Kill a ceramic Coating with W.E.T.S.?

[KirbyT]

Mike,
Reaching back into your past product experiences with 3D Coating and time with Autogeek products, can you give some thoughts on this problem of a solvent dripping onto a ceramic protected surface.

I used the Wolfgang Exterior Trim Sealant on the top cap trim on the bed of my F150. It always gives the trim plastic a nice black layer of protection for a short term under the sun and heat. I was washing the truck bed and noticed the 3D coating (older version) was dead below a section of the trim. No water beading was showing but the areas around it did still bead water. My guess is that the 'sealant' dripped down and covered the coating giving the impression it was dead.

I tried to wash that again and use an APC, water spot remover, and pH neutral soap. While it helped nothing restored the water behavior like it was. Is there a solution or method of ways to remove the outer layer from the ceramic if it does exist?

Just curious as this might happen to any ceramic coating. Just not sure the proper steps to uncover and restore the ceramic short of reapplication.

Kirby Thomson
dba MyGuy Auto Detailing
A MP's alumni!

 

[Bkeets3]

Depends on where the trim is located. From my understanding the one thing that ceramic coatings excel at is chemical resistance. Could be the place it happened just happens to be a really dirty area of your truck. The only thing I can add to the list of things tried is a clay bar. But if I were you and had some coating left I would just hand polish, panel wipe, and reapply that area.

 

[The Guz]

How long has the coating been on?

 

[KirbyT]

Thanks BKeets3 and The Gus for your input.

The coating is coming up to the 3-year mark in September. The dead spot is under the bed cap trim but only a small section, the rest of the 3D coating has been perfect. I have used my W.E.T.S. on the trim previously but looks like something dripped down on this section and reacted with the coating. So I tried various ways to cleans the surface in case the ceramic layer was being swamped. I know that Bead It Up will make the section shed water again but this is a theory question as the two products have been great friends before this time. Likely time to polish and try a new coating anyway, but was fully satisfied with 3D coating especially for application and the price. I run that side of the truck as my demo for 4-products and gives me a way to show the differences when asked by strangers.

 

[The Guz]

WETS is not strong enough to strip a coating. I found the 3D ceramic coating to not be that durable in comparison to other coatings. It could just be reaching its lifespan and losing its hydrophobic properties which is always the first thing to fail on a coating.

 

[Mike Phillips]

Hi Kirby,

Not sure what to tell you about this? If it were me, I would do what Bkeets3 shared here,

But if I were you and had some coating left I would just hand polish, panel wipe, and reapply that area.

Mike