[SSDan]

Originally Posted by SSTony

can do it by hand?

So you put essence on then reload?

Yes & Yes - that is what I did about a month ago and got great results.

[SSport16]

Originally Posted by Burly

Totally agree. Reload feels slicker and looks glossier. I did wife's car a month ago with Essence and topped with Reload and she commented yesterday that she was surprised how rain just ran off the hood and how shiny the car was after her 600 mile round trip. She never makes these kinds of observations. I used to maintain her car with just Crystal Seal and Duragloss rinseless.

I noticed a huge difference right away using Silica products!

[SSport16]

Originally Posted by SSTony

do you have to buff essence on with a wheel or you can do it by hand?

So you put essence on then reload?

You can do it by hand, better results and easier with a DA polisher though.

[SSTony]

I have to invest in an air buffer. horrible freight here I come

[Glen e]

Ok, 2 months later:

The Carpro side, same beading ability, if I get very anal, I think I'm seeing the Carpro products show a bit more depth of reflection:



The blackfire side:

[SSTony]

How is carpro applied compared to Blackfire

[SR 33]

Is this still going on or have you moved on? I’m curious if any significant difference has appeared yet now that it’s been a while

[Glen e]

Honestly, I still can’t see a diff from side to side. They both still have magnificent gloss. And I have only cleaned that trunk lid with water since the installation. No Rinseless, no toppers etc. I have tried it wet, dry, dirty, clean, side to side. I think this proves what Mike Phillips at auto geek says and that is “find something you like and use it often”. And I think it supports one of my strong beliefs and that is , it’s much more the procedure and the tools than the product it’s important.

That being said, professional detailer friends of mine still says silica is more durable long-term and their experience. So that’s what I’ll continue to use.

[SSport16]

I am still sold on Silica products...the other day we had a massive rain storm, flooding all over the place, drove my new Equinox through it with Reload, truck was super clean, did a rinseless on it last night, very easy, very little dirt/road grime, my MF rinseless towels were almost perfectly clean after the wash....BF CS never was that good driving in a massive rain like that.

[SR 33]

Cool, thanks for the update

[bpang1234]

I just did a full run of Reload on my car this Saturday.

Car has been through the ringer after my initial application in August. I have done a big epic road trip from Spokane, WA to Albany, OR to Reno to Vegas and back up to Spokane. Then I moved from Spokane to Albany, OR in late August with only 2 legit car washes since then. Sooo much bug splatter and other unmentionable things on my car but they all came off with just a rinseless wash (I did pre-soak all panels longer than I normally would and used like twice the usual amount of MF towels). No need for clay bar to get anything out which was amazing.

Truth be told, the finish was just fine after the rinseless but I still felt like giving it the full business just to get the ultra-slick feel for all my hard work.

[rorymick]

I've also been using carpro ech2o in all its uses as in waterless. Rinseless. And as a drying agent mixed with reload.

I did a paint correction recently which turned out well but that damn black paint scratches so easily that I've already instilled some love marks...I have CQUK sitting on the shelf but I'm undecided if I should do another quick correction with what worked for me which is Sonax perfect finish and then apply CQUK or just go through the harsh Canadian winter with the car protected with Reload.

Or just not ceramic coat the car at all and continue with just a light polish and use Reload till something else catches my eye.

GLEN E I'd love to know your thoughts. Given your use of essence etc your car isn't ceramic coated right?

Btw thanks for doing a test like this.

Initial Reload application was a few days ago. I'm thinking of applying reload tomorrow as well for a bit of layering.

[Glen e]

If you own the cquk, I’d use it after a polish, I’d prob wait for spring though. Until then, reload the hell outta it....

[rorymick]

Originally Posted by Glen e

If you own the cquk, I’d use it after a polish, I’d prob wait for spring though. Until then, reload the hell outta it....

I'm with ya on this one.