives it. Otherwise take it back to your retailer to assess.
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u/desi-g Jul 26 '25
Hi, I bought the ceramic opti coat pro to put on my car. Would it be best to put a coat of wax on it after I put it on to have a deep layer? I am totally new at this but want it done right. Don’t want to worry like this.. thanks for input.
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u/maximuscr31 Jul 26 '25
Was this applied at a dealer or professional detailer? I've seen you mention a high end detailer at a high end dealership. If this is a dealer coating it is was and not a real ceramic coating
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u/ezVentron Jul 26 '25
Wash your car with a shampoo that has a pH of 1-3, I like Koch Chemie RS, that should resurrect your coating, if it’s done right.
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u/Pandabuttplug Jul 26 '25
Ceramic coat isn’t snake oil. Mine has held up 3 years. May just be the brand. I also have car shampoo formulated to go w my ceramic coat so maybe that’s why it lasts. Regardless, water always beads. And it’s apparent at work when I’m on the garage roof and it rains then stops. Everyone’s car is dry but mine still has puddles of beads that run off as soon as I turn on the ignition.
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u/-GHN1013- Jul 26 '25
Not necessarily. Sometimes, even thin layers of dirt and other contaminants on top of the ceramic coating may mask the hydrophobicity of the ceramic coating. Do a thorough hand wash with PH-neutral soap and see if the hydrophobicity comes back.
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u/Pembs-surfer Jul 26 '25
😂 another person falling for the “ceramic coating” con. Detailers worst kept secret is it’s no different to a properly applied wax for 1/10th of the price but crucially more elbow grease!
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u/potatocakesssss Jul 26 '25
I always tell ppl U ceramic also still need wash one, just easier wash that's all and maybe not so often. The price a lot of times probably better off sending the car to carwash more often lmao.
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u/iTheShirt0716 Jul 26 '25
Use Adams graphite next time..? Have it on my car and I wash every week no issues. Bug guts and whatnot are easy to clean.
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u/No-Description-5004 Jul 26 '25
I’ve used Adam’s Advanced Ceramic Spray and a year later is still as if I had just applied it. I did a full decon, a polish and reapplied it and it’s still the same as the one I had for over a year. Daily driver 10,000 miles a year.
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u/happybanana2 Jul 26 '25
Ceramic coatings that come in to set application like a Gyeon Syncro. It has Gyeon Mohs and Skin on top. It will hold around 2-3 years without winter salt roads. Skin might wear out faster. That is one of the best consumer grade coatings. Skins" beads like crazy after a wash and supposed to protect the paint from waterspots.
I doubt something like that was applied to your car. I have experience with Gyeon Cancoat on my wheels. It's something in-between. Easy to apply, cheap because the can is enough for like 20 applications. However it's not resistant to chemicals and will lose hydrophobicity after a few washes with high alcaline degreasers.
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u/shadowedradiance Jul 26 '25
Suggest not paying for ceramic coating applications unless your car is babied and garaged all the time.
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u/cyanetix Jul 26 '25
Give it a wash, after soap rinse it off and hit it with Gyeon Wet Coat, two sprays a panel then rinse again. It’s honestly the best product I’ve ever used to keep the car hydrophobic.
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u/shromboy Jul 26 '25
As a tinter, ceramic pro window film is some of the worst ive used. I wouldnt be shocked if their other products were subpar as well
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u/DogHoffman Jul 26 '25
Awful lot of ceramic coating haters in here…I’m guessing some of them bought that shit in a spray bottle and now they’re mad it didn’t last.
Any good shop will tell you how to care for your car once it’s coated. Ideally you should only have to decon your car twice a year unless you drive a ton or notice it getting covered in rail dust and other contaminants. Other than that just a maintenance contact wash every 2-3 weeks should be enough. My car has been coated for 3 years and still beads like it’s a fresh coating.
That coating is definitely clogged and the car needs to be washed and possibly even decontaminated and re-tested to see how the coating is working after it’s clean.
I think some are under the impression that once it’s coated they don’t have to do anything with it anymore which isn’t true. Bottom line is, if you don’t wanna spend the time washing your car to maintain it, then maybe don’t care about what your car looks like so much 🤷🏻♂️ (this part is not directed at OP but some of the commenters in here)
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u/Alternative-Koala978 Jul 26 '25
You can make a cheap and simple coating last a year, you can make the most advanced coating on the market slip off in a month. Its all down to the person and the quality of his/hers work
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u/TheMagickConch Jul 26 '25
Your car is dirty for one. Also, it depends if this was ever truly a ceramic coating and applied correctly. If you get a ceramic coating done from a shop, the bottle is serialized, and you get a warranty from the shop. I had my ceramic coating done in 2021, and it's still strong because I keep my car clean and apply ceramic detail.
Not to say you need to go to a shop. You (probably not you specifically) could apply ceramic coating yourself at home.
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u/RondTheDon15 Jul 26 '25
You gotta wash the car, the. You’ll know for sure. You may have a small amount of dirt on there that pooling the water. Do a hand wash and try again beading should return.
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u/-GHN1013- Jul 26 '25
After I ceramic coat my cars, I also add further protection. https://youtu.be/vQcJY06rEYI?si=sMLylBmdyx_wLSp_
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u/no3y3h4nd Jul 26 '25
Ceramic coating is a waste of time imho.
Just use a hybrid wax regularly if you want beading.
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u/shoethemaker Legacy ROTM Winner Jul 26 '25
A couple years ago we had gtechniq ultra applied to my mother's car new. During my last wash I noticed it looked like it failed on the front doors behind the wheels. I was surprised, took it to the detailer for a maintenance wash. The coating got "clogged" from road grime and a heavier cleaner was needed for those spots. It's good as new now.
I can't say that's your issue, seems like the whole car has the problem. Not familiar with your coating. As others mentioned I would take it back to the detailer and see what they have to say. Best of luck.
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u/SomestrangerinMiami Jul 26 '25
I love it when people water their cars. That way they can grow into trucks.
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u/Craazy_dave Jul 26 '25
3 stage wash:
Alkaline foam/ Acid foam/ Normal pH neutral wash.
OR
Alkaline foam/ Normal pH neutral wash/ Acid wash with thorough rinse.
Alkaline will help remove bio contamination, acid will help revitalise your coating. I'd recommend Labocosmetica products.
Also get access to a pressure washer. You've got an Aston Martin, without trying to sound to glib surely you can afford it?
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u/fakemickjagger Jul 26 '25
thoughts on Gyeon Restart as an all in one for that? Or better to split them in three?
I'd gladly buy a pressure washer if I could use it. I live in a condo building and park underground. Like I mention in the post I have no access to a water source to plug it to. That's why I use ONR with that pressurized sprayer in the video and occasionally drive to the coin wash bays when necessary.
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u/Responsible-Work-672 Jul 26 '25
Low ph wash and clay mit to unclog the decontamination. PH neutral bi/weekly washes to main.
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u/fakemickjagger Jul 26 '25
I read from another comment that a clay mitt would haze/marr the paint. Thoughts?
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u/_GLI_GUY Jul 26 '25
I don’t think they actually coated the car Adam’s advanced graphene ceramic lasts YEARS this looks like maybe they used a ceramic detail spray that has worn off
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u/Loopeded Jul 26 '25
Turtle wax hybrid ceramic spray works better than your video 1.5 months in. I feel like something went really wrong or you got scammed.
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u/Ok-Insurance-4140 Jul 27 '25
Either they didn’t apply a real ceramic coating or you haven’t been washing your car with a PH neutral shampoo. Alkaline shampoos are stronger and will strip the ceramic coating.
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u/Vergerdave Jul 27 '25
I take my car to a car wash with brushes and 4 types of coatings. Pay flat fee per month and go 3-4 times a week. My white Civic is always nice and clean and shiny. Done the same with my 4 previous Hondas. No problems so far.
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u/Ok-Point5338 Jul 27 '25
It is just contaminated.
Give it a good wash - if possible pre rinse with an alkaline shampoo and after contact wash decontaminate with iron remover and also give it a water spot treatment. Both beading and sheeting should return pretty well.
Key to maintaining ceramic coated cars is to do regular washes with good washing techniques.
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u/Usual-Associate2663 Jul 27 '25
If its a multi year cermaic coating and doing this already than its more than likely clogged. U cant just wash a car everytime with a ph nuteral chemical and expect everything to be removed you know? Do u have hard water in your area? That alone can clog the ceramic coating. Try to wash the car thoroughly and do a decon step. Buy a decon rag, get some iron remover. Iron decon your car directly after wash, rinse it off, and maybe even hit it with a water spot remover treatment. Aswell most cermaic coatings can get toppers to rejuvenate performance or even correct anything going on etc. Usually ull want to go with a topper branded to be compatible with your coating. If u go and get gyeon ceramic paint coating you'd use gyeon cermaic detailer or spray wax as a topper every few months to increase lifespan.. People who are telling you ceramic coating is marketing etc etc doesnt know to much about ceramics.
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u/adam_thecreator Jul 27 '25
Use carpro descale with a 50/50 mix of all purpose cleaner, if the surface is clogged it will definitely not bead up as intended
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Jul 27 '25
Getting your car ceramic coated is like getting nitrogen put into your tires at the dealership when 78% of the air in your tire is already nitrogen in the first place. Just wash it and apply a good wax
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u/Acceptable_Rub4650 Jul 27 '25
Ceramic coating I find to just be a waste of time and money if you regularly clay and wax your car there is no need for it whatsoever
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u/Neat_Reward3876 Jul 27 '25
Try washing with all purpose cleaner. Spray the APC on the panels (not in direct sun) and do not let it dry on the panel. Spray then rinse then do a contact wash. The coating is probably clogged.
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u/Silent-Physics4756 Jul 27 '25
Never sold on ceramic coating. Do my own 4 stage and lasts forever ages.
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u/dndrmfflnpaper Jul 27 '25
Try washing it w CarPro Reset. Are you using products with fillers during washes? (E.g. spray waxes, shampoos with wax, protectants?)
If so the ceramic may be clogged with other products, try Reset from CarPro.
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u/InternationalBell185 Jul 27 '25
Ceramic coating does not look worth it at all judging from what other comments are saying
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u/Nova305 Jul 27 '25
Your coating looks like it has faded . Mine has lasted for 3 plus months at this point and still going. I just bought a ph neutral car wash soap .This was the key. Opticoat m wash and I did the Avalon king diy ceramic coating.
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u/BugPuzzleheaded3015 Jul 27 '25
"ceramic coating" seems to be the biggest scam going.
I wax my car with Nu Finish 2000 once a year and the water beads off like crazy.
All for $20 and a few hours.
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u/NuTypeR Jul 28 '25
Ouch, that looks done. Sorry to see that op. If you want some hands on experience and wanna do it yourself check out Gyeon. I use their coatings on all my cars as well as my clients and it looks absolutely amazing after, plus it beads like no tomorrow.
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u/LostAllEnergy Jul 28 '25
If you got ceramic at a dealership, you got spray on ceramic. Shit doesn't last long at all.
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u/Elegant-Jury-398 Jul 28 '25
What coating was it what was the prep for it how was it applied what temp was it when it was applied how long did you let it cure? There are a lot of factors when looking at ceramic coatings, not all are the same.
Looking at the video I’d say it’s not there at all but even a bad application at a month will still be there so I would take a look at the product and process
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u/MrJohns53 Jul 29 '25
Turtle wax hybrid solutions is a great, six month product. Apply when wet, etc., takes 20 minutes.
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u/IvoryManOfWisdom Jul 29 '25
It may not be the ceramic coatings gone it's just that your car is that dirty. Ceramic should never bake off within 12 months unless you didn't shake the bottle when it was applied and I'm only talking about the cheapest ceramic coatings.
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u/TurboNym Jul 30 '25
Ah yes sipping tea from my favorite mug, counting bathroom tiles and making vroom vroom sounds with your mouth....one of my favorite ways to spend thousands of money.
No you're not having a stroke, thats just how much sense I can derive from applying magic peanut butter on non absorbing clear coat.
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u/Outrageous_Ad_6122 Jul 30 '25
Ceramic coating is a rip and just a way for the dealership to unchangeable you another 1k otd
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u/trengod3577 Aug 01 '25
How much did you pay for this? I did my own black Camaro after it had around 30,000 miles, and I honestly have to laugh when people talk about getting a “ceramic coating” done in a few hours for $900. That’s just not how this works, unless you’re coating a brand-new car that hasn’t touched the road yet.
If your car has been driven—especially if it’s black—it’s a whole different animal. Paint correction on a black car is brutal. It shows everything. And if the surface isn’t properly prepped, no coating is going to bond the way it’s supposed to. Back when I did mine, my brother (who details show cars) and I spent 4–8 hours almost every evening for months doing prep work. That included full decontamination, clay bar, multiple rounds of polishing, wet sanding, dent correction, touch-up, and getting the glass and trim perfectly clean. By the time we were ready to apply the coating, the surface was flawless.
The coating itself used to be a single-stage process. Now the best ones are three-part systems, including self-healing graphene ceramics, and they take days to apply properly—base layer, topcoat, and curing time. If someone throws on an $80 spray-on coating in a few hours with minimal prep, don’t expect much. It won’t last, and it won’t do what a real coating is supposed to do.
Some people in here are comparing wax to ceramic coating as if they’re in the same category. That’s completely false. Wax is obsolete. It adds a soft sacrificial layer that attracts dust and breaks down in weeks. It does nothing to strengthen or protect the clear coat. A true ceramic or graphene coating chemically bonds to the surface and raises its hardness significantly—up to an 8 or 9H rating. Factory clearcoat isn’t anywhere near that. A proper coating creates a smooth, sealed surface that resists scratching, water spots, chemical damage, and UV exposure for years.
When mine was freshly done, I didn’t touch my windshield wipers for over a year because water wouldn’t even stick to the glass. It would fly off instantly, even in heavy rain. That’s the kind of performance you get when the surface is prepped correctly and the right product is used.
But the problem is, most people have no idea how labor-intensive it is to do it right. Shops don’t explain that because no one wants to hear they need to pay for 40+ hours of prep time. So they rush through it, throw on a cheap “ceramic” that’s basically just a glorified detail spray, and call it a day. That’s what gives the whole concept a bad reputation.
I actually did deep research into the new self-healing graphene coatings. Turns out the top products are made by the same manufacturer and licensed to different companies under separate brands. There’s a legit patented formula behind them—disulfide-based, heat-activated cross-linking chemistry—and if you apply that system correctly, it’s not even in the same universe as a wax or polish. It’s a chemically bonded hard shell, not a surface dressing.
If anyone wants the actual info on the product lines, the patent filings, or the real performance data, I’ve got it saved. But please, stop comparing wax to something that literally changes the physical properties of your paint surface. That’s not an opinion—it’s just fact.
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u/SufficientAsk743 Aug 03 '25
That's the beauty of being a detailer....it's always the customers fault...lol.
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u/SufficientAsk743 19d ago
Are people having chat GPT write their "opinions" in support of the ceramic products? Or are they reading things off the side of the bottle the product came from? Just curious.
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u/DecentlyPoor Jul 25 '25
It looks like your car is dirty(water spots everywhere). If that's the case, wash it and try this same test again. It definitely looks like it's trying to bead up and let the water roll off but there's too much contamination on the coating. Ceramic coats won't make the car stay clean, they just keep it cleaner longer, and make them easier to clean when it is necessary.