Four Star Platinum Series shampoo

bretfraz · 03-05-02, 09:34

Just wanted to offer a brief review of the Four Star Platinum Series Ultimate Auto Wash Shampoo (whew! That's a mouthful. I certainly won't be the one to call it FSPSUAWP, but that's what it is).

First off I want to thank Dwayne from Four Star for providing a sample to test. Thank you!!!

I didn't do a side-by-side comparison with a competitor so I can't provide "punch stats" for things like lubricity and dwell time. Recently I've been using Blackfire shampoo and have used in the recent past Eagle One's shampoo (in that hot pink color) and Pinnacle's shampoo. I also have lots of experience with Meguiar's #00.

Four Star starts off on the right foot with the fragrance - pina colada. It's quite noticeable on initial foam up and smells great. Color out of the bottle is a light grape purple, but of course becomes the typical white as it's mixed with water.

Speaking of foam up, Four Star shampoo provides a very nice and dense foam, very similar to foam on a capuccino

. The foam has excellent sustainability which is a critical feature IMO. Many car wash shampoos foam up nicely when first mixed but lose their stamina before the wash is done. It's been my experience that some shampoos that foam up in large, fluffy bubbles do not last the wash cycle. But the foam in Four Star was nice and firm. Foaming is very important for lubricity and staying power (which I mean as the ability for the shampoo to remain on the panel instead of running off before rinsing). I feel this is the product's best feature.

Cleaning power was equal to the mentioned competitors. My car had gone two weeks between washes but was not extremely dirty. My car didn't need excessive rubbing to remove surface dirt.

Four Star rinsed clean with no residual and no streaking. There were no water spots left by the shampoo.

In summary, I feel Four Star's shampoo is an excellent product and I recommend it.

I know almost all Autopians have their favorite shampoos but if you're looking for something new, give Four Star Platinum Series Ultimate Auto Wash Shampoo a try. And in the future perhaps the folks at Four Star will change the name to something simple like Platinum Shampoo and we all can call it PS.

Hmmm, I guess this review wasn't so brief after all.

geekysteve · 03-06-02, 09:23

Kudos on the review Bret - well written and helpful.

Thanks for the info!

BW · 03-07-02, 08:59

Thanks for the great review!

BradE · 03-08-02, 07:34

Good review Bret.

I have been thinking of trying some of the Platinum products as an alternative to BlackFire. I know Tim from TACS shares your feeling about the shampoo, he also feels it's top notch.

shimmernshine · 03-10-02, 02:52

I'm a local customer of 4 Star Products and they told me to have a look at this forum. I never knew there were so many people as obsessed with their cars as I am. Anyway, I've been using Platinum Ultimate Paint Protection for 6 months and I really like it. Easy to use, real glossy and wet looking and it lasts longer than carnauba but not as long as Klasse but that's ok with me because I like to reapply at least monthly and sometimes weekly so for me it's perfect. I use all the Platinum line plus some of their professional line they sell to detailers. I found about them when I asked my detailer what he used and when I spoke with they gave me so much information that I started doing it myself.

Although they wouldn't divulge too much, they did show me where they manufacture their products and their facility is spotless.

They are also really nice people to deal with.

Likecars · 03-10-02, 06:04

Hey bretfaz, nice review. Since we are a touchy feely lot, how did your paint feel after drying. Did it have that BF (for some) squeaky clean feel , any slickness?

BradE · 03-11-02, 08:30

Quote:

lasts longer than carnauba but not as long as Klasse but that's ok with me because I like to reapply at least monthly and sometimes weekly so for me it's perfect.

So does this mean the paint protection only lasts around a month?

shimmernshine · 03-11-02, 10:41

I didnt say that it only lasted a month but that I apply monthly. I like the look of feel of a freshly detailed car. The UPP has polymers that bond and last. Then again, in June-Sept in FL it is high humidity, thunderstorms daily, 98 degrees during day, 85 at night. UV is intense. I dont trust any product that claims to last more than 2 months in this climate. That is why I apply often. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention Tropical Storms and Hurricanes.

bretfraz · 03-11-02, 08:02

Hmmm.... I didn't notice anything unusual about 4 Star's slickness. I'll do a rewash later this week (we've got rain coming...) and I'll report back.

Likecars · 03-11-02, 08:36

I'll be patiently waiting

Likecars · 04-27-02, 08:46

Hey bf, did you ever look at the slickness?

JeffBruce · 05-01-02, 11:28

BretFraz:
ANy update on this product??
jeff