Hard water spots - Clear coat or Ceramic coating?

[rick619]

I wash my truck every weekend for the most part. Parked it at work on Monday and it was a bit windy. Of course, the sprinklers run in the middle of the day are are close to wear I parked. I'll have to watch the weather for wind and park further away, in a lot that won't be hit by the sprinklers.

Any tips for getting rid of the water spots other than washing it again? Do you recommend a particular type of clearcoat or ceramic coating? Wax or anything else I can buy? What have you done to protect your paint? I love Granite Crystal, but it does seem to be close to black with showing dirt and imperfections.

 

[RAM fanboy]

I wash my truck every weekend for the most part. Parked it at work on Monday and it was a bit windy. Of course, the sprinklers run in the middle of the day are are close to wear I parked. I'll have to watch the weather for wind and park further away, in a lot that won't be hit by the sprinklers.

Any tips for getting rid of the water spots other than washing it again? Do you recommend a particular type of clearcoat or ceramic coating? Wax or anything else I can buy? What have you done to protect your paint? I love Granite Crystal, but it does seem to be close to black with showing dirt and imperfections.

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I'd wash it, clay bar and ceramic coat it if it doesn't need polishing. If you have any scratches, then polish it after clay bar and ceramic coat it.

 

[Rebellion is Duty]

My go to for such occasions. I have to use it after each wash when the water blows out of the sport hood vents and mirror mounts.

 

[mikeru82]

Detail spray won’t remove hard water spots. Ask me how I know LOL

 

[BowDown]

If that's from city water which it looks like it is, that's dried crystalized calcium and other mineral deposits. Washing the truck's not going to remove that, you'll at a minimum need a light abrasive polish or clay bar and at worst, paint correction.

Waxing or polishing it afterwards may help if it happens again but most likely you'll need a higher quality wax/polish or ceramic coat it.

 

[rick619]

If that's from city water which it looks like it is, that's dried crystalized calcium and other mineral deposits. Washing the truck's not going to remove that, you'll at a minimum need a light abrasive polish or clay bar and at worst, paint correction.

Waxing or polishing it afterwards may help if it happens again but most likely you'll need a higher quality wax/polish or ceramic coat it.

It's city water, but the building is very old and the water is disgusting. We have the modern water filter fountains and it's still not drinkable coming out of those. Most bring water from home.

How much does a ceramic coat run and where would I want to get that done? Car detailer?

Looks like Meguiar's and Chemical Guys get good reviews. I've never used a clay bar. Is Medium duty recommended?

 

[RAM fanboy]

It's city water, but the building is very old and the water is disgusting. We have the modern water filter fountains and it's still not drinkable coming out of those. Most bring water from home.

How much does a ceramic coat run and where would I want to get that done? Car detailer?

Looks like Meguiar's and Chemical Guys get good reviews. I've never used a clay bar. Is Medium duty recommended?

I always used Chemical Guys. Clay bar type it depends on how rough is your truck. I have clay bar block which is good for medium roughness. I ceramic coated my cars with Carbon ceramic CGs ($150) and good for 3-5 years.

 

[dajogejr]

Try vinegar.
Seriously.
I went with a filtration car wash system for my home due to hard water…but, sprinklers, rain, etc.,

Vinegar…
My truck is PPF on front and 100% ceramic coated however.

OP, to be clear. You can get the best protection on your paint there is, it will not protect you from water spots from happening, it’s simply the result of hard water being allowed to dry on your car.
But you can get it clean, get it protected better to make it easier to “clean off” water spots…when you get them again.

I still get water spots occasionally on my ceramic coated PPF’d truck. But they do clean off easier than just ceramic coated paint alone. Good luck.

My paint/PPF/tint guys calls that paying the shade tax…. In other words, washing your car in the shade so it doesn’t dry so quickly. It’s also why I wash mine in sections when I can…have time..etc.

 

[HARDWATERFLYER]

I had a similar experience with city water from a lawn sprinkler system. Vinegar Water with a good terrycloth mitt safely takes the spots out returning that ceramic coating shine

 

[cerbo]

wash it first and then look and decide. Otherwise we are just guessing. Don t try and just rub that off, you ll do more scratch damage that way.

 

[Fastxn]

Just washed mine using Rain-X spot free car wash. I have my own name for this product but can't be used here. LOL. I usually shammy it dry, but this time I was lazy. HAD WAY TOO MUCH FAITH IN THIS STUFF! Took me 2 hours the next day to de-spot the beast. Yeah, I learned something.

 

[Pikeman_66]

city water is terrible to wash the truck with because of this I stopped washing at home. I go to the touchless car wash which does a really good job and even dresses the tires when you leave if you pay for that option.
Additionally, I have seen that there is a filter you can buy from Amazon and hook it to your water at home and will prevent this. I can't remember which one it is but I'm sure you can search for it.

 

[Dewey]

Adam's Water Spot Remover

Adam’s Water Spot Remover helps solve a common problem for car care lovers – unsightly water spots and stains on paintwork and glass! This heavy-duty formula quickly and effectively neutralizes and dissolves the minerals and salts left behind in alkaline water spot stains using a mild acid and...

adamspolishes.com

 

[cerbo]

city water is terrible to wash the truck with because of this I stopped washing at home. I go to the touchless car wash which does a really good job and even dresses the tires when you leave if you pay for that option.
Additionally, I have seen that there is a filter you can buy from Amazon and hook it to your water at home and will prevent this. I can't remember which one it is but I'm sure you can search for it.

add an easy 2 stage filter house system you can get from Lowes. May help especially if you drink and cook and bath with that same water.

 

[dajogejr]

I have seen that there is a filter you can buy from Amazon and hook it to your water at home and will prevent this. I can't remember which one it is but I'm sure you can search for it.

Agreed. This is what I bought for home use, I take it apart and store in the basement in the winter…
First thing I did was remove all the fittings, used pipe sealer on each, and reassembled.
It does what it is supposed to.

Amazon.com

 

[rick619]

For follow up, after many washes and plenty of morning moisture/wetness, the water spots finally went away. My wife got me a clay bar for Christmas. Probably wait until Spring to use it since my truck seems to be wet in the morning pretty often. I take it to the car wash most weekends, but that gets ruined a bit from the morning moisture.

 

[Fastxn]

city water is terrible to wash the truck with because of this I stopped washing at home. I go to the touchless car wash which does a really good job and even dresses the tires when you leave if you pay for that option.
Additionally, I have seen that there is a filter you can buy from Amazon and hook it to your water at home and will prevent this. I can't remember which one it is but I'm sure you can search for it.

Going to try this, but will NEVER trust air drying again. Too much work.

 

[mikeru82]

Going to try this, but will NEVER trust air drying again. Too much work.

I tried one of those. It was only marginally better than not having it. I picked up a deionizer off Amazon and that works great. The resin beads that came with it were enough for the entire season if you use it just for the final rinse. I also picked up an air cannon for drying the car off. No more spots even on a black truck.

Amazon.com

 

[BowDown]

city water is terrible to wash the truck with because of this I stopped washing at home. I go to the touchless car wash which does a really good job and even dresses the tires when you leave if you pay for that option.
Additionally, I have seen that there is a filter you can buy from Amazon and hook it to your water at home and will prevent this. I can't remember which one it is but I'm sure you can search for it.

I only hand wash at home, otherwise it stays dirty until I have time.
I have a CR Spotless Dic 20 deionizer and a AR Blue 630 TSS

I've modified the CR with a bypass so I do not always have use DI water





The system is now mounted to the wall except the DI unit which I roll over and connect the hose. This is far easier to use and I wash more frequently now as its not a hassle to get everything out



I can wash my truck in 100° heat and let the water dry on the truck without a spot with this system. I still dry it but I no longer have to rush to get it washed then dried before the water dries.

I buy 1 Cu Ft of mixed bed resin about once every other year

CR Spotless water systems conversion kit

Spot Free Finish supply window washing equipment, RV Mods Di Rinse, Resin Refill Funnel, Norwex bug cloth and more at reasonable pricing.

rv-mods.com

or

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dirinse.com

 

[dajogejr]

That CR spotless is awesome…but it’s a tad pricey.
The cheaper version I bought off amazon also has a bypass. Which I use for washing.
I flip it to use the filter when rinsing it off…and I use a quality leaf blower to dry, finished up by a quality drying towel.

Now that the complete reconstruction of my street is done (I really hated last year…) I’ll give my truck more attention and detailing this spring…. At negative temps out right now, just ain’t’ happening