Attention Spray Wax Users...

[The Critic]

I applied CarPro's Hydr02 to three cars last night and found it to be a quicker, safer and more durable alternative to most spray waxes/sealants.

According to the manufacturer and a friend of mine who uses it at his shop, Hydr02 lasts between 2 to 3 months. Other than Reload, this is significantly longer than most spray wax products.

Here's a picture of the water beading behavior after applying Hydr02 to my friend's FX35. Very few products, other than paint coatings, will give you this level of water beading:


Untitled by thecritic89, on Flickr


Untitled by thecritic89, on Flickr


Untitled by thecritic89, on Flickr

One advantage to Hydr02 is that you are wiping/buffing the product on your paint. Since any contact with your paint is a risk for marring or swirls, this is a significant advantage for cars with soft paint. Also, because you do not have to wipe the product on/off, it's much quicker -- it took me less than 5 minutes to apply Hydr02 to the entire car.

On the FX35 above, I used 1 oz of Hydr02 mixed to 3oz of water. Using a fine-mist sprayer, 4oz of solution was just enough to treat all painted surfaces and the wheels. The cost per application is around $3.

Here are some videos on the application process. Just note that a pressure washer is not mandatory -- but it may give you slightly better bonding.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NV9aWd9f6M4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqV1LifxcLk

 

[GMBoy]

Great information! I do find it hard to believe any spray wax lasting 2-3 months but I will follow this post to see your feedback as time goes by.

 

[gofast182]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
...

One advantage to Hydr02 is that you are wiping/buffing the product on your paint. Since any contact with your paint is a risk for marring or swirls, this is a significant advantage for cars with soft paint. Also, because you do not have to wipe the product on/off, it's much quicker -- it took me less than 5 minutes to apply Hydr02 to the entire car.

...

That looks really good, Mike. How would you rate gloss? To clarify, in the excerpt above you mention 'you are wiping/buffing' but below that say you do not have to wipe?

 

[gofast182]

OK just watched the vid., no wiping. For my cars, even if I wash with dish soap they still bead afterward so I'm not sure how that would work for me since I can't get to that 'all wet' state.

 

[The Critic]

With a traditional spray sealant or spray wax, the application process involves spray the product onto the panel, spreading it with a MF towel, then re-buffing the panel to remove any excess.

For Hydr02, you simply spray the product onto the panel, blast it with a hose, and proceed with drying the car.

Gloss is very good. Slickness is nowhere near as good as PowerLock, but then again, Power Lock is sorta in a class of its own when it comes to slickness.

You do not need to get the panel into an "all wet" state to use the product. This has no effect on the outcome. Just mist it onto the panel and blast with the strongest water source available. The only thing to keep in mind is that Hydr02 does not like to be applied over fresh coats of waxes or silicone/oil heavy sealants.

 

[genynnc]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
With a traditional spray sealant or spray wax, the application process involves spray the product onto the panel, spreading it with a MF towel, then re-buffing the panel to remove any excess.

For Hydr02, you simply spray the product onto the panel, blast it with a hose, and proceed with drying the car.

Gloss is very good. Slickness is nowhere near as good as PowerLock, but then again, Power Lock is sorta in a class of its own when it comes to slickness.

You do not need to get the panel into an "all wet" state to use the product. This has no effect on the outcome. Just mist it onto the panel and blast with the strongest water source available. The only thing to keep in mind is that Hydr02 does not like to be applied over fresh coats of waxes or silicone/oil heavy sealants.



Critic, can you compare this to Opti-Seal? Obviously the application method is easier with HydrO2... but I've heard some users report streaking with Hydro02 and that has led me to using OptiSeal for my wash/wax packages.

Also, just to reiterate, you used a hose to activate the HydrO2?

Do you know approximately how many ounces you used on the vehicle?

Thanks!

 

[The Critic]

Glennyc – 1oz of Hydr02 mixed with 3oz of water, for a total of 4 oz of solution. This was just enough to treat all painted surfaces and the wheels of an Infiniti FX35.

I have not had any streaking issues, not even on my dark-grey Prius. I suspect that the streaking issues are caused by individuals who use it in the sun, or are not rinsing off any “splatter” that may land onto adjacent panels. When rinsing off a treated panel with a pressure washer, you may get splatter onto the adjacent panels – so it is important to rinse very thoroughly.

 

[HammerDown]

Last summer I bought that Turtle Wax Ice spray...that seemed to easily last a few months too. And, fill minor swirl marks!
Got it on sale $7.00

 

[Pablo]

These products are interesting. What are the polymers? Are they Silicone based? OR?? What is the long term impact on the clear coat and other polymers? Great info and it's natural to be slow to adopt such things.

More info needed!

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: Pablo
These products are interesting. What are the polymers? Are they Silicone based? OR?? What is the long term impact on the clear coat and other polymers? Great info and it's natural to be slow to adopt such things.

More info needed!


Why are you worried about silicone? Unless you're planning to repaint the car sometime soon, I don't see an issue.

What am I missing?

 

[Pablo]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Originally Posted By: Pablo
These products are interesting. What are the polymers? Are they Silicone based? OR?? What is the long term impact on the clear coat and other polymers? Great info and it's natural to be slow to adopt such things.

More info needed!


Why are you worried about silicone? Unless you're planning to repaint the car sometime soon, I don't see an issue.

What am I missing?


Who said I was worried about silicone?

 

[JHZR2]

You're right. I assumed based upon asking about it and then about long term impact on clear and polymers... Bad assumption perhaps.

But some are worried about silicones in car care products, I think because of their effect on repainting panels.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: Pablo
These products are interesting. What are the polymers? Are they Silicone based? OR?? What is the long term impact on the clear coat and other polymers? Great info and it's natural to be slow to adopt such things.

More info needed!

The product is advertised to be "formulated with Hydrophilic glass fibers, silicon polymers, and fluoropolymers and can be applied to all vehicle surfaces"

http://www.carpro-us.com/hydro2-touchless-sealant-concentrate-1-liter/


These are the ingredients listed in the MSDS. I am looking forward to hear what you and JHZR2's have to say, since I know that the two of you have a science background.

Quote:

Trimethylated Silica, 1-15%
Polydimethylsiloxane, 1-30%
Etoh,

 

[JHZR2]

It reads to me like a silicone grease that is cut with alcohol!

Polydimethylsiloxane is dot5 brake fluid, amongst other products.

 

[Pablo]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
It reads to me like a silicone grease that is cut with alcohol!

Polydimethylsiloxane is dot5 brake fluid, amongst other products.


Yes that will bead water! I just can't imagine it will give you the deepest glossiest shine. Fairly inert to other materials, I'm guessing. I wouldn't want it on glass.

 

[paulswagelock]

Pdms is the ingredient used in armor all to give its gloss.
It is used as a lubricant in all sorts of manufacturing.

Trimethylated Silica is used in various stone sealers and water proofers.

Etoh is alcohol.

Makes me think that this stuff is great to make the water bead, but doing little for protection.

 

[gofast182]

Interesting stuff. There are some quite knowledgeable people on here.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: paulswagelock
Pdms is the ingredient used in armor all to give its gloss.
It is used as a lubricant in all sorts of manufacturing.

Trimethylated Silica is used in various stone sealers and water proofers.

Etoh is alcohol.

Makes me think that this stuff is great to make the water bead, but doing little for protection.


Very interesting, thanks.

There were two other lines in the MSDS:

Polymers, more than 10%
Non aqueous solvents, less than 0.1%.

So perhaps the polymers are providing the protection. But it sure sounds like this stuff is some very expensive diluted silicone grease and polymer!

 

[The Critic]

I've contacted CarPro and pointed them to this thread. Hopefully their representative can post on here and clarify.

 

[Zeus33]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
I applied CarPro's Hydr02 to three cars last night and found it to be a quicker, safer and more durable alternative to most spray waxes/sealants.


Looks good TC. Please update us in a month or so if possible. I'm curious to see how it holds up.