Waterless Wash Face-Off! Carpro EcH2O vs. McKee's 37 N-914

[SRConcepts]

Hello fellow Geeks! I've been on the forum for quite a long time, but this is my first attempt at a true-blue review thread. I've decided to do it right and cover not one, but two products! I'll try to cover as much as I can, give good information, and not bore you in the process. So, let's begin! :xyxthumbs:

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd392/lunarwillow1/IMG_4630.jpg (http://s1217.photobucket.com/user/lunarwillow1/media/IMG_4630.jpg.html)

I'm here to test 2 of the newest products we've been lucky enough to have come along: EcH20 and N-914. I'll be testing both in waterless wash form, both dispensed from 32oz spray bottles. Both of these products can be used as rinseless/waterless/clay lubricant/detail spray/repelling Chuck Norris, etc.

The test subject is my SLK32, which was recently caught in a light drizzle. While it was indeed in need of a wash, I felt that it wasn't dirty enough to warrant a rinseless, much less a traditional wash. This test took place in my garage, with an ambient temperature at 62F.

The state she was in:
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd392/lunarwillow1/IMG_4631.jpg (http://s1217.photobucket.com/user/lunarwillow1/media/IMG_4631.jpg.html)
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd392/lunarwillow1/IMG_4632.jpg (http://s1217.photobucket.com/user/lunarwillow1/media/IMG_4632.jpg.html)

As you can see, dirty in the raindrop spots, but not entirely filthy.

First: Carpro EcH2O (http://www.autogeek.net/carpro-ech20.html)

Price: $16.99/.5L (16.9 OZ)
Dilution for WW: 1:5 to 1:15 (1:10 as tested)
Smell: Pleasant, but slightly chemical
Consistency: Pepto-Bismol
Leaves behind: SIO2 and some slickness

First of the bunch is one I've wanted to try ever since it showed up at SEMA. I use a few Carpro products on a regular basis, and they haven't disappointed as of yet. I diluted this one in the middle of the road at 1:10, or 3 oz in my 32 oz bottle as shown here:
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd392/lunarwillow1/IMG_4626.jpg (http://s1217.photobucket.com/user/lunarwillow1/media/IMG_4626.jpg.html)

The ECH2O was of fairly thick consistency, the closest I could think to put was Pepto-Bismol. It's thick enough to withstand a few rinses from my measuring glass. It's entirely opaque with a blue color, and while it's smell doesn't offend, I'm not ready to drink it either. Here it is mixed and bottled up:
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd392/lunarwillow1/IMG_4627.jpg (http://s1217.photobucket.com/user/lunarwillow1/media/IMG_4627.jpg.html)

On to testing! Here's the test panel:
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd392/lunarwillow1/IMG_4636.jpg (http://s1217.photobucket.com/user/lunarwillow1/media/IMG_4636.jpg.html)

ECH2O applied. It has a milky tint to it, almost like spraying thin PERL. It's lubricity was excellent, it sprayed and 'spread' well.
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd392/lunarwillow1/IMG_4637.jpg (http://s1217.photobucket.com/user/lunarwillow1/media/IMG_4637.jpg.html)

Dried off. It seemed to take a bit more buffing than N-914 to remove, although it dried quicker than N-914. No streaks were left behind and the surface was noticeably slicker.
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd392/lunarwillow1/IMG_4638.jpg (http://s1217.photobucket.com/user/lunarwillow1/media/IMG_4638.jpg.html)

Final Thoughts: ECH2O is a premium product and a pleasure to use, but at a premium cost. I'd gear this more towards luxury/high-end cars that have been previously coated, as the SIO2 it contains will be of benefit in a maintenance wash, and the people who own them will be willing to pay. However, for the average person or enthusiast, it's just a bit on the costly side to justify using it for every single wash. It is something I would use when I wanted to make my car cleansing ritual feel special, though, perhaps before a show or a cruise night, as something to give the shine that extra oomph. I'll be keeping this in my private stock to use on my SL65 for certain.


Next on the list: McKee's 37 N-914
(http://www.autogeek.net/mckees-rinseless-wash.html)
Price: $14.99/16oz
Dilution for WW: 1:128
Smell: Fruity and delicious!
Consistency: Thin and waterlike
Leaves behind: Nothing

This one needs no introduction to us at AG. It is currently one of the forum darlings, and with good reason. It is also my first foray into McKee's 37 products. I diluted this one at a 1:128 ratio, or only .25oz(!) for my 32oz bottle:
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd392/lunarwillow1/IMG_4628.jpg (http://s1217.photobucket.com/user/lunarwillow1/media/IMG_4628.jpg.html)

The N-914 was everything that ECH2O is not: thin consistency and nice and bubbly. When mixed, it is almost clear with a very light green tinge. It also smells amazing, like Fruity Pebbles/Jolly Rancher awesomeness.
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd392/lunarwillow1/IMG_4629.jpg (http://s1217.photobucket.com/user/lunarwillow1/media/IMG_4629.jpg.html)

Now to put it to the test:
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd392/lunarwillow1/IMG_4633.jpg (http://s1217.photobucket.com/user/lunarwillow1/media/IMG_4633.jpg.html)

Applied. It sprayed and covered very well, lubricity was alarmingly good for something so clear. I honestly expected a lot less, given the low amount needed for a WW dilution.
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd392/lunarwillow1/IMG_4634.jpg (http://s1217.photobucket.com/user/lunarwillow1/media/IMG_4634.jpg.html)

Dried. When drying, it seemed to 'hang around' a bit more than ECH2O, which is something I liked because it wasn't drying off too quickly. It dried streak-free, and left behind nothing. Nothing at all. Literally squeaky clean.
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd392/lunarwillow1/IMG_4635.jpg (http://s1217.photobucket.com/user/lunarwillow1/media/IMG_4635.jpg.html)

Final Thoughts: I really enjoyed this one. It's easy to use, and it does exactly as it claims. Also, at the economical dilution rate (you use a whopping 12x less than ECH2O!), it's something you can use every time you wash. I have high hopes for this product, and if it does this well as a rinseless, it's going to replace the ONR I've been using for years. I'd recommend this to absolutely anyone.

Well, that about wraps it up for this one. Please let me know if you found this review useful in your comments, and thank you for reading this far! :buffing:

[ronkh57]

Interesting. Thaks.

[D Hull]

Great write up, I coated my VW Golf last summer with Cquartz and look forward to using Echo20 as an waterless wash. once again spot on with the review.

[fly07sti]

Nice review. Thanks for sharing.

[pheerix]

Try Uber as a waterless wash it's great and pretty economical. I follow up with Ech2O as a drying aid/QD and since it spreads with very little product a little goes a long way.

[pilotpip]

Great write up! I've been using the waterless wash on the go concentrate, and like it but I may have to pick up some 914 with my next order.

[Marc08EX]

Great comparison review! Thanks for doing this.

[TMQ]

I'm planning to move on to the waterless system for my cars from the bucket method and I'm glad to see this.
A very timely assessment for me! Thanks for this information.

BTW---I love that measuring glass thingy. Where did you get that?

Tom

[SRConcepts]

Thanks for all of the comments, everyone!

I did have a chance to use the N-914 as a clay lubricant, I liked it better than ONR in this application as well. Also, the panels I washed with ECH2O are slicker today than they were yesterday, so that's something interesting to note.


BTW---I love that measuring glass thingy. Where did you get that?

Tom
Honestly, I do believe I got it at WalMart. It's an Anchor 5oz measuring glass, it's also handy because it measures in ml as well. I got it because I won't lose a glass very easily, however plastic measuring cups have a way of disappearing on me. Same thing happens in the kitchen when I'm cooking :laughing:

[glfnaz]

Great review. Thank you for this.

[Legumes]

Interesting comparison. Thanks. I use that same anchor measuring cup by the way. Those should still be made in the USA which is a bonus. :)

[Klasse Act]

3 ounces of Ech2o for 32 ozs or water? Without going back, if that was the ratio for WW that's waaaay too thick. When I made up my Ech2o for WW I used 6 ozs for a gallon of WW, that stuff is thick!

Sent from my LGLS990 using Tapatalk

[SRConcepts]

3 ounces of Ech2o for 32 ozs or water? Without going back, if that was the ratio for WW that's waaaay too thick. When I made up my Ech2o for WW I used 6 ozs for a gallon of WW, that stuff is thick!

It does make a thick solution in WW form, CarPro suggests diluting anywhere from 1:5 to 1:15, so I chose the middle of the road for this test. I wanted to follow the dilutions recommended on the label for this test, as anyone who picked up the bottle might.

One interesting thing to note is that CarPro also recommends diluting ECH2O 1:200 for a rinseless, which is more in line with other RW products (N-914, ONR, etc.) I haven't had a chance to try it in this form, but it would seem to be the most economical use for it. I do wonder how well it would work for a WW at 1:128 or 1:64 to get it more in line with other products cost-per-benefit wise.

[HAMBO]

Nice review.
Personally I found 1:10 with Ech2o way too think and a bit streaky. I've been using it at 1:20, and may even go down from there.

Interesting to see the results at such different dilution ratios between the two products. Could be interesting to compare them at more similar ratios as well. May be a bit more apples to apples.