Best spray-on aqua wax or post-wash coating?

[Mont Blanc]

Hi all,

I have been using Auto Finesse ‘Aqua Coat’ for a couple of years now and I really like it. I wash the car, rinse it off, leave it wet, spray Aqua Coat all over and then wipe the car down with a drying towel. Leaves it slick and glossy and seems to keep beading water off for a month or so after.

But, like everything in life things move on, so I’m wondering if there is anything else out there that does the same job but is better?

Any kind of spray on wax/silicone/ceramic type stuff that you use as part of the car wash process.

Thanks

[TheBinarySheep]

I use Autogylm Polar Seal. It's convenient, helps drying and leaves an impressive shine.

Spray it on when the car is wet and rinse it off.

[stevemcs]

Gyeon wet coat.

[Turn7]

stevemcs said:

Gyeon wet coat.

Can leave streaks IIRC ?

[J1_Jon]

Got Turtle Wax Graphene Flex spray on BOGOF with free delivery; it's excellent. Just spray then wipe with a damp microfibre or leave wet spray, dry etc

https://www.turtlewax.co.uk/products/hybrid-soluti...

[Haltamer]

Second vote for polar seal.

Application is incredibly easy, and the beading effect is suprisingly powerful and durable.

[Belle427]

Gyeon is good but can streak if left to dry out in hot conditions.
Best trick is to do one panel at a time and spread with a wet microfibre or wash mitt used purely for this purpose.
Makes it more of a faff but seems to work much better.

[vikingaero]

I read some reviews on YouTube and one that was really good was the red label Turtle Wax Seal n Shine. I bought a 5 litre container direct from Turtle Wax on their eBay portal for around £18.00. It's excellent for £18 and the glossy slick surface after spray it on. I forgot how good it was.

[TheBinarySheep]

Haltamer said:

Second vote for polar seal.

Application is incredibly easy, and the beading effect is suprisingly powerful and durable.

The thing I love most is that you simply put some in a lance, mix with water, spray on a rinse off. It's not like having something in a small bottle that you've got to manually spray onto every panel. It's just so convenient.

I tend to stick to Autogylm for most of my car cleaning products. The only products I don't really like are the interior cleaning ones. The glass cleaner is by far the best I've used, my wife even uses it around the house.

[Mont Blanc]

Thanks everyone. Some really useful info here.

I just love these 'spray on while wet' coatings. Seem to be a game changer to me. The dirt just runs off in the rain for a few weeks afterwards.

[Belle427]

I'm tempted to try polar seal as I'm getting lazier with car cleaning.
How long would you say it lasts?
I'm guessing it's so easy to apply you can do it almost every wash?
Just to add I use that turtle wax seal and shine and its a great product.

Edited by Belle427 on Monday 9th October 16:10

[Haltamer]

Belle427 said:

I'm tempted to try polar seal as I'm getting lazier with car cleaning.
How long would you say it lasts?
I'm guessing it's so easy to apply you can do it almost every wash?
Just to add I use that turtle wax seal and shine and its a great product.

Edited by Belle427 on Monday 9th October 16:10

TBH, I've gotten quite loose with washing cars this year - I'd say you get one or two months at maximum, depending on weather etc (The car usually has a coat of dust that pools the water before the coating is gone - If you go for a rainy drive or there's a heavy downpour they start beading nicely again)

Depending on how much you care about amazing beads, budget for a month at most.

Not bad for literally 1 minute of application time

[zsdom]

Another vote for Polar seal, AG recommend a recoatimg every 2-3 months which from what I’ve seen on a few cats I keep on top of is entirely reasonable

[Belle427]

Seems to suggest what you mix up you use and don't keep in the bottle.
Is that what you all do?
2 capfulls and 200ml water.

[Mont Blanc]

Regarding Autoglym Polar Seal:

Can it be sprayed neat onto the wet car with a hand pumped mister/sprayer bottle or with a dedicated 'weed killer' sprayer, rather than used in a pressure washer?

I don't own a pressure washer and likely never will as I have no use for one, but Polar Seal sounds like a good product that would be worth trying.

My current Aqua Coat is just misted neat all over the car from the hand held sprayer bottle, but maybe the Polar Seal is more concentrated.

[TheBinarySheep]

Mont Blanc said:

Regarding Autoglym Polar Seal:

Can it be sprayed neat onto the wet car with a hand pumped mister/sprayer bottle or with a dedicated 'weed killer' sprayer, rather than used in a pressure washer?

I don't own a pressure washer and likely never will as I have no use for one, but Polar Seal sounds like a good product that would be worth trying.

My current Aqua Coat is just misted neat all over the car from the hand held sprayer bottle, but maybe the Polar Seal is more concentrated.

A spray bottle would be fine, simply dilute it based on the recommendations on the bottle.

If you apply too much or don't dilute, it can leave a white residue on your paintwork because there's too much. Same can apply if say you applied it every week after a wash as the coats build up.

I've never had the issue though.

Edited by TheBinarySheep on Tuesday 10th October 16:00

[Mont Blanc]

TheBinarySheep said:

A spray bottle would be fine, simply dilute it based on the recommendations on the bottle.

If you apply too much or don't dilute, it can leave a white residue on your paintwork because there's too much. Same can apply if say you applied it every week after a wash as the coats build up.

I've never had the issue though.

Edited by TheBinarySheep on Tuesday 10th October 16:00

Great, thank you

[mike9009]

I use Meguiars hybrid ceramic wax, but it does require a pressure washer.

Seems to last well (beading up to two months after although not precisely measured) and produces very good results. Not really felt the need to try anything else for the last few years.

[Smint]

Thanks for the Polar Seal suggestions folks.
Splashed out on the 5 litre bottle of COAT IT (which appears to be the same stuff but cheaper per litre) and it works brilliantly through the snow foam dispenser, only squeegeed the windows after, all the drops bead off the paintwork soon as you get up to speed, very pleased.

[vikingaero]

Cleaning the car yesterday afternoon in the first sun and dry day for a while. Then the bloody heavens opened so I took the opportunity to use the Turtle Wax Seal and Shine by spraying it onto a wet panel and rubbing it with a microfibre. It still amazes me how super slicky the surface feels after using it.