Aftercare for Gtechniq ceramic coating etc

[jeffpeck]

For those of you with cars that have had Gtechniq ceramic coatings/treatments etc I'd like to know how you clean your cars from week to week. For instance, do you get a detailer in every week to wash etc? Do you do it yourselves with bucket & sponge or do you go to the hand car wash that charges £5 down the road? I'm having my car treated in a few weeks time and need advice on aftercare.
Many thanks
Jeff

 

[pwebb]

None of the above Jeff!

The 'two bucket method' works well. Use a ph neutral shampoo (Gtechniq do a good one). I power wash the car down, then spray on some snow foam and leave it for a couple of minutes to soften any dirt. Fill two large buckets with warm water and put some shamp0o in one. Then wash with a Gtechniq mitt, starting at the top of the car and working down. Rinse the mitt out in the clean water bucket each time. I have an old mitt that I use for the cills and wheels. I also use wheel woolies for cleaning between the spokes. Then a rinse off and dry with a waffle weave towel. Job done.

That way you won't introduce any major scratches to your expensive finish, and most of the dirt will have gone before you use the mitt anyway as it doesn't stick to the ceramic coating. Then your finish should last a couple of years between top ups.

Here's a link to one of many suppliers of all the above with enough to get you going:

http://www.cleanyourcar.c...are-kit/prod_1442.html
http://www.cleanyourcar.c...ush-kit/prod_1037.html

 

[tscaptain]

All of the above! Mine is nearly two years since the last Gtechniq treatment and the water still flows off to leave a few blobs to mop up with a microfibre.
If you still own a sponge and chammy do the right thing and throw them in the bin![]

 

[Ivan Ford]

I have had all my cars detailed and treated with Gtechniq products for a few years now. I'm very happy with the results and for me it's money well spent. I agree with all the above, the less you rub at the paint finish the better.
My car is a hobby car and not driven every day, for me I find that most of the dirt just washes off with the pressure washer, I hardly ever need to use a lambswool mitt. I dry it with a blaster, so most of the water is blown off and finish off with microfiber a drying towel.
You're not supposed to, but I regularly wax over the top of the sealant, just because I like doing it, it doesn't improve the shine or water beading.

 

[keithn]

The advice in the several posts above is spot on. No to a bucket and sponge and definitely no to the £5 job down the road! I have had several cars detailed from acquisition/new to include finishing with Gtechniq coatings. The only thing I do in addition to the first (excellent) reply above is to periodically use Gtechniq C2 as a top up - especially on the daily drivers. It is easy to apply and keeps the water beading off. Last piece of input - I would only use a Gtechniq accredited detailer to apply the coating (if using Crystal Serum).

 

[Lancerlot]

The £5 hand job is definitely a no no!
Regards
Clive

 

[tscaptain]

I like the idea of getting a detailer in every week to wash the car. Must have a word with the butler to get that sorted.

 

[M666LMJ]

We just get our butler 'Jeeves' to take ours to the valeters every Tuesday. Without fail. Upon pain of death.

 

[jeffpeck]

A reply for all and to each contributor of this thread;

pwebb - Peter - your very prompt and detailed post I found most helpful. I will be investing in a second bucket. Of the two links you posted the one ending 1442 doesn't seem to work. Could you repost it again please?

tscaptain - my sponge and chammy's days are numbered.

Briggy - Brian - excellent advice and info, much appreciated

Ivan Ford - if you're 'waxing because you like it' you need to get out more! Made me laugh - thanks for that.

Keithn - I will definitely be using an accredited Gtechniq detailer.

Lancerlot - Clive - my wife also advised against the £5 handjob!

M666LMJ - Is Jeeves still alive? Of course, I'm gathering all this advice not for me you understand but for my man, Carruthers.

Thank you all for the great and honest advice and for the smiles I've had when reading some of the replies.

Happy driving - Jeff

 

[pwebb]

A reply for all and to each contributor of this thread;

pwebb - Peter - your very prompt and detailed post I found most helpful. I will be investing in a second bucket. Of the two links you posted the one ending 1442 doesn't seem to work. Could you repost it again please?

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/complete-detailing-kits/gtechniq-aftercare-kit/prod_1442.html

Try that, Jeff. A good starter kit.

 

[stevebu]

The £5 hand job is definitely a no no!
Regards
Clive

I've heard £5 well spent provided it includes the blow off at the end.

 

[991JAW]

The before care is just as important so the car will need to be fully detailed before the coating is applied if not you are really wasting your money. Mine took three days from start to finish even though it was only a couple of weeks old.
Dewax and wash
Full detail and second wash
Allowed to dry overnight- then the coating applied and allowed to dry fully.
But I must point out that if the coating has been applied badly then the ONLY way to get it off is with wet sanding ….. This is no joke!!!!
All my cars have had the Gtechniq coating by Lee Mitchell at extremedetailing.co.uk who is a great guy and who has used the Gtechniq rang for a long time ( see his advert in Porsche post )
Then once the car has been washed and dry I would recommend the Gtechniq quick detailer just to add a top up shine and protection – just mist on and buff off.
Here’s a link for a car washing guide
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_vd6oKKMws
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITXtCS9Jf2Q just a Sunday morning washing guide.