{"id":44502,"date":"2025-04-29T00:00:36","date_gmt":"2025-04-29T04:00:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.detailedimage.com\/Ask-a-Pro\/?p=44502"},"modified":"2025-04-28T15:52:50","modified_gmt":"2025-04-28T19:52:50","slug":"ceramic-sealant-problems-advice-and-troubleshooting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.detailedimage.com\/Ask-a-Pro\/ceramic-sealant-problems-advice-and-troubleshooting\/","title":{"rendered":"Ceramic Sealant Problems &#8211; Advice and Troubleshooting"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-43157\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detailedimage.com\/Ask-a-Pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/20230526_152118-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"Jescar Ceramic Wax\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.detailedimage.com\/Ask-a-Pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/20230526_152118-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.detailedimage.com\/Ask-a-Pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/20230526_152118-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.detailedimage.com\/Ask-a-Pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/20230526_152118-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.detailedimage.com\/Ask-a-Pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/20230526_152118-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.detailedimage.com\/Ask-a-Pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/20230526_152118-2048x1536.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Perhaps the current preferred form of paint protection for the casual do-it-yourself detailer, SI02 (ceramic infused) sealants.<\/p>\n<p>These products have grown exponentially in popularity over the past few years with prosumers, individuals with a casual interest in detailing, or people looking for just something to feel like they are making some effort in preserving their car.\u00a0 As common or popular as these products are, equally as common are reports of application issues and general complaints about the durability with these products.<\/p>\n<h2>Part 1 of Application Errors (Product Assumptions)<\/h2>\n<p>Let us start with durability problems.\u00a0 Are you seduced by the fallacy of the overtly effortless simple spray and wipe, and detailed car? Does this mean all of your problems are solved?\u00a0 This attitude is the cause of some of the durability and application problems.<\/p>\n<p>What are your expectations for these products?\u00a0 Do you believe that if any product has the word ceramic on it, the results will be comparable to that high priced quote that you received from a professional detailing business.\u00a0 Absolutely not.\u00a0 It is a sealant with traces of the same product in a glass coating.\u00a0 But let&#8217;s just say you have realistic expectations.\u00a0 Most products that under perform in the user&#8217;s eye to some extent are a consequence of a poor detailing process and effort (see picture below).\u00a0 Also, finding a reputable supplier (like Detailed Image) leads to a better chance of finding a quality product versus being sold on made for TV items with grandiose claims and local big box store favorites.\u00a0 Break down your detailing process.\u00a0 Did you think a bottle was going to detail the car for you?<\/p>\n<p>Everything works better when a car is detailed and then prepped for a last step product (wax, sealant, coating).<\/p>\n<p>Even a wash and clay or chemical decontamination, followed by a mild panel prep would do wonders for your user experience and especially longevity.\u00a0 Below is what is often still on your paint after washing.\u00a0 You are seeing a picture of clay bar with invisible grime that was pulled off a painted surface.\u00a0 Most detailers can recount several stories of customers stating their car is not that bad prior to this being norm of clay bar step.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-28107\" src=\"https:\/\/www.detailedimage.com\/Ask-a-Pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/the-foundation-of-detailing-CLAY-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.detailedimage.com\/Ask-a-Pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/the-foundation-of-detailing-CLAY-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.detailedimage.com\/Ask-a-Pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/the-foundation-of-detailing-CLAY-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.detailedimage.com\/Ask-a-Pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/the-foundation-of-detailing-CLAY-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>It all goes back to respecting the process of detailing.\u00a0 You cannot just throw some ingredients in a pot and call it a quality delicious meal.\u00a0 Even a single step, that companies want you to think requires no instructions that they often put on the label, truly does require some thought.<\/p>\n<h2>Part 2 of Application Errors (Troubleshooting)<\/h2>\n<p>The second part, that often happens to even experienced detailers, concerns streaks\/high spots from ceramic sealants.\u00a0 For what it is worth, it has happened to me.\u00a0 There are ways to fix the problem and methods to avoid this in the future.\u00a0 Try rewashing thoroughly with mild panel prep step.\u00a0 Then reapply ceramic sealant sparingly.\u00a0 If you are comfortable spot cleaning with a mildly alkaline all-purpose cleaner, or a mildly acidic quick detailer, that would be my next step.\u00a0 As a last resort a light polish will remove the excess product.<\/p>\n<p>In the future here are some things to be mindful of.\u00a0 Know your limitations in terms of the environment.\u00a0 Foggy dewy conditions post wax\/sealant application might just affect durability.\u00a0 SI02 or Ceramic sealant products without a period of a dry environment may be compromised, not only in durability but potential streaks.\u00a0 Shake the bottle, shake it up.\u00a0 A common theme in troubleshooting READ THE INSTRUCTIONS, seriously.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ceramic Sealant Problems &#8211; Advice and Troubleshooting<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":43,"featured_media":45454,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[30,1151,28,32,38,40,41],"tags":[1234,3915,3928,804],"class_list":{"0":"post-44502","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-clay-bar","8":"category-coatings","9":"category-decontamination","10":"category-imperfection-removal","11":"category-protection","12":"category-sealants","13":"category-waxes","14":"tag-ceramic","15":"tag-ceramic-sealant","16":"tag-ceramic-wax","17":"tag-detailing-tips"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.detailedimage.com\/Ask-a-Pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Ceramic-Sealant-Problems-Advice-and-Troubleshooting.jpeg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1kPO7-bzM","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.detailedimage.com\/Ask-a-Pro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44502","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.detailedimage.com\/Ask-a-Pro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.detailedimage.com\/Ask-a-Pro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.detailedimage.com\/Ask-a-Pro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/43"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.detailedimage.com\/Ask-a-Pro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44502"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/www.detailedimage.com\/Ask-a-Pro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44502\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":45453,"href":"https:\/\/www.detailedimage.com\/Ask-a-Pro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44502\/revisions\/45453"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.detailedimage.com\/Ask-a-Pro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/45454"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.detailedimage.com\/Ask-a-Pro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44502"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.detailedimage.com\/Ask-a-Pro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44502"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.detailedimage.com\/Ask-a-Pro\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44502"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}