Optimum Gloss Coat: Update & Coating Limitations
by Rodney TatumI highly recommend you also read an excellent article about coatings by Zach McGovern called The Truth Behind Wild Coating Claims. That article goes into greater depth some of the issues I will be discussing here.
It has been nearly a year since I applied Optimum Gloss-Coat to a Jeep Wrangler. For those that do not know Optimum Gloss-Coat would fall under that entry-level coating category. A minimum of one year of protection up to about 2 years of durability is the common expectation of this product when applied to painted surfaces.
I originally performed a multiple step detail on the Jeep Wrangler that was assaulted on a daily basis from a sprinkler. After cleaning, polishing, etc. my last step was applying Optimum Gloss Coat, which was applied in an effort to address a sprinkler problem that I was not sure could be 100% avoided. Check out the video below, which will detail how the paint looked before and after the detail.
Source: YouTube
The Positive:
The customer was very happy to report that removal of water spots were a breeze once he noticed his jeep was hit with hard water.
The Negative:
The owner of the jeep had recently confessed that over time he has not been on top of his car care maintenance as usual. Shortly after that conversation, he told me after washing his jeep there were water spots that he could not remove. After this call, I decided to test the extent of damage with the blessing of the vehicle’s owner. After spot cleaning, I used a clay bar to remove the mineral deposits that have bonded but have yet to etch into the paint. I was hoping that was the extent of the damage, however, some water spots did penetrate through the coating and clear coat in addition to some swirls being introduced as well. These defects will, unfortunately, require polishing to remove.
Looking at the clay bar, seeing no contamination, was an indicator to me that the coating was still intact.
Realistic Expectations:
If you look at any form of protection carnauba, polymer, or coating as a sacrificial barrier your satisfaction will generally be high. Overall, coatings generally are stronger and more durable than sealants and waxes, but at the same time, you want to avoid neglect and poor car wash techniques. Just like other protection products, maintenance is key if you want the product to perform as advertised, which was shown with this one specific customer. I am also happy to inform you that the customer has found a way to keep the sprinkler from spraying his jeep.
Rodney,
Thank you for your write up.
I am curious as to how helpful Optimum mineral deposit remover would have been in the removal of the water marks.
Also did you do a single application of the gloss coat or multiple?
Hi Brian. I did a single application of Optimum Gloss Coat.
I could not tell you with 100% certainty if Optimum Mineral Deposit Remover would have a significant or any impact on the paint. My gut tells me no or small impact at best. Although clay is considered more aggressive I woul like to have tested a product like that out in those circumstances.
Thank you for your response.
You’re welcome!
Living in Ohio, winters are really tough on a car. I coated several vehicles using Crystal Serum Light. This is the second winter the coating has been pounded with salt and left sitting on the paint for a couple weeks because the cold has been brutal these year making it hard to wash. Washed my wife and my vehicles today and they still clean extremely easy with a nice hydrophobic effect. Before the coatings, no other product on the paint would stand up to 2 weeks of an Ohio winter let alone 2 years. In fairness when the weather is decent I do wash regularly using a foam gun, boars hair brush and blow dry with a master blaster and regularly apply C2v3 on top of the coating as a sacrificial layer and added gloss but still todays product are light years compared to before.
This is very true. We are in a great time where no matter where you live or park, you have good options for car care. It is just a matter of how open people are to better car care.
Always nice to get long term feedback from your clients on stuff like this. Unfortunately like you mentioned, there isn’t much that will protect against the abuse of a sprinkler system hitting a car and being left to dry. Hard water is terrible for finish on a vehicle if left to dry repeatedly. As mentioned this will at least possibly keep the actual clear coat or paint from being impacted and mainly fall within the coating.
Yes. That was something we both felt thank for. Even with the mineral deposits leaving its damage, it is not as severe as before. Without a coating, this could have turned into a necessary trip to the Autobody Shop.
I live in Oregon and get 50 in of rain yearly, plus some snow and a little ice.
Have 2015 Nissan Rogue in jet black, and get heavy bugs on front fascia and water spotting on rear low air pressure deck area.
I applied Gloss Coat to both areas 2 years ago and still doing great.
I’ve found that Wolfgang Uber Rinseless Wash and Prep Prep are Gloss Coat’s best friend, along with Mineral Deposit Remover for heavier water spots. I apply PP regularly to keep surface clean, and use Wolfgang Uber Rinseless Wash for washes every other day to keep bugs off front, and dirt blow-back off the rear deck. When I notice some water spots which are not coming off I use PP to get the area really clean, and then use MDR sparingly. Water spots always come off, even though they may take two treatments. Then clean once again with PP, and then I use Gyeon Cure to rejuvenate the Gloss coat layer as it contains silica and restores that original slickness. I only have to use MDR two or three times per winter to keep the areas spot free. Do not use PP or MDR on non-coated surfaces as they will strip off all wax/sealant protection – these are only for coated surfaces.
That is an excellent way to maintain your vehicle.
What have you found to be the best applicator for applying Optimum Gloss Coat?
I have only used the foam applicator it comes with. If I was to use that coating again, that would be my choice. I have heard through the grapevine that microfiber applicator pads are trending as general coating applicators. My opinion on applicator choices: use at least initially the specific application tools the manufacturers suggests. Because there have been documented struggles with even different brands of the same type of material. Since proper application for coatings is more significant than waxes and sealants, my suggestions are generally to not over complicate things and follow the instructions by the book.
Thank you for the advice.
My pleasure!