All about ceramic coating - should I purchase, how does maintenance look?

[ohhkk]

I just got a 2026 Tacoma and hit 1k miles (LOVE IT) but am now curious on paint protection. My dealership offer something called Cylajek Ceramic coating for $900. I have no idea about the ceramic coating market and whether or not this is a good deal. They say it has a 10 year warranty.

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[Reconsnake]

I'd recommend watching "Project Farm" Youtube channel video on ceramic coatings. You might be surprised on how well a very inexpensive bottle and a few minutes of your time will work.

 

[maxx075]

First thing - don't buy anything at a dealership that you don't have to. It's a scam or you can find something of higher quality at a lower price.

It all depends on you want out of your "protection". If you're looking at something that's gonna bead water better, be easier to clean, but offer minimal impact resistance - ceramic is the way to go.

If you're looking for something that will offer protection against rock dings, etc. PPF is you what you want.

 

[Andrace]

They're great, but not a layer that will prevent all wash marring, it still needs care and upkeep, so keep expectations in line. I would not expect them to last 10 years under normal daily driving conditions.

If you're DIY capable, you can coat with something like Adams Poslishes graphene advanced and that's going to offer nearly all the benefits at a much lower cost.

Paying a detailer to coat your car will probably have a comparable cost, and they can offer coatings exclusive to professionals.

Open debate on how much better the expensive professional installation-only coatings actually are.

I used to detail cars (when these coatings first entered the market), so I feel totally capable with the DIY approach. I pulled stickers and badges, decontaminated, gave it a non-abrasive polish, and then used Adams graphene advanced and I'm very happy with it. Dirt jumps off the paint with a pressure washer.

 

[Airborne]

All of the above is valid, myself i think the whole ceramic coating expense is an overated big waste, my reasoning is if you wash and wax your truck on weekly basis, there are some fantastic options out there , Amazon is loaded with choices, There have been posts here with guys spending several thousand for ceramic treatment……you could do yourself, plenty to use and add more goodies to your truck….just my 2 cents
David

 

[MartyMcFly]

All of the above is valid, myself i think the whole ceramic coating expense is an overated big waste, my reasoning is if you wash and wax your truck on weekly basis, there are some fantastic options out there , Amazon is loaded with choices, There have been posts here with guys spending several thousand for ceramic treatment……you could do yourself, plenty to use and add more goodies to your truck….just my 2 cents
David

Agree 100%. If you are doing routine washes and waxing, no need for the ceramic investment.

 

[ohhkk]

First thing - don't buy anything at a dealership that you don't have to. It's a scam or you can find something of higher quality at a lower price.

It all depends on you want out of your "protection". If you're looking at something that's gonna bead water better, be easier to clean, but offer minimal impact resistance - ceramic is the way to go.

If you're looking for something that will offer protection against rock dings, etc. PPF is you what you want.

Is there an option to have both? I want both forms of protection

 

[maxx075]

Is there an option to have both? I want both forms of protection

Yep, you can ceramic coat over PPF lol

 

[Miqie]

I used this and was surprised how well it worked! Here

 

[DeadSetMonkey]

I have a 2024 Traihunter in Bronze oxide.

I opted to get PPF AND ceramic coat. Pro install at a local shop (ManCave in Westminster, CO).
I'm a believer, but admit the cost was high.

The PPF seems to be very protective of the paint.
The ceramic coat makes washes and keeping it looking good so much easier.
Imagine bug splatter and mud rinsing off with minimal effort.

17k miles later, the truck still looks new. Washing is effortless. Any little scratchs (think little scratches from bushes, minor brushes up against trees/shrubs on side of trails, accidental bumps with backpacks, etc) disapear.

My truck lives outdoors (not garaged).

I also have done a DIY ceramic coat on a different car. The results were good, the cost was low, was not that hard a project (hardest part was making sure the car was SUPER clean prior). But the DIY result was not as good as the pro result. But the DIY result was much less $$$.

 

[TacoFreak]

I did the same, PPF'd my truck and now I put ceramic over it to make it easier to keep clean. My wife paid a dealer to put ceramic on her car and I did my own. The protection on both seems about the same, but my DIY approach was just a small fraction of what the dealer charged. IMO there is very little advantage to professional ceramic application, unless you need to get rid of some cash. lol

 

[Compherh]

I just got a 2026 Tacoma and hit 1k miles (LOVE IT) but am now curious on paint protection. My dealership offer something called Cylajek Ceramic coating for $900. I have no idea about the ceramic coating market and whether or not this is a good deal. They say it has a 10 year warranty.

Every major city has several shops that do ceramic coating cheaper than the dealer. The dealer usually contracts with a mobile detailer to do ceramic coatings. I did it myself after watching a few youtube videos. The most important is to apply a small section at a time in a garage or in the shade. I use 3yr coating from dura-coating.com. They also have how to videos online. It's about 70 bucks for a bottle. After 3yrs if I keep the truck, I reapply it. All ceramic coatings require a refresh once or twice a year. The refresh is applied after washing/drying by spraying and wiping off.

 

[jackvz]

All of the above is valid, myself i think the whole ceramic coating expense is an overated big waste, my reasoning is if you wash and wax your truck on weekly basis, there are some fantastic options out there , Amazon is loaded with choices, There have been posts here with guys spending several thousand for ceramic treatment……you could do yourself, plenty to use and add more goodies to your truck….just my 2 cents
David

Wash and wax on a weekly basis? Really?

 

[Airborne]

Wash and wax on a weekly basis? Really?

Indeed, I’m retired and have all the time in the world

 

[Gaspe]

The important thing is to keep in mind the differences. PPF protects against chips and dings as mentioned; ceramic makes it way easier to wash stuff off - it’s protective in the sense that you avoid micro-scratching from having to scrub hard ( think sap, bugs). I’m taking delivery next week of a 2026 OR - will have both done by a good local shop , not the dealer. Can’t really do the ceramic myself as I’m on a well, live on a dirt road, can never get vehicles very clean .

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