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View Full Version : Review - CarPro Cquartz Lite



The Guz
05-19-2019, 05:03 AM
Thank you Avi for sending this product for review.

Products:

CarPro Cquartz Lite 150 ml kit (https://www.carpro-us.com/latest-arrivals/cquartz-lite-150ml-kit-new/)

Cost:

$54.99

Product description from CarPro



CQuartz Lite - The fastest application of Cquartz yet!



Introducing the incredibly user-friendly CQuartz Lite ceramic coating! “Lite”is based on the incredible CQuartz UK Ceramic Coating Technology,which has become famous around the world! CQuartz Lite can be applied as a stand-alone ceramic coating lasting more than 6 months or it can be used as a topcoat for existing CQuartz coatings!

CQuartz Lite was designed for those that are not ready to make the plunge into the industry leading strength of our professional grade coatings but wish to enjoy some of the many benefits that only CQuartz coatings offer.

The capabilities of CQuartz Lite include: easier to clean surfaces,resistance to insect splatter, petrol spills, light solvents, and UV rays, whilst providing a beading contact angle of 110 Deg! In other words, CQuartz Lite helps keep your paint super glossy, well protected, beads like crazy, and washes off easy when properly maintained!

CQuartz Lite is built on a combination of Sio2 and Tio2 particles with over 45% solid materials, as well as proprietary ingredients not made public outside of the lab! CQuartz Lite is a great option for professional detailers as an entry level coating or for the do it yourself guru who wants to switch to their first true ceramic coating.

CQuartz Lite may be applied to virtually any exterior surface of your car including paintwork, plastics, wheels, and glass (except windscreen),just like your other favorite CQuartz products!

Features:

Spray on and wipe off or wipe on and wipe off. (Use appropriate ppe if sprayed)
The fastest to apply Cquartz yet
Protection and high gloss with ease of use for all detailers
Sio2 (ceramic) / Tio2 (titanium) Hybrid coating
Easy maintenance with "self cleaning" properties
Resistance to stains, dirt, soiling, loss of gloss and weathering
Repels UV rays, water, oils, dirt, and contaminants




Specifications:

Durability: 6-12 Months
Average Thickness: 1 Micron
Coverage 15ml-50ml per coat depending on method of application
Water contact angle: 110°
Minor filling
Recommended working temperatures: 40F to 100F




Kit Includes:


(1) CQuartz Lite 150ml Bottle
(2) Microfiber Applicator
(1) CarPro 2Face No Lint Towel
(1) 3M Face Mask
(1) User Manual


Directions:


Make sure the surface is clean and full decontaminated. Use CarPro Iron X, Tar X, and clay the surface to ensure all contamination is removed.
Use Carpro Eraser (or similar) to remove oils before application. Make sure surface is cool and dry. You may wish to polish the surface with CarPro Essence or Reflect to create higher gloss before using Eraser or to ensure maximum durability.
Apply 10-12 drops on a microfiber applicator; apply the product evenly to one small area of roughly 24x24” / 60cm x 60cm with complete coverage and an even layer.
Use a CarPro 2Face Towel to remove any excess. CQuartz Lite does not need to be left to cure on the surface so it should be removed immediately. Check well with an appropriate light source to ensure you remove any high spots (excess product that was not leveled) or residue. Note:For a short period of time after application, high spots that were not removed immediately can be corrected by applying more CQuartz Lite on that area and wiping off immediately.
After the paint is free of residue, leave to dry for 4 hours prior to getting wet. Any water drops during first 48h should be removed before drying to prevent water spotting. We also recommend the use of CarPro Reload 1 hour after application to protect from water spots during first 48h.



Precautions:

As usual we recommend an appropriate Face mask and nitrile gloves suitable for protection from solvents while applying.
If spray method is utilized, proper masking is critical and isolation is recommended from unprotected objects, creatures, or people.



Cquartz Lite is a new product for the early part of 2019. It falls in that coating lite category with a competing product Gyeon CanCoat.

In this write up and overall durability test, I am going to test CQ Lite side by side against Gyeon CanCoat on my personal vehicle. CQ Lite is advertised as 6+ months and CanCoat is advertised as 6-9 months. CanCoat easily makes it to a year and I suspect CQ Lite will do so as well.

The product comes in a kit that I will break down. Photo of the box it comes in. As stated on the box, it Is based on the CQUK 3.0 technology and it is a hybrid SiO2/TiO2 coating consisting of about 45% solids. It also states it 6+ month durability claim.

https://i.imgur.com/ECWrJsX.jpg

The rear of the box includes the contents of the box and the features of the coating.

https://i.imgur.com/VgE624n.jpg

There is also a precaution on the box.

https://i.imgur.com/gWZ523p.jpg

Photo of the contents included in this kit. One towel is included with this kit but I would recommend additional towels when applying any coating to be sure that no high spots are left behind. Although with this coating, a high spot can be removed hours later if one is seen by adding more product to an applicator and wiping over the high spot. I purposely left a high spot and was able to remove it 2 hours later.

https://i.imgur.com/spgWpdd.jpg

The coating comes in a plastic bottle. It is 150ml compared to CanCoat which is 200ml. They are priced similarly. The 150ml is enough to coat a few vehicles, of course the size of the vehicle will dictate that. Also one coat is fine but a second coat can be applied 1 hour after the first coat.

https://i.imgur.com/KFsRhPY.jpg

Unlike CanCoat, CQ Lite does not use a sprayer to dispense the product. The reasaon for CarPro not going the sprayer route is that a sprayer becomes clogged with coating material and hardens in the sprayer. CarPro instead chose to go with a dropper bottle similar to their CQUK and CQ TiO2 bottles.

https://i.imgur.com/N5G6FAE.jpg

For the application portion I am going to refer to my video. I demo the application process on a test hood that I have. I have also applied it to the roof of my daily driver in a side by side durability test against CanCoat. The roof was prepped by polishing and removing the 9 month old CQUK 3.0, CQUK 2.0 and Gliss test I was running. I am not using Essence as a primer polish so that I can get a true representation of how these coatings perform on bare paint. I will post a couple updates in this 8 month durability test.

I will also mention that the applicators in the kit are designed to have a rubber core to not allow the core to absorb the product. Thus saving the user from using an excess amount.

As far as application, CQ Lite is wipe on wipe off. No need to let it flash. When it comes to how it feels, it is tacky. It feels similar to CQUK 3.0. CanCoat is slightly slicker between the two.

So for those asking if it can be used as a topper, it certainly can. But if slickness is the goal then stick with Gliss. Here is a post from CarPro from their social media page.

https://i.imgur.com/RucaXhx.png

Let's get to some water beading photos. The beading looks good and is similar to the other CarPro coatings as it also has the 110 degree contact angle.

https://i.imgur.com/FM6hOfU.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/nJG7Xva.jpg

Here is the water beading of CanCoat.

https://i.imgur.com/jA93R7z.jpg

The water beading looks fairly similar with the edge going to CQ Lite as CanCoat is 100 degrees. Really hard to differentiate between the two.

When it comes to sheeting, CQ Lite looks similar to CQUK 3.0.

When it comes to gloss it is a wash as they both look similar.

Someone will comment or ask, why would I invest in a lite coating rather than using a sealant of some sort that lasts the same amount of time. Or the other question is why would anyone choose this over a more longer lasting coating.

Firs toff a coating is easier to wash than a sealant. A coating also has a better self cleaning effect making the paint stay cleaner. Also these coating lite type products can go longer than a year with little to no maintenance.

Also some people are leery about coatings and a coating lite is a good place to start. Getting ones feet wet so to speak.

From a professional stand point, not all customers are going to pay for a full correction and a multi year coating as it exceeds their budget. This is where something like CQ Lite comes in to play as it would be more budget friendly for the customer.

https://i.imgur.com/nOlCJtq.jpg

Final thoughts:

First thing is I can not comment on the durability of the coating. This will have to wait until a few months down the road to see how it does.

From a user stand point, it is straight forward. The wipe on wipe off application negates the need to figure out flash times. Not to mention how forgiving it is to remove a high spot with more product hours later. I don’t know the exact time of when this does notwork and polishing will need to be done to remove a high spot.

From a water behavior stand point, it resembles coatings such as CQUK 3.0,CQ TiO2 and even Gliss V2.

The self cleaning effect seems to do well at least from the initial couple weeks thus far.

It can be used as a topper or stand alone. If one is looking to use it as a topper don’t expect it to be slick. Gliss is still better for that.

It can be used over Essence unlike Gliss.

It does harden and crystallize on the applicator.

Video breakdown

Application:4:00 min

Spray Bottle Water Behavior: 9:00 min

First Wash: 13:15 min


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWJdYN_saM8

Merlin
05-19-2019, 12:15 PM
Excellent Review!

Very good detailed review on what it is, how to use it, and the final result!

IMHO for a quick "wash and wax" Cquartz Lite is an easy to use, Last Step Product.
I've used it on paint, plastic trim, wheels, and even on a black matte wrapped car.

Another thing I've found is, I feel Cquartz Lite is easier to apply than paste wax.

NOTE: In my testing, I've found Carpro Elixir leaves a slick feeling on top of Lite.
For ease of use, I like using Elixir instead of taking the time to coat with Gliss.
I'm not sure if topping CQuartz Lite with Elixir will diminish its hydrophobicity?

Any thoughts?

The Guz
05-19-2019, 04:52 PM
Thank you. Good to know it works well on a matte surface. But you are right for someone looking for a "wash and wax" type application this would be the product for that purpose. It is so easy to work with and the amount of time to repair a high spot makes it even more user friendly.

I like Elixir and adding that on top of Lite would make for great 1-2 combo. Even extending its longevity. Simple maintenance makes life easier.

JC84
05-20-2019, 01:50 AM
awesome review, this post helped answered a lot of questions I had. Thank you for taking the time. I read a lot of your post on other site before and they are always helpful. keep up the good work

Quartzphene
05-24-2019, 09:39 AM
Neat review �� Guz. What is the exact full cure time for cquartz lite. Is elixir, hydro2 lite recommended for future maintenance topper. Can't wait for the durability update review comparing with gyeon cancoat. How much is the SIO2 percentage for cancoat?

The Guz
05-24-2019, 03:13 PM
Neat review �� Guz. What is the exact full cure time for cquartz lite. Is elixir, hydro2 lite recommended for future maintenance topper. Can't wait for the durability update review comparing with gyeon cancoat. How much is the SIO2 percentage for cancoat?

From the product description


After the paint is free of residue, leave to dry for 4 hours prior to getting wet. Any water drops during first 48h should be removed before drying to prevent water spotting. We also recommend the use of CarPro Reload 1 hour after application to protect from water spots during first 48h.

As far as maintenance any of those products will be fine along with Reload. It comes down to personal preference.

Reps have stated that CanCoat is about 20% SiO2 content.

Quartzphene
05-29-2019, 10:54 AM
Hi Guz, any info what's the maximum layer/micron can be achieved using lite.Just got one from reading your review and waiting for a kind weather to apply.

The Guz
05-29-2019, 04:38 PM
Hi Guz, any info what's the maximum layer/micron can be achieved using lite.Just got one from reading your review and waiting for a kind weather to apply.

I will start off by saying this, don't worry too much or buy into coating thickness. In the grand scheme it is still a thin layer that is susceptible to swirls and scratches with improper care. This goes for any coating. Apply it and enjoy it.

One coat is fine but two would also be fine. You may get more durability with the second coat.

From the product description if this helps.


Specifications:
Durability: 6-12 Months
Average Thickness: 1 Micron
Coverage 15ml-50ml per coat depending on method of application
Water contact angle: 110°
Minor filling
Recommended working temperatures: 40F to 100F

The Guz
06-09-2019, 03:46 AM
Figured I would add it to another section of my daily. I had been running a side by side comparison test with Gliss V1 and V2 but I set that aside. V2 was already performing better one month in.

Out came Essence on a Rupes yellow followed by a wipedown with Eraser and only 1 coat of CQ Lite. I did this outside in the shade and then baked it in the sun for a few hours. I did add Reload just in case we have some morning dew.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190609/90473b3f489dcd1754dd20f4ad375dde.jpg

Quartzphene
06-27-2019, 09:07 AM
Hi Guz, I've just applied CQ lite one layer last Saturday. Is it possible to apply the second coat? Any good advice? Thank you.

The Guz
06-27-2019, 02:58 PM
Hi Guz, I've just applied CQ lite one layer last Saturday. Is it possible to apply the second coat? Any good advice? Thank you.

As long as you did not top the first layer with anything else then I don't see an issue with applying a second coat a week later.

Quartzphene
08-07-2019, 04:46 AM
Hi Guz, any updates for 3 months durability?

Reflection 5-0
08-10-2019, 10:23 PM
I too finally had the chance to apply Lite. Using it on my personal vehicle it gave me the chance to do my own experiment. Because I often get calls from friends who want to try products and want to know what to do, I decided to play with the coating. I have had 2 people wanting to try this so I had to get my kit off the shelf and get my own truck done.

One thing I wanted to see is if a customer/friend improperly removed the the solvent and excess would they be able to easily remove it if left on. The answer is "no". Just like CQuartz it does not wipe off the next day. I had to re-polish the panel to remove the "high spots". For a more friendly coating, it stops being friendly if left on too long.

With the wipe on, wipe off I don't have to explain flash time. It seemed a little "sticky" when wiping off, but after a couple of light wipes it does get easier.

A week after doing my truck, I finally got to wash it. After polishing my the high spots, I intentionally did not re-apply to see what would happen. You can definitely see the difference. The test areas are on the doors and where the coating was polished, the water clings to the paint while the rest of the panel, the water falls off. The nice thing about this is I can show the difference to customers on my own vehicle and explain how not to apply the coating.

After getting the next customer's truck out of my garage, I plan on properly fixing the test spots and getting my truck the protection it deserves.

The Guz
08-11-2019, 10:57 PM
Update time. It has been 3 months since applying CQ Lite and CanCoat on my daily driver. No toppers have been used. Again this car sits outside 24/7 and is exposed to the Southern California sun. At 3 months both products are performing well. CQ Lite has tighter beading but other than that they are on par thus far. Next update will be at the 7 month mark.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFsmNi9zTVA

https://i.imgur.com/BkblHh2.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/4P1TGGm.jpg

touchless21
08-24-2019, 10:19 PM
The way the description is written, what I'm about to ask appears to be true, but I want to make sure. If a cQuartz 3.0 coating is 8 months old, can Lite be applied after proper prep?

The Guz
08-25-2019, 05:05 PM
The way the description is written, what I'm about to ask appears to be true, but I want to make sure. If a cQuartz 3.0 coating is 8 months old, can Lite be applied after proper prep?

I don't see why not. A chemical decon wash followed by a prep wipe would be a good option to start with. Although 8 month CQUK 3.0 should still be holding up well on it's own.

touchless21
08-25-2019, 06:42 PM
I don't see why not. A chemical decon wash followed by a prep wipe would be a good option to start with. Although 8 month CQUK 3.0 should still be holding up well on it's own.

True. I was just curious.

The Guz
12-07-2019, 07:58 PM
This has become my favorite method to distribute the coating. Pull the stopper plug and use a pipette to distribute the coating.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20191207/d6c4d88619d27668fc1d29c2329ef150.jpg

Essence topped with Cquartz Lite sure does look good.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20191207/6fad6a287cd6cf723e6466c4f59f9174.jpeg

Devzo
12-17-2019, 11:21 AM
Thanks for the review, i watched your application video on Youtube a few times before applying C Quartz Lite.

Love the product, application was a breeze, the results -gloss enhancement and depth in colour is really insane!