Use this popup to embed a mailing list sign up form. Lower 48 States Only. Many people were raving about it online and I could tell even in some of the pictures I saw that they didnt look like typical coatings. Perhaps the biggest benefit to ceramic coating a vehicle is how much easier it is to clean up. Most ceramic coatings offer the wildest water beading out there. If an item has not been delivered yet, please allow 5-7 working days after Australia Post or courier has started process of tracking and locating parcel before we can refund or send out another item.We will notify you by email or Phone once you have been refunded. Removal just takes more time, more wiping, and youll likely need to swap out your towels to clean ones more often. Work the product into the applicator for an even saturation. This characteristic also makes bonded contaminants such as tree sap, tar, and hard water spots, easy to remove.Unlike mainstream wax and organic polymer coatings, Serum Light can resist much higher and lower temperatures. CSL can be removed by compounding. Car Buffers, Polishers & Pads - 15% OFF Select Polishers & Polisher Kits! Theyll probably still be on there, but they come off easily rather than bonding to the paint. There are swirl marks in some of the tighter areas but Im not sure I can place the blame on the coating. Exo however, is going on top of a protective coating. This is a hard one to test in the real world. You may have heard many people complain about dealing with water spots on coated vehicles. It was partly my fault for being too rough with it (I wanted to test it, after all).
Exo V3 however, just cant handle that type of aggression and might even need to be reapplied over the coatings lifespan. Crystal Serum Light is the base coat that provides the majority of protection and scratch resistance. The reason for this is because the coating is stronger and more difficult to remove should something go wrong with the application. Leaving the plastic lens bare after sanding and polishing them will cause them to turn cloudy and yellow again in about a week. We are promised dramatic water beading. Its a great ceramic coating that offers exceptional slickness and protection. The way the coating rejects any contaminants that want to stick to the surface is impressive. Combined with the sun, they dry the minerals in the water onto the surface, leaving watermarks. Im no stranger to having dirt and mud splattered on my 4runner. I dont know that Ill be able to avoid drive-thru touchless car washes over the winter. If you are approved, then your refund will be processed, and a credit will automatically be applied to your credit card or original method of payment, within 3 days. How long it lasts depends greatly on how the vehicle is treated during that time. To quote Gtechniq: It has a consistent film that is more durable and resistant to road salt and wash chemicals than its predecessors. Its not the end of the world, but again, its time consuming. I thought it was going to be a nightmare to clean them off but it really wasnt bad at all. Remember, inspection is super important when applying a ceramic coating. Its too soon for me to tell. One key tip regarding getting the longest life out of these coatings is to try to keep them as clean as you can. I think we can assume which of the 2 previous owners was responsible for that. Once the paint is perfected, bring the vehicle indoors (garage), where it must stay for 12 hours after application.
Going forward, when a vehicle tends to get dirty break the pressure washer out and attack it that way. High spots are the biggest concern if you get things wrong. You can tell it doesnt want to stick to the surface at all.
Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you may vary.If you are shipping an item over $50, we recommend using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. On the subject of chemical resistance, I have to talk about Exo V3 and its durability (or lack thereof). If you go at a slow time, you can always bring your own soap and mitt so you can keep your coating healthy. We also believe that we source the Best Car Detailing products in Australia. Gtechniq offers one called GWash. When it comes to adding gloss, resisting swirls, contaminant and dirt repellency, Gtechniq Crystal Serum and Crystal Serum Light are the pinnacle in paint protection. But Im willing to bet that those peoples vehicles will have high spots and areas of uncorrected paint if you look at them in the right lighting. The original owner was a lawyer and I could tell she had it detailed regularly. With that said, 100% perfection is rarely achievable for the average vehicle. It was most informative and helpful. The difference is that simply spraying water at the paint goes a much longer way than if the vehicle is uncoated.
The items must be unopened and in original condition and packaging otherwise it'll be returned at buyers expense. But in real-world lighting conditions, it honestly looks like its been freshly polished. No, wax wont hurt your coating. The layer of Exo on top provides the hydrophobic properties (water beading) and some extra gloss.
The average person wouldnt be able to tell the difference between the appearance of this and wax. Leave vehicle indoors for at least 12 hours while GTechniq Crystal Serum Light cures. Im afraid that some of these companies have gotten so caught up in competing with each other that theyre offering us things we dont actually need just to one-up each other. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Original Shipping costs are non-refundable. The same swirl marks that would show up 1 year after a paint correction on a waxed car might take 3 or 4 years to appear on a coated car.
Continue around the vehicle until entire surface is coated. Id say that in this case, Crystal Serum Light did a great job. If Im able to get it out with a quick pass at a low speed, that might mean that Ive been able to take just the peak of the high spot off leaving the rest of the coating untouched. Soak the included applicator pad with two drops of product from the provided dropper. Youll notice that I specifically referred to Exo as V3 throughout this review. Of course, Gtechniq recommends using their C2V3 spray with Crystal Serum Light and Exo. Its parked outside year round, driven in our salty Ontario winters, taken off-road, used as a daily driver, and left dirty for weeks, sometimes months at a time. To apply CSL your vehicle must be indoors and it must remain indoors for at least 12 hours after application, Ambient conditions must be above 3 degrees C and below 25 C, Wash and then decontaminate your vehicles paintwork with Gtechniq W5 Citrus All Purpose Cleaner and W6 Iron and General Fallout Remover. Not anymore.
Gtechniq states that Crystal Serum Light is 80% as good as Crystal Serum Ultra. Speaking of the wash process, lets talk a bit about soaps and shampoos.
This is a fun one and probably the thing that sells coatings the most. Then when paired with exo makes a great dream team. In comparison, Gtechniq Crystal Serum Light and Exo are much more straight forward to apply. My general rule is to double the number of passes I did when applying CSL to really work it into the surface. Thanks for stopping by! Ive been using it as a drying aid after washing and applying a very small amount. Potential high spots like to hide until you pull the vehicle out into the sun, then BAM. One thing I must admit though is that I found I was much more likely to remove any contaminants ASAP without giving them too much time to sit on the surface. While both the Harley and 4runner look amazing in real-world lighting conditions, they were never completely free of scratches from the get-go. CSU usually requires wet sanding. Great shine and durability. I also have a few new deeper scratches from parking lots despite always parking far away (people suck). I started Canadian Gearhead to share my passion for Toyotas and my love for taking ridiculously good care of them. Better than most of the other ceramic coatings Ive seen on the market. They resist temperatures as low as -40o to as high as +250o C. 5430 West State Street GTechniq EXO and Crystal Serum Light Kit - 30mL. Is a 20% increase in performance really worth having to pay a professional $1,000+ to apply Ultra rather than applying CSL yourself? check out the. To be clear, using traditional carnauba wax, spray wax, or polymer paint sealant on top of your ceramic coating is not recommended. Its worth noting that the longer CSL is allowed to cure, the more its going to want to reject the Exo coating (its chemical resistant after all, and it doesnt know that we want Exo on top!). It offers 80% of professional Serum Ultras performance, but if applied incorrectly can be machine polished from your vehicles paintwork.When it comes to adding gloss, resisting swirls, contaminant and dirt repellency, GTECHNIQ Crystal Serum Ultra and Serum Light are the pinnacle in paint protection.Serum Light forms an ultra-durable, high-gloss, slick to the touch, chemically bonding inorganic layer of 9h optically clear ceramic. You say that the strong cleaners stripped the EXO, resulting in no water beading whatsoever, but that CSL is still there. Bugs can be a bit of a pain to clean off especially if you leave them for a while. Its good to know that Crystal Serum Light stood its ground and wasnt phased by the stronger cleaner at all. Highly recommend this product. This happened within the first year of the coatings life. One thing I can tell you though is that Ive been using CSL to protect headlights after removing the original UV coating and restoring them. GTechniq EXO and Crystal Serum Light Kit - 50mL. Both of these seem much happier when theyre kept clean and regularly maintained. Protecting this bike from scratches is a lot to ask of any product. This would be a great test for the coatings scratch resistance. Its worth noting that Exo isnt supposed to be in charge of chemical resistance thats Crystal Serums job and it does it well. We recommend the use of 2 cloths at any one time.
Im normally a fan of staying within a product line to ensure each one plays nice with each other, but I havent actually tried this one myself. This has been my biggest disappointment when testing these coatings.
Coatings certainly piqued my interest though. Those beads that everyone desires so much have now turned into tiny magnifying glasses. Did 2 washes passage anti ferrous clay bar for decontamination correction polish for microgrooves passage to the product to remove the oils from the polish and application of the treatment in 2 passes with 8 hours apart. This was done close to the same time, by the same person, in the same conditions.
Again, there are plenty of ceramic coating specific soaps available. A thorough pre-rinse followed by a regular wash is all it takes to make it look new again. It will need to be worked in a bit more, and itll be more likely to smear around rather than be picked up in your towel. Im going to break each one of these characteristics down and share my real-world experience after 2.5 years of living with Crystal Serum Light and Exo V3. Put them together though, and you have arguably the best DIY ceramic coating on the market. Its been 2.5 years since I began testing out Gtechniq Crystal Serum Light as well as a good chunk of the rest of their product line. Chances are theyve been left on there while you finished the rest of the vehicle though, and unfortunately, thatll require backtracking in the process. After correcting the paint, wipe it down with Panel Wipe to remove any leftover polishing oils. I love that. Water beading was non-existant from that point on.
This is a side effect of water beading. Just wanted to say thanks for taking the time to write this piece. Then the sun comes out. Youll just be missing out on those fancy hydrophobic characteristics if the top layer is hurt. These can be used in either a wet or dry application. Our Passion is to provide the best customer service to all our customers on our store. If this is your first visit, be sure to Theres a downside to water beading though. Before application, inspect your paint and determine what, if any, paint correction and decontamination needs to be done. We will also notify you of the approval or rejection of your refund and deduct any restocking fees. Its soft and easy to scratch and if there are any marks, you better believe that itll show them. In my opinion, this is blown out of proportion a bit. Application is super easy. 11 Mistakes Beginner Detailers Often Make, 14 Questions To Ask Before Hiring A Professional Detailer. My 4runner gets dirty, whether its road salt built up in the winter or dirt and mud in the summer. Before the coating, this would take a ton of pressure washing and scrubbing to get off. Leaving them dirty and neglected over long periods of time tends to diminish the hydrophobicity and gloss. My first thought is always oh no! and yet the next time I wash the bike, there are no scratches to be found. If your vehicle is coated with Exo V3, do not do this! Use Code TRC499 for $4.99 Shipping on Orders $39 to $125! A big thing to mention here is that no ceramic coating is scratch proof (including Gtechniq). Its kept clean all the time aside from some bugs and dirt after long rides. Pictures: Gtechniq Crystal Serum - MONSTER JEEP! So try to stay on top of washing and use a coating friendly topper or detail spray every once in a while. Stay tuned for Part 2 (Gtechniq C4 Permanent Trim Restorer and C5 Wheel Armour) coming soon! I have no reason to believe it wont make it well into that 3-5 year period. Coin-operated car washes are your friend in the winter! After less than a handful of washes, the strong cleaner all but stripped off the topcoat, leaving the Crystal Serum Light to fend for itself alone. Not really. Its not as simple as wax on, wax off. Light rain or a shower setting on a garden hose typically result in beading. You will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. The first pass with the buffer it felt like the pad was sliding on top of the surface and once the CSL was gone I could feel it digging into the paint like normal. Applying a product like this doesnt mean you can treat your paint however you want and avoid scratches. I have previously coated my cars with Gyeon Q2 which I found was pretty temperamental and required careful management of flash time, high spots and ambient temperature. Preparation is key and requires at least some knowledge of paint correction. Products purchased from this store may be returned within 7 days from when the order is received. Crystal Serum Light doesnt have very good water behavior on its own and Exo by itself doesnt last as long or offer as much protection. Before applying any ceramic coating, its imperative that you perfect the condition of the paint as much as possible. Ive done nothing but wash them. Application is easy, with a slow flash-off time, giving more time to achieve a perfect finish.. Alternatively use it as a simple call to action with a link to a product or a page.
Apply it with a crosshatch pattern and focus on getting thin, even coverage on the section youre working on. I have applied it to a few vehicles though and it does indeed seem to be easier to work with than V3. I concur that CSL is pretty easy and forgiving to apply. Depending on how hard the farmers pour the sauce on the fields at the time, we get a lot of them on our Ontario highways. Make sure the cloths are rotated during residue removal to prevent CSL curing in the cloth- this can make buffing residue difficult, Inspect the surface for residue with a bright, diffused light source, If you remove residue and it cureds fully you should polish the area and reapply CSL, As soon as you finish, put you MF1 cloths in water, wash and dry them as soon as possible, Wait approximately 2 hours after applying CSL to apply EXO Ultra Durable Hydrophobic Coating, or C2 Liquid Crystal. We dont guarantee that we will receive your returned items if you have not followed this process. It stays parked in the garage and is rarely even ridden in the rain, let alone the winter weather. GTechniq EXO Ultra Durable Hybrid Coating 30 ml. Im just not convinced. Hey, Im Tim! I had a shop use this on my car I absolutely love the performance. Great review!! It was the current version at the time I purchased it, but since then, Gtechniq has improved Exo and released V4. Its just much less of a headache to clean up afterward which makes these coatings worthwhile. I think a light polish followed by reapplying Crystal Serum Light every 3-5 years is a fantastic regimen that will keep a vehicle looking new for decades. Bugs are the most common thing to have to clean off the front of a motorcycle. With the Gtechniq coatings, not only are they much easier to remove (and less scrubbing means less scratching) but sometimes the surface is so slick that the bugs are deflected instead of splattering right away. Use the provided gloves to prevent GTechniq Crystal Serum Light from coming into contact with your skin. In contrast, Crystal Serum Ultra is their professional-only coating that is only available to their accredited detailers. You need to check your work a few times with different lighting sources (bright, diffused lighting is best for coatings), and many different angles. After some research, Ive even found claims that CSL can withstand a very light machine polish to confirm that any old Exo has been removed without diminishing the coating below. With that being said, the 4runner looked really, really good when I was done.
We only replace items if they are defective within 1 month of purchase. Its also safe to say that the drive-through tunnel car washes that spray acid on your car will certainly give Exo a beat down too. Arestocking fee of 7% applies. I cant help but wonder though, would these scratches be even deeper and more noticeable without the ceramic coating? Theres actually a cool way of dealing with this when you first wipe CSL on, youll see a series of straight lines that look like smear marks.
Once your return is received and inspected, we will send you an email to notify you that we have received your returned item. If you want to follow this rule though, feel free to stick with a ph-neutral soap like Meguiars Gold Class or Griots Car Wash (theres a whole list of other good soaps out there). Exo does a really good job of this and I believe its the reason why there are nowhere near as many complaints about water spots with Gtechniqs coatings compared to the others. Buying GTechniq Crystal Serum Light Where to Buy? This is still manageable though. Sometimes it even took a couple of washes to get rid of any leftover staining from mud spots. GTechniq EXO Ultra Durable Hybrid Coating 50 ml.
Typically, anything that trickles down from F1 tends to be worth taking seriously think paddle shifters, hybrid systems, tire compounds etc. This is a noticeable advantage. For removal, I like to switch out between 3 different towels: Gtechniq says you need to wait a minimum of 1 hour for Crystal Serum Light to cure before applying a layer of Exo. Once a single small panel, or half a large panel, is coated, remove residue using a soft and clean microfiber towel. Both vehicles have been much easier to clean, less likely to suffer minor scratches and in general, remained looking glossier for longer. By clicking enter you are verifying that you are old enough to consume alcohol. As a matter of fact, Beadmaker has almost completely restored the water behavior on the failed 4runner coating with a single light application! GTechniq Liquid Crystal Ceramic Sealant 500 ml. Please email us first for approval and will provide an authorisation number. Its still going strong to this day. This played a big role in convincing me to coat my 4runner since I knew Id be neglecting and abusing it. It sits outside and is often left dirty for a long period of time. We are a small Australian owned and operated business. The black paint is very soft and easy to scratch and being non-metallic means it shows every little mark. A big selling point for ceramic coatings is not having to wax your car ever again. Hi. Im excited to see any improvements in longevity as that was really my only gripe with this coating. If you drive in the rain, dirt, mud etc, its still going to get dirty. I would imagine if you paid someone hundreds of dollars to coat your vehicle, this feeling would be amplified a lot more. Ive learned my lesson though. All the best and thanks again. DIYers are lucky to have access to such a great coating without having to be accredited. These coatings are meant to be a 2 layer system. This is another myth. Every characteristic of the coating is much better than any of those so to cover it up with an inferior product is simply a waste of time. It had been somewhat well kept for an average person, but not babied. Work in a 2x2 area using overlapping strokes. Some people recommend waiting overnight before adding the Exo layer but it isnt mandatory.
Here youll find everything from detailing tips, buyers guides, modifications, and maintenance. Wait until those turn into rows of dots (like beads of sweat), and thats when its ready to be removed. Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post by Gtechniq. It does waste time though so you still need to avoid them as much as possible. As a matter of fact, Im a bit surprised at how well my 4runner still looks years later. The scratch resistance you get from a coating like this will help to prevent or postpone wash marring and minor swirl marks from appearing. Boise Idaho Keep an eye out for any leftover residue, which should be removed with your microfiber towel as soon as possible. A stronger product really doesnt seem necessary based on how Ive seen these perform. So keep it clean and stick with proper hand washes. This is Part 1 of a multi-part series of long term Gtechniq reviews. Using GTechniq Panel Wipe, do a thorough wipe down of your paint, to ensure no left over polish residue is left behind. Any issues Ive had with longevity have been with Exo, which makes sense it isnt designed to be as strong of a product as Crystal Serum Light. Thats exactly how I treated both the 4runner and Harley up until now. Even when the car is moderately dirty it doesn't actually appear to be dirty (silver car). Technically, this is true. As I mentioned above, Ive been following up with Beadmaker as a drying aid lately and despite coming from different companies, all of these products seem to work great together. Crystal Serum Light offers 80% of professional serums performance, but if applied incorrectly can be machine polished from your vehicles paintwork. Do you still need to follow up with soap and a mitt of some sort? I was hoping for some peace of mind knowing that any contaminants left on the paint wouldnt be eating right into it over time. Every photo in this review was also taken at the time of writing it. I used the 3 towel wipe off method. Of course, in a dark garage with high powered paint correction lighting, there will certainly be some new scratches and marks showing. Exo is in charge of water beading and that can definitely be affected by chemicals. Were also told that the vehicle will be easier to clean, possibly needing less attention. The paint was in decent condition with the exception of some deeper gashes on the rear fender that werent safe to remove completely. Another big claim is that well never have to wax our car again. Then put a few drops on an applicator you might want to saturate it with a bit extra on your first pass, but after that, a little goes a long way. Ive just completed the CSL application and will do EXO tomorrow, followed most likely by some Beadmaker. More than likely 90% of the time. It too looked really, really good when I was done. This is a bummer, but not the end of the world. Sign Up Today to start receiving our Newsletter. Exo is rated to last 18-24 months. Products purchased from this store may be returned within 7 days from when the order is received. Gtechniqs CSL is probably the easiest coating I've ever put on. The items must be unopened and in original condition and packaging otherwise it'll be returned at buyers expense. After seeing many respected detailers choosing to use Gtechniq products, I knew that if any ceramic coating was going to change my mind, it would likely be this one. Although Ive used Gtechniq coatings on other vehicles during this time, my main test subjects were my personal Toyota 4runner and Harley Davidson Night Train.
Exo V3 however, just cant handle that type of aggression and might even need to be reapplied over the coatings lifespan. Crystal Serum Light is the base coat that provides the majority of protection and scratch resistance. The reason for this is because the coating is stronger and more difficult to remove should something go wrong with the application. Leaving the plastic lens bare after sanding and polishing them will cause them to turn cloudy and yellow again in about a week. We are promised dramatic water beading. Its a great ceramic coating that offers exceptional slickness and protection. The way the coating rejects any contaminants that want to stick to the surface is impressive. Combined with the sun, they dry the minerals in the water onto the surface, leaving watermarks. Im no stranger to having dirt and mud splattered on my 4runner. I dont know that Ill be able to avoid drive-thru touchless car washes over the winter. If you are approved, then your refund will be processed, and a credit will automatically be applied to your credit card or original method of payment, within 3 days. How long it lasts depends greatly on how the vehicle is treated during that time. To quote Gtechniq: It has a consistent film that is more durable and resistant to road salt and wash chemicals than its predecessors. Its not the end of the world, but again, its time consuming. I thought it was going to be a nightmare to clean them off but it really wasnt bad at all. Remember, inspection is super important when applying a ceramic coating. Its too soon for me to tell. One key tip regarding getting the longest life out of these coatings is to try to keep them as clean as you can. I think we can assume which of the 2 previous owners was responsible for that. Once the paint is perfected, bring the vehicle indoors (garage), where it must stay for 12 hours after application.
Going forward, when a vehicle tends to get dirty break the pressure washer out and attack it that way. High spots are the biggest concern if you get things wrong. You can tell it doesnt want to stick to the surface at all.
Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you may vary.If you are shipping an item over $50, we recommend using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. On the subject of chemical resistance, I have to talk about Exo V3 and its durability (or lack thereof). If you go at a slow time, you can always bring your own soap and mitt so you can keep your coating healthy. We also believe that we source the Best Car Detailing products in Australia. Gtechniq offers one called GWash. When it comes to adding gloss, resisting swirls, contaminant and dirt repellency, Gtechniq Crystal Serum and Crystal Serum Light are the pinnacle in paint protection. But Im willing to bet that those peoples vehicles will have high spots and areas of uncorrected paint if you look at them in the right lighting. The original owner was a lawyer and I could tell she had it detailed regularly. With that said, 100% perfection is rarely achievable for the average vehicle. It was most informative and helpful. The difference is that simply spraying water at the paint goes a much longer way than if the vehicle is uncoated.
The items must be unopened and in original condition and packaging otherwise it'll be returned at buyers expense. But in real-world lighting conditions, it honestly looks like its been freshly polished. No, wax wont hurt your coating. The layer of Exo on top provides the hydrophobic properties (water beading) and some extra gloss.
The average person wouldnt be able to tell the difference between the appearance of this and wax. Leave vehicle indoors for at least 12 hours while GTechniq Crystal Serum Light cures. Im afraid that some of these companies have gotten so caught up in competing with each other that theyre offering us things we dont actually need just to one-up each other. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Original Shipping costs are non-refundable. The same swirl marks that would show up 1 year after a paint correction on a waxed car might take 3 or 4 years to appear on a coated car.
Continue around the vehicle until entire surface is coated. Id say that in this case, Crystal Serum Light did a great job. If Im able to get it out with a quick pass at a low speed, that might mean that Ive been able to take just the peak of the high spot off leaving the rest of the coating untouched. Soak the included applicator pad with two drops of product from the provided dropper. Youll notice that I specifically referred to Exo as V3 throughout this review. Of course, Gtechniq recommends using their C2V3 spray with Crystal Serum Light and Exo. Its parked outside year round, driven in our salty Ontario winters, taken off-road, used as a daily driver, and left dirty for weeks, sometimes months at a time. To apply CSL your vehicle must be indoors and it must remain indoors for at least 12 hours after application, Ambient conditions must be above 3 degrees C and below 25 C, Wash and then decontaminate your vehicles paintwork with Gtechniq W5 Citrus All Purpose Cleaner and W6 Iron and General Fallout Remover. Not anymore.
Gtechniq states that Crystal Serum Light is 80% as good as Crystal Serum Ultra. Speaking of the wash process, lets talk a bit about soaps and shampoos.
This is a fun one and probably the thing that sells coatings the most. Then when paired with exo makes a great dream team. In comparison, Gtechniq Crystal Serum Light and Exo are much more straight forward to apply. My general rule is to double the number of passes I did when applying CSL to really work it into the surface. Thanks for stopping by! Ive been using it as a drying aid after washing and applying a very small amount. Potential high spots like to hide until you pull the vehicle out into the sun, then BAM. One thing I must admit though is that I found I was much more likely to remove any contaminants ASAP without giving them too much time to sit on the surface. While both the Harley and 4runner look amazing in real-world lighting conditions, they were never completely free of scratches from the get-go. CSU usually requires wet sanding. Great shine and durability. I also have a few new deeper scratches from parking lots despite always parking far away (people suck). I started Canadian Gearhead to share my passion for Toyotas and my love for taking ridiculously good care of them. Better than most of the other ceramic coatings Ive seen on the market. They resist temperatures as low as -40o to as high as +250o C. 5430 West State Street GTechniq EXO and Crystal Serum Light Kit - 30mL. Is a 20% increase in performance really worth having to pay a professional $1,000+ to apply Ultra rather than applying CSL yourself? check out the. To be clear, using traditional carnauba wax, spray wax, or polymer paint sealant on top of your ceramic coating is not recommended. Its worth noting that the longer CSL is allowed to cure, the more its going to want to reject the Exo coating (its chemical resistant after all, and it doesnt know that we want Exo on top!). It offers 80% of professional Serum Ultras performance, but if applied incorrectly can be machine polished from your vehicles paintwork.When it comes to adding gloss, resisting swirls, contaminant and dirt repellency, GTECHNIQ Crystal Serum Ultra and Serum Light are the pinnacle in paint protection.Serum Light forms an ultra-durable, high-gloss, slick to the touch, chemically bonding inorganic layer of 9h optically clear ceramic. You say that the strong cleaners stripped the EXO, resulting in no water beading whatsoever, but that CSL is still there. Bugs can be a bit of a pain to clean off especially if you leave them for a while. Its good to know that Crystal Serum Light stood its ground and wasnt phased by the stronger cleaner at all. Highly recommend this product. This happened within the first year of the coatings life. One thing I can tell you though is that Ive been using CSL to protect headlights after removing the original UV coating and restoring them. GTechniq EXO and Crystal Serum Light Kit - 50mL. Both of these seem much happier when theyre kept clean and regularly maintained. Protecting this bike from scratches is a lot to ask of any product. This would be a great test for the coatings scratch resistance. Its worth noting that Exo isnt supposed to be in charge of chemical resistance thats Crystal Serums job and it does it well. We recommend the use of 2 cloths at any one time.
Im normally a fan of staying within a product line to ensure each one plays nice with each other, but I havent actually tried this one myself. This has been my biggest disappointment when testing these coatings.
Coatings certainly piqued my interest though. Those beads that everyone desires so much have now turned into tiny magnifying glasses. Did 2 washes passage anti ferrous clay bar for decontamination correction polish for microgrooves passage to the product to remove the oils from the polish and application of the treatment in 2 passes with 8 hours apart. This was done close to the same time, by the same person, in the same conditions.
Again, there are plenty of ceramic coating specific soaps available. A thorough pre-rinse followed by a regular wash is all it takes to make it look new again. It will need to be worked in a bit more, and itll be more likely to smear around rather than be picked up in your towel. Im going to break each one of these characteristics down and share my real-world experience after 2.5 years of living with Crystal Serum Light and Exo V3. Put them together though, and you have arguably the best DIY ceramic coating on the market. Its been 2.5 years since I began testing out Gtechniq Crystal Serum Light as well as a good chunk of the rest of their product line. Chances are theyve been left on there while you finished the rest of the vehicle though, and unfortunately, thatll require backtracking in the process. After correcting the paint, wipe it down with Panel Wipe to remove any leftover polishing oils. I love that. Water beading was non-existant from that point on.
This is a side effect of water beading. Just wanted to say thanks for taking the time to write this piece. Then the sun comes out. Youll just be missing out on those fancy hydrophobic characteristics if the top layer is hurt. These can be used in either a wet or dry application. Our Passion is to provide the best customer service to all our customers on our store. If this is your first visit, be sure to Theres a downside to water beading though. Before application, inspect your paint and determine what, if any, paint correction and decontamination needs to be done. We will also notify you of the approval or rejection of your refund and deduct any restocking fees. Its soft and easy to scratch and if there are any marks, you better believe that itll show them. In my opinion, this is blown out of proportion a bit. Application is super easy. 11 Mistakes Beginner Detailers Often Make, 14 Questions To Ask Before Hiring A Professional Detailer. My 4runner gets dirty, whether its road salt built up in the winter or dirt and mud in the summer. Before the coating, this would take a ton of pressure washing and scrubbing to get off. Leaving them dirty and neglected over long periods of time tends to diminish the hydrophobicity and gloss. My first thought is always oh no! and yet the next time I wash the bike, there are no scratches to be found. If your vehicle is coated with Exo V3, do not do this! Use Code TRC499 for $4.99 Shipping on Orders $39 to $125! A big thing to mention here is that no ceramic coating is scratch proof (including Gtechniq). Its kept clean all the time aside from some bugs and dirt after long rides. Pictures: Gtechniq Crystal Serum - MONSTER JEEP! So try to stay on top of washing and use a coating friendly topper or detail spray every once in a while. Stay tuned for Part 2 (Gtechniq C4 Permanent Trim Restorer and C5 Wheel Armour) coming soon! I have no reason to believe it wont make it well into that 3-5 year period. Coin-operated car washes are your friend in the winter! After less than a handful of washes, the strong cleaner all but stripped off the topcoat, leaving the Crystal Serum Light to fend for itself alone. Not really. Its not as simple as wax on, wax off. Light rain or a shower setting on a garden hose typically result in beading. You will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. The first pass with the buffer it felt like the pad was sliding on top of the surface and once the CSL was gone I could feel it digging into the paint like normal. Applying a product like this doesnt mean you can treat your paint however you want and avoid scratches. I have previously coated my cars with Gyeon Q2 which I found was pretty temperamental and required careful management of flash time, high spots and ambient temperature. Preparation is key and requires at least some knowledge of paint correction. Products purchased from this store may be returned within 7 days from when the order is received. Crystal Serum Light doesnt have very good water behavior on its own and Exo by itself doesnt last as long or offer as much protection. Before applying any ceramic coating, its imperative that you perfect the condition of the paint as much as possible. Ive done nothing but wash them. Application is easy, with a slow flash-off time, giving more time to achieve a perfect finish.. Alternatively use it as a simple call to action with a link to a product or a page.
Apply it with a crosshatch pattern and focus on getting thin, even coverage on the section youre working on. I have applied it to a few vehicles though and it does indeed seem to be easier to work with than V3. I concur that CSL is pretty easy and forgiving to apply. Depending on how hard the farmers pour the sauce on the fields at the time, we get a lot of them on our Ontario highways. Make sure the cloths are rotated during residue removal to prevent CSL curing in the cloth- this can make buffing residue difficult, Inspect the surface for residue with a bright, diffused light source, If you remove residue and it cureds fully you should polish the area and reapply CSL, As soon as you finish, put you MF1 cloths in water, wash and dry them as soon as possible, Wait approximately 2 hours after applying CSL to apply EXO Ultra Durable Hydrophobic Coating, or C2 Liquid Crystal. We dont guarantee that we will receive your returned items if you have not followed this process. It stays parked in the garage and is rarely even ridden in the rain, let alone the winter weather. GTechniq EXO Ultra Durable Hybrid Coating 30 ml. Im just not convinced. Hey, Im Tim! I had a shop use this on my car I absolutely love the performance. Great review!! It was the current version at the time I purchased it, but since then, Gtechniq has improved Exo and released V4. Its just much less of a headache to clean up afterward which makes these coatings worthwhile. I think a light polish followed by reapplying Crystal Serum Light every 3-5 years is a fantastic regimen that will keep a vehicle looking new for decades. Bugs are the most common thing to have to clean off the front of a motorcycle. With the Gtechniq coatings, not only are they much easier to remove (and less scrubbing means less scratching) but sometimes the surface is so slick that the bugs are deflected instead of splattering right away. Use the provided gloves to prevent GTechniq Crystal Serum Light from coming into contact with your skin. In contrast, Crystal Serum Ultra is their professional-only coating that is only available to their accredited detailers. You need to check your work a few times with different lighting sources (bright, diffused lighting is best for coatings), and many different angles. After some research, Ive even found claims that CSL can withstand a very light machine polish to confirm that any old Exo has been removed without diminishing the coating below. With that being said, the 4runner looked really, really good when I was done.
We only replace items if they are defective within 1 month of purchase. Its also safe to say that the drive-through tunnel car washes that spray acid on your car will certainly give Exo a beat down too. Arestocking fee of 7% applies. I cant help but wonder though, would these scratches be even deeper and more noticeable without the ceramic coating? Theres actually a cool way of dealing with this when you first wipe CSL on, youll see a series of straight lines that look like smear marks.
Once your return is received and inspected, we will send you an email to notify you that we have received your returned item. If you want to follow this rule though, feel free to stick with a ph-neutral soap like Meguiars Gold Class or Griots Car Wash (theres a whole list of other good soaps out there). Exo does a really good job of this and I believe its the reason why there are nowhere near as many complaints about water spots with Gtechniqs coatings compared to the others. Buying GTechniq Crystal Serum Light Where to Buy? This is still manageable though. Sometimes it even took a couple of washes to get rid of any leftover staining from mud spots. GTechniq EXO Ultra Durable Hybrid Coating 50 ml.
Typically, anything that trickles down from F1 tends to be worth taking seriously think paddle shifters, hybrid systems, tire compounds etc. This is a noticeable advantage. For removal, I like to switch out between 3 different towels: Gtechniq says you need to wait a minimum of 1 hour for Crystal Serum Light to cure before applying a layer of Exo. Once a single small panel, or half a large panel, is coated, remove residue using a soft and clean microfiber towel. Both vehicles have been much easier to clean, less likely to suffer minor scratches and in general, remained looking glossier for longer. By clicking enter you are verifying that you are old enough to consume alcohol. As a matter of fact, Beadmaker has almost completely restored the water behavior on the failed 4runner coating with a single light application! GTechniq Liquid Crystal Ceramic Sealant 500 ml. Please email us first for approval and will provide an authorisation number. Its still going strong to this day. This played a big role in convincing me to coat my 4runner since I knew Id be neglecting and abusing it. It sits outside and is often left dirty for a long period of time. We are a small Australian owned and operated business. The black paint is very soft and easy to scratch and being non-metallic means it shows every little mark. A big selling point for ceramic coatings is not having to wax your car ever again. Hi. Im excited to see any improvements in longevity as that was really my only gripe with this coating. If you drive in the rain, dirt, mud etc, its still going to get dirty. I would imagine if you paid someone hundreds of dollars to coat your vehicle, this feeling would be amplified a lot more. Ive learned my lesson though. All the best and thanks again. DIYers are lucky to have access to such a great coating without having to be accredited. These coatings are meant to be a 2 layer system. This is another myth. Every characteristic of the coating is much better than any of those so to cover it up with an inferior product is simply a waste of time. It had been somewhat well kept for an average person, but not babied. Work in a 2x2 area using overlapping strokes. Some people recommend waiting overnight before adding the Exo layer but it isnt mandatory.
Here youll find everything from detailing tips, buyers guides, modifications, and maintenance. Wait until those turn into rows of dots (like beads of sweat), and thats when its ready to be removed. Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post by Gtechniq. It does waste time though so you still need to avoid them as much as possible. As a matter of fact, Im a bit surprised at how well my 4runner still looks years later. The scratch resistance you get from a coating like this will help to prevent or postpone wash marring and minor swirl marks from appearing. Boise Idaho Keep an eye out for any leftover residue, which should be removed with your microfiber towel as soon as possible. A stronger product really doesnt seem necessary based on how Ive seen these perform. So keep it clean and stick with proper hand washes. This is Part 1 of a multi-part series of long term Gtechniq reviews. Using GTechniq Panel Wipe, do a thorough wipe down of your paint, to ensure no left over polish residue is left behind. Any issues Ive had with longevity have been with Exo, which makes sense it isnt designed to be as strong of a product as Crystal Serum Light. Thats exactly how I treated both the 4runner and Harley up until now. Even when the car is moderately dirty it doesn't actually appear to be dirty (silver car). Technically, this is true. As I mentioned above, Ive been following up with Beadmaker as a drying aid lately and despite coming from different companies, all of these products seem to work great together. Crystal Serum Light offers 80% of professional serums performance, but if applied incorrectly can be machine polished from your vehicles paintwork. Do you still need to follow up with soap and a mitt of some sort? I was hoping for some peace of mind knowing that any contaminants left on the paint wouldnt be eating right into it over time. Every photo in this review was also taken at the time of writing it. I used the 3 towel wipe off method. Of course, in a dark garage with high powered paint correction lighting, there will certainly be some new scratches and marks showing. Exo is in charge of water beading and that can definitely be affected by chemicals. Were also told that the vehicle will be easier to clean, possibly needing less attention. The paint was in decent condition with the exception of some deeper gashes on the rear fender that werent safe to remove completely. Another big claim is that well never have to wax our car again. Then put a few drops on an applicator you might want to saturate it with a bit extra on your first pass, but after that, a little goes a long way. Ive just completed the CSL application and will do EXO tomorrow, followed most likely by some Beadmaker. More than likely 90% of the time. It too looked really, really good when I was done. This is a bummer, but not the end of the world. Sign Up Today to start receiving our Newsletter. Exo is rated to last 18-24 months. Products purchased from this store may be returned within 7 days from when the order is received. Gtechniqs CSL is probably the easiest coating I've ever put on. The items must be unopened and in original condition and packaging otherwise it'll be returned at buyers expense. After seeing many respected detailers choosing to use Gtechniq products, I knew that if any ceramic coating was going to change my mind, it would likely be this one. Although Ive used Gtechniq coatings on other vehicles during this time, my main test subjects were my personal Toyota 4runner and Harley Davidson Night Train.