Dirty water spots stuck on ceramic

[TANGO SUKKA]

Car got dirty over the weekend and I wasn't able to wash it for a few days. Rinsed it off and the water/dirt droplets after it dried won't come off.

I have a ceramic coating on the car and I use ONR with big red sponge and microfiber towels. Used a spray bottle to let it soak in for a bit before I washed but no help.

How to fix?

 

[brkaus]

I have no good answers, but I had crap similar to that from parking lot sprinklers. Might have even been reclaimed water.

I don’t remember my solution. Might have had to resort to a light polish or vinegar. It was a while ago.

 

[Stroble]

I had the same thing happen ..I use blackfire SIO2 spray for ceramic coating .

 

[strider]

The people who did my ceramic coating says anything that doesn't come off with regular washing you can get off w/ a clay bar.

Z-18 ClayBar

 

[tjkessler]

You might try a little white vinegar in water, maybe 25% vinegar. If that doesn't work claybar.

 

[Superendo]

Why ceramic coating when it does not protect?

 

[JulienW]

Bought this when I CQuartz my ELR a couple of years ago. Never had any water spots or need to use it but it should do the trick. Hope to never need on my Model 3 too.

 

[Dangerous Fish]

Why ceramic coating when it does not protect?

Because not all ceramic coatings are equal and more to the point not all applications of the ceramic coat are equal.

On my current ICE car it took 4 days in total to paint correct and ceramic coat the car. You could wipe anything off that coating with just a spray of water. Bird droppings, tree sap, anything. There's something wrong if scale from water isn't wiping off after wetting. It shows it's adhering to the surface which doesn't happen with a proper wax or ceramic coat.

 

[JulienW]

Here is my ELR after being a little dirty and rained on at about 1½ years after I coated. It is so hydrophobic that nothing seems to stick or can spot. Ready to work (it is a 2 day job) on my Model 3.

 

[Dangerous Fish]

^^^^^^ That's what a good ceramic coat job should look like at least 2 years after it's been applied.

2 day job as said above. Anyone who says they can do the same in a day will not be prepping or applying it properly.

 

[Burrito]

i did my cquartzuk 3.0 this week..... is it strange im excited for the first rain of my new car? hopefully i did a good job, 2 coats plus a topcoat of gliss.

the waterspots are strange, my other cars i have done all steps except ceramic and used sio2 paint protections/sealants and nothing sticks to them, water looks like the red picture above. just have to apply more often

 

[dwalme]

Ceramic coatings do not protect well from hard water. As the water evaporates the minerals remain. Then they begin to etch into the coating and clear coat. You can try to dissolve them if you catch it early. Almost every coating maker also offers a water spot remover product. If you can't dissolve them you'll need abrasive action like clay or polish. But at that point you are likely removing the coating in the process.

This is one of the biggest reasons you want protection that sheets - not beads. Beads cause the water (and minerals) to remain on the car leaving you with water spots after the water evaporates. Sheeting is not as sexy looking so everyone is making protection that beads.

Hydrophobic properties do not tell you anything on how well a product protects from elements. Only that your protection can bead water.

 

[JasontheBeaver]

As others have mentioned, water spots will form on any painted surface whether it's coated or not. A good silicon carbide coating prevents those minerals from causing permanent damage to your factory clear coat. If caught early enough, those spots can easily be wiped off with ONR like you described. In your case, you either waited a significant period of time (weeks) before addressing these contaminants, or the coating you purchased is substandard, or both.
Either way, I would recommend taking it back to the installing shop and asking them what to do. Addressing this yourself is asking for expensive trouble later on. Some people with DIY experience in this will offer suggestions, but to the newbie it's dangerous territory experimenting/learning on your car.