Dammit, I want the truth!

F

flyfishindawg

New member
OK, here's the deal. Once and for all, please, please, someone give me a definitive answer on the following:



I have read on more than one forum that buying expensive leather treatment products is a grand waste of cash for most leathers except for very high end cars. Is this, or is this not a true statement?



I only want answers from experts so that I can put this out of my mind once and for all.



I apologize for my tone but it seems like this topic just goes on and on and on with no clear answer.
 
you'll get a lot of answers on this but if it means anything i have used a lot of them and to be honest i have found you get what you pay for!
 
You treat the coating on "most" modern leathers. These coatings need to number one be cleaned and number two have a product that will guard against drying and UV. I personally like a two step, but there are one steps that are pretty good. I don't know if you need an "expensive" product, but it is a good idea to keep your leather clean and protected. For what it's worth I use the Zaino twins, mainly cause I like the non oily protection and the smell, but there are good otc products too. Mothers reflections and believe it or not turtle wax is a good local product too.
 
Setec Astronomy said:
I think the definitive answer is that there is no one "truth" for every car, every user, every situation.
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So then there is no truth, as a truth should be universal.



I think it all depends on what you're going for in your results. Some people are satisfied with different levels. For many years I thought that just a normal wash and wax and wipedown with some armorall wipes was good. But now I've realized that it is not nearly good enough.



It also all depends on what you consider to be expensive. As with everything, the law of diminishing returns says that at some point you will get less benefit from every dollar you spend. So it might cost you an extra $50 for an extra 5% gain, as opposed to the lower levels where you can get a 2000% gain for $10.
 
Why would the leather in very high end cars require different treatment from the leather in more modest vehicles?
 
Holden_C04 said:
Why would the leather in very high end cars require different treatment from the leather in more modest vehicles?
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There are two distinct leather processes that are used on vehicles. The less expensive method is that the color is applied like a coating to the leather on the seats. You will usually find this on less expensive applications.



The more expensive process is a true vat process where the leather is submerged in whatever color. The color is absorbed into the leather ( as comparing to having a color basically sprayed on)making it a much more durable process than the one above.



The problem with the first process is that the coloring can be scrubbed off over years of use and temperature changes can dry out the coating/color. True leather (either application) needs to be treated periodically to maintain its looks and durability. The cleaning steps needs to be modified with the less expensive process as cleaning can actually take up the coloring.
 
This won't help much...but...



I've used Leatherique on BOTH coated leathers; "pleathers"; and nicer high-end leathers. IT WORKS ON ALL OF THEM!



I've tried Zaino; PB LeatherStuff; Eagle Ottowa; Meguiar's; Lexol and Opt. Protectant Plus/Leather formulas.



As far as making the leather surfaces soft, supple, and clean...the Leatherique wins.



I didn't think it could be "that great" and was VERY skeptical for a long time. However, for the money I spent on all the other stuff and was dissatisfied with; I should have just bought the Leatherique to begin with.



Just my opinion...
 
longdx said:
There are two distinct leather processes that are used on vehicles. The less expensive method is that the color is applied like a coating to the leather on the seats. You will usually find this on less expensive applications.



The more expensive process is a true vat process where the leather is submerged in whatever color. The color is absorbed into the leather ( as comparing to having a color basically sprayed on)making it a much more durable process than the one above.



The problem with the first process is that the coloring can be scrubbed off over years of use and temperature changes can dry out the coating/color. True leather (either application) needs to be treated periodically to maintain its looks and durability. The cleaning steps needs to be modified with the less expensive process as cleaning can actually take up the coloring.
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From your description, the two processes are almost identical in terms of the end result and, ignoring cost barriers, would require the exact same treatment (as I understand it based on your description).
 
@Holden C04:



The answer is yes and no. Yes, because both need to be treated to maintain leather's pliability: essentially protecting the end product in drying out and cracking.



No, in that the cheaper process will have diminished durability. If the leather "coating" for lack of better words is compromised than one has to be careful in the cleaning stage.



OTC all in one products are usually a better bet for the cheaper processes. Leatherette seems to be highly regarded.
 
Does this apply to only natural leather or to the pleather/leatherette/vinyl "leather" found in your average car as well?
 
XRL said:
So then there is no truth, as a truth should be universal..
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Ooh ooh...just the kind of statement that'll get me posting :D



Noting that I'm about as far from a Kantian as one can get, even from a broader perspective this isn't a case of a single truth that oughta be universally applicable to the topic of "treating automotive leather". Rather there are truths.



There are different types of leather, and plenty of other potential differences too (UV exposure, type and degree of soiling, wear, etc.).



So what works for one person in one situation might not work for somebody else. IMO it's another case of it being tough to generalize too much.



FWIW, *IME* (which might not be relevant to anybody else), most of today's automotive leather doesn't require much, if any, "treatment", it just needs to be kept clean. I've only treated the leather in my '01 S8 *once* and it's like new other than some signs that the front seats do actually get used. OTOH, I've treated the leather in other Audis (I've been told it was the same leather) regularly and the one bolster that gets the most abuse still needed replaced after enough use/time- as best I can tell the treatment didn't really provide any benefit. Completely different situation with my '85 Jag, which *must* be treated regularly....different leather, different...uhm, truth.



Here's one to make us :think: :confused: I *never* treat the leather steering wheel covers in our Audis and I've never had a problem even after many years and many miles of driving. But I sold one nearly new Audi to a friend of mine and the leather on the wheel needed replaced after a few months! I suspect it was a combination of her handcream (or somesuch wildcard) and UV exposure, but still.... :nixweiss



Vinyl/etc.- While older vinyl/etc. seemed to dry out if not treated, that no longer seems to be the case (again, just *IME*). Using something with UV blockers would undoubtedly still be a good idea, but today's automotive vinyl/plastic doesn't seem to dry out the way the older stuff did. I *never* treat the interiors of my dog-haulers (for various reasons) but I keep them clean; no problems even after many years.
 
The way I look at it is it needs to be done but not often. Personally on my cars Lexus LS with the Coach leather interior and BMW 545i I do a leather treatment twice a year. Never had an issue with either one or any of my cars in the past. Best products I like that don't break the bank(all two step products) is Lexol, Zymol, and Zaino.



Main thing is stay away from the low quality products like Armor All Leather cleaner/conditioner. Usually these products leave heavy oily residue behind and tend to dry out the leather over time.
 
Accumulator said:
Ooh ooh...just the kind of statement that'll get me posting :D



Noting that I'm about as far from a Kantian as one can get, even from a broader perspective this isn't a case of a single truth that oughta be universally applicable to the topic of "treating automotive leather". Rather there are truths.



There are different types of leather, and plenty of other potential differences too (UV exposure, type and degree of soiling, wear, etc.).



So what works for one person in one situation might not work for somebody else. IMO it's another case of it being tough to generalize too much.



FWIW, *IME* (which might not be relevant to anybody else), most of today's automotive leather doesn't require much, if any, "treatment", it just needs to be kept clean. I've only treated the leather in my '01 S8 *once* and it's like new other than some signs that the front seats do actually get used. OTOH, I've treated the leather in other Audis (I've been told it was the same leather) regularly and the one bolster that gets the most abuse still needed replaced after enough use/time- as best I can tell the treatment didn't really provide any benefit. Completely different situation with my '85 Jag, which *must* be treated regularly....different leather, different...uhm, truth.



Here's one to make us :think: :confused: I *never* treat the leather steering wheel covers in our Audis and I've never had a problem even after many years and many miles of driving. But I sold one nearly new Audi to a friend of mine and the leather on the wheel needed replaced after a few months! I suspect it was a combination of her handcream (or somesuch wildcard) and UV exposure, but still.... :nixweiss



Vinyl/etc.- While older vinyl/etc. seemed to dry out if not treated, that no longer seems to be the case (again, just *IME*). Using something with UV blockers would undoubtedly still be a good idea, but today's automotive vinyl/plastic doesn't seem to dry out the way the older stuff did. I *never* treat the interiors of my dog-haulers (for various reasons) but I keep them clean; no problems even after many years.
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I've noticed the coatings on the shifters and steering wheels on Audi's are very sensitive, I slightly marred mine (dulled and wore the finish) when cleaning one day with Zymol and I think a bit too aggressive of an applicator. I would think that it'd need to be more durable then the seating coating due to oils from skin and other exposures but it seems to not be the case. I think my Ford Thunderbird had the same sort of steering wheel coating, but I never treated it or had to do any cleaning with it to speak of outside of a damp cloth.



I really like Zymol, it is great on my leather motorcycle jacket, and it leaves a great scent inside the car, but I don't see much benefit in the way of caring for my cars leather, though that is MY situation with it's particular leather. I still stand by it but I hope to resolve to another product to merely clean and offer UV protection to my leather surfaces from here on out with this car. Right now I'm using 1Z Cockpit and am liking it but I have some OPT to try out next.
 
gonzO- About the only thing I've decided on regarding Audi steering wheel covers/etc. is that experiences differ :D The never-treated (that I can recall, maybe once or twice) wheel on my wife's A8 is fine after over 90K miles yet that one on the A6 4.2 was replaced before the car had 10K on it :nixweiss



I haven't tried the Zaino leather stuff for the same reason I quit using a lot of different ones (before I decided they were mostly a waste anyhow)- I don't like the "leather smell" that most such products have. Well, I like it OK but I don't want my interiors smelling like that; I'm a real fanatic about wanting my cars to smell the way they did when new and none of 'em ever smelled like a leather shop :grinno:



The only stuff I've used recently were Sonus and LeatherMasters, and neither of those imparted any significant scent of their own.
 
I've just been using Meguiar's All Purpose Cleaner which Autogeek.net claims is safe for cleaning leather. You can buy a gallon for $15 which will go a very long way, especially considering the fact that you will be diluting it. After cleaning the leather, I follow it up with Lexol leather conditioner. The leather seems to be holding up very well. There is however one small stain on the driver's seat that my method does not seem to be bringing up. Perhaps I'll give Leatherique a try. Some of the guys on clubrsx.com use that, and it yields amazing results.
 
micjmac- Keep doing what works for you!



I myself just don't like Lexol all that much..the smell, the feel, it's just not a fave of mine. That said, I am still using it (using it up, really..I have a ton of it) on some of the dog leads/etc.



I *still* haven't gotten around to trying my Leatherique...just such a hassle to go through. And anyhow, between LeatherMasters and Sonus I'm quite happy. Might try the Leatherique when I finally get the Jag back on the road though, oughta be just the thing for its old leather.
 
Accumulator said:
micjmac- Keep doing what works for you!



I myself just don't like Lexol all that much..the smell, the feel, it's just not a fave of mine. That said, I am still using it (using it up, really..I have a ton of it) on some of the dog leads/etc.



I *still* haven't gotten around to trying my Leatherique...just such a hassle to go through. And anyhow, between LeatherMasters and Sonus I'm quite happy. Might try the Leatherique when I finally get the Jag back on the road though, oughta be just the thing for its old leather.
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It's funny that you say that. I personally don't care for the smell of Lexol either. I'm mainly just trying to finish using it up. I'm not sure what I'm going to use after the bottle is done.
 
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