I’m looking for something that will allow water to run off rather than bead up. I just bought a 2023 XLE AWD the end of September and when it rains the hood looks dirty after from the water beading up.
Best car wax?
LdyDee
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Care to decipher what your definition of a deionizer is? Is that are reverse osmosis unit? And what is ONR.....
I was thinking really of just for rinse of the salt on the top and hose down the under carriage. My thought (right or wrong) was that using distilled water would severly reduce my chance of hard water spots since I wasnt really going to touch the paint with a mitt.
I am still a bit petrified of messing up the waterless wash (even though its a proven method and many many people do it). I do use the two bucket method with grit guards.
ONR = Optimium No Rinse. Very popular product used in waterless washes.
Nu Finish NFP-80 paste is top rated by Consumer Reports followed by Meguiar's NXT Generation Tech Wax 2.0 then Nu Finish NF-76 liquid. The Nu Finish products have the best durability ratings at 5/5 and 4/5 respectively. The Meguiars has only a 2/5 durability rating. I've been using Nu Finish products for years. Twice yearly applications are all that's needed.
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My car is ceramic coated, and I have the same issue. Here is my conclusion. Water runs off of the rest of the car since all other panels besides the hood are not horizontal, but at an angle. I don’t know what’s happening on the roof since the car is much taller than I am. Since the hood is more or less flat, the water beads rather than runs off. Only suggestion I can make is if your car is garage kept, have a leaf blower handy to blow the water off.
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That may be the case for over the counter products. I have read that it smells bad, stains trim and dusts. Some have even said it is difficult to buff off. It may be just fine for the average consumer. I won't use it personally.
Don't use a leaf blower unless it is dedicated exclusively to your car and not yard work. You're blowing all that junk all over your car. I use a car dryer that filters the air and heats it 30 degrees over ambient.
The OP isn't going to find anything where the water and dirt is all going to roll off. It is just the nature of the beast. There is a whole science to proper car washing.
I used it years ago. It was a chore (compared to stuff used today) and I remember you missed and got it on trim...tough luck to ya!
What does the added temp do, just enhance evaporation? I use a cheap Harbor Freight blower and thats is sole job. That and the SiO2 stuff I use makes water removal easy peasy. But again, like several have stated before, prep prep prep makes it all "easy" on the day to day upkeep.
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Yes, it just makes the water dissipate quicker. If it is 60 degrees outside it supposedly heats the air to 90 degrees as an example. I have never actually measured the temperature. That is just what is advertised in the product description. It was a tool that I had a hard time buying being it is expensive. After I bought it I wondered why I waited so long.
Most tools are that way. You think of them as a luxury as there are cheaper methodologies. Then you get the tool and do a head palm as to why you waited.
I find it relaxing to do the work. No brain power required. Plus once you get it all pointed the same direction its easier to deal with. Plus nothing makes you smile when you see a freshly completed car and its just so glassy (I use SiO2 stuff; not ceramic due to the bird issues around me).
SiO2 is Silicon Dioxide the same thing as the protective ingredient in the ceramic coating. The difference is in the other chemicals used to adhere the SiO2 to the surface of the car.
True Ceramic coatings use a solvent base to apply so the protection last longer. The spray on SiO2 is a water base that has a shorter life span.
Here's where there is more information. Ceramic vs SiO2
As the video point out the spray does about the same as the expert applied coating if you follow the directions but doesn't last as long. For people like the Colonel and myself this isn't a problem as we both enjoy working to keep our RAVs clean and shiny.
True Ceramic coatings use a solvent base to apply so the protection last longer. The spray on SiO2 is a water base that has a shorter life span.
Here's where there is more information. Ceramic vs SiO2
As the video point out the spray does about the same as the expert applied coating if you follow the directions but doesn't last as long. For people like the Colonel and myself this isn't a problem as we both enjoy working to keep our RAVs clean and shiny.
It is also common, ordinary, beach sand. Also it is what window glass is made from.
Nope sorry Silica is a compound and is in glass and beach sand. Silicon is an Element. found on the Periodic Chart.
Silica vs silicon
huh? I never mentioned Silicon. Quote from your reference: "Silica is a compound made out of silicon and oxygen atoms. Silica is the name given for silicon dioxide. The molecular formula of silica is SiO2. "
Silicon dioxide, Si02, is plane beach sand that is melted to form glass. You said SiO2 was used to make ceramic coating.
While I have the spray (Wolfgang Silica Spray), I use it as a booster. I do the liquid (Wolfgang) spring and fall with an orbital.
And yes, relaxing. 🙂
I've been using the Nu Finish products for years. They don't smell. They are not for textured surfaces. No wax will work on a textured surface as the was has to dry to harden to protect it so the residue is difficult to remove. I suppose you can use a brush. Wiping the excess from smooth surfaces is easy.
I think it depends on what is "rough". Much of the finish panels on the RAV4 are textured, certainly not smooth like the painted surfaces. I have used this on them and, yes, you do need to remove any excess with a soft cloth: https://www.amazon.com/Turtle-Wax-Colour-Magic-Polish/dp/B06Y6MDFJZ?th=1
Where all this "colored wax" products got started was years (decades) ago when many cars had vinyl tops (remember those). The vinyl tops would discolor in the sun and could only be made to look nice with "colored wax". It came in a flat can and looked like black shoe polish. True wax does not harden or dry; only the "vehicle" used to keep them soft in the can will evaporate.
I still have to use something on my Porsche from time to time. The roll bar is vinyl, but the top (removable) is just heavily textured (pebble) fiber glass. I use the Color Magic to keep it looking good.
I also use Color Magic on the slightly textured bumper strips which are just rubber.
All the various Turtle Wax sprays (Pro Graphene, spray ceramic, Seal&Shine, old regular spray wax ) can be used on all the rough textured plastic trim on the LE, XLE sub models of RAV4. You just spray the bumpers and trim and wipe it around and buff it with a microfiber towel. The TW sprays don't leave a white residue in depressions in the trim surface. They keep that trim from color bleaching.
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