Which LSP is the most resistant to getting water spots?

B

bcwang

New member
I have an unfortunate situation where the sprinklers in front of all the parking spaces in my complex go off and hit the cars every single night with lots of overspray. I'm talking about covering the entire hood and some of the windshield. I plan on working to get rid of the water spots completely one of these days, but after that I need some way to best keep them off.



What LSP is the most resistant to getting water spots?

-Least likely to form water spots when sprinklers hit it

-Easy to wash off any water spots that do form

-Prevents really bad water spots from etching through to the paint



The interesting thing is most of the other cars in the parking lot don't have these spots. I think they have not the slightest trace of LSP on them and the water completely sheets and coats the panel until it evenly dries when the sun comes out. No sheeting power of any LSP I've seen can completely sheet water like an old uncared for paint finish! The sheeting is so good and even that when wet it looks like a deep glossy wet finish!
 
When you find the answer, the rest of us will be waiting.



You are basically asking for an LSP to defy gravity and/or act as if it has a magical and mechanical blower to blow the water and contaminants off of the car for you while it sits still.



As for the cars with no wax...they are not any better, just (as you pointed out) they have an EVEN deposit of contaminants across the entire surface than than round spots.



I put a single coat of M16 on this Yukon about 6 months ago. The Yukon was not washed once in 6 months, and had been rained on a few times (in San Diego, not a lot of heavy rain, so it spotted like you suggested), and yet I was able to wash it all away with a simple wash.



Didn't use any chemicals, quick detail sprays, or cleaner waxes. I washed it, and dried it.



So maybe give Meguiar's M16 a shot? Worked well here.



IMG_1078.JPG




IMG_1077.JPG




n1483647188_345616_8299085.jpg




After just a wash.



4422_1137147237223_1483647188_345623_7802906_n.jpg




4422_1137147277224_1483647188_345624_1293317_n.jpg




4422_1137147317225_1483647188_345625_7089953_n.jpg




Full vehicle shot

4422_1137149797287_1483647188_345637_8321582_n.jpg




Side shot

n1483647188_345639_6365564.jpg




Side again

4422_1137149957291_1483647188_345640_2707312_n.jpg
 
The problem with Lumadar's example is that rainwater is simply different than sprinkler water (nice job, BTW, on that truck, and #16 is a great LSP). Rainwater has virtually no dissolved minerals, while sprinkler water (or any untreated tap water) can have huge mineral content. I seem to have been able to get significant water spots on the horizontal surfaces of my cars simply from washing in my driveway and not hosing/drying off fast enough and having a few spots dry each wash (no thanks to my neighbor who cut down several big trees so I don't have much shade left in my driveway).



Some years ago when I got a second car I started to park my beater in a spot in my driveway in which my own sprinklers would douse it, and those "unremovable" water spots would seem to form almost instantly, even if I went out and QD'd the car when it was virtually still wet. My point is, as Lumadar implied, I don't think there is anything you can do to help, really, other than parking somewhere else. Of course, a car cover will do something...however the something might be to give you really interesting waffle-pattern water spotting. As you have noted, cars that are never LSP'd seem to be devoid of these "spot-type" defects, so your best LSP bet is going to be a sealant that sheets somewhat like KSG or JW Acrylic Jett.
 
wfedwar said:
I've found Z2/Z5 to be the worst. Interestingly, Z8 over other sealants doesn't do this to the same extent.
Click to expand...



I agree that the insane beading of Zaino makes it bad for this kind of thing. IME Z8 beads just as well, but ZCS not so much.
 
About the only product that I find that reduces beading and sheets water really well is NXT 2.0 followed by UQW weekly. Both are Hydrophobic. This keeps the paint uber-slick and for the most part water runs off quickly. Not 100%, but about the best I've used in the water sheeting regard.
 
mrclrider said:
WOW, that is insane! I'm going for a pot of 16 next.
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I just bought two tins of M16 from eshine for $38 and change with shipping. Looking forward to using that as a base, with 476 over it. Should have some durability.
 
Lumadar said:
When you find the answer, the rest of us will be waiting.



You are basically asking for an LSP to defy gravity and/or act as if it has a magical and mechanical blower to blow the water and contaminants off of the car for you while it sits still.



As for the cars with no wax...they are not any better, just (as you pointed out) they have an EVEN deposit of contaminants across the entire surface than than round spots.



I put a single coat of M16 on this Yukon about 6 months ago. The Yukon was not washed once in 6 months, and had been rained on a few times (in San Diego, not a lot of heavy rain, so it spotted like you suggested), and yet I was able to wash it all away with a simple wash.



Didn't use any chemicals, quick detail sprays, or cleaner waxes. I washed it, and dried it.



So maybe give Meguiar's M16 a shot? Worked well here.



IMG_1078.JPG




IMG_1077.JPG




n1483647188_345616_8299085.jpg




After just a wash.



4422_1137147237223_1483647188_345623_7802906_n.jpg




4422_1137147277224_1483647188_345624_1293317_n.jpg




4422_1137147317225_1483647188_345625_7089953_n.jpg




Full vehicle shot

4422_1137149797287_1483647188_345637_8321582_n.jpg




Side shot

n1483647188_345639_6365564.jpg




Side again

4422_1137149957291_1483647188_345640_2707312_n.jpg
Click to expand...



I had the same experience with PB EX topped with One Grand blitz wax. But if you use One grand blitz make sure you tape your trim, it will stain it if you don't.:xyxthumbs
 
Well water is even worse than city (treated) water. Water spotting is going to happen. It's just finding thr right product that will repel the minerals on the surface. Collinite 845 comes to mind. One thing that is really important is to have a good coat of wax or sealant. And Qd's will help too.
 
Also, FWIW, if you get to the spots relatively soon after they occur I find undiluted Last Touch to be REALLY good at removing them.
 
lostdaytomorrow said:
Alternative idea: Adjust the sprinklers to spray the right area.
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Wouldn't that be nice? Seriously, my truck gets sprinkled once by the neighbor (well water, timed sprinkler, no adjustment), then often once or twice on the way ot work by businesses that have their sprinklers spraying in the street, then again as I drive into work. All well water, all sit on the paint all day in the sun.
 
lostdaytomorrow said:
Alternative idea: Adjust the sprinklers to spray the right area.
Click to expand...



I'd love to, except I have no idea when they actually turn on so I can see the aim problem. And even if I did, I don't know if I can adjust them, when they are off they are solid and nothing turns. I should file a note with the complex to tell them to fix it, but I already told the gardener who said he is responsible and he supposedly fixed them but I don't see a difference.
 
I stated before a while back, no LSP can protect a car from getting water spots.. especially from water sprinklers or a quick rain shower. Once the water dries, and bakes from the sun... I'd say you'll have a little more work to do during a simple car wash.



My protection... park under the garage at home and work :)

Works for me :)
 
Products that keep the minerals on the surface of the sealant will produce waterspots. I've also used Collinite 845 and had waterspotting that went through and stained the vinyl underneath. Every product has this issue to an extent. Some products it isn't noticed since they wash away in 3 or 4 washes. Even glass will waterspot yet I don't see anyone being concerned about the protective ability of glass:nixweiss
 
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