Optimum Gloss coat lacks sheeting beading

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Payton34

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I recently put Optimum Gloss coat on my truck then second car the following week. My truck beads rain but no were near like I have seen pics and videos of how the Optimum should perform. I washed then did Iron X decon followed by claying the entire truck. I machine polished with Optimum Finish polish then used the Optimum paint prep. I applied the gloss coat one panel at a time watched it flash over and left no high spots. The first rain storm was 2 days later and the water did bead well and roll off easily while driving but that was a month ago and the water no longer beads half as well and doesn't really fly off while driving. It is easier to wash the truck but even when rinsing it off it doesn't have a sheeting effect and the beads are not what I have seen from pics and videos. I also maintain the paint with optimum instant detailer and glossifier after I wash the truck. The second car is also about the same in terms of beading and lack of sheeting effect. I am confident I did everything correctly.

For the past 10 years I have used the Autogeek forum favorite kit. I have always done the same iron x then clay bar followed with the autogeek forum favorite kit. Klasse all in one then Klasse sealant and finally royal soveirgn carnuba wax. The Klasse and Carnubua combo beaded water far better and lasted longer then what I am seeing with the Gloss Coat. Also I don't think the gloss was really that impressive with the gloss coat. The Klasse and carnuba produced a much better gloss and rich finish. I was really not impressed by the final gloss of the Optimum. I really expected better after reading all of the reviews.

Did I do something wrong? I know the Gloss coat is applied to the paint and it is much easier to wash as any dirt falls off easily but I am not seeing the "self cleaning" effect since the water beading just sits on the paint and isn't sheeting off or blowing off while driving.

I want to redo my truck but am hesitant to try optimum again. Is it possible the gloss coat was a bad batch? Is there a better ceramic coating to try? I was thinking of the Wolfgang Uber or McKees?
 
Interesting. Out of curiosity, what soap are you using to wash? FWIW, I like topping GC with Optiseal.
 
I first spray with a foam gun using chemical guys honeydew foam then use Meguiars gold class wash shampoo and conditioner in my bucket.
 
I’d bet it’s the Gold class soap. I’ve never cared for how that soap never seemed to rinse very well. If it were me I’d use Reset, Hyper Wash, or Gyeon Bathe for nothing to be left behind. I’d be willing to bet that your GC would perform as you’d expect after washing with one of these 3 soaps.
 
Your soap may be the problem. Any soap with glossifers like carnauba will clog up the coating and inhibit beading. Try CarPro Reset or any shampoo that leaves nothing behind and you will have better results from your coating. Their are some shampoos that contain SIO2 that help maintain some coatings. Optimum is a little different than most coatings so it’s hard to lump it in with most of the other SIO2 based coatings. Pick up some Opti-Seal and use it as a drying aid and water beading will improve.
 
Do you think the Chemical guys honeydew foam wash is also leaving anything behind that is inhibiting the Gloss coat? It does describe that it has any additives or waxes. I do know the Meguirs is a washn wax type so I will pitch that.
 
I don’t think Honeydew will adversely effect it, but if you’re really concerned with the sheeting/beading, I’d use Reset. Hell, don’t even buy any yet. PM me and I’ll send you some Reset along with some Optiseal.
 
Your prep is spot on so I am not doubting that.

Optimum reps have mentioned many times that Gloss Coat can get wet with rain 1 hour after application. But not to wash for a week.

I am in agreement with switching up your wash. I have experienced the masking effect caused by Gold Class when rinsing it off. CarPro Reset is a good wash to have for coated vehicles. Using it every few washes really does help. I would add another soap to have such Meguiar's Hyper Wash which you will find foams up nicely in a foam cannon. Optimum Car Wash is pretty good.

You may want to pick up hyper seal which is part of the Optimum coating maintenance line. It has an SiO2 component in it. I was not a fan of opti-seal over Gloss Coat and stopped using it after a few times.
 
Mine didn't get rain for 2 days after applying. The first rain it seemed to perform well so it must be the soap because I washed it 1 week later and ever since the performance has lacked. I still have half bottle of optimum paint prep. Do you think this work to remove all waxes or glossifies left on the paint without removing the Gloss coat? I will also be getting some reset.
 
I would drop the instant detailer with gl ossified. What you're seeing is the water behavior on that product. Wash it with reset, or a soap made for coatings. If you want to use a quick Detailer I would go with McKee's 914, ONR or something else that won't leave anything behind diluted to QD ratio.
I did a neighbor's vehicle with gloss coat and washed only with McKee's Sio2 wash and it performed perfectly for 2 years.
 

I noticed you are in Illinois and if it’s anything there like it is here in Ohio you are experiencing a lot of spring time and high amounts of pollen. Pollen is a nasty little bugger and will cling to surfaces and effect the appearance or lack of appearance of protection. It is also very hard of waxes and sealants and I am guessing on freshly applied coatings as well.

Try washing the vehicle and drying it. Then spray it with a hose once it’s clean to see what it looks like. You should see water beading much better. If that’s the case I would say you are dealing with pollen and road film.
 
You know that coatings should not be exposed to water for 7 days after application, right? When you were done applying Gloss Coat, you should have appied Opti Seal or an other sealant on top to protect the coating during the cure period. I am not sure what the effects of having rain on the coating after only 2 days are, but I am sure it's not good.
 
Calendyr said:
You know that coatings should not be exposed to water for 7 days after application, right? When you were done applying Gloss Coat, you should have appied Opti Seal or an other sealant on top to protect the coating during the cure period. I am not sure what the effects of having rain on the coating after only 2 days are, but I am sure it's not good.
Click to expand...

Exactly the reasons I am not into coatings. #JMO.......
 
Calendyr said:
You know that coatings should not be exposed to water for 7 days after application, right? When you were done applying Gloss Coat, you should have appied Opti Seal or an other sealant on top to protect the coating during the cure period. I am not sure what the effects of having rain on the coating after only 2 days are, but I am sure it's not good.
Click to expand...
Optimum says the coating is cured in 1 hr and can be driven in rain but not to wash for 7 days. I am going to wash with reset and wipe down with the optimum paint prep to remove and residue waxes from the meguiars wash I was using. The da6 before all the rain this week there was a green dusting of pollen on the paint
 
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From what I've been reading this is similar to most coatings. The initial "dry" period typically up to 24 hours while the "don't wash" period is a week.

I concurr with Troy regarding the pollen. I too live in Illinois and the pollen has been pretty feirce for a few weeks now, but tapering off at last. The pollen will quickly kill the beading/sheeting of any LSP, but always comes back with a good wash.
 
That 7 days is the cure period. The 1 hour to 24 hour is the dry period... these are two different things completelly. While the coating is curing, it is vulnerable. That is why Optimum recommends applying Opti-seal on top of the coating. This way if the car gets wet the coating is not exposed to water.

If you did that, then no worry. When you wash the car all the features of Gloss Coat should return. Remember that dirt or contaminants on the paint will prevent beading and sheeting to some degree. Once the car has been washed you will know if the coating is doing it's job or not.
 
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