My Thoughts on Griot's Garage Products.

My truck gets a full detail every Spring and Fall. I've tried lots of products over the years and when I used up a bunch of products last Fall, I decided to resupply from Griot's Garage.

The products I like:

• Tire spray (black satin): Been using this stuff for years. It goes on easy, isn't super shiny and lasts 3+ weeks.
• Leather 3-in-1: Used this for the first time today. It smells good and really seems to soak in nicely. After wiping the excess off the seats were still nice and black, but not overly slick.
• Glass Sealant: Been using this since last Fall. It goes on easier than Rain-X (doesn't take forever to remove the haze) and lasts a lot longer.
• Wheel Cleaner: This stuff works pretty well and doesn't seem to be as harsh as some of the other sprays I've used in the past.
• Iron and Fallout Remover: I've this stuff (not shown; bottle already in garbage) for two Spring cleanings now and love it. The crap it removes is the junk the clay bar cannot get.
• Synthetic Clay Bar and Speed Shine: First time I've used the synthetic bar and I liked it. Much easier and better than messing with actual clay. The speed shine for lube made things go very quickly.
• Paint Prep: I don't even see this on Griot's website anymore, so either I'm searching wrong or they no longer offer it. I've used this in years past before I started doing the Iron and clay bar prep and it seems to work good. Never had any issues.

The products I'm not liking:

• Interior Detailer: This stuff cleans great, but it is a "wax on; wax off" product. I've used a lot of other great products that don't require me to wipe it down a second time. That's just wasted effort in my opinion, so I'm going back to 303
• Correcting Cream: This worked pretty well and removed a lot of the spider-web scratches in my paint, but the cream never "set up" and dried. So removing was another massive effort of wiping off with many towels, trying not to create new scratches as I removed the cream.
• Ceramic Trim Wipes: The treatment doesn't soak/dry evenly on the plastic. I think this is a problem with Toyota's plastic as I've had the same problem with other products. I've used this on both mirrors and the plastic trim around the windshield wipers with the same messy result. This is after many, many passes with the wipe to ensure an even application. It looks rough and although I love the idea of not having to treat the plastic more than once a year (or longer), the finished look is annoying me. This stuff is way too expensive to try and chase the perfect finish. At least with other products I can reapply to try to even things out.
• Ceramic 3-in-1: This was a big surprise to be honest. I was really excited to try this wax as I hate the white paste residue that gets on the plastic trim. I've never, ever had something so difficult and frustrating to remove. It goes on easy (spray and wipe evenly) but is nearly impossible to cleanly remove. The picture below is what the 2nd application looked like today after multiple clean towels. The residue is just insane to remove. Clean it one direction and it looks like garbage from another. Clean from that direction and it looks like crap from another. My truck looks amazing until you catch the light just right. Then it looks like something stained the paint. I'm not using microfiber towels but hopefully Griot's didn't design a product that cannot be removed with a common bath towel. Maybe the treatment will even out over the next week or two. If that's the case I'll update this post but as it looks right now I'm going back to Collinite in the fall.

 

Speaking of Jescar and Griots products I really am liking these 2. Jescar ultra lock after a clay bar job beads water really nice and leaves a nice shine. It’s also super satisfying to use. The Griots detailer spray is my favorite of those types of products you use between washes to keep it clean that I’ve tried so far. The microfiber towel glides across the paint with it better than some other similar sprays I’ve tried.

 

3in1 ceramic wax comes off easily for me using microfiber. Also, less is more. Use too much and it takes longer to remove the excess. Overall, I find it to be very easy to use.

 

Unsure what your weather was like when you applied the 3 in 1.....but heat and humidity play a significant role when using it. I had issues with it streaking until I realized that I was using too much. I'm with you on the interior detailer....but their interior cleaner is very good. I've not tried their trim products.....all the trim on my Tundra gets CQuartz Dlux....and I'm very happy with it. The cowl is so faded that nothing will bring it back...I'll be removing it and repainting it.

 

Interesting. I tried spraying it on directly and also to a cloth first. Temps were in the sixties; both direct sun (less than ideal) and the shade. Didn’t seem to make much of a difference. Maybe the microfiber towel is the secret sauce…

 

I’ve used Jescar in the past as well and liked it. That is good stuff

 

I've not used Ultra Lock +, but I have used Powerlock and Colorlock....both outstanding products. I've been using Wolfgang SIO2 sealant on my wifes Yukon with (what I think are) stellar results. It gets topped once a month with Sonax Ultra Slick Ceramic Detailer.....the gloss and slickness are both outstanding. Tons and tons of products to choose from...almost too many.

Those areas where your paints looks 'stained'...take a small amount of 3 in 1, sprayed onto a towel, and see if the product will reactivate and the issue will go away. I seem to remember reading that was a remedy for streaking issues people were having.

 

Ok so I’m just gonna talk on the 3-1. This product can be a little bit of a pain. I found if you basically prep the vehicle the same way you would for a real coating it works very well. You can not use to much product and it can not see sun. I’ve also learned to give it a wipe down afterwards with griots ceramic speed shine just to help get it all level.

 

I agree with @briarpatch , ditch the interior detailer and maybe give the cleaner a shot. I like it because it can also be used on fabric & upholstery.
Also, do your paint a favor and pick up theyr PFM drying towel

 

Twice a year, once before summer and once before winter, I use the 3 in 1 wax on my 12 year old Tundra. This is the best stuff I have used and it easily lasts between application...water still beads up significantly.

If I had a newer truck I'm sure I would do other things to protect my paint as well, but for an older truck entering its golden years, this works great for me.

 

I never thought I’d say it but I am so happy with the Turtle Wax Ceramic Coat. Switched from chemical guy and then griots. It’s cheap and super slick. This vid sold me on it.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uYxKQwZah1s

 

LOL...I have kids and significant other that consider anything in the garage the "used towels". I had nice towels years ago and is why now I just use last year's bathroom towels. Maybe when I'm retired and have a real garage and can keep the good stuff behind a locked door.

 

I've used the Bumper & Trim Conditioner with great success - that stuff keeps your black black for a year easy.
By the time I get to using it I have to use multiple coats to get the black evened out. Once you get a solid even black it lasts & lasts.

 

I spray it on directly, spread it with a griots microfiber, and then remove the excess with a different microfiber. Always in the shade, too.

The griots towels are really darn good. I use these for drying:
https://www.griotsgarage.com/pfm-terry-weave-drying-towel/

My favorites:
https://www.griotsgarage.com/microfiber-plush-edgeless-towels-set-of-6/
These are excellent for applying 3in1, and I also use them for dusting the inside of my truck, including the easily scratched gauge cluster plastic. I fold one over a few times and gently swipe it around - picks up all the dust. The only thing I don’t like using these on is glass. I prefer their pfm glass towels for that.

 

How about a fall update…

• Ceramic Trim Wipes: I did a second layer on the plastic trim and it cleaned up most of the complaints I have. It still doesn’t look good if up close, but it lasts!
  
• Ceramic 3:1: Holy chit this stuff lasts. Doesn’t bead up as well as other stuff I’ve used, but it is still beading! Never has anything last a full summer. Ever. I’m gonna eat crow and get some of their microfiber towels to make reapplying easier.
  
• Glass Sealant: Yet another product that lasts much longer than the competition. Just reapplied for the winter and I bet it will last into the Spring. I still have to use wipers at lower speeds and light rain but normal rain at freeway speeds beads off nicely.

And I will say that their Ceramic Wash and Coat is garbage. Doesn’t foam for shit even though it says right on the front to use with foaming sprayers. Tried it twice and threw it away. I need a solid foam in my soap…

 

That is a common complaint of those ceramic-infused soaps. I did see a video from Brian of Apex Detail using Dr Beasleys Ceramic Body Wash and it did well in both the foam cannon and the bucket. Here's a link:

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