Exterior Sealant - Yes or No?

[gman1868]

I live in Minnesota, where they use sand and rock salt on the roads every winter. Paint Protection Film is awesome! Our 2007 Escape still does not have any chips in the paint where we installed it. With the big flat front on the Telluride, it will be well worth the investment. I'll be having it installed right after the car is delivered by a local installer. When you look for your installer, some will have the equipment to cut the pieces on a table using a computer controlled cutting table so they don't cut the film on the car. That is preferred.

As far as protecting the rest of the paint, you can use carnauba wax, paint sealants, or ceramic coating. With hand washing, wax lasts about a month or so, paint sealants about 6 months or so, ceramic coating, a year to 18 months. Many factors influence the duration such as climate, temperature, sun exposure, road crud, etc. Your results may vary

If you're so inclined to do it yourself, ceramic coating with high quality products like those from Griots Garage, you can do this relatively inexpensively. On a new car, you can wash it and put on the ceramic coating in an afternoon (out of the sun, of course). Using ceramic, it means I can coat the car once a year in the Spring or Fall when it's not too hot or too cold and I don't have to worry about anything except washing and removing things bird poop or equally bad crud from the car as soon as I see it.

If you decide go down the rabbit hole of detailing like I have there are other things you can do over the life of the vehicle to keep the paint in excellent condition. Clay bar to clean, polish, to remove surface scratched in the clear coat, then use the ceramic coating to seal it again. Or, you can take it to a local shop and they can do it for you You can carry a spray war wash bottle in the car so when you get that inevitable bird bomb on the car you can wipe if off immediately to prevent it from damaging the paint. If you decide to join us in the Wonderland of car detailing, the options are many and the time is well spent.

 

[Chefyummmmmmmm]

Is there a link to the related threads? Sorry I'm not familiar with how to search the forum.

I have a similar question - I'll be picking up my new 2021 S AWD next month and the dealer offered the coating (described as scotch guard) for paint and under carriage at $1,250. Is this worth the extra money? I live in a mid-west state that get's a decent amount of snow so the roads are often salted in the cold months. Would the factory finishes be good enough, or is it is the extra coating money well spent?

I'd appreciate any insight, thanks!

Personally I think it’s worth it. But you have to be careful before you sign the paper. Make sure that there is no condition for protections. Some brands they offers protection like what you need but you have to follow the schedule. If you miss it, it’s no longer affected in your car. So before you decide it, ask dealer that it’s conditional or non-conditional. Cheers !

 

[blitt]

Probably the best overall advice.....practical, efficient, more "direct work" involved but far less costly, and after 50 years of different levels of car ownership, my opinion is that the paint quality on the Telly is far better than some I have owned and the regular use of "high quality" hand applied wax/protectant products produces beautiful results. Rock chips are another story....SUV's are just that "utility" vehicles used in the everyday world and will be subject to the chips and scratches and effective, high quality protection from that is VERY costly and I would reserve that for cars of "show value." I want mine to look as nice as possible within the "reality" of use.

Great advice. This is the first car I’ve bought so I think I am overly cautious to start but the cost is the biggest hurdle but I still want to make sure I do what’s right long term.

Other side of it is what products do you use for waxing? I’m reading once every three ish months?
[/QUOTE]

Here is a link to the main wax that I have used for many years....it is not cheap and is ONLY available online from the producer:

Z-AIO All-in-One"
This "all in one" is fantastic... I use in once in the fall and once in the spring and follow up each car wash with the use of "Speed Shine" from Griots Garage....it is available from Advance Auto Supply or directly online from Griots. I learned of both of these products while I was involved in the show world of Corvettes for many years. The shine produced by this process is VERY impressive as is the protection from paint damage due to bug and bird "splats."

 

[blitt]

Probably the best overall advice.....practical, efficient, more "direct work" involved but far less costly, and after 50 years of different levels of car ownership, my opinion is that the paint quality on the Telly is far better than some I have owned and the regular use of "high quality" hand applied wax/protectant products produces beautiful results. Rock chips are another story....SUV's are just that "utility" vehicles used in the everyday world and will be subject to the chips and scratches and effective, high quality protection from that is VERY costly and I would reserve that for cars of "show value." I want mine to look as nice as possible within the "reality" of use.

Great advice. This is the first car I’ve bought so I think I am overly cautious to start but the cost is the biggest hurdle but I still want to make sure I do what’s right long term.

Other side of it is what products do you use for waxing? I’m reading once every three ish months?
[/QUOTE]

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[vinylhaircut]

@gman1868 I am in Minnesota too. Sounds like you've had a good experience with PPF. Do you have a Minnesota installer that you recommend?

 

[gman1868]

The one that the majority of us use is Midwest Clear Bra & Window https://www.facebook.com/MidwestClearBra/ or www.clearbramn.com

They wrap a lot of high end vehicles and are very good at what they do.