Hey FTG - this was a good recommendation! I’ve been using Hydrosilex on my Tesla M3 since 2019 - I also had a partial clear wrap on the front of the car as I drive a lot of highway miles... I work with PhD chemists and they are highly skeptical of the efficacy costly ceramic coatings - honestly if it was that good GM and Ford would be selling at high gross margins and yet they’re not.... FYI Hydrosilex is safe for you clear wrap as well! Love the product. Have also used the new Turtle Wax Spray Ceramic on my wife’s new VW Tiguan - that works nice too - but don’t apply to a wrap as there’s wax and it could yellow. I think your advice is spot on... from another Frugal guy!
This is a good product for making your car easy to clean. That being said, it won’t protect your paint from chips and scratches like a wrap. The issue with Tesla 3 or Tesla’s in general they are a bug and stone strike magnet. Think of it this way, you just paid 60k got your Tesla getting a full wrap 3,000 to 5,000 or partial wrap 850 to 1400 is a big investment for sure. Getting stuck behind a gravel truck or being unlucky driving down the freeway behind just another car, can be the ruin of your new cars paint. The wrap will actually save your paint from these minor impacts, plus it’s also scratch resistant to a point. 1500 for a partial front end/ hood and both side genders, plus head lights is not to bad. If you amortize that over 60 months / 5 years it will cost you only .68 a day. Over 5x less than the over priced Starbucks coffee you every morning. Bottom line, it’s your car your money and your investment.
Agreed. I went for the all in wrap (color change) plus PARTIAL PPF, plus ceramic coating. It wasnt cheap.... but I believe in the end the car will look great for a long time.
Do you know of any product to protect the windshield? I already had to replace mine after only 5,000 miles and my neighbor had replaced her 3 times in less than a year. I had to wait almost 2 months for the windshield and Tesla didn’t even install it, so I truly need to protect it as much as I can. Plus the next one won’t be covered by the insurance and is $1,000.
I did the ultimate body wrap on the entire hood, bumper and mirrors, and it cost $1800 for the SunTek. By the time you put the wrap on and get the windows tinted with Spectra Photosync tint, it an overall $3000 that you add on to the cost of the Model 3. Ceramic coating is a good way to go on the Model 3. I’ve been told that the paint on Tesla’s is not as good as some other makes I.e. BMW, so important to protect.
I had three cars done with ceramic coating. My last BMW I did with Opti-coat, layering it. After 4 months of detailing , washing, and applying Opti-coat. You could park any of the ceramic coated cars next to this one, and you could not tell the difference, and you could not tell the difference in washing or removing bugs, or bird droppings. Back in the days of applying hard waxes every 4 months, for the shine look and protection, car products and paint jobs have come a long way. What the big problem you have, is loose rocks and gravel being thrown on the interstate, or a highway under repaving.
Great video! I've been waiting for a few years to purchase my Tesla which will be a reality next summer. I was leaning on something like Hydrosylix as I also did not want to spring for the professional jobs. Thanks for the info.
Or just use Zaino and a clay bar. I’ve used Zaino for years on other cars and rags would just slide off the hoods, after applying it. But normal waxing twice a year is good enough. Ceramic coatings are a huge waste of money and so not necessary. But nothing is going to protect the front end from rock chips, on those long distance road trips, other than those thick car bras from the 80’s. Cars are not investments and are just deprecating assets. So don’t spend a lot of money on paint protection, as I said wax twice a year is good enough and keeping your car slippery in the air will help increase the mileage.
If you daily drive it on the highway you should invest in a clear bra because no ceramic coating will last against constant chips and rocks within a few weeks or months. The most worst is being near dump trucks and nothing but dirt and rocks falling out of them. A clear bra has the thickest protection other than a vinyl or leather bra. I think dump trucks should be fined for not having some kind of netting or cargo protection.
For a more accurate report; it would be great to see how it pans out over time. Whether you reapply regularly (how often?), on not. How long does it last? That would be key to the effectiveness vs cost. Thank you for this video!!!
He speaks my languages, just because you can spend these crazy amounts of money does not mean you want to. I for one will not be spending $3000 on a wrap or $1500 on a PPF wrap. Thanks for the great information, this certainly more my kind of route.
Wonderful video I am going to order this product from Amazon. I can't afford wraps and professional ceramic coatings after paying $64,000 for my model 3. This looks like a wonderful product. Thank you so much for sharing.
I know there is plenty of interest in ceramic coatings. But I am in agreement with others who commented that regular washing and waxing the car is going to be just fine. There are plenty of premium liquid car waxes available that clean, protect, provide a smooth surface, repel water, and make bug removal easier. I’ve had decades of success with Nu Finish, and recently tried the ICE products from Turtle Wax. And there are many more where those came from. I’m sure you will get plenty of feedback on this subject. I’d also like to say that I am enjoying all your videos. I think you are filling a necessary void by bringing some economic reality back to Tesla car ownership. So many Tesla accessories being offered for sale seem to me to be unnecessary and/or way overpriced. Admittedly, I’m old school (age 69) and maybe a bit cynical about $200 floor mats and $60 sun shades. Up to now, my only serious accessory for my Model 3 has been a vanity plate: 4GETGAZ.
That is fine as long as you do that regularly, and you started doing it when the car was new. Most people don't wash and wax their cars every weekend, for a thousand different reasons. This keeps the car pristine for a couple of years or more for people that just drive it around the corner and let the car wash guy clean it for them every couple of weeks. Also, when you buy a used car someone never waxed, the paint will be full of swirls and scratches and look terrible. A lot of the price is in the labor. They will take the car, polish the paint to a mirror finish, then seal the pristine mirror finish paint with a glass coating. It takes the car literally back in time when it rolled off the showroom floor, and will keep it in showroom condition for a couple of years, longer if you park it indoors or in a garage. I have seen this process done first hand. The results are nothing short of amazing. You have to see it to believe it.
David - I’m with you 100% - truly believe ceramic is snake oil - they keep saying it’s “glass”. FYI glass is made at >1000C - some places have heat lamps - laughable... you’re simply not making glass... try the Hydrosilex it’s dead easy
To note, you did not actually apply a ceramic coating. You applied a hydrophobic spray. There is a definite difference. What you are using is likely something meant to apply over a ceramic coating to help maintain it. CarPro Reload is similar. There are many full ceramic kits you can get off Amazon for under $100, like CQuartz and Gyreon. What you are using is probably not bad at all, just clarifying what it actually is.
That is marketing material. Product labels aren't the most reliable source. Applying true ceramic coats isn't a spray on and wipe off, and they'll typically last more than 6 months. But they are a layered approach. You apply a layer of two of ceramic, then a spray on, wipe off top coat. The product here seems more like the top coat, as I mentioned earlier. Just pointing it out for clarity. Here is a pretty good video that compares ceramic coatings and looking at the individual components of them pretty well: ruclips.net/video/VHpU-bOpIhI/видео.html
I just think these expensive ceramic coatings are a nonsense. Unnecessary nonsense, it's not going to change the price for your car when you sell it or part exchange it.
Vic Sandhu a ceramic coating is equivalent to a longer lasting wax. Wax lasts about 3 months, paint sealant lasts 6 months, and ceramic coating lasts 1-2 years. That is all. When you get one of the professional ceramic coats, the bulk of the cost is someone’s time to buff and polish the entire car. Then they top it off with a ceramic. You’re paying for a service, not a product. Ceramic coating will do nothing for the cars value. Dealerships don’t care about swirl marks, since most buyers don’t care about swirl marks. You can do paint protection film to save rock chips, but that isn’t adding value, its to retain value. For me, ceramics are about saving my time with maintenance. I can wash the car faster with all the hydrophoblics that help dirt not stick and help it wash off easily. To each their own though. You can also drive your car through a car wash every week for a few bucks and that is that. Just personal preference.
@@kenrobertson8239 so it doesn't add any value to the car upon trading in or returning from lease. It doesn't prevent any damage. Personally, I don't use automated car washes but hand washes are so cheap paying thousands for something that makes water run off slightly faster isn't good value to me. Paying thousands for this makes me consider the law of diminishing returns. But maybe that's just me.
Thanks Tocayo. . . I'll give it a try. It's been said we live in the Information age where ignorance is a choice. You are an excellent example of someone who makes practical use of that information. You remind me of me 🙂
I love Produxa for my model S!! It is similar to what you are using. Paint is so reflective, bright and soft and sleek to the touch. Must be applied every 3-6 months if you wash every week like I do. Sounds like you found a great way to protect your paint without throwing away your money. Oh yeah, it’s really great for the glass windows too.
Thx for the tip on this Hydrosilex product. Just used it over the wkend and worked great. Later purchased a 2nd but bigger 32oz bottle which is most cost effective.
Hey FrugalTesla Man! I know you stated that you didn’t have the tools & skills to do a full paint correction, however, as a diy, project, you should have done a clay bar treatment, that takes all the pollution off the painted surface before the hydro application!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this product. I've been seeing this product for awhile but haven't heard of anybody's review on it's performance. I'm so glad I came across your video. I'll definitely be looking into this. Thanks again!
I'm not sure how hydrosilex can claim their product is ceramic based since it is really silica based, which is a silicon oxide SiO2 material which is essentially microparticles of glass. Ceramic coatings are a much more complex mixture of silicon carbide and metal oxides within a polymer matrix. Hydorsilex is recommended for treatment to prolong the benefit of a ceramic coating. I don't own a Tesla, but am waiting for the Model Y. I think I would go with a partial clear wrap on the front of the car to protect the paint where rocks, bugs and debri may build up on the surface. Glad you liked your treatment though.
With that bottle costing $35, it goes quick. I love hydrosilex and have used this along with their other products. It definitely works. However, re applying this every so often or few weeks on more of a set schedule can get you up to the same price of a pro ceramic install over the life of the car if comparing to the longevity of other applications. Took some shopping around but found a installer near me for under 1000 for a 5year ceramic, but also am exploring buying a more permanent solution for at home application that's between $1-200. I think it just takes reviewing how these ceramic coats are applied and attempting it yourself, but this is definitely a good product to start with to understand what it all does.
I opted for the PPF clear protectant for the front and sides, and did the rest of the Y, with a ceramic coating. I herd before getting my Y, that Tesla has a bit of work to do for the paint durability. I only had my Y for a week and drove a few miles before getting my PPF 3m film done and I already have a few stone chips. Oh well I guess we to admit, we do drive them on roads with debris.
Thanks for a great well explained video. I just ordered my product and some extra micro fiber cloths. Will let you know the results. Nice excellent video, down to earth information!
I did both ceramic AND PPF Living in MN means the snowy roads still makes the car filthy yes it cleans up easier and I have no regrets but I simply asked for and got $400 off as I told him he can’t exceed $3G
Hello FYG, I am far from a pro at detailing but I have been around ceramic coating. The product you are using is great, it will give you some protection and high gloss and shine. But Its a ** recharge** meant for applying over a ceramic coating. A true ceramic coating is not to hard to do. Yes you need to buff or compound prep if needed. But there are some ceramic ( good quality ) ones that are in the 60 to 100 range. Thanks again for the great content. Sean
i had ceramic coat on my Mercedes C class, made the pain look brand new.. lasted however only about 3 months where i live, Iceland has a lot of dirt and snow on the roads and salt, thus it only lasted me 3 months.. i will do it myself when i get myself a Tesla for sure.. which will hopefully be soon. oh and i paid about 2000 dollars for the ceramic coat here in Iceland.. most expensive i have seen here is about 4500$ yes.. for ceramic coating.
I hesitate to use the word investment for anything to do with our Tesla. We treat our Tesla just like our other ICE vehicle. We dont feel the need to maintain the paint in pristine shiny condition. Instead, we “invested” the money in a high-end tint since we are in AZ and got spectra photosync on all the glass. Yes, paint will eventually chip and get damaged. But with all the $ we spent aftermarket to improve our Tesla i felt like paint protection was just too much. Just my opinion
Frugal guy, I bought this item cuz of your video and man I'm thankful you told us about it. The stuff is amazing. Water beaded off my car like there was an invisible shield and the surface was pure glass after I dried it. Thank you. How long did your layer last before you had to reapply?
Thanks for the information and the video. Right now I have the money to pay for a wrap and ceramic coating. But, I will be retiring sooner than later and I may not have the funds in 5 or even 10 years when it needs to be reapplied.
I researched hydrosilek myself and came to the same conclusion. Glad to see it actually worked for someone. Much more confident when I go to buy it now! Thanks!
If you had used a clay bar and water before you put on the coating the results would have been even better. The clay bar process pulls out any contaminants from your paint. That’s part of the expense from a pro, however, it’s easy to do yourself.
I am as frugal as anyone in spending any amount on anything. Thank you for your excellent experience with this product, I am waiting for the standard range Model 3 and will use Hydrosilex Recharge as soon as I will receive it next year(after 3 years waiting). One question: Where did you buy this Hydrosilex Recharge ?
I wouldn't recommend that as it is a maintenance story for cars that have been ceramic coated and it even says Recharge in the name. Look into a synthetic sealant or DIY ceramic coating.
Or you can just wax your car twice a year? I have a 16-year-old car that has only been waxed once a year and the paint still looks just as shiny as newer cars. I live in AZ where the sun just ruins the clear coat and wax has done its job.
I really don't want to 'protect' my paint, in two years when I want a 'new' car -- I'll have it wrapped. I'll start looking now, I do think $6K is way too much. So hoping that mucho competition will mediate that price.
Thanks for sharing your views here.I guess if you did this ceramic immediately after you bought your car it would have been better. With the Hydrosilex or any other coating on a newly applied paint you actually close some micropores which are on the surface and perhaps even out some of the microbumps on the paint surface. Great job ! Thanks for sharing.
I want to echo my appreciation for the frugality bias of this series of DIY suggestions. Keep it up! Like many, I was shocked at having to spend so much to get this car, but I intend to keep it for many years and so I want to take care of it as best I can. After bringing it home, I washed it (in 40 degree weather), went over it with the Hydrosilex Rewind and then applied Recharge. The surface of my car is as slick as ice almost - I try to put some papers or my cell phone on the slightly canted surface and they slide right off. One question - prior to applying the 2nd and 3rd coats of the Recharge - what sort of prep did you do? Just wash with soap and water? Just spray? I emailed the manufacturer and have yet to here back from them. Thanks.
Washed as usual making sure it was bug and tar free and applied Hydrosilex. Side note. With regular applications washing it is a breeze. I use my pressure washer to give it a good rinse, then use a soap canon. I let the soap sit for a minute or so and then rinse off without any scrubbing. Once it's rinsed off I dry it off and have clean car! I do this once a week and so far so good. However, once the rainy season kicks in, I'm sure I'll have to scrub a little bit.
Addendum: No response from the maker's of Hydrosilex but I found that re-washing the car with a product formulated for cars caused me to lose much of the smoothness and luster of the first application of the Hydrosilex Recharge. So, I'm presuming that Mr. Frugal Tesla Guy is likely simply pressure washing in between applications of his product. Let me know if I'm incorrect.
Thank you. You just made my decision for me. I’m waiting to take delivery of my Model 3 LR AWD, delivery is delayed!! I’ve been researching ceramic or wrap options but really don’t want to spend the much $$. I’ve had several new luxury cars, currently Audi S4 & Q5, but have never wrapped or had a pro-ceramic cost applied. I have used HydoSilex on my Audi and loved the results. I’ll definitely use it on the Tesla, especially after seeing your video, I’ll just have to be diligent and make sure I do it regularly to create the multi-layers Thank you for all your great, informative videos. Cheers, Steve.
Thank you just so you know my car is just like yours and it looks like yours has a misalignment on the passenger’s side fender to bumper and hood I had same problem I took it to the service center and they fixed it,,,just so you know !!
You can totally teach yourself to apply ceramic coating. It’s worth it and there are many good options that are way better than these sprays. I just did a model Y for a co worker and he loves it
Well, I saw my first Tesla Model 3 in person today rolling thru my town. Instantly I was like 👀and the owner a young girl was like 😒and after she shot off the line like a ghost I felt like 😁👍.
I do wonder how much the bottle cost and how long it lasts til you need to buy a new one. I install a 7 year coating with a warranty that goes on your Carfax. which when you break it down monthly only costs 12 dollars a month for those 7 years.
Always great videos - thanks. Would love to know more about your washing routines- what do you use and the steps you take. Appoliges if you’ve done a video on this , I haven’t come across it yet. M
Since you are in the mindset of protecting your car, you are already have way to making a decision. Honestly your biggest question is how much cash do you want to put down to protecting your car? Besides using this hydro product (which I will venture has the least amount of protection vs your professional options, you have about 3 choices. 1. Full ceramic coating. This is most viable to people willing to spend up to about $500 or so dollars. Cost breakdown is about $300 or so dollars for the detailer to polish your srrface and about $200 so dollars for the product and its application. This will coat your whole car in ceramic coating and have your car feeling smooth to the touch. It will add a layer of protection and give it hydrophobic properties. 2. Part wrap/film/clear bra (same thing) and ceramic coating. This will run about maybe $2,000 for the clear bra to be appled on the high impact areas (front bumper, side mirrors) and ceramic coating on the other areas. The reason people do this is to have more protection than option 1 but be less expensive than option 3 (I'll touch on in a bit). People do the film in certain areas because its thicker than ceramic coatings and also has a chemical makeup that can "self-heal" from impact and abrasions. However, film does not have so much of a hydrophobic property so ceramic on the rest of the car still gives some protection but also helps beading water. 3. Film wrap the whole car. If I had around $5,000 to put on the car, I'd go with this option. It has all the best points I touched on in step 2 but is applied to the entire car. Its protection is thicker than ceramic coatings and the warranty (life expectancy) of film can be 3-5 years longer vs some ceramic coatings. It really just depends on how much you want to spend for how much protection. There are ceramic coating regular consumers can buy and apply, but professional businesses have access to products with a thicker formula than what we can normally buy. Hope any of this helps...
@@seekingpandas, I'll add a 4th option, low-dollar version: Wash the car with dishwashing detergent to strip waxes and oils. Get a clay kit and clay the car. Apply CarPro Cquartz UK 3.0. Boom. You're done. You spent about $100. You have a much longer lasting coating than the one used in this video. This assumes that your paint is in pretty good shape. If you need paint correction, that can be done at home but it's a lot of work. You might want to farm it out.
@@incognitotorpedo42 I agree. I'd be more inclined to even go with a consumer grade Cquarts over this, though to be slightly fair, I haven't personally done deep research into the spray product.
Great product review. Based on your thoughts im going to give it a try. My wife will be very happy that I'm not spending $2k getting it done but someone else.
Do some research. You can apply a ceramic coating yourself. Hell, you can even install a clear bra yourself. Detailers have to make a living, but the skill ceiling for this stuff is grossly overstated.
@@CYCLEGAMER1 WAX. It just seemed that the whole thing was overblown, making a video, when all he needed to do was wax his damn car. Like I said, if you learn how to do it right, plain old paste wax will last a year.
The "ceramic surface coating" on the label of the bottle is saying this bottle is a coating for a ceramic surface. Not that this product creates the ceramic surface. So no, this isn't the same as a ceramic coating.
Very good informational Video. Please dont keep repeating you are not rich to spend $$. Getting up healthy everyday is the richest thing a man can have.
This is the one I use. Seems to work well. www.amazon.com/Clean-AR112-Electric-Pressure-Washer/dp/B003R1N4O8/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1540050515&sr=8-13&keywords=ar+blue+clean+pressure+washer
Electric power washers have a very high fail rate. Get one in the summer when you can use it an be positive it works correctly. When they work correctly they are awesome if you already have good water pressure. Get an extended warranty with an exchange if offered. If you get through one season congratulations you have a good one. If not rinse and repeat.
![KSI - Thick Of It (feat. Trippie Redd) [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/At8v_Yc044Y/mqdefault.jpg)
Hey FTG - this was a good recommendation! I’ve been using Hydrosilex on my Tesla M3 since 2019 - I also had a partial clear wrap on the front of the car as I drive a lot of highway miles... I work with PhD chemists and they are highly skeptical of the efficacy costly ceramic coatings - honestly if it was that good GM and Ford would be selling at high gross margins and yet they’re not.... FYI Hydrosilex is safe for you clear wrap as well! Love the product.
Have also used the new Turtle Wax Spray Ceramic on my wife’s new VW Tiguan - that works nice too - but don’t apply to a wrap as there’s wax and it could yellow. I think your advice is spot on... from another Frugal guy!
I have used the Turtle wax ceramic spray coating and have been very happy with it. Very durable and can last 12 months with 2 coats.
This is a good product for making your car easy to clean. That being said, it won’t protect your paint from chips and scratches like a wrap.
The issue with Tesla 3 or Tesla’s in general they are a bug and stone strike magnet.
Think of it this way, you just paid 60k got your Tesla getting a full wrap 3,000 to 5,000 or partial wrap 850 to 1400 is a big investment for sure.
Getting stuck behind a gravel truck or being unlucky driving down the freeway behind just another car, can be the ruin of your new cars paint.
The wrap will actually save your paint from these minor impacts, plus it’s also scratch resistant to a point.
1500 for a partial front end/ hood and both side genders, plus head lights is not to bad.
If you amortize that over 60 months / 5 years it will cost you only .68 a day. Over 5x less than the over priced Starbucks coffee you every morning.
Bottom line, it’s your car your money and your investment.
holysmoker10 investment?
Agreed. I went for the all in wrap (color change) plus PARTIAL PPF, plus ceramic coating. It wasnt cheap.... but I believe in the end the car will look great for a long time.
Do you know of any product to protect the windshield?
I already had to replace mine after only 5,000 miles and my neighbor had replaced her 3 times in less than a year.
I had to wait almost 2 months for the windshield and Tesla didn’t even install it, so I truly need to protect it as much as I can. Plus the next one won’t be covered by the insurance and is $1,000.
I did the ultimate body wrap on the entire hood, bumper and mirrors, and it cost $1800 for the SunTek. By the time you put the wrap on and get the windows tinted with Spectra Photosync tint, it an overall $3000 that you add on to the cost of the Model 3. Ceramic coating is a good way to go on the Model 3. I’ve been told that the paint on Tesla’s is not as good as some other makes I.e. BMW, so important to protect.
I've wrapped the front of two of my cars. It's not hard.
I had three cars done with ceramic coating. My last BMW I did with Opti-coat, layering it. After 4 months of detailing , washing, and applying Opti-coat. You could park any of the ceramic coated cars next to this one, and you could not tell the difference, and you could not tell the difference in washing or removing bugs, or bird droppings. Back in the days of applying hard waxes every 4 months, for the shine look and protection, car products and paint jobs have come a long way. What the big problem you have, is loose rocks and gravel being thrown on the interstate, or a highway under repaving.
Great video quality and info. Appreciated your pace of speech. Clear and concise.
Great video! I've been waiting for a few years to purchase my Tesla which will be a reality next summer. I was leaning on something like Hydrosylix as I also did not want to spring for the professional jobs.
Thanks for the info.
Or just use Zaino and a clay bar. I’ve used Zaino for years on other cars and rags would just slide off the hoods, after applying it. But normal waxing twice a year is good enough. Ceramic coatings are a huge waste of money and so not necessary. But nothing is going to protect the front end from rock chips, on those long distance road trips, other than those thick car bras from the 80’s.
Cars are not investments and are just deprecating assets. So don’t spend a lot of money on paint protection, as I said wax twice a year is good enough and keeping your car slippery in the air will help increase the mileage.
Something like this should protect the whole car from rock chips...
exclusivedetail.com/about-paint-protection-film
If you daily drive it on the highway you should invest in a clear bra because no ceramic coating will last against constant chips and rocks within a few weeks or months. The most worst is being near dump trucks and nothing but dirt and rocks falling out of them. A clear bra has the thickest protection other than a vinyl or leather bra. I think dump trucks should be fined for not having some kind of netting or cargo protection.
For a more accurate report; it would be great to see how it pans out over time. Whether you reapply regularly (how often?), on not. How long does it last? That would be key to the effectiveness vs cost. Thank you for this video!!!
He speaks my languages, just because you can spend these crazy amounts of money does not mean you want to. I for one will not be spending $3000 on a wrap or $1500 on a PPF wrap. Thanks for the great information, this certainly more my kind of route.
Wonderful video I am going to order this product from Amazon. I can't afford wraps and professional ceramic coatings after paying $64,000 for my model 3. This looks like a wonderful product. Thank you so much for sharing.
You should provide your amazon link. so that you get little kick back from amazon to support this channel
What is the proper name of the product?
@@GreatiDude Hydrosilex Recharge
Been using the product on my cars for some time now. And jus t applied it to my bAnd new Tesla M3. Couldn't be any happier.
I know there is plenty of interest in ceramic coatings. But I am in agreement with others who commented that regular washing and waxing the car is going to be just fine. There are plenty of premium liquid car waxes available that clean, protect, provide a smooth surface, repel water, and make bug removal easier. I’ve had decades of success with Nu Finish, and recently tried the ICE products from Turtle Wax. And there are many more where those came from. I’m sure you will get plenty of feedback on this subject.
I’d also like to say that I am enjoying all your videos. I think you are filling a necessary void by bringing some economic reality back to Tesla car ownership. So many Tesla accessories being offered for sale seem to me to be unnecessary and/or way overpriced. Admittedly, I’m old school (age 69) and maybe a bit cynical about $200 floor mats and $60 sun shades. Up to now, my only serious accessory for my Model 3 has been a vanity plate: 4GETGAZ.
That is fine as long as you do that regularly, and you started doing it when the car was new. Most people don't wash and wax their cars every weekend, for a thousand different reasons. This keeps the car pristine for a couple of years or more for people that just drive it around the corner and let the car wash guy clean it for them every couple of weeks.
Also, when you buy a used car someone never waxed, the paint will be full of swirls and scratches and look terrible. A lot of the price is in the labor. They will take the car, polish the paint to a mirror finish, then seal the pristine mirror finish paint with a glass coating.
It takes the car literally back in time when it rolled off the showroom floor, and will keep it in showroom condition for a couple of years, longer if you park it indoors or in a garage.
I have seen this process done first hand. The results are nothing short of amazing. You have to see it to believe it.
David - I’m with you 100% - truly believe ceramic is snake oil - they keep saying it’s “glass”. FYI glass is made at >1000C - some places have heat lamps - laughable... you’re simply not making glass... try the Hydrosilex it’s dead easy
Can you please do a two year update?
To note, you did not actually apply a ceramic coating. You applied a hydrophobic spray. There is a definite difference. What you are using is likely something meant to apply over a ceramic coating to help maintain it. CarPro Reload is similar.
There are many full ceramic kits you can get off Amazon for under $100, like CQuartz and Gyreon. What you are using is probably not bad at all, just clarifying what it actually is.
@4:40 ... Yes it is
That is marketing material. Product labels aren't the most reliable source.
Applying true ceramic coats isn't a spray on and wipe off, and they'll typically last more than 6 months. But they are a layered approach. You apply a layer of two of ceramic, then a spray on, wipe off top coat. The product here seems more like the top coat, as I mentioned earlier. Just pointing it out for clarity.
Here is a pretty good video that compares ceramic coatings and looking at the individual components of them pretty well: ruclips.net/video/VHpU-bOpIhI/видео.html
I just think these expensive ceramic coatings are a nonsense. Unnecessary nonsense, it's not going to change the price for your car when you sell it or part exchange it.
Vic Sandhu a ceramic coating is equivalent to a longer lasting wax. Wax lasts about 3 months, paint sealant lasts 6 months, and ceramic coating lasts 1-2 years. That is all.
When you get one of the professional ceramic coats, the bulk of the cost is someone’s time to buff and polish the entire car. Then they top it off with a ceramic. You’re paying for a service, not a product.
Ceramic coating will do nothing for the cars value. Dealerships don’t care about swirl marks, since most buyers don’t care about swirl marks. You can do paint protection film to save rock chips, but that isn’t adding value, its to retain value.
For me, ceramics are about saving my time with maintenance. I can wash the car faster with all the hydrophoblics that help dirt not stick and help it wash off easily.
To each their own though. You can also drive your car through a car wash every week for a few bucks and that is that. Just personal preference.
@@kenrobertson8239 so it doesn't add any value to the car upon trading in or returning from lease. It doesn't prevent any damage. Personally, I don't use automated car washes but hand washes are so cheap paying thousands for something that makes water run off slightly faster isn't good value to me. Paying thousands for this makes me consider the law of diminishing returns. But maybe that's just me.
Thanks Tocayo. . . I'll give it a try. It's been said we live in the Information age where ignorance is a choice. You are an excellent example of someone who makes practical use of that information. You remind me of me 🙂
You got a new subscriber out of this video. This is exactly what I need.
Great stuff, I'm picking up my 3LR Thursday and will be applying this product. Can't wait
I love Produxa for my model S!! It is similar to what you are using. Paint is so reflective, bright and soft and sleek to the touch. Must be applied every 3-6 months if you wash every week like I do. Sounds like you found a great way to protect your paint without throwing away your money. Oh yeah, it’s really great for the glass windows too.
I use Produxa as well but been applying it once a month....
Thx for the tip on this Hydrosilex product. Just used it over the wkend and worked great. Later purchased a 2nd but bigger 32oz bottle which is most cost effective.
Hey FrugalTesla Man! I know you stated that you didn’t have the tools & skills to do a full paint correction, however, as a diy, project, you should have done a clay bar treatment, that takes all the pollution off the painted surface before the hydro application!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this product. I've been seeing this product for awhile but haven't heard of anybody's review on it's performance. I'm so glad I came across your video. I'll definitely be looking into this. Thanks again!
Your video is super helpful. Because I am considering buying a model 3
Just don’t apply to a clear wrap/bra as there’s wax in it. But it is a good product!
Helpful but would've been cool to see a before and after
I'm not sure how hydrosilex can claim their product is ceramic based since it is really silica based, which is a silicon oxide SiO2 material which is essentially microparticles of glass. Ceramic coatings are a much more complex mixture of silicon carbide and metal oxides within a polymer matrix. Hydorsilex is recommended for treatment to prolong the benefit of a ceramic coating. I don't own a Tesla, but am waiting for the Model Y. I think I would go with a partial clear wrap on the front of the car to protect the paint where rocks, bugs and debri may build up on the surface. Glad you liked your treatment though.
With that bottle costing $35, it goes quick. I love hydrosilex and have used this along with their other products. It definitely works. However, re applying this every so often or few weeks on more of a set schedule can get you up to the same price of a pro ceramic install over the life of the car if comparing to the longevity of other applications. Took some shopping around but found a installer near me for under 1000 for a 5year ceramic, but also am exploring buying a more permanent solution for at home application that's between $1-200. I think it just takes reviewing how these ceramic coats are applied and attempting it yourself, but this is definitely a good product to start with to understand what it all does.
I opted for the PPF clear protectant for the front and sides, and did the rest of the Y, with a ceramic coating. I herd before getting my Y, that Tesla has a bit of work to do for the paint durability. I only had my Y for a week and drove a few miles before getting my PPF 3m film done and I already have a few stone chips. Oh well I guess we to admit, we do drive them on roads with debris.
Great work doing that ceramic coating yourself! It seems a lot better than doing nothing at all.
:)
Thanks for a great well explained video. I just ordered my product and some extra micro fiber cloths. Will let you know the results. Nice excellent video, down to earth information!
I did both ceramic AND PPF
Living in MN means the snowy roads still makes the car filthy yes it cleans up easier and I have no regrets but I simply asked for and got $400 off as I told him he can’t exceed $3G
Hello FYG, I am far from a pro at detailing but I have been around ceramic coating. The product you are using is great, it will give you some protection and high gloss and shine. But Its a ** recharge** meant for applying over a ceramic coating. A true ceramic coating is not to hard to do. Yes you need to buff or compound prep if needed. But there are some ceramic ( good quality ) ones that are in the 60 to 100 range. Thanks again for the great content. Sean
i had ceramic coat on my Mercedes C class, made the pain look brand new.. lasted however only about 3 months where i live, Iceland has a lot of dirt and snow on the roads and salt, thus it only lasted me 3 months.. i will do it myself when i get myself a Tesla for sure.. which will hopefully be soon. oh and i paid about 2000 dollars for the ceramic coat here in Iceland.. most expensive i have seen here is about 4500$ yes.. for ceramic coating.
A coating will not protect the car against rock chips. A paint protective film (PPF) will.
I hesitate to use the word investment for anything to do with our Tesla. We treat our Tesla just like our other ICE vehicle. We dont feel the need to maintain the paint in pristine shiny condition. Instead, we “invested” the money in a high-end tint since we are in AZ and got spectra photosync on all the glass. Yes, paint will eventually chip and get damaged. But with all the $ we spent aftermarket to improve our Tesla i felt like paint protection was just too much. Just my opinion
I already got a bottle of ceramic coating (not this brand but a similar one). Going to apply it as soon as I bring my Model 3 home. Should be in May.
Great, Thank you for sharing, I wish I knew about the Hydrosilex product earlier, I did the Ceramic treatment in 2019 for AU $1500.
Frugal guy, I bought this item cuz of your video and man I'm thankful you told us about it. The stuff is amazing. Water beaded off my car like there was an invisible shield and the surface was pure glass after I dried it. Thank you. How long did your layer last before you had to reapply?
I started with two layers (1 week apart) and now maintain it with a "fresh" layer every 4 to 6 weeks.
Thanks for the information and the video. Right now I have the money to pay for a wrap and ceramic coating. But, I will be retiring sooner than later and I may not have the funds in 5 or even 10 years when it needs to be reapplied.
Thank you for the helpful video. I am going to try your frugal solution first. Many thanks!
Thanks for the ceramic coating tip!!! - great videos
The best protection is clear wrap.
Too expensive to do wraps - we are frugal here
This guy should be generously awarded by Hydrosillics... AWESOME unbiased good testimony of the product. I'm ordering it from Amazon
I researched hydrosilek myself and came to the same conclusion. Glad to see it actually worked for someone. Much more confident when I go to buy it now! Thanks!
If you had used a clay bar and water before you put on the coating the results would have been even better. The clay bar process pulls out any contaminants from your paint. That’s part of the expense from a pro, however, it’s easy to do yourself.
I could still see some rub marks. I would definitely use a high speed buffer and proper polishing pad to finish it off properly.
Thanks FTG. Great information. I glad I now have a good less expensive option to protecting my paint on my Model S.
I am as frugal as anyone in spending any amount on anything. Thank you for your excellent experience with this product, I am waiting for the standard range Model 3 and will use Hydrosilex Recharge as soon as I will receive it next year(after 3 years waiting). One question: Where did you buy this Hydrosilex Recharge ?
My mistake, I saw your link to the company in respond to ClayDayz's question. Thanks.
I wouldn't recommend that as it is a maintenance story for cars that have been ceramic coated and it even says Recharge in the name. Look into a synthetic sealant or DIY ceramic coating.
Thanks. I ll do the diy. They should sponsor you.
good idea to clay car as well as wash before first coat. helpful vid.
The actual paint is not being affected. It is the clearcoat that is being protected.
Or you can just wax your car twice a year? I have a 16-year-old car that has only been waxed once a year and the paint still looks just as shiny as newer cars. I live in AZ where the sun just ruins the clear coat and wax has done its job.
Scotty Kilmer recommends waxing it 4x per year
16 year old paint is much better than paint they apply on cars now a days.
I really don't want to 'protect' my paint, in two years when I want a 'new' car -- I'll have it wrapped. I'll start looking now, I do think $6K is way too much. So hoping that mucho competition will mediate that price.
Thanks for sharing your views here.I guess if you did this ceramic immediately after you bought your car it would have been better. With the Hydrosilex or any other coating on a newly applied paint you actually close some micropores which are on the surface and perhaps even out some of the microbumps on the paint surface. Great job ! Thanks for sharing.
I want to echo my appreciation for the frugality bias of this series of DIY suggestions. Keep it up! Like many, I was shocked at having to spend so much to get this car, but I intend to keep it for many years and so I want to take care of it as best I can. After bringing it home, I washed it (in 40 degree weather), went over it with the Hydrosilex Rewind and then applied Recharge. The surface of my car is as slick as ice almost - I try to put some papers or my cell phone on the slightly canted surface and they slide right off. One question - prior to applying the 2nd and 3rd coats of the Recharge - what sort of prep did you do? Just wash with soap and water? Just spray? I emailed the manufacturer and have yet to here back from them. Thanks.
Washed as usual making sure it was bug and tar free and applied Hydrosilex. Side note. With regular applications washing it is a breeze. I use my pressure washer to give it a good rinse, then use a soap canon. I let the soap sit for a minute or so and then rinse off without any scrubbing. Once it's rinsed off I dry it off and have clean car! I do this once a week and so far so good. However, once the rainy season kicks in, I'm sure I'll have to scrub a little bit.
Addendum: No response from the maker's of Hydrosilex but I found that re-washing the car with a product formulated for cars caused me to lose much of the smoothness and luster of the first application of the Hydrosilex Recharge. So, I'm presuming that Mr. Frugal Tesla Guy is likely simply pressure washing in between applications of his product. Let me know if I'm incorrect.
Thank you. You just made my decision for me. I’m waiting to take delivery of my Model 3 LR AWD, delivery is delayed!! I’ve been researching ceramic or wrap options but really don’t want to spend the much $$. I’ve had several new luxury cars, currently Audi S4 & Q5, but have never wrapped or had a pro-ceramic cost applied.
I have used HydoSilex on my Audi and loved the results. I’ll definitely use it on the Tesla, especially after seeing your video, I’ll just have to be diligent and make sure I do it regularly to create the multi-layers
Thank you for all your great, informative videos. Cheers, Steve.
Real frugal people use Mothers ceramic spray coating
And it does have good reviews for $20 on Amazon. Thank you.
Interesting thanks, you can also buy that stuff here in UK.
Thank you I will be doing this to my model Y
Good thoughts,and advice thanks again.
Thanks for the great video! I've been wondering what type of coating to apply myself.
Thank you just so you know my car is just like yours and it looks like yours has a misalignment on the passenger’s side fender to bumper and hood I had same problem I took it to the service center and they fixed it,,,just so you know !!
Did ceramic coating and I would recommend it 100%
I bet Frugal is like man, I should have waited now that the white color is free aka standard
The intro is like Like Tesla
A car isn't an "Investment" it's a depreciating asset.
How do you feel about it now after 6 months later
He feels SO GOOD about it he can't be bothered to reply to comments on his own video. ;)
@@buckZor this video is from 2018????
Exactly... Let's see how he feels after the honeymoon phase of the product.
You can totally teach yourself to apply ceramic coating. It’s worth it and there are many good options that are way better than these sprays. I just did a model Y for a co worker and he loves it
Owners pride ceramic coating is what we are doing the performance is insane.
Great video!! Thanks for research and sharing your experience.
Thanks to people like you im going to buy this product
Getting mine done next week
Well, I saw my first Tesla Model 3 in person today rolling thru my town. Instantly I was like 👀and the owner a young girl was like 😒and after she shot off the line like a ghost I felt like 😁👍.
I do wonder how much the bottle cost and how long it lasts til you need to buy a new one. I install a 7 year coating with a warranty that goes on your Carfax. which when you break it down monthly only costs 12 dollars a month for those 7 years.
Always great videos - thanks. Would love to know more about your washing routines- what do you use and the steps you take. Appoliges if you’ve done a video on this , I haven’t come across it yet. M
I’m so torn on what to do with my performance model 3, ceramic? Glass coating? Wrap? My research is throwing me in circles 😒
Take good care of it and don't rush, you can do either one of those any time - especially if you wash and wax regularly.
Since you are in the mindset of protecting your car, you are already have way to making a decision. Honestly your biggest question is how much cash do you want to put down to protecting your car? Besides using this hydro product (which I will venture has the least amount of protection vs your professional options, you have about 3 choices.
1. Full ceramic coating. This is most viable to people willing to spend up to about $500 or so dollars. Cost breakdown is about $300 or so dollars for the detailer to polish your srrface and about $200 so dollars for the product and its application. This will coat your whole car in ceramic coating and have your car feeling smooth to the touch. It will add a layer of protection and give it hydrophobic properties.
2. Part wrap/film/clear bra (same thing) and ceramic coating. This will run about maybe $2,000 for the clear bra to be appled on the high impact areas (front bumper, side mirrors) and ceramic coating on the other areas. The reason people do this is to have more protection than option 1 but be less expensive than option 3 (I'll touch on in a bit). People do the film in certain areas because its thicker than ceramic coatings and also has a chemical makeup that can "self-heal" from impact and abrasions. However, film does not have so much of a hydrophobic property so ceramic on the rest of the car still gives some protection but also helps beading water.
3. Film wrap the whole car. If I had around $5,000 to put on the car, I'd go with this option. It has all the best points I touched on in step 2 but is applied to the entire car. Its protection is thicker than ceramic coatings and the warranty (life expectancy) of film can be 3-5 years longer vs some ceramic coatings.
It really just depends on how much you want to spend for how much protection. There are ceramic coating regular consumers can buy and apply, but professional businesses have access to products with a thicker formula than what we can normally buy.
Hope any of this helps...
@@seekingpandas, I'll add a 4th option, low-dollar version: Wash the car with dishwashing detergent to strip waxes and oils. Get a clay kit and clay the car. Apply CarPro Cquartz UK 3.0. Boom. You're done. You spent about $100. You have a much longer lasting coating than the one used in this video. This assumes that your paint is in pretty good shape. If you need paint correction, that can be done at home but it's a lot of work. You might want to farm it out.
@@incognitotorpedo42 I agree. I'd be more inclined to even go with a consumer grade Cquarts over this, though to be slightly fair, I haven't personally done deep research into the spray product.
You should wash the car thoroughly before applying EACH layer of the product, is that correct?
How about a year later? This stuff gets mixed reviews.
I second this - how has the product performed over the long term?
good for you. im glad you went this route instead of doing the same as everyone else. where can i get that product?
Great product review. Based on your thoughts im going to give it a try. My wife will be very happy that I'm not spending $2k getting it done but someone else.
are you satisfied with hydrosilex after more than 1 year
Why don't auto manufacturers ceramic coat/wrap the car at the factory as an option?
Probably can't protect it from stone chips.
Unfortunately, no. That's where a body wrap comes in.
Do some research. You can apply a ceramic coating yourself. Hell, you can even install a clear bra yourself. Detailers have to make a living, but the skill ceiling for this stuff is grossly overstated.
There's an alternative. It starts with W and ends with X. Frugal and it works. If you do it the right way you only need to use about once a year.
Ralph Cramden why the code letters??
@@CYCLEGAMER1 WAX. It just seemed that the whole thing was overblown, making a video, when all he needed to do was wax his damn car. Like I said, if you learn how to do it right, plain old paste wax will last a year.
Why don't Tesla's come with ceramic coating?
This is also a very good product and similar - Masterson's CERAMIC SPRAY SEALANT
Can you show video about front license plate. What you did to protect paint.
The "ceramic surface coating" on the label of the bottle is saying this bottle is a coating for a ceramic surface. Not that this product creates the ceramic surface. So no, this isn't the same as a ceramic coating.
you got me at 1400 is a lot of $, i need to hear what you've got to say, liked and sub'd
I’m thinking diy ceramic coating after I check prices in my area for ppf and professional service c coating
Another way to interpret "ceramic surface coating" is that it is a coating for ceramic surfaces.
Very good informational Video. Please dont keep repeating you are not rich to spend $$. Getting up healthy everyday is the richest thing a man can have.
Very true Arun. My wife reminds me to be grateful for what we have. :-)
did you apply it to your glass? If so how happy are you?
It should absolutely not cost 1500 for a ceramic coating. 1k at most, generally you an get it even cheaper than that.
Very well explained and made video- you’ve got new subscriber in me, thanks!
What is the difference to a good wax?
I see that you are using a pressure washer to wash your car - what kind is it - where did you get it ? Do you like it ?
This is the one I use. Seems to work well.
www.amazon.com/Clean-AR112-Electric-Pressure-Washer/dp/B003R1N4O8/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1540050515&sr=8-13&keywords=ar+blue+clean+pressure+washer
Electric power washers have a very high fail rate. Get one in the summer when you can use it an be positive it works correctly. When they work correctly they are awesome if you already have good water pressure. Get an extended warranty with an exchange if offered. If you get through one season congratulations you have a good one. If not rinse and repeat.
Cool - thank you !!
Dude, if you didn't claybar the surface AFTER the wash, but BEFORE using your new spray, then you didn't finish cleaning your paint job.
When I get my Tesla I will get the overhead glass shield to cut the sun light in half.
The front right side looks terrible... did you have an accident? Looks like the Frunk-lid does not line up with the rest of the car front!?