Reload is not a silicon based sealant, it is silica, the same properties of ceramic coatings. It does not add mils of thickness, you're lucky to get mils from a true ceramic based coatings, not a spray and wipe product.
True coatings can last many years, depending on the product.
For free sap, use isopropyl alcohol or hand sanitizer.
A good friend of mine is a certified Carpro detailer, just going off what he told me a few years ago so forgive me for not being completely accurate, but this is what autogeek has to say about it:
Reload Spray Sealant is not your typical spray wax! Reload is ***made of a water base plus special modified Silica*** - the same compound found in glass. The silica gives Reload its fantastic light reflecting properties and a slick shine. Dirt can't stick and water beads on contact!
Reload Spray Sealant forms a ***thick,*** substantial coating. In fact, a Reload coating helps prevent fine scratches on paintwork. It can also be used on rubber, plastic, and glass.
More on ReLoad:
Sio2 INFUSED = CERAMIC SEALANT
A lot of companies throw the word "ceramic" around now and as a Professional Detailer of exotic cars, it drives me a little nuts! Detailers like myself see right past the crazy marketing and know they are full of themselves when they say it's "Real Ceramic". CarPro Reload has 5% Sio2 in the bottle. This means it has ceramic in it but by no means makes it a
true or
real ceramic. It is an amazing product that can be applied a few different ways and will give you water beading and characteristics of real ceramic but it won't last years like real ceramic or give you some of the other benefits of real ceramic. I'm telling you this because you deserve a no spin-no marketing hype explanation as to what this and other products like it truly are. We like to call this type of product a Ceramic Sealant. Just like we had wax, then polymer based sealants, now we have ceramic sealants that are better than polymer sealants, and then real ceramic is the pinnacle.
- And as far as thickness, a mil is 1/1000 of an inch, and a coat of ReLoad...if I remember my friend correctly...saying that he would measure an extra 1-2 mils of thickness after applying a coat. He also said it is a very tested product in a wide variety of conditions, more than anything else on the market.