So of all the videos I've watched online, I noticed that people test their coatings using the same method. They throw on a heavy load of water and the viewer watches in awe as the car nearly instantly dries itself. Here's the problem, that's not a real case scenario. Dumping a whole bucket of water on a car or using the hose at wide-open is not how rain behaves. Of course the water is going to sheet off like magic. What you're seeing is a process most of us detailers use, even before we wax...that processes being "drying with water." I have yet so see a video that tests these various coatings (22ple, OC, Gtech., etc) or any other LSP, for that matter, where they lightly spray or mist the surface to simulate how real rain accumulates on a car. [video=youtube;zC3_AJTrhr8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zC3_AJTrhr8[/video] 22ple Rinse Action - YouTube Opti Coat vs. Aquartz - YouTube GTechniq Exo in action - YouTube Water beading after Opti-coat treatment - YouTube Opti-Coat Ceramic Clear Coating Hydrophobic Test - YouTube (I guess I can only embed one video.)
Ya I agree I haven't seen one that shows a rain test. All the videos show dumping water so doesn't really show how it works in the rain.
You have to post a reply with the next video if you want it to show. In this case, you would have to post six times (one being the thread's opener).
I actually test every car I finish with a spray bottle on all panels to make sure I didn't miss any spots.
The pouring water test shows one thing, that it is more efficient in sheeting water off. But you can take a stripped hood and do the same thing the water will sheet off, but in a less dramatic fashion and at a slower tempo.
Stand on a 12' ladder and spray the car with the garden hose from above with a mist or "rain" shower mode on the garden sprayer Or stand on the ground and spray the water upwards and have it land on the car (ie. an upside down parabola path of travel)
Their is a test on DW where he compares Sonax Polymer netshield (PNS) and a carnauba paste wax (think it was Britemax vantage?) and it shows clearly that the "coating" side is much less dirty on both vertical and horizontal panels. I have also seen a similar test with Gtechniq C1 on a Subaru rallye car. The coated side is much less dirty. But I am one of those who loves sheeting videos but I also know that coatings are better on dirt repellency and are also easier to clean, can handle alkalie and petroleum based degreasers and etc.
Yup, precisely the point I'm making. I probably would if I were going to make a video. Not saying they don't work, just that these tests are flawed in that they don't test under real world conditions.
Only time I could see a scenario where a whole bunch of water was tossed on a car is being behind a big truck if it hits a big puddle and you are at its 5 o'clock position when it happens.