Optimum Opti-Coating - Durability Test Review!!!

12 MONTH UPDATE: GO TO POST #41


6 MONTH UPDATE: GO TO POST #27



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 ½ 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.






Here’s how it beaded with ZERO protection:








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).











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.




50/50 Sanded Shots:











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!



Orange Peel (no sanding):


Orange Peel (after sanding):





PREP PROCESS

Beading with M205 oils:




Dawn Wash:



Soaking:



Beading after Dawn:



AM Blue Clay Magic (H2O Flush Technique):



Optimum Power Clean (totally killed beading):



No More Beading after Power Clean:













Alcohol Wipe Down:





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







Tools used for application of the Coating:



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





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).





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:




After coating is applied:








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







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

Frost on car:







Rain sitting on dirty finish:







I’ll keep posting results every few months as the testing continues……..

 

Great test, I will be very interested in the results.

 

Awesome testing! Keep posting pics!

 

wow, that took some time. cant wait to see results. what if you put some other selant on other side to compare?

 

Fascinating test!! Suscribing now.

 

Thanks for sharing this test, I am subscribing to this thread..

 

Very interesting!

I'll bet it beads longer than your patience to continue testing

 

What an awesome test..you covered all the bases with the sanding and such.

 

awesome test ... subscribed

 

Thanks everyone for the kind words. :thumb:

I think you're right!!! :thud:

 

I'm glad you were that thorough... and never would have thought that you could apply it to trim...

 

Well, I'm not sure you can either. Only time will tell......:yikes:

 

Looks very good David, keep us updated :thumb:

 

Thanks for conducting this test David! I look forward to the coming months to see if this product really holds up to its claims.

 

Interesting lol.

 

I noticed in these two shots of the car the side with the Opti-Coat seems hazy. Is this before or after the product was removed? Since the side with the opti-coat looks significantly less sharp and reflective. Or did this ever go away? I can especially tell on the ford emblem and the chrome trim. This may be one of the only down sides of the product that I can see thus far.

Any thoughts? Thanks

 

I wonder if you could polish this stuff like clear...

 

Awesome test! Please keep us updated...

 

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?

 

Great test David.....I've been waiting on something like this to come along. How much of the product was left in the tube when you finished with the half side of the car? The pic of the product was that after or before?