Chemical Guys vs Adam's Polishes vs Torque Detail: Who Wins?

Undoubtedly, the battle for supremacy in the American car detailing industry has intensified significantly over the last decade. Chemical Guys, which has been around since 1968, has been consistent in producing highly effective car care products, and so has Adam's Polishes, which entered the market in the year 2000. But how do they stack up against the popular yet less experienced Torque Detail outfit? Does the fact that Chemical Guys and Adam's Polishes have been around for longer mean that their products are more worthwhile? Please take a seat as we delve into this discussion.  

Here is a brief look at the three companies and what they are about:

Torque Detail

Torque Detail came onto the scene in 2012 as a family-owned and operated business headed by long-time professional car detailer Frank Mitchell. The company has quickly picked up speed from the time it entered the market and is now going toe to toe against the biggest names in the car care industry. This is because we can argue that Torque Detail was close to three decades in the making when it launched. Frank first set up a professional car detailing business at the age of 27 and ran it for more than 30 years before establishing Torque Detail. Therefore, considering Frank's detailing experience and that of his team of certified, long-term detailers, Torque Detail is not at all a 'novice' in this industry.

With an accurate understanding of what many car owners are looking for in car detailing products, Frank created several guiding principles for creating Torque Detail products. Here they are:

1. Simplicity
   Frank noted that many people would rather buy a simple, easy-to-use, yet effective mid-grade product than a top-grade, highly complex product that requires extensive procedures and a lot of reading. And so, right from the onset, he set out to make Torque Detail products as straightforward and foolproof as possible without compromising their effectiveness. Also, Torque Detail offers one essential product for each car detailing requirement, making it possible for you to spend less time comparing products when buying them.
    
2. Synergy
   All the Torque Details have also been designed to complement each other or work cooperatively with each other. This means that one product will build on the strengths or effects of another; compatibility is assured.
   
   
3. Quick, Easy Application
   Most Torque Detail products can be applied within 5-15 minutes because they can be sprayed and buffed off. This aspect makes them appealing to many motorists who cannot spare several hours for lengthy application processes.
   
   
4. High standards of Quality and Effectiveness
   Torque Detail went to great pains to get the proprietary formulas for all its products right. As a result, all Torque Detail products demonstrate high levels of quality and effectiveness. In addition to their specific functions, these products deliver high-gloss shines while providing outstanding protection from the sun and various contaminants.
   
   
5. Long-lasting Protection
   You can count on Torque Detail products to provide long-term protection from dirt and the elements. Depending on the product, that protection can last even up to two years.
   
   
6. Affordability
   Torque Detail products are also affordably priced, and they can also be ordered in bulk to reduce the cost of purchase further. For example, Torque Detail's Mirror Shine can be ordered in 5-bottle packages that go for the price of three.

Adam's Polishes

As mentioned above, Adam's Polishes was established in California in 2000 by Adam Pitale, its founder, but has since relocated to Colorado. Adam's Polishes enjoys a wide following that spans several continents. Adam has always had an innate desire to make things clean and perfect. His passion drove him to start a bicycle repairing and cleaning business while he was still a lad. That business paved the way for Adam's Polishes, which now has a wide range of products, including machineries like pressure washers and swirl removers.

Adam has also prioritized quality in the manufacture of his company's products. This is evidenced by the fact that Adam's Polishes promises a full refund + 10 percent to anyone who is not satisfied with any of its products.

Chemical Guys

Having been established in 1968, Chemical Guys is the oldest of these three outfits and offers the most comprehensive product selection. They are sold in over 50 countries worldwide.

Chemical Guys was founded by David Knotek and Paul Schneider (who also founded Advanced Auto Detailing and Detail Garage Inc). Paul and David were referred to as 'The Chemical Guys' because they kept showing up at car shows with stands packed with detailing products. As fate would have it, the name caught on, and they ended up using it to name their company.

Chemical Guys portrays itself as a brand that does not hesitate to push boundaries. This is seen even in the design of its logo (which is a skull with crossbones designed like piston rods). The design language used on its products also brings out that sense of unbridled passion and adventure. As such, Chemical Guys attracts a more youthful crowd. However, credit must also be given to its products; most are highly effective and easy to use.

Chemical Guys vs Adams vs Torque Detail: The Lowdown

One way to compare the three is by seeing how their best products stack up against each other.

Ceramics Comparison

A traditional ceramic coating costs thousands of dollars and requires several hours of careful application. These products, however, cost much less and are much easier to apply. The convenience and affordability they offer does not come at the expense of their effectiveness.

#1 - Torque Detail Ceramic Spray

Ceramic Spray is Torque Detail's top-of-the-range ceramic product. It provides the benefits of a traditional ceramic coating and while providing ease of use and significant savings. It can be applied in 5-10 minutes, costs less than $50, and does not require professional labor (you can apply it yourself).

It is formulated using a proven, proprietary silica resin formula (nano siO2) designed to bond semi-permanently to your car's painted surface. The tiny Silicon Dioxide particles suspended in the resin are similar in consistency to the clear, hard quartz you find in grains of sand. They will fill in the pores and uneven surfaces of your car's clear coat layer as you will spray the product onto your car's surfaces. They will immediately dry and harden, forming a hard, glass-like layer impervious to UV radiation, dirt, harsh chemicals, and other environmental contaminants. This protective layer is also hydrophobic, so it will repel water, causing it to bead up and roll off your car's surface.

Expect this protective layer to last an entire year. It does not wash away when you give your car a full wash. Also, it makes cleaning your car a lot easier because it prevents dirt and grime from sticking to your car's paint. Therefore, you will be able to wipe off any dirt or contaminants like bird poop, tree sap, or bug guts without much effort.  

Another benefit of the protective layer you will get with Ceramic Spray is a deep, reflective mirror-like shine that will make your car look newer than it is.  

The application process for Ceramic Spray is relatively straightforward. After washing and drying your car's surface, spray a small amount onto a section of your car's exterior and use a premium microfiber towel to work it into the surface. After that, use another microfiber towel to buff the surface to your desired shine. You then move to another section of paintwork and repeat the process. After applying the product to all your car's exterior surfaces, park the car in a sheltered place and let the coating cure for up to 12 hours. You can reapply as needed.

#2 - Adam's UV Graphene Ceramic Spray Coating

Adam's Polishes infused its Ceramic Spray Coating product with Graphene molecules to enhance its effectiveness, thus forming Adam's UV Graphene Ceramic Spray Coating. Graphene is a carbon-based substance that is often used when making pencil lead. It is said to be 200 times stronger than steel. Therefore, when added to the already formidable SiO2 formula of Adam's Polishes' Ceramic Spray Coating, it creates a product that delivers superior UV protection, increased scratch and stain resistance, and improved water-spot prevention. However, Graphene has a Black tint that makes it better suited to cars with dark-colored exteriors.    

Expect Adam's UV Graphene Ceramic Spray Coating to last more than a year. Also, thanks to Adam's Ceramic Glow Technology, it delivers a high-gloss shine.

Before applying this product, you are required to both wash and decontaminate your car's paint, preferably using Adam's Polishes products. The next step is to spray the product onto a microfiber towel and apply it onto your car's surface, taking time to work it in. After you are done, let the product sit for a few minutes before buffing it to a deep shine using another microfiber towel. Also, the coating must be left to cure in a cool, sheltered place for up to 4 hours.

#3 - HydroSlick SiO2 Ceramic Coating HyperWax

The Chemical Guys HydroSlick SiO2 Ceramic Coating HyperWax is similar in function to Torque Detail's Ceramic Spray and Adam's UV Graphene Ceramic Spray Coating. To give credit where it is due, it delivers on what it promises. In true Chemical Guys fashion, the HydroSlick SiO2 Ceramic Coating HyperWax is dressed in a dramatic, attention-grabbing bottle, but its contents are just as impressive. Unlike the other two products, HydroSlick SiO2 Ceramic Coating HyperWax has a gel-like consistency and is infused with Silicon Dioxide molecules. It delivers the brilliant shine and ease of use of a wax with the long-lasting protection of a ceramic coating. Hence, it is termed a 'HyperWax.'

Thanks to its advanced SiO2 nanotechnology, this product works at a microscopic level, sealing up pores, scratches, and other imperfections on the clear-coat layer of your car's paintwork and leaving a durable, protective coating that will last up to one year. It causes water to bead and sheet off, thus preventing water spots; it also shields against UV-ray damage, sheds off dirt and debris, and leaves a crystal-like and high-gloss finish.

Like with Adam's UV Graphene Ceramic Spray Coating, you must clean and decontaminate your car before applying HydroSlick SiO2 Ceramic Coating HyperWax. Chemical Guys also recommends a machine polish after decontamination to remove scratches, swirl marks, and other imperfections.

The next step is to squeeze a few dots of the gel onto a fresh applicator pad and then gently rub the product into the car's surface. When you are done, please leave it to dry for a few minutes, and then buff off any excess product as you bring out a deep-gloss shine. After buffing the surface, leave it to cure for at least 2-3 hours, but for the best results, leave it for 24 hours in a cool place that is sheltered from the elements.

Car Wash Soap Comparison

#1 - Torque Detail Decon Soap

Torque Detail offers one main car wash soap product called Decon Soap. This product produces thick suds and can be used in the sun. It incorporates active soap surfactants that are great at lifting dirt and breaking down oils and grime on a car's surface, so you can count on it to strip off all the dirt on your vehicle.  

Decon soap is also designed to decontaminate your car's surfaces, meaning that it can remove embedded surface contaminants like brake dust and iron deposits and also previous coats of sealants or waxes. It also removes overspray and other contaminants that are not visible to the naked eye.

Therefore, with Decon Soap, you won't have to purchase a separate product for decontamination purposes. It will enable you to both clean and decontaminate your car in one step, which will save both time and resources. Also worth noting is that Decon Soap comes with a free premium wash mitt.

Decon soap is also easy to use. Fill a 5-gallon bucket with water, pour 4 ounces of Decon soap into it, and stir to dissolve the soap. Then dip your wash mitt into the bucket and gently scrub your car, starting from the top and working your way downwards. When you finish scrubbing, hose down your vehicle with plenty of water and dry off your car using microfiber towels. You can also use a foam cannon to spray the soap onto your vehicle.

#2 - Adam's Car Wash Shampoo

Adam's Polishes offers several exterior washing liquid options, 21 to be exact. However, for this comparison, we will focus on Adam's Car Wash Shampoo. This pH-neutral product also produces thick, luxurious suds and is just as effective in the sun as in shaded areas. It removes dirt, pollen, grime, and loosely stuck debris but does not remove embedded contaminants; it does not remove prior coats of waxes or sealants.  

Also, Adam's Car Wash Shampoo is safe to use on all car surfaces, e.g., rubber, windows, vinyl, and plastic. To apply, squeeze a fair amount into a 3.5-gallon or 5-gallon bucket filled with water, swirl it around to dissolve it, dunk your wash mitt into the soapy solution, and start scrubbing your car. When you are done, rinse with plenty of water. You can also use a foam cannon to apply the soap.

#3 - Citrus Wash and Gloss Concentrated Ultra Premium Hyper Wash and Gloss

Like Adam's Polishes, Chemical Guys also have many car shampoo options. For this comparison, we will focus on Citrus Wash and Gloss Concentrated Ultra Premium Hyper Wash and Gloss (or just 'Citrus Wash and Gloss'). This product, which comes in an attractive, bright-yellow bottle, includes all-natural citrus extracts that help to detach and break down dirt and grime. It also has a reputation for producing thick suds that help to prevent scratches and swirl marks. An added benefit of this product is that it will leave a vibrant shine on your car's surfaces, making it appear as though you have waxed your car.

The Citrus Wash and Gloss is equally easy to use. You can use either the bucket method or a foam cannon or gun to apply. It will deliver even better results after a pre-rinse with plenty of water.

Summary: Chemical Guys vs Adam's Polishes vs Torque Detail (Who won?)

Let us start by comparing the ceramic products. All three products deliver well on what they promise, i.e., a brilliant shine, long-term protection from the sun and various contaminants for up to one year, and hydrophobic properties that help to prevent water spots. However, Ceramic Spray is simpler to use. You do not have to prep your car in a specific way before applying it, and you do not have to wait for the product to set in for a while before buffing the surface as you have to with the other two products.

With the Adam's UV Graphene Ceramic Spray Coating, you must decontaminate your car's surfaces first, and not with just any product; Adam's Polishes specifies the exact products to use. Adam's is also specific about how you should buff your car's surfaces after applying the UV Graphene Ceramic Spray Coating. The HydroSlick SiO2 Ceramic Coating HyperWax, on the other hand, is not as easy to apply as the other two because it has a gel-like consistency. Therefore, it may take longer to apply and may require more energy.

In the car wash soaps comparison, Torque Detail wins again. In offering just one all-inclusive product, it makes choosing products more straightforward for you. Also, Decon Soap combines two functions in one, much unlike most car wash soap products that Adam's Polishes and Chemical Guys are offering.

So the short answer is that Torque Detail won!