Optimum Opti-Coating - Durability Test Review!!!

Hehe, ripsnort...first time I heard that was in Sumner. What a coincidence eh? I believe it was part of the slogan for the state fair that year. How'd you pick that name?
 
OH..that gallery. Since it is on the MAIN website, I would understand if DavidB only posts pictures sent by people that buy products from him?? :confused:
 
12 MONTH UPDATE: GO TO POST #57


6 MONTH UPDATE: GO TO POST #30



The purpose of this test is to document the durability and effectiveness of Optimum Opti-Coat. Unlike mainstream polymer paint sealants & waxes, this coating is not offered to the general public and is only sold to licensed and insured professional detailers. After hearing several people raving about the results of this new product I reached out to Dr. Ghodoussi @ Optimum to discuss its properties as well as the marketing direction this product is intended to satisfy. I suggested to Dr. G that I?d like to do an independent test on my new company car to see if this product is as good as everyone claims. He showed a moderate amount of interest at 1st, but when I told him that I?d only be washing only with Dawn dish soap & harsh Touchless car washes he became even more awakened to say the least. To add fuel to the fire, I told him that I?d only be applying the product to ? the vehicle and the paint on the factory hood would be sanded flat to test the product?s UV ability. We?ll, the rest is history?..

Here are the particulars on the car. 2010 Ford Fusion ? Silver clear coat metallic. I contacted my sales rep@ Plantation Ford (Plantation, FL) to insist that nobody lay a single hand on my car except the Tech to do the mechanical prepping. This one came 100% defect free.

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Here?s how it beaded with ZERO protection:

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Top horizontal place of the hood was sanded 95% flat. I used 3M 1500 Trizact(wet) with my Porter Cable XP on speed 3.5. This clear is ROCK HARD & I ended up going through 5 discs of paper on just the hood!! I then refined the 1500 with 3M 3000 grit Trizact(wet).

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I then removed the sand scratches with Meg?s M105 via Lake Country Cyan (blue) by PC using the Kevin Brown Method (KBM). I then followed with Meg?s M205 via CL White via PC too.


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50/50 Sanded Shots:

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As you can see, there is quite a large difference in texture after the sanding process. I?m anxious to see if any premature failure occurs (on either side) as this car will be parked 100% outside and runs at least 8 hours per day, 5 days a week in the hot S. Florida climate!

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Orange Peel (no sanding):
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Orange Peel (after sanding):

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PREP PROCESS

Beading with M205 oils:

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Dawn Wash:

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Soaking:

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Beading after Dawn:

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AM Blue Clay Magic (H2O Flush Technique):

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Optimum Power Clean (totally killed beading):

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No More Beading after Power Clean:


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Alcohol Wipe Down:

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The Driver?s Side of vehicle was taped off for application of the sealant:

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Tools used for application of the Coating:

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Coating was applied to every square inch of the Driver?s side of vehicle (paint/chrome/trim/glass):

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After the coating was allowed to ?set up?, the tape was removed and the residual was wiped towards/into the applied section. This was to cut down the ?hard line? and to not cross contaminate the uncoated side (to eliminate a sque result).

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This is what the coating looks like after it?s completely dry. I used a product dampened applicator and pushed down on an inconspicuous area of the back glass. This product is literally like an epoxy-like coating of glass. This will be interesting to watch as time goes on:

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After coating is applied:

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Here?s 1 of the 2 ways this vehicle will be washed. The other will be with Dawn.

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As you can see, after roughly 1 month beading is very strong:

Frost on car:

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Rain sitting on dirty finish:

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I?ll keep posting results every few months as the testing continues??..
 
Wow.... very cool, and very in-depth. I love tests like this. We all can learn a lot from your well documented process.

Thanks for posting. It will be interesting to see how things go over the next few months.
 
David, just curious on why you sanded the hood for this test?, the beading looks good after a month of not so gentle wash techniques. How are the optics of this coating on the finish? hard to tell in the pics.

Good stuff if this coating is really durable for daily driven cars and fleet account details.
 
You're the man for not only doing an in-depth scientific-like evaluation, but for allowing us in on how things come along.

Were you able to get paint measurements before/after application of this stuff? I can't wait to gobble up more of any information you post
 
I posted on your other thread, but I hope to follow it here as well.

Why is it opti-coat is reserved for professionals? Is it just too strong, or still in the testing phases?
 
Thank you very much. Yet another prime example of why I keep reading TID. In the words of the late Paul Harvey, "Lead on". :hurray:

Jack
 
Posted on your other thread-

Kudos David, Its one thing to know 'what' a product is and 'how' to apply it but Real World testing is invaluable.

Thank you for taking the time to conduct a test like this. Like everyone I'll be interested to see if its durability matches what is claimed for it

Just a thought; what will be the benchmark for testing its durability?
 
Hope Mr. Fermani, employer doesn't let him go. Test over! Car back to Corp. parking lot.
This thread has to last 3-5 years for real results...isn't that what the good Doctor over at Optimum is telling us?
 
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