CQuartzUK Gone After ONE Rain?

Imatk

New member
Alright I`m REALLY hoping there is something amiss here that I did wrong, but it seems my CQuartzUK coating that has cured for 4 days completely washed off in a heavy rainstorm last night.

Don`t get me wrong... this was one hell of a rain storm. But I came out this morning and every single horizontal surface looked like it was bare.

It also felt like it was bare.

No beading, literally just like the product washed completely away.

On the sides the beading is extremely evident, but on the hood and roof the product is completely gone.

My process:

1st try:

Wash
Clay
IronX
Polish with M205 and a white pad
IPA wipedown
Applied CQuartzUK with included applicator and removed/buffed with included microfiber suede towel

The first coating had a huge amount of high spots and streaking.

2nd try:
Polish with M205 and white pad
IPA wipedown
Applied CQuartzUK with included applicator and removed/buffed with regular microfiber

So is this stuff just a crap coating or did I do something wrong?

I was so hopeful after I had difficulty removing it that it would last a very long time... to say I`m disappointed is an understatement.
 
M205 is a notoriously oily polish--are you sure you removed all the residue? Also, heavy rainfall can bring with it a lot of atmospheric and tree gunk...I would try a wash before I concluded that the coating was gone.
 
Yes I`m positive I removed all the residue. The first time I applied it using the same method I couldn`t get the CQuartzUK off after it had cured less than 11 hours without polishing it.

So I don`t think it had anything to do with that, but I don`t know.

I would think that even if I hadn`t done a proper removal the sides would have likely washed away as well, if that indeed was the issue.
 
Yeah I`ll wash it and see... but in my past experience even with DG105 no tree gunk or any other substance caused this.

In other words if this had been DG105 it would still be beading at least for another three weeks or so.
 
When you say the paint felt "bare"; did it feel that way right after application? I know a lot of these coatings are grabby, but I`ve never used CQuartz.
 
Wash it and see if the water behavior is returned. Sounds like there is something on the surface masking the properties.

Let me put it this way, if you could not remove the high spot with a simple IPA wipedown or a quick detailer then wouldn`t it be odd that rain would remove it?

The only thing that may be an issue is what was pointed out about not removing all the oils from M205 and CQUK not bonding.

Also CQUK is not slick to the touch. It is grabby like most coatings.
 
That`s kind of what I thought... if I had a tough time removing it the 1st time I would have expected it to last much longer.

After application I could tell a difference in the coated surface. It wasn`t "slick" perse, but I could tell there was product on there.

I am wondering if the microfiber I used the second time caused some kind of issue. That`s the only variable I can think of that was different.

But it was a new microfiber so unless the coating MUST be removed by the included suede towel it shouldn`t have been the issue.

I will say though if I have to use the suede towel I`ll likely never use this product again since the suede towel did little more than smear around the coating.
 
I had this same exact issue today with 2 day old reload (from a wash on my truck just to get rid of the yellow pollen look)...it was beading this morning on my roof and hood and now it just appears to have all washed off in this thunderstorm we are having. I checked the bottle and it`s pretty old (expired). Not sure if that had anything to do with it.

Not trying to derail your OP but just letting you know I thought the same exact thing about 15 minutes ago when I walked outside and then I see your thread for the UK.

To you OP the only thing I can think (logically) is that you may have removed the cqUK onto the towels OR its contaminated but that seems like a stretch considering it`s so fresh.
 
Yeah this is a fresh bottle just got it last week. Looks like you`re right around me, I`m in Austin so yeah the storms that hit you (and are hitting you) are hitting us as well.
 
Yeah this is a fresh bottle just got it last week. Looks like you`re right around me, I`m in Austin so yeah the storms that hit you (and are hitting you) are hitting us as well.

Yep. I`m in Kyle. If you wanna come down this way I can help you do a decon on it sometime to see if that fixes the issue.
 
Iamatk --

I am sorry this happened to you..

How good is your lighting that you use for applying this ? Can you see it really well when you apply it ?

Here is what came off that guy Corey`s website regarding your product ---

CarPro USA Preparation Tips:
If contamination exists it is recommended that you Iron X and clay your vehicle before polishing.
To gain the most from Cquartz it is recommended that your vehicle have all painted surfaces clean and polished to a high standard
Use CarPro Reflect to achieve an incredible high gloss finish in less time with no fillers
Use CarPro Eraser to remove all oils leftover from Reflect - This is critical to ensure durability of CQuartz
Directions: (Use only in good ambient lighting)
Wrap a 4" mf Suede around the grey side of applicator block
Shake CQuartz UK
Slowly open bottle and drag one line of product across applicator
Spread across paint in a criss cross pattern approximately 2 sq ft at a time depending on conditions
Buff off before surface becomes sticky or dry using a CarPro No Lint Ultra Towel 16" x 16"
Be sure to remove all excess residue and only then do you move to next section
Switch out applicators often - as often as 5-10 minutes in warm temperatures.
Apply Reload before 1 hour. Wait until next day for Reload if you miss 20-60 minute window
After Tips:
Keep surface dry for at least one hour after application
Wipe any water off the surface during the first 24 hours after application
Avoid detergents and chemicals for 5-7 days after application
If it is dry and the air is clean outside then you may park the vehicle in direct sun after application is complete to hasten cure

Precautions:
Do not apply in direct sun or on hot surface
Do not re-use 4" Suede applicators
Do not re-use the towels you used to buff off with on paint
Wear hand protection
Avoid vapors and use suitable respiratory protection

Did you use that product called Reflect in the process ???
They say you have to remove Reflect with Car Pro Eraser to remove all oils to insure durability of your product...

My question is - why would one put this on and then have to remove it with Eraser to "insure durability of the Coating" ???

When you say you used IPA to clean it, what exactly was the product strength and process ??

Hope you can just wash it and the product will still be there..
Good Luck !
Dan F
 
Not a coating like CQUK, but I have fresh hydro-blue on my car (applied last week).

Went out this morning, and between all the pollen and whatever gunk from raining all night, the beading was pretty poor. I bet as soon as I wash it, beading will be back to normal.

I`ll swear this up and down, and I`ve noted it before, there is something in pollen that just kills beading and longevity more than simple dirt.

IMO anyway
 
How good is your lighting that you use for applying this ?

Can you see it really well when you apply it ?

Yes I have very good lighting in my garage, but after first application I realized I needed to inspect each small area before I moved on to the next... the second application went fine with no streaks.

Did you use that product called Reflect in the process ???

No I used M205 which is a polish. I didn`t see a reason to buy an additional polish that I wasn`t familiar with to polish my paint. I`ve been using M205 for years so I know what the work times are.

They say you have to remove Reflect with Car Pro Eraser to remove all oils to insure durability of your product...

My question is - why would one put this on and then have to remove it with Eraser to "insure durability of the Coating" ???

This is likely because their Reflect is a polish with oils like any other polish and those oils need to be removed before applying as I did for the M205

When you say you used IPA to clean it, what exactly was the product strength and process ??
IPA is isopropyl alcohol. It was a 50/50 mixture that I`ve used for years. Although I hear Eraser is nicer smelling :)

Hope you can just wash it and the product will still be there..
Good Luck !
Dan F

Me too, but I`m not holding my breath
 
Not a coating like CQUK, but I have fresh hydro-blue on my car (applied last week).

Went out this morning, and between all the pollen and whatever gunk from raining all night, the beading was pretty poor. I bet as soon as I wash it, beading will be back to normal.

I`ll swear this up and down, and I`ve noted it before, there is something in pollen that just kills beading and longevity more than simple dirt.

IMO anyway

Yeah you`re right by me too.

But here`s the thing, I`ve gone through MANY rainstorms under my oaks with DG105 and it withstands that stuff for at least three weeks. Never had it wash away like that after one night. Which leads me to believe that if the CQuartzUK is actually gone... it`s yet another product that is over-hyped and doesn`t deliver as promised.

Not exactly the first time I`ve been in this situation but it is a bummer.

The only other "coating" product I tried before this was McKee`s Wheel coating. It was fine.. but longevity again wasn`t on par with DG105. I was hoping the CQuartzUK product(and maybe other coatings) would be a new product I could use for good protection.

I spent A LOT of time reading about the various coatings on this board and elsewhere before I purchased. It`s disappointing to say the least.
 
my bet is on it being "clogged up" from gunk - I have a hard time believing 4-day old ceramic coating would just disappear after a rain (if properly applied and cured, which sounds like you did everything right).

Either that or you got the worst luck with a bad batch :)

Hope that`s not the case. Id see what you could do with a decon wash like 512 suggested - see what happens after that.
 
That`s kind of what I thought... if I had a tough time removing it the 1st time I would have expected it to last much longer.

After application I could tell a difference in the coated surface. It wasn`t "slick" perse, but I could tell there was product on there.

I am wondering if the microfiber I used the second time caused some kind of issue. That`s the only variable I can think of that was different.

But it was a new microfiber so unless the coating MUST be removed by the included suede towel it shouldn`t have been the issue.

I will say though if I have to use the suede towel I`ll likely never use this product again since the suede towel did little more than smear around the coating.

I certainly doubt that the towels are the issue. I use 300 gsm low nap microfiber towels to remove/level coatings. With UK I have had to adjust my removal process depending on the temperature and humidity as it was designed to be used for colder climates. FYI it applied better for me at night with the cooler temps here in Southern California.

The longer it sat (we are talking about 5 mins) the harder it was to be removed which resulted in one area that I had a tiny high spot. Zipped right over it with Essence on my Rupes ibrid nano and re-coated that one spot. I then removed it sooner (about 2 minutes) and had no issues.

When I applied it to my uncles black vette, I did not use Reload as it does not rain here and the car sat in my garage for a week before he came and picked it up. CarPro recommends to use Reload as Dan posted to protect the coating during the 7 day curing window. I don`t think this would be an issue 4 days later but that is just one person`s opinion.

I will also mention that my mom`s car has Gyeon CanCoat (around 6 months) and I had topped it with Gyeon Cure about two weeks before it rained. Given it sits outside 24/7 and is parked under a tree so junk from the tree falls onto certain parts of the paint. With the dirt and the whatever else from the tree, the water just laid flat on the flat surfaces looking as if the protection was gone. Proceeded to wash it and as soon as I rinsed off the surface the water behavior was back. So the dirt and grime was masking the water behavior.

I experienced the same thing with my personal car which has Sonax CC36 ceramic coating and sits outside 24/7. I had not washed it for 2 weeks before it rained and it looked like the coating wash gone. A quick wash and it was back to normal.

Road grime can also mask a coatings water behavior.

Give it a good wash this weekend and see if the water behavior is there.

Did you use that product called Reflect in the process ???
They say you have to remove Reflect with Car Pro Eraser to remove all oils to insure durability of your product...

My question is - why would one put this on and then have to remove it with Eraser to "insure durability of the Coating" ???

Hi Dan. CarPro just says to use Reflect as it`s their polish. Just like Optimum told me that Gloss Coat failed because I did not use their hyper polish. So it`s a way for a coating company to come back and say "hey you did not use what we recommend so it`s not our fault." Just how I read that and experienced that with optimum. There are many other folks who use another polish and then coat and have no issues.

Reflect just has less polishing oils than M205. And Eraser will remove those polishing oils to leave a bare surface behind.

Now CarPro recommends to use Essence to get more durability with any of their coatings so there is that :).

Yeah you`re right by me too.

But here`s the thing, I`ve gone through MANY rainstorms under my oaks with DG105 and it withstands that stuff for at least three weeks. Never had it wash away like that after one night. Which leads me to believe that if the CQuartzUK is actually gone... it`s yet another product that is over-hyped and doesn`t deliver as promised.

Not exactly the first time I`ve been in this situation but it is a bummer.

The only other "coating" product I tried before this was McKee`s Wheel coating. It was fine.. but longevity again wasn`t on par with DG105. I was hoping the CQuartzUK product(and maybe other coatings) would be a new product I could use for good protection.

I spent A LOT of time reading about the various coatings on this board and elsewhere before I purchased. It`s disappointing to say the least.

Coatings take time for them to actually cure and harden on the paint. 7-10 days is the typical recommendation per coating manufacturer before washing it. Which is usually enough time for the coating to not be effected by a chemical. I never asked Corey about cquartz but Yvan of Optimum has mentioned on the podcast that like 2 weeks to a month and their coatings have fully cured to their max hardness.

It is highly impossible for a coating to be washed off especially after 4 days. Unless the coating did not bond to the paint because there was something hindering it. I have used a few coatings (both versions of Cquartz included) and they all have their pros and cons but I have never had one appear to fail after rain or a wash. Most of them feel grabby instead of slick unless one has a topper like the Gyeon Syncro kit.

This is why I like to recommend someone start with something like Gyeon CanCoat before going to a more semi-permanent coating like Cquartz before one decides if they like coatings or not.

You should not need a decontamination 4 days after application. That may even affect the performance some more since the coating is relatively fresh.

Keep us updated after you wash it. Worst case hit it with Reload or something similar until you have the time to polish it off and go back to your sealant of choice. Fingers crossed for you.
 
Mike --
Thanks for your post !
Glad you have much experience with the CarPro coating and all the other steps that have to be done..
Life was much simpler when Optimum just went on, dried, cured, and there you have it.. :)

From the experiences with Optimum long term - years - on my personal car, it did go "flat" and then a couple of good washes with CarPro Reset, and it was all back to beading, rolling off, and looking much clearer and brighter..

I don`t like all the steps these guys are making everyone go through when coatings started out so much simpler.. I guess some things have to change with newer technology, but why cant someone actually make one that is very easy to use, don`t need a zillion other things to put on it, and be done with it ?? Yeah, I know, Marketing 101... :)

Dan F
 
So I got home and cleaned off the hood. Just used water, no soap and unfortunately it does appear that the CQuartzUK coating is gone.


At this point I may do a side-by-side with the DG105 and try to apply the CQuartzUK again OR if anyone wants to buy a barely used bottle of the UK let me know, although this isn`t exactly a good advertisement for it :/
 
Rain going thru trees will rinse garbage from the leaves. Elm trees are very bad with this. Try a wash and you may be suprised.
 
Back
Top