Kevin Awalt is a professional detailer who also now works for Gtechniq. Greg has been in contact with Kevin during the process of DI picking up the Gtechniq line and soon after we received the products in stock, Kevin shared his desire to highlight some tips and techniques on maximizing these products. Below is Kevin’s tips and techniques to best apply the Gtechniq C2v3 Liquid Crystal.
Gtechniq C2v3 Liquid Crystal is a spray coating designed to go on easy and provide a level of protection and durability that is greater than most conventional waxes and paint sealants on the market. C2v3 is a very versatile product that can be used on every surface of your car, paint, glass, plastic trim, rubber, etc.
Gtechniq C2v3 Liquid Crystal Spray is NOT a quick detailer or a spray wax, it is a high performing sealant. This is important because if you treat it the same way you would treat a spray wax, you may end up with a final result that is less than spectacular. C2v3, if left on and not leveled off, will cure and you will see streaks. While theses streaks are easier to remove then some of the more long lasting Gtechniq coatings, it is still more difficult to remove versus just wiping excess spray wax off.
Before getting started, you will want to do all your washing and paint correction prior to the application of C2v3. Once the surfaces of your vehicle look the way you want them to, the next step is to go around and properly prep the surfaces with our Gtechniq Panel Wipe cut 1:1 with distilled water. While Panel Wipe is a must prior to the application of any Gtechniq sealant or coating, Gtechniq C2v3 Liquid Crystal Spray is one product where it is a good idea, but it’s not absolutely necessary. Prepping your car’s surfaces with Panel Wipe will certainly improve the durability and longevity of the Gtechniq C2v3 Liquid Crystal Spray.
For the best results, we recommend going around your vehicle twice for it to be considered 1 coat. We recommend using two DI Microfiber All Purpose Towels. One towel will be for wiping on and leveling out the Liquid Crystal and the second will be for removing any excess product on the panel you are working one. Once you are ready to get started, the first round will be with Gtechniq C2v3 Liquid Crystal Spray full strength. Work one panel at a time, or half a panel if it’s larger. Spray a small amount on one of your microfiber towels, and a small amount on the panel you are working on. In a side to side motion, spread the product out evenly over the panel. Once the product has been evenly applied, take the second microfiber towel and lightly go back in the same motion until it looks like all the Liquid Crystal has been spread out or removed. Remember that you can use C2v3 Liquid Crystal on glass and trim as well. For glass, use a little less product to reduce streaking. For trim, use a little more as the plastic and rubber may absorb more of the product and more will be needed to evenly coat the section you are working on.
Once you have gone around the whole vehicle once, your second pass will be with C2v3 Liquid Crystal mixed with distilled R.O, or DI water in a DI Trigger Spray Bottle 1:1. Follow the same process as your first pass around the car. It is best to use 2 new microfiber towels for this step as well. This second pass is important for two reasons. First of all, this will ensure total coverage of the surfaces you are looking to protect. Second, the water will slow down the curing of the coat you are putting on giving you a longer work time. This will also help to knock down any excess Liquid Crystal you may have missed in your first round.
At this point, if you have decided to apply the C2v3 to your windshield and other glass, you may want to take a clean microfiber towel and wipe them down once more to make sure there are no streaks. Plastics and rubber may also need some additional touching up due to the absorption of the product.
C2v3 is also great because it can be stacked on itself. This means that you can apply more than one coat on your car. For best results, let one coat cure overnight before applying the second coat.
When using it in conjunction with the Gtechniq line, it is best to use it after applying a coat of Gtechniq C1 Crystal Lacquer, but it does not work well when applied on top of Gtechniq EXO Hybrid Coating. Articles on C1 Crystal Lacquer and EXO Hybrid Coating will be coming soon with more information.
While C2v3 Liquid Crystal is a great product on it’s own, you can also use it as a base layer or a top layer to your favorite waxes and sealants such as Chemical Guys Jetseal or Meguiar’s Tech Wax v2. It can also be used as a top coat on other coatings such as Optimum Opti-Coat 2.0 Permanent Paint Coating and 22ple VX1 Signature Glass Coating after proper curing times have been reached. Please refer to the instructions for these individual products for more information.
Another use for C2v3 is as a drying agent. If your car is coated with C1 Crystal Lacquer or C2v3, you can spray on a diluted concentrate, usually about 2:1, and just dry with a a microfiber towel like DI Microfiber reTHICKulous Towel. Once the car is dry, you can go over it full strength as described above, or use a diluted version if you are just doing a quick clean up.
C2v3 Liquid Crystal can also be used as an engine dressing. The best and easiest way to use it on most modern cars with plastic protective paneling is to first clean the engine bay to the level you are happy. From there, lightly mist up the engine bay with some water, and spray liberally over all engine bay components. From here, use a Microfiber towel or compressed air to spread out the product evenly and remove the excess water and product from the flat surfaces.
Let Kevin know what you think of his tips below and thank you as always for reading!
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