Opti Coat - Long Term

[pctek]

I am thinking of having a shop apply opti coat sealant to my '15 GT. Since this stuff "bonds" with the paint, has anyone had a negative experience with this process? What about after 2 or 3 years? Does it just wear away after 3 years or so, or does it have to be chemically removed and reapplied?

Thanks

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[valentinoamoro]

I tried it on a prior car. It was the non-pro Opticoat 2. It was applied after proper prep by a detailer - went on easy and looked great (glassy) for a few weeks. Protected the paint for a few months at best, nothing like the Ad claimed and not as well as Collinite (which is the best wax line I have ever used and its CHEAP).

I think they have discontinued that line (Opticoat 2) and now the only one is the Pro version which is ridiculously expensive to apply - I dont know how that is but I use clear-bra's these days for the price of Opticoat application. The wax I use is Collinite 476. Once you discover its endurance (for crazy shine try Collinite 915) there is no going back. I've tried TONS of products and wasted a lot of money over years and this is the combo I've settled on. I wax 2-3 times a year, I wash my car another 3 times. Water beads off and both cars looks great for months (this is in Seattle where it rains all the time).

Nothing other than a clear bra will protect your paint from bird crap, some bugs and tar. Wax can buy you some time. To remove that stuff, I keep a microfiber and Auto-chem Bug Off in the back. Quick spray, let it sit for 2-3 mins (it has the consistency of gel so it doesnt just drip off but works on the spot), wipe off and then finish with mothers instant detail. :-)

 

[daytripper]

I tried it on a prior car. It was the non-pro Opticoat 2. It was applied after proper prep by a detailer - went on easy and looked great (glassy) for a few weeks. Protected the paint for a few months at best, nothing like the Ad claimed and not as well as Collinite (which is the best wax line I have ever used and its CHEAP).

I think they have discontinued that line (Opticoat 2) and now the only one is the Pro version which is ridiculously expensive to apply - I dont know how that is but I use clear-bra's these days for the price of Opticoat application. The wax I use is Collinite 476. Once you discover its endurance (for crazy shine try Collinite 915) there is no going back. I've tried TONS of products and wasted a lot of money over years and this is the combo I've settled on. I wax 2-3 times a year, I wash my car another 3 times. Water beads off and both cars looks great for months (this is in Seattle where it rains all the time).

Nothing other than a clear bra will protect your paint from bird crap, some bugs and tar. Wax can buy you some time. To remove that stuff, I keep a microfiber and Auto-chem Bug Off in the back. Quick spray, let it sit for 2-3 mins (it has the consistency of gel so it doesnt just drip off but works on the spot), wipe off and then finish with mothers instant detail. :-)

Collinite-845 is my current favorite waxy product.It was actually warm enough-70* to wax a car yesterday.I noticed i am needing to reorder.
I am not familiar with:476,or 915. Would you care to elaborate? Have you used 845 ? It is the most hydrophobic product I have ever used and really shines. I would switch to a better product in a heartbeat though.

 

[valentinoamoro]

Collinite-845 is my current favorite waxy product.It was actually warm enough-70* to wax a car yesterday.I noticed i am needing to reorder.
I am not familiar with:476,or 915. Would you care to elaborate? Have you used 845 ? It is the most hydrophobic product I have ever used and really shines. I would switch to a better product in a heartbeat though.

i've used 845. It has the best water beading I've ever experienced and excellent shine. It's the easiest to apply - if you wax frequently or apply it yourself this is the way to go.

915 has slightly less beading, more durability, more shine - it's concourse ready wax. I'd recommend this if you have a detailer apply or if you enjoy detailing. A great wax all year but a superb summer wax for sure.. I have not used it - but seen cars with it.
http://www.amazon.com/Collinite-No-Super-Doublecoat-Auto/dp/B000AP8DZY

476 has the least shine (good shine - to me its more than enough), same beading as 915 (less than 845), the most durability by far. If you wax once or twice a year or need a good wax for a harsh winter - there is no better option. It's a little hard to apply so make sure you apply a little or have a detailer. The cars paint feels smooth months later.
http://www.amazon.com/Collinite-No-Super-Doublecoat-Auto/dp/B000AP8DZY

Hope this helps! YMMV.

 

[Blk2015GT]

No one knows with these "bonding paint protectants" if its all gimmick or it does something. There is really no tests that can be done to prove either way conclusively.

I used some sealant (Blackfire) that bonds to the paint, but did it at home on the cheap so if it does nothing no real money loss. I wouldn't spend a ton on Opticoat getting it professionally done.

 

[jholtz]

This from the Collinite web site FAQ's;

What’s the difference between the auto waxes; No. 845 Insulator Wax, No. 476s Super Double Coat and the No. 915 Marque D’ Elegance? All 3 last step waxes serve the same function: to provide a high gloss carnauba shine and lasting protection. All 3 contain copious amounts of wax-both rare Brazilian carnauba and premium synthetic polymers. However, their degree of durability, ease of use, and warmth of shine vary. Think of it this way;


1. No.476s – most durable protection/weather defense. Most elbow grease required during application.


2. No. 915- 2nd most durable and slightly easier than the 476s to apply/remove. No. 915 lends our warmest shine to dark tones like navy and black due to its highest concentration of rare carnauba.


3. No. 845- easiest of the 3 to apply/remove with slightly less durability than the No. 915.

If you search the detailing websites you'll find 915 has the deepest/warmest shine and is the 1st choice in Collinite products for dark colored cars. All varieties will give a minimum of 6 month protection if applied properly. This was per a discussion I had with Collinite when researching their waxes.

HTH

Jim

 

[daytripper]

No one knows with these "bonding paint protectants" if its all gimmick or it does something. There is really no tests that can be done to prove either way conclusively.

I used some sealant (Blackfire) that bonds to the paint, but did it at home on the cheap so if it does nothing no real money loss. I wouldn't spend a ton on Opticoat getting it professionally done.

I have some Blackfire Wet Diamond,not impressed.It's ok. I am going to try the Collinite 915. I will wait a few days for above freezing temps, so it doesnt die in my mailbox. All the Collinite stuff say "discard if Frozen".
I love the 845 but if I can get a bit more gloss with the 915 i'll use it.

 

[Kbreese]

Aren't the Collinite products carnauba waxes? My understanding has always been that carnauba is great for shine but never lasts that long, and if you wanted long term protection you needed a synthetic sealant. But I am hearing claims here of Collinite lasting at least 6 months!? Really? That sounds awesome if it's true.

EDIT: Ok, it looks like they are actually a blend of carnauba and synthetic polymers. So I would think the carnauba shine and beading doesn't last all that long but the synthetic polymers would stay on the surface keeping it protected longer. Unless maybe they figured out a way where the synthetics keeps the carnauba bonded on the surface.

 

[jholtz]

Aren't the Collinite products carnauba waxes? My understanding has always been that carnauba is great for shine but never lasts that long, and if you wanted long term protection you needed a synthetic sealant. But I am hearing claims here of Collinite lasting at least 6 months!? Really? That sounds awesome if it's true.

EDIT: Ok, it looks like they are actually a blend of carnauba and synthetic polymers. So I would think the carnauba shine and beading doesn't last all that long but the synthetic polymers would stay on the surface keeping it protected longer. Unless maybe they figured out a way where the synthetics keeps the carnauba bonded on the surface.

A search of the detail forums will get you many, many examples of the shine and durability of most detailing products including Collinite.

Jim

 

[unintelligible]

A search of the detail forums will get you many, many examples of the shine and durability of most detailing products including Collinite.

Jim

In a hot climate state though, it's a different story. My experience with carnaubas is that they don't last here because of their low melting point. You have to go synthetic sealant or an alternative like Opti-Coat (ceramic clearcoat). The carnaubas are good for car shows or for meets because they look great for a little while (i.e. a week or two) but they are not a protectant solution.

 

[jholtz]

In a hot climate state though, it's a different story. My experience with carnaubas is that they don't last here because of their low melting point. You have to go synthetic sealant or an alternative like Opti-Coat (ceramic clearcoat). The carnaubas are good for car shows or for meets because they look great for a little while (i.e. a week or two) but they are not a protectant solution.

I'll suggest again if you really want to know durability, shine, depth etc. search the detail forums. Autogeek is great as are other. Professional detailers that do hundreds of cars a year hang out there and compare and discuss the products they use.

Collinite is a hybrid synthetic with lots of carnuba wax for the deep shine rather than a reflective. Six months or more protection is considered normal for 476s or 915 Collinite. 845 is less. That's in hot humid conditions or cold snowy ones with lots of salt spray.

Collinite ain't your Grandpa's Turtle wax. It's professional grade.

Speaking of sealant, Klasse is my favorite. I'm using AIO as a base for Collinite 915. Some of my cars (daughters) will get Klasse SG since my only concern is durability in bad weather.

HTH

Jim

 

[Blk2015GT]

I have some Blackfire Wet Diamond,not impressed.It's ok. I am going to try the Collinite 915. I will wait a few days for above freezing temps, so it doesnt die in my mailbox. All the Collinite stuff say "discard if Frozen".
I love the 845 but if I can get a bit more gloss with the 915 i'll use it.

Well remember the Wet Diamond is a paint sealant, not a wax. Collinite is a wax. 2 slightly different things. Sealant makes the "wet look" even better under wax and bonds to the paint surface (which is why they say let it sit overnight before putting anything else on the paint) so it lasts a bit longer for more protection than a wax. I wouldn't skip on a sealant every 4-6 months even using Collinite as a wax. A bottle of sealant should last years for how little you use and only needing to do it twice a year. I don't know if paint sealant actually does any good, but for $30 it can't hurt and won't break the bank.

I got some Blackfire Midnight Sun wax with my Wet Diamond sealant and its good. Its not better or worse than other waxes I've used I would say (my bottle of Zymol seems nearly as good). Its a solid but very easily spreadable and doesn't stain trim. The sealant/wax combo was $80. A bit expensive IMO. It looks good, but can you get the same from a cheaper sealant and Collinite? Probably.

The 915 isn't cheap either its about $30-35 for 12oz while the 845 is about $18 for 16oz. Idk if 915 is worth almost double the price of 845 even if it lasts a tiny bit longer than 845.

I will definitely be picking up some Collinite (either 845 or 915) next too. But I will still layer wax on top of a sealant.

 

[Kbreese]

Well remember the Wet Diamond is a paint sealant, not a wax. Collinite is a wax. 2 slightly different things. Sealant makes the "wet look" even better under wax and bonds to the paint surface (which is why they say let it sit overnight before putting anything else on the paint) so it lasts a bit longer for more protection than a wax. I wouldn't skip on a sealant every 4-6 months even using Collinite as a wax. A bottle of sealant should last years for how little you use and only needing to do it twice a year. I don't know if paint sealant actually does any good, but for $30 it can't hurt and won't break the bank.

I got some Blackfire Midnight Sun wax with my Wet Diamond sealant and its good. Its not better or worse than other waxes I've used I would say (my bottle of Zymol seems nearly as good). Its a solid but very easily spreadable and doesn't stain trim. The sealant/wax combo was $80. A bit expensive IMO. It looks good, but can you get the same from a cheaper sealant and Collinite? Probably.

The 915 isn't cheap either its about $30-35 for 12oz while the 845 is about $18 for 16oz. Idk if 915 is worth almost double the price of 845 even if it lasts a tiny bit longer than 845.

I will definitely be picking up some Collinite (either 845 or 915) next too. But I will still layer wax on top of a sealant.

I don't think a wax will adhere very well to a sealant. The wax is designed to adhere to the paint surface not a sealant, so you might be wasting your time. I know certain sealants like Zaino are designed to be able to "layer" them, but I don't think any wax is really designed to be layered on top of a sealant.

On a side note I did have my car opticoated. (The pro version) with a 2-stage paint correction. Cost me $800. Whether it holds up as advertised, who can know for sure.

 

[Stam616]

I don't think a wax will adhere very well to a sealant. The wax is designed to adhere to the paint surface not a sealant, so you might be wasting your time. I know certain sealants like Zaino are designed to be able to "layer" them, but I don't think any wax is really designed to be layered on top of a sealant.

On a side note I did have my car opticoated. (The pro version) with a 2-stage paint correction. Cost me $800. Whether it holds up as advertised, who can know for sure.

Beautiful Mustang! Did you have the opticoat done or do it yourself? If so how does it work?

 

[Kbreese]

Beautiful Mustang! Did you have the opticoat done or do it yourself? If so how does it work?

Thanks man. It was done by "Mr. Sparkle" here on Long Island. He is a great guy and does great work. He is on all the auto detailing forums. Here is one of the threads he made when he did my car:

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...ti-coat-mr-sparkle-detailing-long-island.html

The key to applying the opticoat, like most everything else, is properly preparing the surface and that's where all the work and expense comes in. Once that is done the Opticoat is supposed to be "permanent"...basically like a second layer of clearcoat but stronger.

There is a lot of debate on whether it is actually permanent or not. And it's really hard to prove one way or the other.

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