When it comes to ceramic sprays, I’m always excited to read reviews and try something new to see if it gets the “wow factor” out of my car. So a few days ago I picked up a bottle of Turtle Wax ICE at my local gas station, and decided to write an honest review for you all.
What is Turtle Wax ICE?
First, let me clear up a common misunderstanding many people make about Turtle Wax ICE. Technically, Turtle Wax’s “ICE” products are not ceramic, because they don’t contain SiO2 (Silicon Dioxide). It’s also not one of those confusing “hybrid” products we’ve seen hit the shelves. The ICE line is a carnauba wax, pure and simple. And frankly there is nothing wrong with that.
When I have talked to folks about using liquid wax, they tell me they don’t know where to start because of all the multitude of reviews and different variants of car wax products out on the market today. When I first started doing my own research I felt the same way — overwhelmed and left with lots of questions. But after reviewing dozens of detailer brands and different products, I’ve figured out how to differentiate between the snake oil and what actually gets great results. So here’s my experience with Turtle Wax ICE liquid spray wax.
How Do You Use Turtle ICE Spray Wax?
As stated by most other Turtle Wax ICE reviews, this product is pretty easy to use. Wash your car, make sure it’s fully dry, and apply using the directions on the bottle. Shake well, spray a fine mist onto your car, and immediately wipe off with a microfiber towel. Then flip the towel over to the dry side and buff to a shine. Sounds similar to ceramic spray detailer application, right? We’ll get to that later in this Turtle Wax ICE review.
The directions also mention that additional applications will enhance shine and protection. It was after reading this last direction that a warning flag flew up. When you use high end products like Nexgen Ceramic spray, you only need one coat. However, Turtle Wax is already hinting at using multiple coats. Lastly, in the directions it looks like it is safe to use on glass, door handles, black plastic, rubber trim, chrome & wheels without leaving white residue.
Is Turtle Wax ICE Any Good?
Let’s cut to the chase. The reason you’re reading this review among the many other Turtle Wax ICE reviews is because you want to know the real truth about Turtle Wax ICE. Will this spray increase the shine of your vehicle and protect it from contaminants? My short answer? Yes it will.
I noticed a very significant shine right away after using Turtle Wax ICE. It was a nice glossy finish that compares with some of the mid-tier ceramic spray products I’ve tried. I also did the “water droplet test” to see if water beads up on the surface after application. There was moderate water beading, which I’m happy with for a spray wax.
How Long Does Turtle Wax ICE Spray Wax Last?
Everyone always wants to know how long a product is going to last after it’s applied. The truth is that it really depends on the conditions in your area, and how you treat your car. Is it parked in a garage with low humidity and no direct sunlight? Or is it driven 100 miles/day in a high-humidity area with lots of sun and extreme temperatures? As you might guess, any wax or ceramic spray will last better on a car which is kept in the garage.
When I used Turtle Wax ICE, I drove my truck about 30 miles per day in mild Southern California weather. And I found that the shine from the Turtle Wax started to fade after about 2 weeks. I was a little disappointed in how quickly I needed to reapply, so I went to Turtle Wax’s website and learned that this product works good together with their “Smart Shield technology” line of products. These are six products which work in tandem and basically add more wax to your topcoat.
Sighing at my computer, I realized that Turtle Wax wants me to use multiple coats again. The first product in their lineup the “Wash & Wax” even says to wash your car every week. I do not know about you, but I definitely do not want to wash and detail my car all the time. If it’s supposed to protect the paint from all the elements, why can’t I get more than a week or two out of these products?
How Is Turtle Wax ICE Customer Service?
If you’ve read my other reviews before, you know I love calling customer support to get as much info as possible. And that’s exactly what I did with Turtle Wax ICE too. Whenever I try a new product, I usually call them to see how they answer customer questions and if they’re truly knowledgeable about detailing.
I gave their customer service number a call, and was connected to someone in less than 3 minutes. I asked which wax I should use for my Harley, and she told me that all their waxes are essentially the same. Wait what!? So you’re telling me that Turtle Wax has over 15 different waxes on the market and they’re all basically the same? After some back and forth, she transferred me to her manager who clarified that she misspoke. However, that left a bad impression and let me know that they’re not knowledgeable at all. Overall, the agent was pleasant and nice, but lacked product knowledge.
Product Quality Scores
Strength
8/10
VALUE
9/10
LONGEVITY
7/10
CUSTOMER SERVICE
7/10
31
In my opinion, using Turtle Wax ICE is worth it for one single reason. Price. Right now you can buy a 20oz bottle of Turtle Wax ICE for $8.79 on Amazon Prime. That’s way cheaper than almost all the other products that you can find reviews about on this site. Is it going to give you a superb shine or last as long as a top-tier ceramic spray like Nexgen? Definitely not. You’ll also have to use more Turtle Wax ICE to get close to the same effects. But given the cost, it’s a serious value. If you want something cheap and easy to apply after a quick car wash, then I recommend Turtle Wax ICE.
