Hi all,

Looking for an answer from those who can speak from direct experience of having their cars ceramic coated and gone through automatic car washes regularly.


Obviously, it's preferable to only handwash your vehicle after detailing it and never subjecting to an automatic car wash, however I just don't have the time to do hand washes myself routinely and not to mention we're going right into what seems like will be a very frigid winter here in the north-east. So handwashes are off the table for this conversation..

So just picked up a '16 RX and the paint is already in very good condition with almost no swirls or undesired artifacts, a few minor scratches here n there, but relatively speaking the paint is very clean, as in it doesn't need any compounding or polishing besides 3-4 specific spots. If the weather was warmer and I had the spare time, I'd love to detail it and then try my hand at doing a ceramic coating but since I don't have that option, I'm considering getting it ceramic coated locally professionally (9H for optimal hardness). However, I'm hesitant because I know any maintenance washes for all of winter and most likely even in warmer weather next year will be through the automatic car wash. I would get the basic exterior wash without any waxes/sealants and then do my best to give it a wipe-down with instant-detailer/ceramic top-off spray afterwards.


Without making this any longer than it needs to be, for those who HAVE experience with getting regular automatic car washes on their ceramic coated vehicles, what has your experience been as far as condition of the ceramic coating over time? Again, I know its not ideal to go through the automatic car wash, but it is what it is. I just want to understand if i'm wasting my money on the ceramic coating or not. Will it get degraded and lose its hydrophobic qualities in 6-months? 1 year? 2? Will it still shine with the same luster?

I have considered clear-bra, but that's only on specific area's of the car and I don't have the money or desire to wrap the entire vehicle. I just want to maintain my daily driver in as best condition as I can given my restrictions.


(Before someone mentions it, i'm not too concerned with getting scratches from the automatic car wash, we've had 3 other cars in the family that are fully detailed and waxed/sealed that regularly go through automatic car washes and none have picked up any kind of scratch or chip or anything of that nature - knock on wood)

 

If you mean a touchless wash they are okay although tend to miss the grim on the lower parts of the vehicle. If you mean an auto wash that has rotating brushes there is no way you can regularly put a car through that and not get scratches. Zero chance. But to your original question it doesn't matter how yo treat your car a ceramic coating is better than not having one.

 

There are some drive through hand wash and as noted touch-less wash. The reality is you have bristles that come down you will get scratches no matter what you do (If you are a serial car washer). You get that big SUV that is covered in mud the small particulates get stuck. Honestly, if I lived where the weather is terrible, I would reduce the washes personally. If you live where your car is exposed to salt you may consider undercarriage protection over the exterior paint. They can oil the undercarriage or do a rubber spray coat to prevent rust. I bought a 2000 LS400 from Alaska was ran through the car wash covered in swirls from a car wash. The good news is a buffer and compound can right a bad car wash or weather. I personally put two coats of Klasse glaze protects for acid rain and salt https://klasseusa.com/kalsse-high-gl...lan-glaze.html. Usually after I clay bar the car I add this product water does not stick. Back to the "I put a coat of something on my car" to keep damage there is nothing bulletproof we all just do the best we can.

 

Hes not asking about scratches, he's asking about degradation of the coating.

So I have a ceramic coating and I regularly use automatic brushless carwashes, the type that have cloth mitters. I put my coating on (22ple HPC) about 21 months ago, not long after I bought the car new. The coating still has hydrophobic qualities and the paint still looks good, but its definitely diminished from when the coating was new, and in fact I'm getting ready to strip it and re-coat it. HPC is rated for 3-4 years, assume thats optimistic and it wasnt professionally prepped when it was installed, I think getting 2 years out of a coating when it gets run through a carwash once a week is pretty good. Note I do boost the coating with CarPro Reload every 3 months or so.

Professional coatings will be even more durable and will be prepped and installed properly which should make them last longer in this scenario than my coating has.

I would also suggest getting the top wash not the basic wash. Reason being you want as much lubricating stuff thrown on the car as possible to reduce scratching. I always buy the top wash and even all those checmicals havent degraded the coating. With a coating chemicals arent so much the issue as it is abrasion of the paint surface wearing it away.

 

Ive gone through touchless car washes with the basic wash, no waxes or anyhting crazy. That should be fine. Ceramic is pretty tough and can take it

 

There are some youtube videos where different coatings/waxes/sealants are applied. Then subjected to different solutions, torture, etc. Maybe check there?

 

Two years is impressive. I googled ceramic coating and found a San Diego shop that does a 2 year warranty ceramic for $715. They offer a 4 year for $1100. Did you do it yourself? If so, what price range would a DIY kit be? Personally, I enjoy doing a clay bar and synthetic coating every 3-4 months. I find it relaxing and rewarding to see what I did with my own two hands. But, I can see the attraction for a coating that looks good and is easy to maintain for several years AND stands up to automatic car washes. Thank you for sharing your experience.

 

I did it myself. Looking at $50-$100 for the coating depending on what you choose. I just bought CarPro Cquartz UK 3.0 and CarPro Gliss to redo mine, just have to find the time.

Professional coatings can last way more than 2 years also, there are up to 5 year coatings out there. Those need to be prepped and applied by a professional though.

 

I have two of my cars ceramic coated, depending on how much you drive the car he recommends getting a maintenance wash monthly. The maintenance wash includes paint decontamination, sacrificial coating and wash. He also stated that going through a touchless car wash is fine which I go through twice a month. My Supra was ceramic coated in May 2019 and is holding up fine, but I barely take it out for a drive. My GSF was done in November 2019 is taken out atleast once a week and still looks fresh.

 

Testing

 

amazing, all that prep work ruined with 1 wash.

some of the largest Lexus Dealers in world, 1 day a week when I drive by have seen the car washes stopped and the wash touch points are filthy, dirty, grease filled.

no wonder why you go to the dealer and the car is scratched.

amazing

 

Whenever I get service at the dealer I tell about every person to not wash car. I also take a sheet of paper marked in a Sharpie "DON'T WASH CAR" stuck to the dash.

 

If you buy a preowned Lexus, look for this in the Lexus Drivers history.


NO WASH! NO WASH! NO WASH! NO WASH! NO WASH! NO WASH! NO WASH! NO WASH! NO WASH! NO WASH! NO WASH! NO WASH! NO WASH! NO WASH! NO WASH! NO WASH! NO WASH!

 

I have to admit, I do the automatic car washes most of the time. I do wax my car a couple times a year though. Still kooks good to me. I definitely don't take a loop and examine the surface but I think it looks pristine. 05 GX470 btw.

 

Do what you like,I don't care. I use the fully automatic car wash to the car, it will last longer than if you don't! Its just transportation for me...