my experience, Ive found Crystal

2021/05/21

In my experience, Ive found Crystal Serum Lights performance in terms of scratch resistance to live up to their claims. It took a pretty in-depth paint correction to get the 4runners appearance to what Id consider acceptable. GTechniq Liquid Crystal Ceramic Sealant - 1L. Highly recommend this product. Alternatively use it as a simple call to action with a link to a product or a page. I had a shop use this on my car I absolutely love the performance. Some coatings even require infrared lighting to cure them properly. Most ceramic coatings offer the wildest water beading out there. Especially after a proper paint correction, the paint looks absolutely gorgeous with deep, wet reflections even years after application. Id say that in this case, Crystal Serum Light did a great job. Youll notice that I specifically referred to Exo as V3 throughout this review. Once the paint is perfected, bring the vehicle indoors (garage), where it must stay for 12 hours after application. Its worth noting that Exo isnt supposed to be in charge of chemical resistance thats Crystal Serums job and it does it well.

Great shine and durability. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Those beads that everyone desires so much have now turned into tiny magnifying glasses. This is Part 1 of a multi-part series of long term Gtechniq reviews. I've tried 2 other coatings and this is the 3rd.

I purchased all of these coatings at full price myself. Beads might make for cool looking pictures, but in reality, we just want the water gone ASAP. Did 2 washes passage anti ferrous clay bar for decontamination correction polish for microgrooves passage to the product to remove the oils from the polish and application of the treatment in 2 passes with 8 hours apart. More than likely, youll need to polish the coating right off in that section, then start from scratch by reapplying the coating. My general rule is to double the number of passes I did when applying CSL to really work it into the surface. My Harley is the exact opposite. Exo is in charge of this department and it does a fantastic job. Soak the included applicator pad with two drops of product from the provided dropper. Its been 2.5 years since I began testing out Gtechniq Crystal Serum Light as well as a good chunk of the rest of their product line. Ive just completed the CSL application and will do EXO tomorrow, followed most likely by some Beadmaker. Of course, Gtechniq recommends using their C2V3 spray with Crystal Serum Light and Exo. It will need to be worked in a bit more, and itll be more likely to smear around rather than be picked up in your towel. Some coatings just didnt measure up in this department and featured a rather dull, synthetic look and were grabby feeling. I would assume the 4runner coating would be in similar condition too, had I not used an all purpose cleaner on it. After correcting the paint, wipe it down with Panel Wipe to remove any leftover polishing oils. The items must be unopened and in original condition and packaging otherwise it'll be returned at buyers expense. I had none of those issues with CSL, even on a dark blue car that exposes every imperfection. We will also notify you of the approval or rejection of your refund and deduct any restocking fees.

Next up is scratch resistance. This happened within the first year of the coatings life. Again, there are plenty of ceramic coating specific soaps available. If you drive in the rain, dirt, mud etc, its still going to get dirty. So think of Crystal Serum as a tough ceramic coating and Exo as more of a super sealant. Crystal Serum Light is the pro-sumer version of the world famous Gtechniq accredited detailer Crystal Serum - a coating so hard that if applied incorrectly can only be removed by using 1,500 grit sand paper. No, wax wont hurt your coating. These can be used in either a wet or dry application. When it comes to adding gloss, resisting swirls, contaminant and dirt repellency, Gtechniq Crystal Serum and Crystal Serum Light are the pinnacle in paint protection. Crystal Serum Light doesnt have very good water behavior on its own and Exo by itself doesnt last as long or offer as much protection. Please email us first for approval and will provide an authorisation number. Not really. Its still going strong to this day. I gave both of these vehicles a full paint correction then applied Gtechniq Crystal Serum Light and Exo V3. I would imagine if you paid someone hundreds of dollars to coat your vehicle, this feeling would be amplified a lot more. Use Code TRC499 for $4.99 Shipping on Orders $39 to $125! Im going to break each one of these characteristics down and share my real-world experience after 2.5 years of living with Crystal Serum Light and Exo V3. Sign Up Today to start receiving our Newsletter. Ill usually pre-rinse with the hose or pressure washer for safety, then use ONR with either a mitt or multiple towels. I chose to retain as much of the factory clear coat as possible rather than chasing perfection and removing every scratch. So take your time and get it right. Make sure the cloths are rotated during residue removal to prevent CSL curing in the cloth- this can make buffing residue difficult, Inspect the surface for residue with a bright, diffused light source, If you remove residue and it cureds fully you should polish the area and reapply CSL, As soon as you finish, put you MF1 cloths in water, wash and dry them as soon as possible, Wait approximately 2 hours after applying CSL to apply EXO Ultra Durable Hydrophobic Coating, or C2 Liquid Crystal. A subsidiary of Palm Beach Motoring Group, 2019 Autogeek - We Are Car Care!

How do you know the CSL is still there? As a matter of fact, Beadmaker has almost completely restored the water behavior on the failed 4runner coating with a single light application! My first thought is always oh no! and yet the next time I wash the bike, there are no scratches to be found. Hi. It had been somewhat well kept for an average person, but not babied. This is another myth. I started Canadian Gearhead to share my passion for Toyotas and my love for taking ridiculously good care of them. Using GTechniq Panel Wipe, do a thorough wipe down of your paint, to ensure no left over polish residue is left behind. By clicking enter you are verifying that you are old enough to consume alcohol. Im also in ON, so I look forward to the challenge of winter road salt build-up. A thorough pre-rinse followed by a regular wash is all it takes to make it look new again. Its just much less of a headache to clean up afterward which makes these coatings worthwhile. Leaving them dirty and neglected over long periods of time tends to diminish the hydrophobicity and gloss. My reasoning for this is because when vehicles are driven, theyre bound to get scuffed and scratched over time. As soon as the pressure gets stepped up, the water begins to sheet really fast. Gtechniq states that Crystal Serum Light is 80% as good as Crystal Serum Ultra. Before applying any ceramic coating, its imperative that you perfect the condition of the paint as much as possible. We are promised dramatic water beading. Im hoping that if I re-apply Beadmaker in the Spring, I might be able to protect the underlying coatings for a couple of years. Applying a product like this doesnt mean you can treat your paint however you want and avoid scratches. I dont know that Ill be able to avoid drive-thru touchless car washes over the winter. Its the start of winter in CT and I am using ONR to clean and it is extremely easy to wash salt off the car. Late or missing items refunds (if applicable). One of the things that made me decide Gtechniqs coatings had the best chance of convincing me to make the switch was their look and feel. Ive just started coating my car with CSL by itself (no EXO), and it does bead very well, so Im a bit confused. This was done close to the same time, by the same person, in the same conditions. Most times theyll need to be repolished and recoated. So occasionally, I would pre-spray it down with a mild all purpose cleaner (diluted no stronger than 10:1) to help break down the dirt and grime before scrubbing it with a mitt. Both of these seem much happier when theyre kept clean and regularly maintained. To quote Gtechniq: It has a consistent film that is more durable and resistant to road salt and wash chemicals than its predecessors. We dont guarantee that we will receive your returned items if you have not followed this process. Ive been using it as a drying aid after washing and applying a very small amount. This process ensures you will get the maximum number of chemical bonds between the coating and your vehicles paintwork, Put on the gloves provided to prevent CSL coming into contact with your skin, Soak the application pad with two full measures from the pipette and work the liquid into the pad to get an even saturation, Replace the lid on the bottle and set aside - do not keep the bottle in your hand as this promotes premature curing, Apply with applicator provided in overlapping strokes to an area roughly 2 x 2, or work to the bodylines of the vehicle, After coating a single small panel or half a larger panel, remove residue with a quality, You may need to buff the same area several times to remove residue. Youll also need really good lighting and a clean environment to work in. Crystal Serum Light offers 80% of professional serums performance, but if applied incorrectly can be machine polished from your vehicles paintwork. Exo V3 however, just cant handle that type of aggression and might even need to be reapplied over the coatings lifespan. Coatings certainly piqued my interest though. Keep an eye out for any leftover residue, which should be removed with your microfiber towel as soon as possible. I was hoping for some peace of mind knowing that any contaminants left on the paint wouldnt be eating right into it over time. It offers 80% of professional Serum Ultras performance, but if applied incorrectly can be machine polished from your vehicles paintwork.When it comes to adding gloss, resisting swirls, contaminant and dirt repellency, GTECHNIQ Crystal Serum Ultra and Serum Light are the pinnacle in paint protection.Serum Light forms an ultra-durable, high-gloss, slick to the touch, chemically bonding inorganic layer of 9h optically clear ceramic. Using a polymer paint sealant tends to prolong it by a month or so. I think we can assume which of the 2 previous owners was responsible for that. Continue around the vehicle until entire surface is coated. GTechniq EXO Ultra Durable Hybrid Coating 30 ml. Arestocking fee of 7% applies. They also work closely with the Force India (or Racing Point Daddy Stroll as theyre known now) Formula 1 team to come up with coatings that help to avoid the buildup of tar and rubber on race cars. Theyve already addressed everything I didnt like about Exo V3 before I even had the chance to share my experience. The original owner was a lawyer and I could tell she had it detailed regularly. The convenience is too tempting. This characteristic also makes bonded contaminants such as tree sap, tar, and hard water spots, easy to remove. Im not saying this because I think Ultra is a bad product, Im saying it because I think CSL is that good. Use this popup to embed a mailing list sign up form. With a yellow polishing pad and a mild polish like Meguiars M205, I can easily knock the high spot down. All Rights Reserved. Application is easy, with a slow flash-off time, giving more time to achieve a perfect finish.. Of course, in a dark garage with high powered paint correction lighting, there will certainly be some new scratches and marks showing. It stays parked in the garage and is rarely even ridden in the rain, let alone the winter weather. This should help you to get the most bang for your buck. The black paint on my Harley was a great test for Gtechniqs scratch resistance. I like to use Optimum No Rinse (the blue one, not the green one with wax). All Rights Reserved. Its a great ceramic coating that offers exceptional slickness and protection. I have previously coated my cars with Gyeon Q2 which I found was pretty temperamental and required careful management of flash time, high spots and ambient temperature. A, Free Shipping on Orders over $150. Washing it after this was like washing an unwaxed car the water just pooled on top with zero beading. Remember, inspection is super important when applying a ceramic coating. Buying GTechniq Crystal Serum Light Where to Buy? Some people recommend waiting overnight before adding the Exo layer but it isnt mandatory. Gtechniq stands out from the crowd here in one major way: their coating both beads and sheets water, giving you the best of both worlds. Its meant to stand up to far worse things than that. With that said, 100% perfection is rarely achievable for the average vehicle. They resist temperatures as low as -40o to as high as +250o C. 5430 West State Street check out the. I tend to break the vehicle down into smaller sections at a time. But its certainly nothing worth complaining about. Following the hype of the latest trendy products isnt something I normally do. Lets take a moment to talk about the things ceramic coatings excel at, at least according to their marketing. I also confirmed it when I stripped the remaining CSL and corrected and coated the whole thing again. Either one of these can be used on their own, but theyre far better together. If a ceramic coating held up to this abuse, Id be impressed. This bike is pretty well cared for. Then put a few drops on an applicator you might want to saturate it with a bit extra on your first pass, but after that, a little goes a long way. Unlike the claims that some of the cheap DIY coating companies make, applying a coating isnt something anybody can do at least not well. In contrast, Exo V3 has held up perfectly fine on the Harley. I want to make sure its clear that was the version I used. In comparison, Gtechniq Crystal Serum Light and Exo are much more straight forward to apply. We will meet or beat anyone's pricing, shipping or promo! Temperatures as low as -40 to as high as +250c.Crystal Serum Light comes with a 5 year guarantee when applied by a GTECHNIQ Accredited Detailer. This is a noticeable advantage. Wolfgang FLEX XC3401 Ultimate Polishing Kit. This is not to be confused with never having to physically wash it, which is one of the many myths out there regarding coatings. Because of all this, I would say that Crystal Serum Light is easier to apply than Exo, but I wouldnt call either of them difficult. It too looked really, really good when I was done. Now, I cant say whether V4 lives up to these claims yet. This is a fun one and probably the thing that sells coatings the most. Sometimes you can get lucky if the coating hasnt had much time to cure and get away with just wiping them off (a little Panel Wipe might help). The scratch resistance you get from a coating like this will help to prevent or postpone wash marring and minor swirl marks from appearing. Weight restrictions apply.Same day dispatch if ordered before 12pm, Chrome Metal Aluminium And Stainless Steel, CSL provides a tough, durable resistance to wash-induced swirls, Provides a slick finish inhibiting the adherence of contaminants, Inhibits staining from industrial & environmental fallout, One layer provides up to 80% of the protection of Crystal Serum, Can be removed using traditional 3 stage polishing techniques, Can be used in combination with EXO v2 or C2 Liquid Crystal for additional glossy & hydrophobicity, To apply Crystal Serum Light (CSL) make sure your vehicle is indoors and can stay indoors for 12 hours after application, do not apply in direct sunlight, Only apply the product at a temperature between 5c and 25c, Spray Panel Wipe into a GTECHNIQ MF1 Microfibre Cloth and wipe down each panel in small sections, Soak the application pad with 3 full measures of CSL from the pipette and work the liquid into the pad to get an even saturation, Replace the lid on the bottle and set aside - do not keep the bottle in your hand as this promotes premature curing, Apply in overlapping strokes to an area roughly 2ft by 2ft, or work to the bodylines of the vehicle, Immediately 10 to 15 seconds remove residue with an MF1 cloth - you may need to buff the same area several times, but avoid doing it with too much force. Even when the car is moderately dirty it doesn't actually appear to be dirty (silver car). If Im able to get it out with a quick pass at a low speed, that might mean that Ive been able to take just the peak of the high spot off leaving the rest of the coating untouched. Both vehicles have been much easier to clean, less likely to suffer minor scratches and in general, remained looking glossier for longer. This is still manageable though. There have been times while riding where I notice that my leg rubbed against the tank for a brief second. How long it lasts depends greatly on how the vehicle is treated during that time. If this is your first visit, be sure to Bugs can be a bit of a pain to clean off especially if you leave them for a while. You say that the strong cleaners stripped the EXO, resulting in no water beading whatsoever, but that CSL is still there. Is the look and feel as good as a high quality carnauba wax? Its kept clean all the time aside from some bugs and dirt after long rides. How Much GTechniq Crystal Serum Light Needed. In theory, you should be able to apply a fresh coat of Exo on top of an existing layer of CSL. Updates on our products, events, newsletters, and more. To become one of those accredited detailers, you need to prove to them that you know what youre doing. The larger sections still look great with very few scratches showing. Every characteristic of the coating is much better than any of those so to cover it up with an inferior product is simply a waste of time. Its what sells these products. Our Passion is to provide the best customer service to all our customers on our store. This proves that my statement regarding scratch proof vs scratch resistant is true. Other coatings require precise timing before buffing off the excess. A line of dots on the applicator should be the right amount for a fender or half a door. Just wanted to say thanks for taking the time to write this piece.

Its parked outside year round, driven in our salty Ontario winters, taken off-road, used as a daily driver, and left dirty for weeks, sometimes months at a time. If your vehicle is coated with Exo V3, do not do this! If you are approved, then your refund will be processed, and a credit will automatically be applied to your credit card or original method of payment, within 3 days. skin

There is one difference though with CSL, were applying it onto bare paint. People love to see nice tight beads of water on their car while theyre washing it or when its raining. Yes, the concept is the same as waxing apply it and wipe off the excess. 83703 United States. After seeing many respected detailers choosing to use Gtechniq products, I knew that if any ceramic coating was going to change my mind, it would likely be this one. I think a light polish followed by reapplying Crystal Serum Light every 3-5 years is a fantastic regimen that will keep a vehicle looking new for decades. Ive done nothing but wash them. Stay tuned for Part 2 (Gtechniq C4 Permanent Trim Restorer and C5 Wheel Armour) coming soon! Although Ive used Gtechniq coatings on other vehicles during this time, my main test subjects were my personal Toyota 4runner and Harley Davidson Night Train. If you want to follow this rule though, feel free to stick with a ph-neutral soap like Meguiars Gold Class or Griots Car Wash (theres a whole list of other good soaps out there). It was the current version at the time I purchased it, but since then, Gtechniq has improved Exo and released V4. In my experience, high spots are able to be fixed without too much of a struggle. Exo is rated to last 18-24 months. Its good to know that Crystal Serum Light stood its ground and wasnt phased by the stronger cleaner at all. Water beading was non-existant from that point on. A big thing to mention here is that no ceramic coating is scratch proof (including Gtechniq). Original Shipping costs are non-refundable. Ill be sticking with glazes, sealants, and waxes until the time comes to repaint that car. Apply it with a crosshatch pattern and focus on getting thin, even coverage on the section youre working on. I didnt own the Rupes iBrid Nano back when I polished this bike years ago, so there were certain areas that just werent possible to reach with a larger pad. Gtechniq Crystal Serum Light is considered a prosumer grade product.