Removing hard water spots on Opti-Coat

Chris Thomas said:
While water spots can etch clear, they will only stain Opti Coat...meaning they stay on the surface and do not permeate. You should be able to chemically remove them with the appropriate minerals removing product, but if you remove them abrasively, you will likely remove some of the coating.
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What "Chemicals" are recommended to safely remove water spots from Opti-Coat?
 
The most effective on minerals are acids. With oem clear you have to watch out, but Opti Coat is very tolerant of harsh dilutions. The hard part is determining what mineral/acid combo you need. The safe process is try vinegar 1:1, then vinegar neat, then something like Finish Kare step 2 acid based cleaner. The correct acid will easily wipe off the complimentary mineral. With little dwell time and little effort. To be clear, this is type one water spots on top of Opti Coat. Type 2 water spots in normal clear would need to be abrasively leveled.


Chris Thomas
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What is the difference b/w opti coat and just have a thicker clear coat?
 
BlackRam said:
What is the difference b/w opti coat and just have a thicker clear coat?
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You can apply OC by hand..try applying CC by hand. OC is a paint coating and clear coat is a paint.
 
^ plus I've learned that OC has UV protection. I asked what is the difference between spraying CC on headlights vs opti lens. The main difference was the UV protection the coating offers.

I also imagine it would be easier and less expensive to apply a coating vs shooting more CC on your car's paint.

Hope that helps some.
 
Opti Coat is harder, more chemical resistant, and extremely resistant to oxidation compared to clear coat. It also releases dirt better requiring less effort for maintenance.


Chris Thomas
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Chris Thomas said:
The most effective on minerals are acids. With oem clear you have to watch out, but Opti Coat is very tolerant of harsh dilutions. The hard part is determining what mineral/acid combo you need. The safe process is try vinegar 1:1, then vinegar neat, then something like Finish Kare step 2 acid based cleaner. The correct acid will easily wipe off the complimentary mineral. With little dwell time and little effort. To be clear, this is type one water spots on top of Opti Coat. Type 2 water spots in normal clear would need to be abrasively leveled.


Chris Thomas
[email protected]
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I am in South Florida and my GF has a 2014 Mazda 6. Her car stays outside during the week. Down here most sprinkler systems are on well water. I had Opticoat on her car and still get a lot of water spots just on the hood. I washed her car yesterday and noticed white overspray mostly on the front of the car. Since I last Opticoated probably 9 months ago I am seeing water spots on the hood again. I used M105 M205 and Menzerma with a Flex machine and got all the overspray and spots off. Unfortunately I only had enough Opticoat to do the front and hood so I am ordering more today. I also have the Finish Kare #2 in my cart.

After I wash her car I apply the spray Optimum wax. I thought this would stop the water spots but it doesn't. I guess my question is you try this procedure in the order posted and last resort is the acid? When the new order of Opticoat arrives is it OK to apply a second coat to the hood? Will it help or it doesn't matter? Last but not least is there any product to prevent waterspots in the first place if a car must be outside?
 
Maybe stop applying the optimum car wax. You are just throwing a base over the OC that attracts water etching.

To answer your acid question, I've used the finish kare system to decon opti coated vehicles before with great results.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using AG Online
 
VP Mark said:
Maybe stop applying the optimum car wax. You are just throwing a base over the OC that attracts water etching.



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Thanks for the quick response. Could you elaborate on this? I was trying to give the car a little extra shine and I read that people here were doing so that is where I got the idea but if it is causing further issues I will stop but I would like to understand why if you don't mind.
 
There are chemical gurus that can explain it better than me but opti coat is very resistant to such things whereas carnaubas(what optimum car wax is based) will water spot badly on most occasions because the minerals have something they can 'eat' into.

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Thanks again. Nothing like causing you own issues. I never knew that. The Opticoat keeps the looking so good I am not even sure the wax makes a difference.
 
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