PPF care products

[Steve997]

Anyone have any recommendations for products to look after paint protection film. Sealants, waxes etc.?

 

[T8]

I scrolled down the thread titles in this sub-forum and found this.

--> http://911uk.com/viewtopic.php?t=136272&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=

 

[Jungle650]

You can go to town with fancy sealants or even specific ceramic coatings, but in all honesty you really dont have to. Ofcourse if you want to spend the money on them go for it. Many you can apply yourself or you can pay to have a professional grade sealant / ceramic coating applied. But on PPF I personally dont see the point. The paintwork is sealed in, so you cant enhance the gloss or reduce swirls like you can from treating paintwork. But you can improve the touch and slickness.

In many ways you can treat PPF the same as paint work. Just wash it as normal and apply a wax or quick detail spray to it. With PPF its good to apply something like a quick detail spray onto it to give it a little bit of slickness after every wash. Something like Bilt Hamber QD, Infinity Wax Rapid Detailer or Carpro Exlir for example. There are ofcourse many more options at varying price points. Out of the box PPF is a bit grabby so applying something over the top to add some slickness will make it easier to keep clean, nicer to touch and make it just that little bit harder for dirt to stick to it. Some of it will depend how often you clean your car and where it is stored. For example mine is garaged and cleaned every week if not more often so adding a little bit of QD spray after a wipe down / wash helps to keep the slickness and everything looking its best.

Any light swirls that you might see physically in the film, just stick your car out in the sun and with the latest PPF films it will disappear. Its wonder stuff.

The only down side to PPF film is that you get little enjoyment out of waxing a car (as it doesnt really add gloss or hide marks anymore as the film is already doing that) and you need to pay special attention to any edges which can attract and accumulate dirt.

Hope that helps a little
Jungle

 

[Steve997]

Great info guys thank you.

I m after something to help with water run off / beading and stop contaminants sticking to the film to help with washing.

I also want a product to enhance the gloss, as I've only got a front end PPF kit fitted and the rest of the bodywork is treated to Soft99 Fusso wax with King of Gloss LSP on top, so it really shines and I don't want one half of the car super glossy and the other half not :dont know:

 

[Jungle650]

Any half decent quick detail spray / spray wax will offer all of the properties you are looking for ....short term ... ( Water run off / Beading / stop contaminants sticking ). You could apply an SIO2 based sealant / Ceramic spray sealant which will offer a tad more durability ie rather than a few weeks more like a few months to possibly up to 6 months. Plenty of brands to choose from, everything from Turtle Wax or Meguiars Ultimate Fast Finish offerings to Gtechniq C2 / 303 Graphene Nano Spray coating. But as mentioned if you are cleaning the car regularly, adding a quick detail spray to help dry the car really doesnt add any time to the cleaning process and offers the properties you desire. There are plenty of brands offering something in this space, I have listed a few of my favourites but the choice is wide along with the price bracket. There is also no reason why you cant add Fusu ontop of the PPF.

Paintwork will always look a little different to PPF'd panels, dependent on colour and condition of the paint work and age / condition of the PPF. Dependent on the PPF film used ( they have different thickness and clarity levels ) some will exhibit more orange peel effect than others. In the vast majority of cases most people however cant tell the difference unless really analysing a car or its pointed out to them through a detailers eye.

One thing you have not mentioned is the age of the PPF. Presuming its relatively new ie sub 5 years old then it should be good with just a QD / Sealant / Ceramic coating ontop... each at its own budget level with the main difference as you move up the scale durability. Unless the PPF is old do not be tempted to machine compound/polish it. Compound and polishing the latest films by machine will potentially remove the self healing layer which is only a few microns thick. Whilst you can polish films I would not recommend it without extreme caution. If the film is the older generation and has lost clarity / mild yellowing you can polish it and this will help improve the look of the older film as these will not have the heeling properties of the new items. If its new best leave alone polishing wise, just add a nice topper for your desired beading / dirt repellent properties.

Hope that helps
Jungle

 

[Steve997]

Thanks for all the help Jungle650 :thumb: really appreciate it.

Unfortunately I do not know the manufacturer or history of the PPF installed, as I purchased the car used and it was already installed by a previous owner (probably the original owner in 2016). The PPF looks quite thick and in good condition so I assume its of good quality and has been cared for correctly.

I have some Mequirs Quik Detailer spray that I purchased a while back and never used. I noticed you said it can be used to help dry the car. Excuse the stupid question, but do i basically spray this on the car after rinsing, post wash and then wipe down with a drying towel?

 

[Jungle650]

Exactly this.... Dependent on your method and equipment... Personally I blow the excess water from the car then start to dry it, especially on flat horizontal services- bonnet, roof etc and areas like wing mirrors where water can congregate. Lightly mist a panel with a spray detailer and dry one panel at a time moving around the car and repeating the process. This will add a small additional amount of lubrication when drying the car with a towel/microfibre cloth. You can stop there or...For best results have two microfibre towels and gently mist a panel with one / two sprays then wipe into the panel then follow up with second towel to buff to a shine on a dry panel. At this stage you should have a nice gloss on the car, a slick finish (dependent on the QD/sealant used) and ofcourse some basic protection on the car. Any issues with most QD/spray sealants where you struggle to buff can be resolved with a third slightly damp cloth which is used to reengage the product then buff dry with your buffing towel.

Its personal choice on these things, and ofcourse how far you want to go in terms of protecting the car, reducing marring / swirls which are induced as part of the cleaning and in the majority of cases the actual drying process... Hence the use of a QD spray to help with lubrication. Many QD sprays can be watered down into another bottle to be used in the drying process rather than using them neat ( which ofcourse you can do, but you may find you get through product quickly which then ofcourse becomes expensive)

Its a rabbit hole, so apologies for opening up pandoras box. If you are just popping down to your local Halfords and looking at products there are a few which are cost effective and quite often on a deal.

For example -

Carplan - Spray on Demon Shine - as your drying aid / QD
Meguairs - Ultimate Waterless Wax as your final topper / QD spray - dont be fooled by the name - a very versatile product.

Other brands which offer good products but you need to purchase either direct or from places like Slimsdetailing / in2detailing etc are:

Carpro - Reload great sealant / already mentioned Exlir as QD but they also offer a nice shampoo - Reset. Tyre shine also one of the best out there - Pearl

Bilt Hamber- most of their products are very cost effective as they can be watered down but they are also excellent and a UK company that make and produce all of their products- Great QD product and Touchless for your snowfoam etc.

I'll stop there !

All the best
Jungle

 

[Steve997]

Great info and really helpful. Thanks

Great tip on using the QD to add lubrication when drying and I will definitely be giving this ago.

I would like to buy a dryer is there any you particularly recommend that don't break the bank for home detailing?

Regards adding extra protection. I did some google research after reading your earlier post on using a "SIO2 based sealant / Ceramic spray sealant " and found this product which reads well.

https://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/products/gyeon-q2-cancoat-evo?_pos=7&_sid=6ce202fcf&_ss=r :

 

[Jungle650]

There are dedicated car dryers from firms like Bigboi or Metrovac. These range from £100-£300. I personally use the Metrovac Side Blaster which can be bought for circa £100. Had it years and its been rock solid reliable. I use it for wheels, wing mirrors, bonnet / roof and nooks and crannies- front grill for example. Its also small enough to use inside of the car to blow dust / dirt out from underneath the seat etc so it can be vacummed up.

Plenty of people however just use a small cordless leaf blower these days which will do a similar job, main difference is the Master Blaster provides warm air vs a leaf blower which will be cold air. Flex offer a great small cordless product for about £100. Other cheaper options will be found at your local garden centre / diy store but these will probably be a lot lot bulkier.

With regards to the Product you listed - yes that will work. Generally speaking you cant go too far wrong with companies like Gyeon, G-Technic or Carpro. That will be a once/ twice a year application product, rather than every week etc.

But dont discount the likes of Turtle Wax / Meguiars which have both upped their game and brought out some excellent products and can be bought from places like Halfords at half the money or less of the above. For example the Ceramic and Hybrid range from Turtle Wax, the Sealant (black bottle) is a great buy at sub £10.

Some of this stuff is like perfume or wine, you can pay £5, £10, £25, £50+ for a bottle. Just because its expensive or cheap for that matter, it does not mean that it will not perform... its all personal taste. Ive had great wines at <£10 a bottle that far out taste a £50 bottle, just like I have had £5 bottles which were as bad as you might expect. Thats the same for car detailing products... I have literally spent thousands over the years and I am now starting to reduce things down to just my favourites rather than trying all the latest and supposed greatest items out there. Over the past 5 years the car cleaning "” erm I mean 'detailing ' scene has exploded with every Tom, Dick and Harry having a go. Also tons of new brands and products. So it can be a bit of a mine field. Just don't be fooled into thinking the more you spend the better the product will be as that is not always the case and generally there is a sweet spot price wise for most things.

Just one more point worth mentioning ...All of these products can be applied to the wheels as well as the bodywork of the car which will make cleaning them easier going forward on a regular basis as well... I use Rapid Detailer from Infinity Wax for example everywhere bar the windscreen. Great product, easy to apply, provides a nice gloss/ hydrophobic finish and smells great in the process.


Jungle

 

[911Time]

Lots of great advice from Jungle650!

A liquid detailer, or gloss enhancer, is always a good idea on PPF because it's so much easier & faster to work with and MOST importantly, won't damage the film, or leave a dirty wax build-up at the edges - which can be a real PITA to remove!!

I used to enjoy the whole polishing/waxing process but being old and decrepit have moved on to liquid ceramics/sealants. My 991 has PPF with Gtechniq Ceramic but I use Gtechniq Liquid Crystal as a renewable 'top-coat' and you could do the same - it gives a nice shine, can be layered for extra depth and lasts about 6 months, so I only need to clean (see below) and re-apply this final layer twice a year, then use Gtechniq QD, at the end of each wash - to dry off (after a 0ppm rinse & blower) exactly as Jungle described.

Nowadays, there are a range of specialist cleaners for PPF, from the major car-care brands but whilst modern PPF is more durable than the original stuff, you should avoid anything that contains Petroleum Distillate, which can damage the PPF and cause it to yellow!!

My own cleaning regime, once or twice a year before applying the sealant, is a full snow-foam, two bucket wash, 0ppm rinse and blower dry (out of the sun) followed by:

1) Clay Bar Decontamination: Use a Chemical Guys clay bar 'Light' (very fine) OR Sonus Ultrafine and QD spray to lube sections of each panel - making sure to fold the clay inwards regularly, or use a new piece and taking great care to avoid the PPF edges (or you'll end up with another nuisance job) - this will remove any bonded contaminants and make the surface slick, smooth and ready for the next step.

NB: People think you can't clay PPF, you can but just need to use a fine/ultra-fine bar, plenty of lube and avoid those exposed edges.

2) Use one of the dedicated PPF cleaners - either the Xpel one mentioned in T8's link or from Bilt Hamber, Gyeon etc to clean one panel at a time, before spritzing with distilled water and drying off.

3) Apply Gtechniq Liquid Crystal C2V3 to a clean MF and apply to part of a panel, before wiping off the excess with a clean MF and over-laying each pass slightly as you go. After a few minutes, finish each panel with a final buff, using another clean MF, to enhance the gloss before moving on.

Unless you feel particularly wedded to your existing wax regime, you could just use Liquid Crystal on the whole car but I appreciate waxing can become a religion (I remember), so whatever you feel comfortable with. Either way enjoy.

 

[Steve997]

Thanks guys.

I have read all the info which is really helpful and informative and this is what I propose to do so please let me know what you think.

FYI I have chosen most of the products, apart from the items marked (New Purchase) as these are what I already have in the garage.

STARTING POINT and then EVERY 6 MONTHS

1. Pre-wash car with BH Auto Foam

2. Two Bucket Wash with BH Auto Wash

3. Rinse

4. Dry with Metrovac Side Blaster (New Purchase)

5. Claybar with BH Soft Claybar and use Meguiars Ultimate Quick Detailer as lubricant

6. Apply Gtechniq Liquid Crystal C2V3 (New Purchase)


Regular Routine every 1 or 2 weeks

1. Pre-wash car with BH Auto Foam

2. Two Bucket Wash with BH Auto Wash

3. Rinse

4. Dry with Meguiars Ultimate Quick Detailer and MF towel

5. Final dry with Metrovac Side Blaster (New Purchase)


What does that sound like as a maintenance programme for both paint and PPF ?

Anything else I should be adding to my shopping list apart from Metrovac Side Blaster and Gtechniq Liquid Crystal C2V3 ?

 

[Jungle650]

You can use your shampoo or snowfoam as a lubricant for the clay bar (just throw the clay bar it into a jug of hot water 15-20mins before you need it). Thats much cheaper than using a dedicated QD spray and quicker in terms of process as you wash the car then clay bar it. No point it drying it to get it wet again.

If you do not have already get yourself a decent wash mitt and some grit guards for the buckets. Also if you are going to the trouble of clay barring it, may I suggest you also purchase something like Carpro IronX. That way you have the chemical and mechanical decontamination process covered.

Otherwise good to go.

 

[911Time]

Sounds like a good plan and again Jungle650 has you covered.

My only suggestion, would be to consider investing in a water filter if you don't already have one. Drying with a blower helps get water out of crevices but as Jungle mentioned, the decent ones warm the air and if you live somewhere with hard water, can actually create water spots.

A good 0ppm (zero part per million) filter, will prevent hard water (calcified) deposits - which can be stubborn to remove from PPF and save the need to race around like a lunatic, on a hot day. Just follow the wash cycle (with normal water) with a final rinse with 0ppm water.

I use a Race Glaze 14 litre unit, which if used every 2 weeks, lasts me about 4-6 months. Once you've invested in the filter, you can refill it with new media (beads). An inexpensive electronic tester, sold by Race Glaze tells me the water's ppm level, so I know when to change.

Wow it's easy spending other people's money :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Steve997]

Thanks guys

Jungle

I will order a new wash mitt and get some grits guards also, as Ive been meaning too for a while. Greta tip on clay bar too :thumb:

911Time

fortunately I live in a soft water area so hopefully ok on that front, thanks :thumb: