Opticoat -- Worth it?

[Cjymiller]

I had Opticoat done on my car. I keep in in a car port, not enclosed in a garage. I can tell you my experience with it. I've had it on for about 4-5 months already.

AMA.

[dem00n]

Originally Posted by Kwisak

Ive been doing as much as i can with not doing circler motions, using two buckets, and going with a light touch on the drying with clean microfiber towels, but i am still getting some of the small scratches here and there

You're going to get swirl marks no matter what, anything that touches the paint will cause swirl marks unless there's a lubrication in between, even then eventually swirl marks will occur once the lubrication runs out. Even driving in the rain causes swirl marks. (Dirty water hitting your paint at high speed from the car in front of you, etc etc)

You can't hide from swirl marks, all you can do is cover them up or just buff them out.

[dem00n]

Originally Posted by cnk

I dry using a blower. With the OC on, the water just sheets right off. The only time a microfiber cloth touches the paint is if I'm using a quick detailer in between washes or to remove bugs or bird poop.

Don't remove bird poop with towels, honestly just use your hands. Sometimes bird poop has rough solid debris that are really like rocks and wiping them down with a cloth will cause horrible scratches. I see it all the time and have done it myself.

It sounds disgusting but just spray it with lots of spray wax or water and wipe softly with your fingers.

[cnk]

Originally Posted by dem00n

Don't remove bird poop with towels, honestly just use your hands. Sometimes bird poop has rough solid debris that are really like rocks and wiping them down with a cloth will cause horrible scratches. I see it all the time and have done it myself.

It sounds disgusting but just spray it with lots of spray wax or water and wipe softly with your fingers.

I don't wipe it off. You spray detail spray, let it soak, use a microfiber towel and remove it. You don't use a wiping motion. If you've soaked it enough, just dabbing the poop will cause it to stick to the towel and come right off. Use a clean section for each dab. I've never had a problem doing it this way.

If you chose to use your fingers, make sure you wash your hands afterwards. The amount of bacteria in bird poop is pretty nasty.

[dem00n]

Originally Posted by cnk

I don't wipe it off. You spray detail spray, let it soak, use a microfiber towel and remove it. You don't use a wiping motion. If you've soaked it enough, just dabbing the poop will cause it to stick to the towel and come right off. Use a clean section for each dab. I've never had a problem doing it this way.

If you chose to use your fingers, make sure you wash your hands afterwards. The amount of bacteria in bird poop is pretty nasty.

Its the removing part that causes accidents as well. Shit happens, i just play it safe.

Do what you like.

[hanabie]

agreed^^ let it soaked and remove it

[David-Fermani.com]

Originally Posted by dem00n

You're going to get swirl marks no matter what, anything that touches the paint will cause swirl marks unless there's a lubrication in between, even then eventually swirl marks will occur once the lubrication runs out. Even driving in the rain causes swirl marks. (Dirty water hitting your paint at high speed from the car in front of you, etc etc)

You can't hide from swirl marks, all you can do is cover them up or just buff them out.

This is pretty far fetched. Rain water causing swirls? Maybe if you constantly follow people in the rain on dirt roads??

Swirls occur as a result of heavy abrasives getting trapped between the vehicle surface and the object rubbing against the paint when proper lubrication/care isn't utilized. The cars that I maintain don't get swirled up. If anything the finish isn't as clearly polished or fresh as it initially was, but not for years. No swirls. My wife's black T&C minivan was Opti-Coated over 4 years ago and doesn't have any swirls. The flake just isn't popping/sparkling like it was when it was fresh. (but is still beading like new).

[dem00n]

Originally Posted by David-Fermani.com

This is pretty far fetched. Rain water causing swirls? Maybe if you constantly follow people in the rain on dirt roads??

Swirls occur as a result of heavy abrasives getting trapped between the vehicle surface and the object rubbing against the paint when proper lubrication/care isn't utilized. The cars that I maintain don't get swirled up. If anything the finish isn't as clearly polished or fresh as it initially was, but not for years. No swirls. My wife's black T&C minivan was Opti-Coated over 4 years ago and doesn't have any swirls. The flake just isn't popping/sparkling like it was when it was fresh. (but is still beading like new).

Dirty rain water hitting paint at 50 MPH? Going to cause some swirl marks.

[OICU812]

I think EXO is likely as durable as opti coat and applies in a similar manner. Very hydrophobic as well.

[David-Fermani.com]

Originally Posted by dem00n

Dirty rain water hitting paint at 50 MPH? Going to cause some swirl marks.

I tried searching this topic but came up empty. Perhaps you could shed some kind of scientific evidence to support this? This type of thinking goes hand in hand with the schoolof thought that recycled water scratches your car too? Just not the case. Ifthis was then brand new cars would be riddled with swirls as they get traileredfrom the manufacturing plant to the dealership. Or maybe because the vehicle is higher off the ground the dirty rain doesn't cause swirls? I’ve been putting 4000-5000 miles per month on my company cars for thelast 10 years and do quite a bit of traveling in heavy rain and I don’t haveany swirls?

[dem00n]

Originally Posted by David-Fermani.com

I tried searching this topic but came up empty. Perhaps you could shed some kind of scientific evidence to support this? This type of thinking goes hand in hand with the schoolof thought that recycled water scratches your car too? Just not the case. Ifthis was then brand new cars would be riddled with swirls as they get traileredfrom the manufacturing plant to the dealership. Or maybe because the vehicle is higher off the ground the dirty rain doesn't cause swirls? I’ve been putting 4000-5000 miles per month on my company cars for thelast 10 years and do quite a bit of traveling in heavy rain and I don’t haveany swirls?

I can't even reply to this.

I'm going to go take a nap.

[fitcious]

I have 2500 miles on my car...it is leased for four years. I plan to buy it after the lease period...but obviously lots can happen in the next four years...so I wouldn't want to invest too much in the car if the unfortunate happens, such as accident or theft.

Would it be worth it for me to add opti coat in four years or will the paint be so crappy that it wouldn't be worth it or that I need to hire a detailed to clean it up and then do the opti coat?

Car is parked in a car port majority of the time. Thanks

[CyberFormula]

Originally Posted by cnk

OC does not absolve you from proper washing/drying techniques. It's just like an additional protective clear coat on top of your clear coat. It can and will still scratch. You can buff if out, but that will also remove some of the OC. I believe the manufacturer has stated in some of the detailing forums that you can probably get away with buffing it once, but any more and OC will most likely have to be reapplied.

I thought so, that if you end up putting swirls in your OptiCoat you would end up having to buff it out, and therefore remove the OptiCoat which you spent $$$ on.

But the other side to it is that if you have proper washing techinques, it would be very hard to swirl the OptiCoat......so they say.

[Ec1990]

Originally Posted by CyberFormula

I thought so, that if you end up putting swirls in your OptiCoat you would end up having to buff it out, and therefore remove the OptiCoat which you spent $$$ on.

But the other side to it is that if you have proper washing techinques, it would be very hard to swirl the OptiCoat......so they say.

Opti-Coat or Opti-Gloss as it is now provides increased scratch protection. Before being applied your paint should be in a condition of which you deem acceptable. Ideally before applying either the customer should know how to wash without inducing swirls or take it to a detailer for maintenance washes. Cars should not require more than one to two full paint corrections with polishing as required every few years.

Also important to pass on to the dealership to not touch the car.