Anybody using deionizer systems for rinsing?

[atikovi]

To prevent water spots. Something like http://www.autogeek.net/cr-spotless-water-systems.html A little pricey up front but how much does the cost of consumable resin figure out to on a per wash basis?

[DogParkGuy]

Re: Anybody using deionizer systems for rinsing?

You should be able to fnd a cheaper way of filtering water. Anyway, do you have hard water where you wash your car? Does the water in your house leave spots on shower doors? If your water isn't hard (meaning contains dissolved minerals), this may be a waste of money.

[atikovi]

Re: Anybody using deionizer systems for rinsing?

Yes water is hard enough to leave spots.

[Nick Winn]

Re: Anybody using deionizer systems for rinsing?

I have never used one personally but have heard they are great. One of our drivers has the CR system on his semi truck and loves it. I think it is more of a luxury item than an necessity. Depends on individuals situation. Trying to wash a black semi truck in the sun sometimes, yes it definitely helps.

[the other pc]

Re: Anybody using deionizer systems for rinsing?

Once you've used spot-free water, washing your car with plain old tap water will always make you at least a little sad. I my case, very sad. We have hard water around here.

I lie awake a night dreaming of spot-free water. But for now, it's only that, a dream. Some day.....

De-ionizing filters like CR-Spotless are probably the most popular way for the home user to make spot-free water. The up front cost is actually pretty low compared to other methods.

De-ionizing filters are simple, compact and easy to use. They can be slow because you need to give the water dwell time to fully interact with the resin. That, or have really big filters with lots of resin. The resin is expensive and needs to be replaced or recharged regularly. How regularly, and at what cost will depend on how hard your water is and how you buy the resin. I've heard people talk about costs somewhere around $0.15 to $0.50 per-gallon, depending. There are a lot of variables. Your mileage may vary.

De-mineralized water produced on a commercial scale is usually done by reverse-osmosis, or reverse-osmosis followed by de-ionizing filters. RO is much less expensive per gallon of water produced than DI but doesn't remove quite all of the minerals. Using an RO system to take out most of the minerals and DI filters to remove what little's left gives you the purest water at the lowest cost in the long run. You use far less resin. But the systems are expensive, bulky and complex, requiring considerable maintenance.

There is no easy, cheap, simple, fast and convenient way to make tap water spot free. There's always a trade-off. Many pro detailers simply get large storage tanks and buy demineralized water from a bulk supplier. (Many professional detailing suppliers sell spot-free water.)


pc

[jimc1]

Re: Anybody using deionizer systems for rinsing?

I have the portable Spotless DIC-20 and love it. My water is very hard, my car is black and many time I wash the car in the sun. I have a pressure washer and use the Spotless system as a final rinse after the car is clean. The cost is a tad less than a Rupes polisher. I bought mine here.

https://obsessed-garage.myshopify.com/collections/water-filtration

[atikovi]

Re: Anybody using deionizer systems for rinsing?

What does cost per use figure out to?

[twisty roads]

Re: Anybody using deionizer systems for rinsing?

here is a diy CR spotless type water system... https://forums.nasioc.com/forums/sho....php?t=2832232 . CR spotless is costly. For example, pricing will range from $250 up to $450 depending on what your needs are. Additionally, you need to refill your media to purify the water frequently depending on how much water you use and how hard your water is. CR spotless sells refill resin for their system at $80-$135 per refill.

My tap water is 450 ppm. I use approx. 15 +/- 5 gallons of water to wash/rinse my car using a power washer at 1.3 gpm. The CR spotless 10 inch filters allow for enough dwell time to flow 2.0 gpm where as the 20 inch filters allow for an increase flow of 2.5 gpm. The 20 inch filters filter approx. 180 gallons of water before I need to replace the resin. So not including the price of the unit, that is about 12 car washes and about $11.25 per car wash.

Because of this, I buy DI water at the local grocery store/Target for $1.00 / gallon. I fill a 5-gallon bucket with a gamma seal lid with 2-3 gallons of water and use a rinseless soap like Meg's Rinse Free Wash and Wax ($55) at 256:1 dilution. I soak approx. 10 MF towels into the bucket and use a Meg's updated "garry dean" method while washing and keep refilling towels until there is not enough solution to fully saturate a MF towel...for a grand total of $2.43 soap and DI water with enough solution to wash 8-10 cars

[atikovi]

Re: Anybody using deionizer systems for rinsing?

I use approx. 15 +/- 5 gallons of water to wash/rinse my car using a power washer at 1.3 gpm.

I assume you can wash with regular water and only would need a gallon or two of di water for a final rinse? I don't mind the initial outlay for the equipment but $11 a pop is way too much per car for supplies.

[twisty roads]

Re: Anybody using deionizer systems for rinsing?

I assume you can wash with regular water and only would need a gallon or two of di water for a final rinse? I don't mind the initial outlay for the equipment but $11 a pop is way too much per car for supplies.

This is why I said I use timeless washing techniques now. One very important thing about clean water though, you don't have to use as much soap for the same suds/lubrication on the paint surface. With cleaner water, I save on the amount of soap used which also reduces water usage in spraying the car off.

Are there ways to reduce cost, of course. Washing with a 2 bucket method and only using the DI water for rinsing are just some examples. As "the other pc" said " there is no easy, cheap, simple, fast and convenient way to make tap.water spot free

[twisty roads]

Re: Anybody using deionizer systems for rinsing?

*Rinseless washing

[Blueline]

Re: Anybody using deionizer systems for rinsing?

I went a bought one of those filters, similar but half the price if I recall, and just added more nonsense to washing my cars. Now it sits attached to my garage wall just taking up space. With a well waxed car, most of the water sheets off, when you gently hose it without the nozzle. What little is left, I blow off with a small electric blower. No spots, no fuss, no mess, no dollars buying cartridges, just glossy black cars.