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Maintenance Basics beginner 4 min read

Keeping Your Ceramic Coating From Capping Itself

Factory paint is thinner than ever. Without proper protection, Australian sun and salt will have your clear coat peeling within years.

Spent a fortune on a ceramic coating? Don't let the Aussie sun kill it in six months. Here is how to keep that water beading like a dream.

MT
Mick Thompson Senior Detailing Editor
| Updated: 5 March 2026
What You'll Learn
Keeping Your Ceramic Coating From Capping Itself

Aussie Conditions

Our intense UV breaks down waxes faster than overseas. Ceramic coatings last longer, but even they need topped up more frequently here.
Quick Summary

Look, I have seen too many blokes pay two grand for a coating then wash it with dish soap and wonder why it's dead by Christmas. This is for anyone who wants to actually protect their investment against our mental UV and bird bombs. If you want that 'just detailed' look without spending every Saturday on your knees, this is for you.

01

The Truth About Ceramic

Right, let's get one thing straight, ceramic coatings are not bulletproof. I don't care what the salesman told you. After 15 years in the trade, I've seen 'permanent' coatings fail in six months because someone parked under a gum tree in 40-degree heat and didn't touch it. In Australia, the UV and that nasty red dust will clog your coating if you don't maintain it. It's easy once you know the go, but you've gotta do it properly.

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Ditch the Servo Brush

Seriously, do not use the brush at the self-serve car wash. It's basically like rubbing a wire brush on your paint after some bloke just used it to scrub the mud off his Hilux. I once had a customer bring in a black Commodore that looked like it had been cleaned with a scotch-brite pad because of those brushes. Use a microfibre wash mitt and the two-bucket method. It's the only way to keep those swirl marks away.

Neutral is King

Only use pH neutral soaps. I'm a big fan of Bowden's Own Nanolicious or Meguiar's Gold Class. Some of those 'heavy duty' cleaners you see at the shops are way too acidic or alkaline. They won't strip the coating instantly, but they'll definitely degrade it over time. Think of it like using sandpaper to wash your face, just don't do it.

Dealing with Bat Crap

If a fruit bat or a bird decides to use your bonnet as a toilet, get it off immediately. Even with a coating, that acid can etch into the surface in a few hours under the Aussie sun. Keep a bottle of quick detailer and a clean cloth in the boot. I learned this the hard way on my missus' car, left a mark that took me three hours to polish out later. Not worth the headache, mate.

The 'Booster' Secret

Every 3-4 months, you need to use a 'topper' or a ceramic booster. Something like Gtechniq C2V3 or even a simple spray sealant. This acts as a sacrificial layer. It takes the brunt of the UV and salt spray so your expensive coating doesn't have to. It also keeps that crazy water beading effect going strong. Without it, the coating gets 'clogged' with minerals and stops working.
02

The Maintenance Kit

What You'll Need

0/5
Two 15L buckets — One for soap, one for rinsing your dirt.
High-quality microfibre wash mitt — Forget sponges, they just trap grit.
pH Neutral Car Wash — Look for 'nanotechnology' or 'ceramic safe'.
Large Drying Towel — A big 'twisted loop' microfibre is best.
Ceramic Detailer Spray — For those quick touch-ups between washes.

Watch Out

Don't wash your car in direct sunlight when it's 35 degrees out. The soap and water will dry before you can rinse it, leaving nasty water spots that are a nightmare to get off a coating. Also, never use a chamois, they're old school and they scratch. Throw it in the bin.
03

Quick Questions

Can I go through an automatic car wash?
If it has brushes, absolutely not. It'll ruin the finish. Touchless washes are okay in a pinch, but the chemicals they use are pretty harsh, so don't make a habit of it.
The water has stopped beading, is the coating gone?
Usually not. It's probably just 'clogged' with road film or minerals. Give it a good wash and use a ceramic-specific decon soap or a booster spray, and it'll usually come right back to life.
Do I still need to wax it?
Nah, don't bother. Wax won't even stick to a proper ceramic coating properly. It'll just make it look cloudy and attract more dust. Use a ceramic-based spray instead.
04

Final Thought

Anyway, that's the gist of it. Keep it clean, use the right gear, and don't let bird muck sit on it. Do that and your car will look mint for years. If you're unsure about a product, just give it a crack on a small spot first. She'll be right!

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