UV protection - Interior

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bunkeroo26

New member
I keep reading, and everyone is talking about getting UV protection for their car. Where did this trend come from? Its very unusual...

1) Can UV rays damage the outside of a car? And does UV protection even add any protection?

2) I dont think UV rays affect interior. I am under the assumption that glass transforms UV rays into harmless heat rays. Which, is why you can't get sun burned behind glass.



So, is this all just another marketting scam? Or, is there new evidence to the contrary?



Trey
 
I've seen many legitimate concerns that have turned out to be marketing scams. I'm pretty sure UV doesn't penetrate to your cars interior.



By the way...

I'd like to vote for "Worst reply to a Question" category, Timeline - Autopia Lifetime



Hope I didnt offend you!
 
Many people do not have garages, live in sunny areas, have convertables, etc. That' s why I said "obviously" it's a legitimate concern. No need to be a smartass. If you think its a scam, don't buy it. Sorry I even answered you.
 
I think whether UV matters or has an impact depends on where you live. Here in Alaska, I see no effect. But when I visit Hawaii & Florida (as one is want to do if one lives in Alaska), I see lots of cars that have clearly been ravaged by the elements, both inside and out. So I'm thinking UV (or maybe it's just heat) protection is not necessarily a scam. Whether a given product lives up to its claims is another issue.
 
I'm not sure of the effectiveness of UV marketed products for car interiors, however, surely the suns rays in whatever form UVA,B,C has a fading effect on a car interior over time.

My old beater car proves this, in fact the cheap black seat covers faded to grey in only 6 months of Australian sunshine. What else would cause it to fade so quickly?



One sure way to avoid any sun damage to a car interior is a decent window tint such as 3M.
 
Ive got all my windows tinted with 20% tint and keep a sun shade in the windshield when parked. I have very little UV rays entering my Jeep.



I do not believe the glass will cut all of the UV rays out though.
 
bunkeroo26 said:
I keep reading, and everyone is talking about getting UV protection for their car. Where did this trend come from? Its very unusual...

1) Can UV rays damage the outside of a car? And does UV protection even add any protection?

2) I dont think UV rays affect interior. I am under the assumption that glass transforms UV rays into harmless heat rays. Which, is why you can't get sun burned behind glass.



So, is this all just another marketing scam? Or, is there new evidence to the contrary?



Trey
Click to expand...



Not sure where you read that glass turns UV into heat? If that were true, my left arm would not be more tanned than my right!



Look at any car that sits in the sun all day and you can clearly see that damage being done. Clearcoat failures, faded rear decks, gray bumper trim, and cracked dashboards are very common in the "sunshine belt". This is all UV damage.
 
DavidB said:
Not sure where you read that glass turns UV into heat? If that were true, my left arm would not be more tanned than my right!



Look at any car that sits in the sun all day and you can clearly see that damage being done. Clearcoat failures, faded rear decks, gray bumper trim, and cracked dashboards are very common in the "sunshine belt". This is all UV damage.
Click to expand...



I was about to say... my left arm disagrees!



I find that I really like Meguiar's Natural Shine for the interior to give a slight gloss and provide UV protection. 303 also works just as well.
 
I think this post was meant as a joke, but oh well I'll bite...

I spent something like 22 years in Arizona and Texas. Can't even count how many re-dyes of interiors, moldings and graphic decal replacements and bumper painting I did - all from sunbleach/UV rays. And yeah I always had a dark left arm.
 
DavidB said:
Not sure where you read that glass turns UV into heat? If that were true, my left arm would not be more tanned than my right!



Look at any car that sits in the sun all day and you can clearly see that damage being done. Clearcoat failures, faded rear decks, gray bumper trim, and cracked dashboards are very common in the "sunshine belt". This is all UV damage.
Click to expand...



Very good explanation!!
 
Sorry guys, No this is not a joke, lol.

Do you think your left arms are more tan, is that you drive with the drivers window down? I also thought that most cracked dashes were from using silicon based products, and when the silicon dries up, it cracks the dash.
 
That debate is still on-going. I have people who say Armor-all is fine,.. and I have some say its the devil, and will ruin your dash. Some say use water based for your dash, ie: Non -silicone.



I personally think silicone is fine, if you keep it applied regularly, (ie: don't give it a chance to dry out) -- but to be safe , don't use it on the dash and such. I don't anymore.



I need to get some aerospace 303 myself, .. I have no good dash/vinyl protectant.. even though I have several products they all stink =) IE: Meguires quick interior detailer is terrible, imo. (Might be ok to clean up messes, but not for a protectant)
 
I have 303 Aerospace. It is my number one product for the seals around the doors, and trim around the whole car. I think its a great product! But, I've just never used it for the dash.
 
bunkeroo26 said:
I have 303 Aerospace. It is my number one product for the seals around the doors, and trim around the whole car. I think its a great product! But, I've just never used it for the dash.
Click to expand...



I use it for all the uses you do + the dash. I find it doesn't attract dust, and to the extent I need UV protection, I trust that it delivers. I recommended it to my sister in Florida for her porche and saab.
 
I use the Ultima Interior product and have excellent. The first coat seems to get sucked right into the plastic, vinyl or leather coating. It usually takes 2-3 coats on my dash to get a good layer of protectant. The leather smell is pleasant. On initial application, it puts a glossy sheen on my dash and steering wheel that cures overnight to only a little added shine vs the original finish.



Durability on the dash is excellent. Seats and the steering wheel need to be recoated more often due to handling and wear. Once the first 3 or so coats are on, later reapplications only take one coat. My observation is that the first coats do some pore filling so that later re-applications take much less product.



Like the other Ultima products, a little goes a long way so I'll have this bottle for a couple of years. I use it on two cars, one with a full leather interior, the other cloth. It can be used on carpets as well but I've only done this once.



UV damage is real according to the materials expert in my office. UV radiation will break the molecular bonds in any polymer materials (plastics, paints and rubbers). Those breaks are more susceptible to oxidation (oxyen likes to attack the ends of molecules) so the UV damage increases the rate of oxidation as well. FWIW UV can get converted to lower energy forms of radiation (visible light, heat) by the right materials. Fluorescence is an example where the UV is converted visible light.
 
Neofate said:
That debate is still on-going. I have people who say Armor-all is fine,.. and I have some say its the devil, and will ruin your dash. Some say use water based for your dash, ie: Non -silicone.



I personally think silicone is fine, if you keep it applied regularly, (ie: don't give it a chance to dry out) -- but to be safe , don't use it on the dash and such. I don't anymore.
Click to expand...

Silicone is fine...water-based is fine...because water-based silicone dressings don't cause the plastisizers to migrate out like petroleum distillate-based silicone dressings.



It's not the silicone, nor it drying, but the carrier. PD-based dressings are to be avoided on plastic.
 
bunkeroo26 said:
2) I dont think UV rays affect interior. I am under the assumption that glass transforms UV rays into harmless heat rays. Which, is why you can't get sun burned behind glass.
Click to expand...

Good question. Your assumption is partly correct. Glass will filter UV out...but not 100%. It doesn't tranform it into anything - simply filters it. Its filtering capacity will depend on its thickness.



Some UV (a fraction) will get through to your dash, etc. That small amount can still damage your plastic, tan your arm, etc.



If it offered no filtering, your arm won't be tanned - it will be burnt.



So, to minimize the effect of the residual UV transmission, a dressing with UV absorbers helps.



So you'll be looking for a dressing (normally silicone) which is water-based and contains UV absorbers.



Hope this helps. :up
 
Alfisti said:
Silicone is fine...water-based is fine...because water-based silicone dressings don't cause the plastisizers to migrate out like petroleum distillate-based silicone dressings.



It's not the silicone, nor it drying, but the carrier. PD-based dressings are to be avoided on plastic.
Click to expand...



Sounds good at least :)



Give me examples of Petroleum distillate products please..



Also examples of water-based silicone?



Amor All is of which type?



Aero is of?
 
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