Aquapel, What did I do wrong?

S

suttonri

New member
Joined
Jun 28, 2017
Messages
45
Reaction score
0
Put this on about 2 wks ago. I first washed the car, then buffed the windshield with Pinnacle Glasswork Waterspot Remover, using a Lake Country CCS orange pad on a Porter Cable. Next I cleaned the glass with Sprayaway on a waffle weave towel, followed by a buff with a 2nd waffle weave. Then, I applied the Aquapel, following instructions as best I could: crosshatch pattern with the applicator, worked quickly, and buffed 2x with a paper towel.

The windshield looked perfect. It does bead, but it streaks. When I hit the wipers a gray film of fine beads appears then melts away. Here is a picture of it. Actually this is morning frost, but it looks just the same. I can't get the wiper film to show up on camera.

Is this a common problem? Can I fix it? How do I avoid this in the future?

Thanks,
Rich

View attachment 61012
 
suttonri said:
Put this on about 2 wks ago. I first washed the car, then buffed the windshield with Pinnacle Glasswork Waterspot Remover, using a Lake Country CCS orange pad on a Porter Cable. Next I cleaned the glass with Sprayaway on a waffle weave towel, followed by a buff with a 2nd waffle weave. Then, I applied the Aquapel, following instructions as best I could: crosshatch pattern with the applicator, worked quickly, and buffed 2x with a paper towel.

The windshield looked perfect. It does bead, but it streaks. When I hit the wipers a gray film of fine beads appears then melts away. Here is a picture of it. Actually this is morning frost, but it looks just the same. I can't get the wiper film to show up on camera.

Is this a common problem? Can I fix it? How do I avoid this in the future?

Thanks,
Rich

View attachment 61012
Click to expand...
I dont know what causes that ... but if you think thats bad try cleaning it with a microfiber and glass cleaner. I have been trying to get mine looking good for months. I have tried APC and stuff to get rid of it .. it's not working.
 
Is it ammonia in the sprayaway cleaner? Or maybe in the pinnacle waterspot remover that you did not get all cleaned? Aquapel don't like that and it's some chemical reaction happens and doesnt bond to the glass as it would. Sometimes when you have ammonia residue left and apply aquapel you can see it out gas from the glass like a light steam. Aquapel has wipes that you can use as prep and works for remove it also. Or the not bonded aquapel I think. Maybe you can use a neat 91% ipa just be carefull and spray it on the towel and wipe it on. So you don't get it on your paint or trim around the windshield. Then let it breath for a while before you apply it again. You can test to spray water and windshield fluid to use the wipers and see if it solves it. Then again if it's fine an ipa wipe let it breath a while and apply if you have more.
Have you got your wiperblades squeeqe clean or if they are old had them replaced? The surfes gets a different tenstion and the gunk will smear to the windshield if not really cleaned.
 
Sprayaway is ethanol, it was used to make sure the Pinnacle polish was all gone. I did not see any steam from the Aquapel. The wipers are about 11 mo old, I'll have a look at them.

Thanks!
Rich
 
I've had wipers cause a lot of streaking issues on treated windows before. Try cleaning those and see if it persists. I suggest using a towel you don't care about as much as it may be stained up pretty badly after cleaning them. I usually clean the wipers off every time I wash a window or wash the car. They get surprisingly dirty in comparison to the rest of the car if you're using them often.
 
If your wiper blades are 11 months old on a daily driver, they should be replaced. Clean the new blades with isopropyl alcohol after installation.


Sent from my iPhone using AGOnline
 
I had the same problem. Replacing the wipers that were old did wonders. I still have some streaking. However I suspect it is because of the Rain ex type of washer fluid I still have in the washer fluid tank. I am hoping that it will get better when I switch to regular washer fluid.
 
Any wiper blades you guys like, or just whatever they got at the parts store?
 
I have installed Aquapel a lot in the past few years. Only 1 client ever complained about it. He said the product went cloudy and he had to remove it. My guess is the applicator was bad, somehow. I have used Aquapel on my own vehicules and never had an issue either.

I don't buff the windshield before application. I usually apply Aquapel after and exterior detail so my application method is as follow:

1. Wash the car about 3 times (Pressure wash, foambath, traditionnal 2 bucket wash). Rinse and dry.
2. Clean the windshield twice with glass cleaner.
3. Apply Aquapel (cross hatch pattern, single application)
4. Wipe down with a dry Microfiber towel using the side that is flat.
5. Buff the windshield with a second microfiber towel, again using the side that is flat.
You have to insure the is no product excess on the windshield when you are done. You should see no more streaking anywhere as you buff.


I know they recommend using paper towels but in my experience those work very poorly. Your experience may of course vary.
 
Update: I tried cleaning the window again, cleaning the old blades with IPA, and replacing the blades. Nothing has worked In fact the smearing is worse with new blades. I'm going to polish that Aquapel off as soon as I get time off and good weather.
 
Well that sure doesn't sound encouraging to go out and try Aquapel!
 
luvmyrv said:
Well that sure doesn't sound encouraging to go out and try Aquapel!
Click to expand...

Yet it is the best windshield product out there. What happened to him, I do not know. But it certainly is not what the vast majority of clients (and installers) experience.
 
it could be the paper towel didn't absorb the product when wiping off and more or less was smearing it around, which left you with that mess...
 
Sounds like you just used to many products. It's hard to get all the product residue off of glass without actually washing it off. I'm planning on using it but it will be after a pressure wash regardless of whether I clay or polish the glass first
 
VISITOR said:
it could be the paper towel didn't absorb the product when wiping off and more or less was smearing it around, which left you with that mess...
Click to expand...

But Aquapel themselves say use paper towels....

The windshield looked immaculate after application. It just smeared this film of tiny water beads any time I used the wipers.

Most people are very happy with the product. That's why I tried it in the 1st place. I think it is actually doing what is supposed to do. When I took my truck through a touchless wash the windshield looked like one of ceramic coating water beading videos. There is just something else here that makes it behave that way with my wipers.
 
Polish and reapply. This time buff off with a microfiber towel instead of a paper towel.
 
Something got wrong with the application. Some windshield is a PIA to get any water repellent products to work correct. Most cars that had have those problems was asian brands. And it's rare that it is so.

Where did you buy your aquapel was it from a not known vendor? There is copies of it that don't work that well out there. Get it from a big company like AGO.

If you are going with one more time use a strong ipa dilution last step before apply it. Let it breath for a good while. Shake the aquapel for a minute then apply it as you did. Remember to work quite fast and be certain to get it of. And work in a heated garage or over 50F. When you clean before applying spray the ipa in the mf towel so you don't get overspray. And wipe the wipers with ipa also through.

Maybe others can say what glass cleaner they use when they apply aquapel. That or the aquapel was a bad batch or you didnt work fast enough. Is what I can thought of got wrong for you. You can get that by it dries a little bit for you if you take your time to apply it. Pop it high in the middle of the windshield work it up and down then side to side. Go around and do the same thing to that side of the windshield. Directly buff it of from where you began. Have some mf towels with short nap beside you at least 2 wipe down or as much as needed and work fast and through. And if this still don't work for you then I think your windshield is the problem.

As you see others writing it works for most of the times so don't give up yet. Hope it be successfull next time!
 
suttonri said:
But Aquapel themselves say use paper towels....

The windshield looked immaculate after application. It just smeared this film of tiny water beads any time I used the wipers.

Most people are very happy with the product. That's why I tried it in the 1st place. I think it is actually doing what is supposed to do. When I took my truck through a touchless wash the windshield looked like one of ceramic coating water beading videos. There is just something else here that makes it behave that way with my wipers.
Click to expand...

I got the bosch wipers and they leave a streak of condensation on the windows in their wake. I don't know why but it disappears quick i really dont even notice it anymore
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top