Ever since I bought my car back in July I have been using the ICE polish. It is an amazing product and it leaves my car nice and smooth but it only seems to stay on for about a month or two. So my question to all the detailing gurus is: does ICE adequately protect my finish or should I be using something else in addition (like a carnuba wax)?

I don't mind puting on a coat of ICE every once in a while, as it is really quick and easy, but I also want to make sure my finish receives the proper protection.

 

anyone?

 

I use and like ICE, and plan to continue to.

That said, I think you're getting dead air here because (1) nobody but Turtle Wax knows what's in ICE, (2) the detailing gurus are pretty set on their McGuiar's / Epic / Zaino cocktail of choice (for good reason - it works for them), and (3) I have heard relatively few people talk about ICE on this forum. Some folks use it - but I don't think a lot do.

I'm quite happy with the look and application ease of ICE, and so far I haven't detected any issues with my finish as a result of using it - but I'm only 2 months in... The fact that it is so easy to use and I don't have to mask trim is a huge plus, otherwise I'd try some other things just for kicks. I'm quite happy using ICE after every-other wash - it's so easy and makes the car and TRIM look good. It's hard for me to believe that this regimen won't provide adequate protection.

Right now I'm using ICE plus Slick - seems like a great combo. Slick details easier and I think looks better than the ICE detailing spray.

 

Thanks for the response. Because ICE is so easy to put on, I think I'll keep using it. I've been using it for about 4 months and my finish looks and feels great. The packaging says it does protect so I guess I'll see. I'm just not the type of person who wants to spend an excess ammount of time detailing with a ton of different products. I wash it regularly and throw on a coat of ICE every once in a while, I'll probably clay bar it and try to massage out a few light scratches in the spring though...

 

I've heard very positive things about ICE. I doubt it is as durable as the products most people here use but it's great to have something available on store shelves that is decent. I plan to test it out in the spring.

 

It is a great product. Its easy to use and is smoother than butter...

(but I don't recommend using butter on your car)

 

i use ICE clark, but then i put a coat or two of Meguiars Carabuna Wax (sp) Stage 3 over it, then another coat of ICE to keep the shine that the wax may have dulled. Ill do this every three or four washes. And it seems to do a pretty good job.

 

This is exactly my mindset - I'm loving being able to use a spray detailer (currently Slick) every few days to make the car look GREAT in 10-15 minutes. I've only washed the car twice since I got it - and the first time was after 1 week when I first applied ICE and 303 fabric protector to the top. If I only need to wash once a month (or after several rainy days), I don't mind taking an extra 10-15 minutes to ICE it then (which is about all it takes). I don't have time to spend hours on the car every weekend...

 

I liked the ICE products until I used Epic and Slick... After those, ICE felt a tad rough and seemed to not last very long. But I was happy with it for the first 3 or 4 months that I had my car, and I like that it doesn't mar the plastic trim.

 

Just a quick clarification--that's Meguiar's Deep Crystal Carnauba (liquid)Wax Step 3 (part of their 3 step system of paint cleaner/polish/wax)

Also Meguiar's products don't layer. At most you can apply two coats of a product, but beyond that, you begin to remove previous applications. The only reason to apply multiple coats is to ensure even coverage.

With a synthetic polymer wax, you can apply it. Wait 24 hours for it to cure. And apply another coat for best results, but this doesn't apply to Carnauba based products.

Glad the system has been working for you.

 

Yeah - I REALLY wish Epic was good on plastic trim like ICE is - that would make it a no-brainer for me. It kinda boggles my mind that ALL synthetic polymer wax/polish type products wouldn't be black-plastic-compatible. But that would make things too easy...

 

If you're careful, it really isn't an issue. I tape off my cars only to prevent my polishes from getting on the trim which do far worse to the trim than Epic does. I remove all the tape BEFORE I do Epic so that I don't have any tape lines or covered areas that should be waxed.

Then I apply Epic with a PC, even though by hand you could be even more careful. But regardless, my trim doesn't turn white using Epic because I'm careful not to run my polisher on the trim, but even if it does, I just wipe it off while it's still wet, and it's fine.

Richard

 

Wow! That's really good/interesting news - I had always seen folks taping trim and heard "not for your plastic" and assumed the worst about Epic - So sounds like I could ICE the plastic, then Epic the paint and have no issues... and if I get a little Epic on the plastic, should come right off if I've ICE'd the plastic beforehand.... does that sound reasonable?

 

I never tape unless I'm using the PC - by hand, I just steer clear of the trim. If I DO get a bit on there, I just use the Wizards Black Renew or simple vinyl cleaner on the trim while the Epic is curing - so long as you wipe it off within 20 or 30 minutes it doesn't seem to "cure" intio the black plastic in my experience.

 

I keep a bottle of #39 Heavy Duty Vinyl Cleaner from Meguiar's or #40 Vinyl/Rubber cleaner/conditioner handy and spritz onto a towel for removing the really stuck on polish or dried wax on the trim.



I'm not using Wizards Black Renew simply because I don't yet have it in my toolset and haven't tried it. But these products have and continue to work for me.

Otherwise, if it's just synthetic wax, as soon as it touches, just wipe it off with a clean rag immediately, and it should be ok. If the plastic has been recently dressed, it will wipe off even easier. So yeah if you ICEd it first, it's probably ok.

 

Indeed, that would make things too easy!

Seriously though, we attempted to make Epic more plastic-compatible. We found that to do so we would lose some of the other important attributes of Epic. Unfortunately, in chemistry there are sometimes trade-offs... not all chemicals like each other so it's sometimes hard to do everything in one product.

Having said that though, we have very creative chemists and they know what our goals are. So you never know, they may one day figure out a way to make a version of Epic which is still just as durable, glossy, wet, easy to apply AND can get on the plastic trim.

In the meantime, either tape off or pre-treat your exterior trim with a dressing (ie, Nero, 303 AP, Black Renew, etc). If you do get some Epic on the trim, just wipe it off right away with a damp cloth. If you don't notice it until after "right away" then it will come off with Wizards Black Renew.

We warn people about Epic on the trim because we'd rather "over-warn" than to surprise someone. In reality, Epic's effect on trim is really very minor and very easy to work around (in a number of ways).

-Heather

 

I actually haven't used ICE yet, but in theory it sounds like a great plan. I was just thinking that if I used Klasse AIO (which goes on trim like ICE) before Epic it would work out very well. Likewise then, I can see how it would work well with ICE in the same way too.

Great idea!

-Heather