u/Vegetable-Big-6423

Picked up my 2026 civic SI today. Drove some back roads and into the mountains to get some KM's on it to kickstart the break in process. Frequently changed gears so I was 2,500 - 3,000, 3,500rpm, sometimes 4K rpm. Modulated my speed so I wasn't always at a continuous speed.

I had about 250km on the vehicle when I decided what the hell... Did a pull from a rolling start and smashed through gears 1-4.

I floored it two more times after that, with much gentler shifting.

The first pull... Maybe the rev hang? Each shift jerked the car forward, but I essentially shifted as quickly as I could and dumped the clutch. The last manual I owned was a Honda S2000 many years ago, and you could shift that car lightning fast. That approach does NOT work with the 11th gen Si it seems.

From that pull, and flooring gears 2-4 two more times with easy shifting, am I honestly at risk of long term issues? Oil leaking, loss of engine power ETC? I did have 250km before I did so. Afterwards I put another 150km on it on the highway and spent time modulating the speed and gears.

Of course what's funny, is everyone at Honda said no break in, just drive it and have fun with it! From my research I know that isn't exactly the case and it even says so in the owners manual.

Should I be worried? And for the "slight" jerking forward from my speed shifting 2nd, 3rd and 4th?

Car is great btw! My Android auto, whether I use google or Gemini can't access my contact lists to make a phone call... I'll have to trouble shoot this weekend. And the steering wheel is off center, it's turned to the left when going straight. I'll contact the dealership and let them know so they can fix it for me. I noticed it shortly after I started driving. Otherwise It's great!

Impressed with the shifter, and the rev match is shockingly good. I find myself forgetting to use it and always switching back to the gas after the break when downshifting to feather the pedal. Old habit, will need to remember I can just down shift without worrying about giving it gas! I was planning on turning off the rev match after the break in period anyways though.

Getting my 2026 si Friday. Dealership said nothing about a break in period. And both my 2016 turbo sport sedan and 2021 sport sedan said nothing about a break in period.

Is this legit? Youtubers and forums keep talking about a 1000km break in period...

How much of this is superstition due to old school mentality vs real life?

I want to drive my car and enjoy it! That means flooring it and testing how it feels...

Also

Wtf is up with auto engine turn off when you stop? That is terrible for a turbo... can this be permanently turned off?

Im getting a 2026 civic si this week.

Ive been circling around ceramic sealing it myself, or picking up rinseless car wash supplies and buckets and all that jazz. Iron remover, maybe even simpler a 3-1 spray.

Years ago I detailed all my cars, so Im not new to the game...

But today, maybe its my age? And the fact I've uncovered a lot of un conventional wisdom which goes against what we have been taught, I'm leaning towards doing absolutely nothing to it!

Everywhere I read, its wax this, sealent that. It NEEDS to be done for the paint to sparkle, leaving pant untreated will dull it over time, the clear coat will peel, this that and the other thing.

The fact Everyone and there dog seems to be jumping onto this conclusion makes me feel almost like its all become marketing hype....

Honestly, will the clear coat be that bad?

If I wash it regularly at a wand wash bay. Never touch the paint with a cloth or brush (no swirls) Im sure the paint will look factory fresh for years... shiny and brilliant.

I just can't stand behind everyone saying (it has to be done!) And Im leaning towards leaving my car untreated. Thoroughly washing it at a wand wash bay 2-3 times a month and that's that.

If it gets dull and shitty, well that's on me. But my gut says that just won't happen.

Im about to go against the grain here.

Sure, I can use a simple 3-1. But a clothe will never touch my paint without a proper bucket wash first... and for sponges and buckets and rinsless wash and sprays and clothes Im looking at money I could spend elsewhere, and honestly is it even truly nessesary!

Its starting to feel like after market paint maintenance is being so heavily pushed from a marketing standpoint I now want to go in an entirely different direction.

Who else has bought a new vehicle. Only used a wand wash, never touching the paint to dry it (so no swirl marks) and it looks wonderful years after owning it? Who hasn't bought into the hype and how has your vehicle turned out?

This will be a long post, to anybody who takes the time to read it through offering advice, thank you in advance! I could really use some guidance, and double check a few things.
- I've been using Gemini and Chat GPT for answers, and... I don't fully trust the info they have provided so I wanted to clarify things here.

I have prior detailing experience. 15-18 years ago I detailed a few of my vehicles. Clay bar, Polish, sealant. (I used klassee, and it was a PITA) I have been out of the loop for a very long time with waxes, sealants, protection. I've only recently found out about ceramic coatings.

In two weeks, I'm getting a 2026 civic SI, Urban Grey Pearl paint. I'd like to protect the paint, and also increase the shine and depth of the vehicle. The gold flakes in the pearl don't pop like they would if the paint was protected with the right product.

I will be starting from scratch, and will need to buy all of the products I'll need. Drying clothes, Buffing clothes, levelling clothes, paint correction products, Rinse less car wash, spray bottles, bucket and sponge? ceramic sealant etc. I can ask more on that a little later.

1..) To the brass tax.

I live in a townhome with a single car garage. It is small, but If I park evenly, I should have enough space for my detail work. The garage has a dusty dirty floor, is this a problem? I think my home has a hose insert inside, I can run a hose out to my garage and clean out my garage before hand if recommended.

I don't think I can wash my car out in front of my garage. I'm worried neighbors will complain, and I'll be taking up space in the alley where other owners need to drive by to get to there garage units.

The simplest method for me is to wash my car at a wand wash, and then bring it home to finish the job with rinse less car wash. (Is a spray bottle suffice, or do I really want a bucket of water, and sponge, and a second bucket of clean water)?

I will have a brand new car, but it will most likely require paint correction. I however do NOT want to clay the vehicle. I do not want to deal with a buffer and polishing agent afterwards.

Are there products I can use, to remove contaminants without leaving micro scratches that a clay bar would? I've heard about clay clothes?

So far I only know of an Iron Spray Remover.

The processes I've put together from speaking with AI is as follows.

Wash my car at a car wash bay. Spray entire vehicle with Iron Remover. Let it sit for 5 minutes, thoroughly rinse afterwards and re wash. (There is no bucket and sponge at these bays, they don't allow it.

I drive home, and then I wash my car in the garage with rinse less car wash to properly remove the rest of the dirt and grime.

( Can I just spray it, use a clothe to remove and then buff?) Or should I have a two bucket system with a sponge)

Once clean, I use the prep product recommended by the ceramic I choose.

I have looked at Gyeon. Either the Pure Evo, or the Mohs Evo. the kit comes with an alcohol solvent to use on the vehicle to ensure it is ready for coating.

I pre the paint, and then apply the product.
Is it best to wait 1 hour, or 2 hours before applying a second coat of Gyeon Pure Evo or Mohs? This is for the two coats to combined into a single thicker coat.

Aftewards, I use the ceramic sealent to protect the ceramic coating while it cures.

Questions.

What is the proper procedure for using Iron Remover at a car wash bay.
What is the proper procedure to use rinse less car wash when I'm in my garage
What is the proper procedure for the alcohol solvent.

If there are good youtube videos, just say look them up. Possibly offer advice on what items I'll need for the job. Clothes, types of clothes, how many clothes, buckets, sponges etc?

Will this be enough to get my car ready for the solvent remover to prepare it for the ceramic coat? Or is there another step I can take that WONT require me to polish the vehicle.

Should I apply 1 or two coats, and if so, 1 or 2 hours apart?
If I start on my bumper, and 45 minutes passes when I finish the vehicle, can I start on my bumper with the 2nd coating 15 minutes later (Essentially 1 hour after the first coat)

After all is said and done. This ceramic sealent. Is this something I use again in the fall before winter time, and again in the spring after winter? Or do I throw on my product and leave it for 36-48 months before doing the entire process all over again.

2.) Is everything cut and dry, or are there complications I could come into that I must be aware about? Given that I can't just hose and bucket wash my car outside of my garage.

3.) What types of clothes do I need. - Levelling clothes, removing clothes, buffing clothes, and drying clothes! I only know of the old school lamb skin shammy's to dry a vehicle after a wash.

4.) To use rinse less car wash properly, should I have a double bucket system, or can I just spray the car and wipe then buff (And what type of clothes)

5.) Do you recommend Evo Pure or Mohs. Which is easier to use? Which will make my car look better?

I can look everything up on youtube, I just need some direction to know exactly what to lookup given my situation. *Needing to use a car wash bay that doesn't allow bucket washing* and only being able to do a rinse less car wash in my garage. And not being able to polish my vehicle, leaving clay bars out of the equation.

I can head into a detail shop, and pick up all of the items I require. I just need some advise as to what to ask for, and to make sure I have ENOUGH quantity for everything I need.

AI was saying I need 40-50? clothes. Rinse less wash, alchohol solvent prep, two coats of ceramic, then the ceramic sealer.

I appreciate everyone's advise.

Thank you very much! I have 1 day a week, where I am free all day to dedicate to something like this.

The alternative, I leave the vehicle alone. Drive it for a year, and next spring pay a service to do this for me. At that time I'll have the 2 grand or whatever it costs, and they can do a proper paint correction prior.

how much will this work change the way the paint looks? If it will make a big enough difference, I really would like to give it a shot myself.

Hey guys. I'm picking up a 2026 Si in Urban Grey Pearl in a few weeks.

​I'm hoping to see photos of this car both before and after a wax or ceramic coating, to see just how much it enhances the shine and depth.

​I have the means to prep and coat it with ceramic myself, but I'm not sure if I want to go through the trouble this year. I might leave the paint alone and pay a detail shop to do it for me next spring when I have the funds.

​I'm curious how nice it looks left bare, and if I can live with it for the first year of ownership.

​My hesitations:

​Major washing needs to be done at a car wash bay (they don't allow buckets).

​My garage is small and needs a very good cleaning to remove the dirt and dust from the floor.

​A rinseless wash can be done in my garage.

​I won't clay bar the vehicle because I do not want to polish it afterwards.

​My process would probably be:

Wash at the car bay. Spray with an iron remover, then wash again. Come home, do a rinseless wash, apply more iron remover, and wipe off with a rinseless wash.

​Hope the paint is decent enough to seal.

​Use Gyeon alcohol solvent to strip and prep the paint, then apply two coats 1-2 hours apart. Then, use their sealant to protect the ceramic coat while it sets.

​It's doable with my little garage space, but tedious. With my busy schedule, I'm on the fence. Next year, I can afford the $2k or whatever it costs to get someone else to correct, prep, and seal the paint.

​So! Let's see those before and after photos, or let's hear from others how much of a difference treating the paint with ceramic or wax made.

​Thanks guys!

Hey guys. I have a 2021 civic sport sedan. I will be picking up a 2026 civic si in a few weeks when it arrives at the dealer. Im up in Calgary Alberta.

Im wondering about the all seasons they come with, I keep reading horror stories about wet traction.

How bad are these all seasons in the rain truly?

My 2021 civic sport sedan came with the same tires I believe. I dont think I ever noticed my tires being bad in the rain, and ive been through some downpours! Spent alot of miles driving to and from the Alberta Rockies for climbing/hiking.

Maybe the tires changed for the worse the last 5 years? Or is the wet traction more of an issue if spirited driving when wet or trying to go 140km on the highway during a downpour?