So you believe all “ceramic coatings” are equal? And you do not know what ceramic coating your detailer used?

 

Don't underestimate how good a quality sealant and wax can be. No it won't have the longevity of a ceramic coating, but will likely have a better look. Also, there's one major thing you have to consider before doing a ceramic coating. It will be very hard to remove if you ever need to do a paint correction.

Also, before you get a ceramic coating from a shop, realize there's more to it than just putting the coating on if you want it done properly. The truck needs to be decon'd chemically and mechanically, then carefully inspected with proper lighting, paint corrected, then coated.

 

While the 3 bucket method is possible in your neck of the woods year- round, it will be -15F here today. 3 buckets of anything will freeze before you could clean anything. If the ceramic coating can't handle a touchless carwash, then it is by far an inferior method than waxing and certainly not worth the extra coin. So far, six months of weekly touchless washes haven't seemed to have an effect. Time will tell.

 

I did mine myself. Used GTechniq Crystal Serum Light. Was pretty easy but very time consuming. Took about 8 hours. Wash/Clay bar/wash/orbital polish/wash/prep spray down/ceramic coat/hydrophobic coating/ second hydrophobic coating. The advantage is durability and some paint protection. If you want a really great shine and have the time for regular washing, a good wax will look better but I don't always have time for a regular wash/wax.
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I use armor shield ix myself. Looks great but only time will tell. Somewhat easy to apply.. but On these trucks paint correction is a must. The factory paint really sucks. Ive seen backyard paint jobs with less orange peel. Ph soap, clay bar, compound and polish with a DA and then pre ceramic cleaner then apply ceramic. Time consuming. I wouldn't fool with doing someone's car for less than 1k. More for a truck or SUV. Its better than wax. But idk if it's that great for preserving paint. Time will tell. Certainly not worse than wax though. And lasts longer

 

I wasn’t saying it can’t handle it. My point is, the harsher chemicals may affect the overall long term durability. Ceramic is clearly is more durable than waxes and sealants but it’s also not exactly inexpensive to get done. Just something to consider and be cognizant of.

 

It's a trade off. Either hit the touchless wash, or let the road salt sit on it. Not much of a choice up here in God's icebox for about 3-4 months each year. So far, the ceramic seems to be holding up well.

 

I've read that going through a touchless wash often to get road salt off (or spraying the undercarriage with your pressure washer) is actually worse for your car than leaving it all season. They say that the water spreads the salt and blasts it up into places it wouldn't have reach and agitates the salt/ calcium giving it and the free radicals it contains moisture.

Personally I do not know. My wife's constantly going through the touchless while I don't do much washing of any kind. I have both our vehicles on my lifts pretty regular and don't see much difference either way. Her 2012 isn't much better than my 08 or 04 models. I see vehicles on lifts every day. Some people use a car wash daily (2 dealerships have a wash that offers free washes for life) and some people have never washed. As far the important parts of the car underneath, I see no difference.

Ive saw vehicles that got oil/ diesel mixtures a couple times a year too. Many farmers do that. I Also used rust arrow on a couple of mine. IF either of those helped at all it was minimal.
I did my entire undercarriage on my 2021 with por15 brushed on.... very time consuming. Only time will tell.

 

I'm a firm believer in a touchless during the winter, the roads I drive are mostly sprayed with the liquid brine, not the rock salt of old. I still plan on putting Fluid Film on the frame, why worry about the aluminum components. I see NO possible way a touchless is harmful, but then there are some special folks about.

 

If your using liquid brine then no, I can't see how it would matter. If using powder or rock then i could see the touchless making it melt and blowing it into Crack crevices and place it wouldn't otherwise go. But ive seen little difference when people wash daily or not. I have hundreds of pictures of vehicles ruined in less than 20 years. Both washed and not.


Thats an 08 that is from a dealership with free washes and was driven through twice a week.



Thats a 2000 2500 that, as far I know, was never washed. It was my dad's.

Both ruined and you would be hard pressed to tell which one was washed. . they don't use liquid brine here. It's pellets, rocks, or powder.