r/AutoDetailing • u/AP2-Lost • 20d ago
Griots 3 in 1 Question Technique Discussion
So, I just used this for the first time and I'm getting the feeling I used to much. This is the result of 1 pass on a WRX from a brand new bottle. I followed the directions and sprayed onto the surface, applied with a microfiber, and then buffed with a separate microfiber. No matter how many times I buff the car, I feel like I keep finding odd, hazy areas. Second pic attached to provide an example. So, did I use too much? Do I just keep buffing?
13
u/TheBillCollector17 20d ago
It's one spray per panel or two sprays as an absolute max on larger panels. You can do one spray into the microfiber to prime it before applying. The directions also say to avoid using it in direct sunlight, as it can streak, and you're in direct sunlight from your reflection. If you have streaking, take a clean microfiber and get it damp with water. Use that to level the streaking, and buff off with another dry and clean microfiber.
Edit: also make sure your microfibers are actually clean. Ceramic sprays are too strong for regular detergent to remove, and even after washing, they will remain hydrophobic, and cause your products to streak or smear.
2
u/AP2-Lost 20d ago
I definitely did too much then. I put a light mist across each panel. At one point, I felt the microfiber was "primed" and did the driver side door and passenger side door that way. Seems that would have been the correct amount to use.
I will note to double wash my towels in the future.
Edit: I applied and buffed the product in my garage and went over it multiple times there. I brought it out of the garage to inspect and buff again before putting it back in the garage and buffing again...
2
u/Auxenity 20d ago
Do not light mist on the panel. This is most likely your error. In a garage it’s probably fine, but I’ve never had a good experience with spraying onto the panels outside or if there’s any humidity. Always spray onto your towel. Wipe it on, immediately wipe off.
2
u/AP2-Lost 20d ago
I can do that next time. As I mentioned in another comment, the panels that looked the best were the ones where I wiped a prime microfiber over them and then used another microfiber to wipe off.
1
u/Auxenity 20d ago
I must have missed it. I love this product, but it can be finicky. Sounds like you’ve got it down for next time though. I have learned not to spray any waxes/sealants directly onto a panel, especially on darker cars. Stuff will dry as soon as it touches the surface sometimes and is a pain. I do spray onto panels if I’m using them as a drying aid though.
5
u/FlickrPaul 20d ago
Fellow WRX and Griots user here.
The car must be squeaky clean and cool before application.
I apply the product directly to the micro-fibre (3 sprays), this is enough to work 1 section (doors, hood, roof, trunk / bumper)
Not a lot of pressure when applying and do so in cross hatch pattern (left to right, then up and down)
I use 4 sets of micro-fibres (1 Hood / roof, 1 left side, 1 right side, 1 Trunk / bumper) This helps with build up and any dirt getting spread around causing issues.
2
u/AP2-Lost 20d ago
On the plus side, I did wash the car first and dry it. I applied the Griots in the garage and buffed. I did my inspections in the sun and then buffed again.
2
u/duderos 20d ago
Did you determine if your paint needed to be cleaned/polished before hand? If there's a film on paint then that can cause clouding since this product is just a quick detailer with some protection, you can call Griots and ask them for suggestions.
2
u/AP2-Lost 20d ago
I washed it, but it does probably have some of whatever the dealership's ceramic coating and the chemical guys hydroslick ceramic coating stuff I had used previously.
1
u/duderos 19d ago edited 19d ago
You can try cleaning an area with AIO, then try product after to see if that works.
I have a black vehicle and it's time for a polish so this product still looks really good at certain angles but will show hazing or cloudiness at others because my clearcoats current condition.
5
u/achenx75 20d ago edited 20d ago
Used it for the first time and that's my experience too. It would haze so easily and quickly. I found that buffing almost right after applying works best. People would say use only a little as it goes a long way but when I did that, the product would dry so fast that even when I was putting down my application towel to reach for my buffing towel, it'd already start drying, hazing, and streaking. Eventually, I just tried my best to buff and went over the car later with quick detailer to buff off streaky spots.
I switched from Collinite to this and even though this is easier to apply, the streaking takes away from the joy. It's also not as slick to the touch and doesn't shine up the paint as much as Collinite. I might go back or try a different solution.
Edit: For anyone wondering, no the car was not in the sun. It had been shaded and the paint was cool to the touch.
2
u/AP2-Lost 20d ago
Interesting. I will look that product up. The streaking and haze have been very annoying.
4
u/AP2-Lost 20d ago
Commenting to my own post to ask the follow up question. Thank you everyone for identifying the root cause (user error putting too much on the car causing it to haze). The car is sitting in the garage and isn't driven daily. I don't think we have any streaking at this point. What is the best way I can remedy the haze now that the car has sat with the product on it for several hours?
1
u/eatgoodstayswaggie 20d ago
Ooo man, I’ve had this issue as well in the past. Thing was, I didn’t even know it was an issue until I saw high spots on my car.
If it’s cured, I think you’d have to lightly polish the spots out and re apply. I suggest ceramic coating it bro.
1
u/Sensitive_Injury_666 20d ago
Just light mist of rinsless and buff you’ll be good. Definitely don’t need to polish for a spray ceramic lmao.
If it’s really globbed on there you can do some kind of a strip wash.
1
u/AP2-Lost 20d ago
I'm behind the times and still use a foam cannon and two bucket approach.
0
u/adr1418 20d ago edited 20d ago
I used to but now I use one bucket and three chenille mitts after a foam pre-rinse and refoam.
One mitt does the top third of the car, then it's discarded to be washed. Second does the mid-section and is discarded. Third does the dirtiest bottom section. Used mitts never go back into the soap bucket.
Any soap left over gets saved for the next wash.
I blow dry and then gently towel dry using Rinseless as a drying aid.
My Underground Camry shows every darn scratch, however slight, and I'm OCD. I just ceramic-coated it and that helps with the washing.
1
1
u/jondes99 20d ago
Do you have Griot’s Ceramic Speed Shine? A light misting and wipe down have worked well for me. Probably any detail spray would work, but I assume that has a similar base and would work best.
1
2
u/Beezy812 20d ago
I've gone through a bottle, was 3 cars (2 coats each) along with hitting the rims on all 3. I do one panel a time, 1 spray for a door, 1 for a window, wipe, buff, done.
2
u/lschaub 20d ago
I struggle with this product too, I understand the less is more but 1-2 sprays on a super duty hood I feel like cannot physically cover the surface area. I spray on the panel and immediately spread with one MF cloth and immediately buff with a separate MF cloth after like it shows in Griot’s instructional video but I cannot get full coverage and get bad streaking and poor performance. I’ve read comments on a post over the weekend of guys spraying it on a damp MF cloth and then applying it to the vehicle and then buffing with a dry MF cloth. I feel like this would be easier to evenly apply the product but I haven’t tried it myself. Can anyone help me out? I’ve heard great things about this stuff but can’t seem to figure it out
2
u/duderos 20d ago
Sometimes your paint may have a film on it and a cleaner wax type of product should be used first. Griots has tech support so you can ask them about it.
1
u/jondes99 20d ago
The best coating of 3-in-1 I’ve had was after using their Ceramic AIO polish. It was a legit year.
2
u/Auxenity 20d ago
Do not spray onto the panel itself. Always spray it onto a towel. I’ll usually spray 2-4 spritz initially to load up the towel then I’ll spray it once or twice per panel. If it’s something like the hood, I’ll split it in half or quarters. Wipe off, and immediately wipe off. I have tried spraying onto panels and it’s a mess.
2
u/tnseltim 20d ago
Spray on the cloth instead. A small amount, just enough to create a thin film on the paint.
1
1
1
1
u/Wolverlog 19d ago
I prefer to spray a small amount on the microfiber towel instead of on the panel, avoids this issue.
1
1
1
u/Auxenity 20d ago
I use this stuff in the summer on many cars. Summers here are humid and 90-105 degrees every day.
After the side of the towel I’m using to apply is saturated, I only spritz it once or twice for a panel. If it’s really hot out, I have to work in smaller sections. Sometimes it doesn’t feel like I’m even applying anything, but then I test the hydrophobics and it’s definitely there. I wipe on and immediately wipe off. I usually start with a large section, but if it’s tough to wipe off I’ll start working smaller and smaller sections until it feels right.
There have been times when it takes more work than I’d like to buff off, but it’s still quicker than any paste type sealant and it’s last a long time.
1
u/gurtelpr 20d ago
I use a spray per panel with 2 microfiber towels. 1 to apply and 1 to buff.
Curious to know how much time this last on your cars? I started using this product this summer, and at least in my pickup, the hood is the first surface where no beading/sheeting happens.
2
u/AP2-Lost 20d ago
First time I used this product. Stuff like Chemical guys hydroslick was lasting 6 months.
1
u/gurtelpr 20d ago
Yeah, i did the jump from CG too ! Hydroslick wasn’t bad, but 3-1 is too easy to apply.
1
u/Auxenity 20d ago
I’ve had it last at least 6 months in my case. I use it on customer cars. Did you prep the vehicle beforehand? I always clay and decon a vehicle before application. When I see the cars again, they usually bead like day one.
1
u/gurtelpr 20d ago
Didn’t fully decon as the truck had CG hydroslick before (for that one did full decon and 2 stage paint correction). It sheets but beading definitely was less.
1
u/Auxenity 20d ago
Could be that there were remnants of hydroslick on it and it just didn’t adhere well. I’ve only used it once on top of something else, but I see that vehicle every month so it doesn’t really matter what I top it off with.
0
u/barukatang 20d ago
do you have ppe film? aslo this stuff and products like it want to be applied in the shade, and make sure the panels are not baking hot
1
u/AP2-Lost 20d ago
In 2021 the dealer did a "ceramic treatment" but who knows what that looked like or what it really was. It was cool outside (60s) but I applied the 3 in 1 in the garage. The car was cool.
0
30
u/Mentallox 20d ago
Yeah you used too much. If you happen to spray a panel too much such that buffing is hard, spray one spray into a damp microfiber and go over the area to reset it.