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.

 

[Ashkan]

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.

 

[RebellionisDuty]

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?

 

[Ashkan]

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.