Durability wise: Spray sealant (BF Crystal Seal) vs Liquid sealant (CG JetSeal)

[wonderbar]

Hi all,

I am quite a novice detailer, and I have newish car (little more than half a year):

Car: Honda HR-V
Color: Dark Gray Metallic (called Modern Steel Metallic)
Age: 9 months/12K miles


I work in the very hot Southern California Mojave desert region, so the main factors on my car are: wind, dust, sand, constant sunlight, and heat (~110 degF summers). The place where I work doesn't have trees/shade/garage/overhangs so my car is directly in sunlight for about 10 hours a day.

As my daily driver, I try to do a maintenance wash about once every 3 weeks with ONR, a wash with wax every 3 months, and a wash with sealant and wax every 6 months.

My sealant wax routine is:

Wash with ONR (due to where I live, I can generally only comfortably wash in my garage)
QD/drying aid with Chemical Guys Hybrid V7
Seal with Chemical Guys JetSeal
Wax with Butter Wet Wax
Everything is applied by hand, don't think a machine is worth it for me as of yet.


Being my daily driver and the fact that I wash often, I don't want to buy new products till my current ones end. However, I have been looking on extending the protection of my car since it is the summer and the wind, sunlight, and heat are rising greatly every day.

I am considering on switching out JetSeal for Blackfire's Crystal Seal. However, is my intuition correct in that spray sealants won't last as long and protect as well as liquid sealants? I know JetSeal is advertised to protect for a year, but I've read its more likely 6 months, which is in my planning.

Thanks for all your help.

[rlmccarty2000]

Spray sealants and liquid sealants are the same. I don't get good protection from JetSeal and much prefer BF Chrystal Seal. Do you notice streaking while using V7 as a drying aid? CG has a dedicated drying aid that I use that helps add lubrication while drying that might be better for you.

[ViperGuy21]

Spray sealants and liquid sealants are the same. I don't get good protection from JetSeal and much prefer BF Chrystal Seal. Do you notice streaking while using V7 as a drying aid? CG has a dedicated drying aid that I use that helps add lubrication while drying that might be better for you.
Cut V07 1:1, works much better that way in my experience

[wonderbar]

Spray sealants and liquid sealants are the same. I don't get good protection from JetSeal and much prefer BF Chrystal Seal. Do you notice streaking while using V7 as a drying aid? CG has a dedicated drying aid that I use that helps add lubrication while drying that might be better for you.

Thanks for the response, and no I have not experienced any streaking. How many months of protection do you think Crystal Seal would offer me in my conditions?


Cut V07 1:1, works much better that way in my experience
Thanks for the tip, I did not think of that. I will keep that in mind in the future to prolong the product.

[TTQ B4U]

Crystal Seal and Optimum Opti-Seal are both excellent. I can't comment on longevity as I'm always using something on my car after a wash. These are my go-to products when I'm not putting on a full LSP though. I suppose I could add they last a while and do excellent if you count the fact that I use them on my windows ever couple months.

[wonderbar]

What about Sealant/Wax hybrids?

Been reading reviews on HD Poxy (http://www.autogeek.net/3d-hd-poxy.html)...would it be more durable if I used that instead of my separate sealant and wax steps (JetSeal + Butter Wet Wax)? I saw that HD Poxy uses Montan Wax which has a higher melting temperature than the Carnuba Wax found in Butter Wet... sounds better for my car conditions

[ulrads1]

I was just about to suggest HD Poxy due to their claim of having the highest temp threshold. Granted, I have not yet tested Poxy myself. I do own it and I will be applying it tomorrow.
I also live in SoCal. I have had good luck with Jetseal, Powerlock and Collinite 845 as far as durability. Butter Wet Wax has no durability but the gloss it adds is enough to keep it in my arsenal.

[SANTA3013]

I've used BF Crystal Seal with great results. BTW, have you clayed the paint yet? Yes even new paint has contaminates. You may want to consider that as well.

[The Guz]

Have you considered getting a coating?

[wonderbar]

I was just about to suggest HD Poxy due to their claim of having the highest temp threshold. Granted, I have not yet tested Poxy myself. I do own it and I will be applying it tomorrow.
I also live in SoCal. I have had good luck with Jetseal, Powerlock and Collinite 845 as far as durability. Butter Wet Wax has no durability but the gloss it adds is enough to keep it in my arsenal.
Yeah, well my concern is while a sealant/wax hybrid produces more gloss/shine than a regular sealant, does it also reduce its durability compared to JetSeal?


Have you considered getting a coating?
For me right now, a coating is out my budget and needs considering this is a daily driver

[04accord]

Yeah, well my concern is while a sealant/wax hybrid produces more gloss/shine than a regular sealant, does it also reduce its durability compared to JetSeal?


For me right now, a coating is out my budget and needs considering this is a daily driver

Coatings are best on daily drivers anyways.

[wn1998]

I just picked up some chemical guys jetseal and wasn't impressed on the two cars I used it on. I do LOVE wolfgang deep gloss paint sealant as well as Blackfire wet diamond. They give a great shine and I have had Wolfgang last 3 months on my garaged Jetta in Chicago Summers and Harsh Winters.

[shagnat]

IMO, there are many better products for your DD than Jetseal. Read up on the reviews and you can make a reasonably informed decision. Best of luck.

[dmayer]

Try Collinite 845 when you get a chance. I'ts easy to apply and remove and doesn't stain black plastic. As with most waxes and sealants, keep it thin when applying.

Also, a couple of years ago someone did a comparison of several (5 maybe?) sealants regarding longevity with beading photos and I think Jetseal was one of (if not the) first sealants to start losing beading quality. Maybe it was still protecting the paint as I don't know if a sealant is done protecting when it stops beading. I'm sure others can chime in on this. At the time, I think Menzerna Powerlock was one of the longest lasting sealants in the comparison, but many other products have become and are available on Autogeek since the comparison. I have Powerlock and in my experience it's durability is decent but it leaves white/cream colored spots when it gets on black plastic and it's difficult to remove.

Does anyone here know if there is any kind of review or list of waxes/sealants that show which are difficult to remove from black plastic trim and which will enhance it?