How long should a car avoid rain after crystal coating?
3 Answers
After crystal coating, the car should avoid rain for 24 hours, refrain from wiping the paint surface for three days, and avoid washing for one week. Below is more information about car crystal coating: Reason: Since car film is mainly applied to the interior side of the car windows, rain won't affect it as long as the windows remain closed. Function: The primary functions include blocking UV rays, reducing heat, preventing injuries from shattered glass, reducing glare, and protecting personal privacy due to the one-way visibility of the film. Additionally, it minimizes damage to interior items and passengers from UV exposure, lowers the car's interior temperature through physical reflection, reduces the need for air conditioning, thereby saving fuel and expenses. Working Principle: The film is created using vacuum deposition or magnetron sputtering technology to form multiple layers of highly insulating metal coatings from materials like aluminum, gold, copper, and silver. The outer shell electrons (free electrons) in these metals are not tightly bound to the nucleus. When exposed to light waves, the electric field of the light causes these free electrons to absorb energy and oscillate at the same frequency as the light, subsequently emitting light of the same frequency, which is known as light reflection.
After applying car ceramic coating, it's crucial to avoid immediate exposure to rain because the coating needs time to cure. My friend who worked at an auto repair shop mentioned that typically, you should wait at least 24 to 48 hours for the crystals to fully harden. Otherwise, rainwater can interfere with the chemical reaction, leading to water spots or uneven protection on the surface. When I had my car coated last time, I waited two days, and the result was a brilliantly shiny finish. However, if rain accidentally hits the coating before it's fully cured, water droplets might seep in, diminishing the paint's gloss. It's advisable to choose a dry day for ceramic coating and park the car in an indoor garage. To check if the coating has cured properly, gently touch the surface to see if it feels smooth. In short, waiting patiently for 48 hours is the safest approach to ensure maximum protection and avoid unnecessary rework hassles.
I had an experience where it rained right after getting my car coated with crystal, and it was really frustrating. The coating had just been applied when the weather suddenly turned bad and it got a bit wet. A few days later, I noticed parts of the coating had peeled off. The maintenance technician explained it was because I didn't wait long enough. Normally, after crystal coating, you need to wait at least 24 hours, preferably 36 hours or more, before exposing the car to water. I remember that day I was in a hurry to use the car and ignored the risk. Now, every time I get a crystal coating, I check the weather forecast, choose a sunny day, and wait a full two days before driving it out. The impurities in rainwater can interfere with the hardening of the crystal, reducing the protective effect. Younger people might think it's no big deal, but protecting your car's paint is worth the extra wait. In short, don't take the risk—since making it a habit, my car's maintenance has improved a lot.
