Ultima Paint Care Challenge - Page 6

ufourya · 09-18-07, 09:46

Continuing the Ultima Optimum comparison:

After the products have been on the car for a couple of days, I went to the local pressure spray wash and using plain rinse blasted the hood with lots of h2o.

First picture is taken about 3 - 4 seconds after the wand has passed. The UPGP side beads up like nobody's business and the OS side sheets the water.

Second picture is after another 15 or so seconds. UPGP side still pretty much the same and the OS side has just repelled the water, it has mostly sheeted and just fled down the hood.

Stay tuned

ufourya · 09-18-07, 09:55

Just a quick note - on the second applications of product, I used a smaller mf applicator for the UPGP and liked it much more than the big one that came with the kit. I used an identical one for the OS. Earlier I said the OS went on easier than the UPGP. Now, I'd say it's easier to tell where you've been with the UPGP, but in either case, application is a breeze for both products.

ufourya · 09-18-07, 03:59

Another note: Parked and went to a movie. Came out and it was storming - in the rain hood looked the same on both sides with nice beading (no camera with me) not the difference noted at the car wash. Drove the water dry as it stopped raining and no difference visible when dry.

arenner80 · 09-19-07, 09:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by TortoiseAWD

For paint cleansing, use a polishing pad. To remove *minor* defects, you can use a SwirlBuster pad. I've been able to remove very light marring with that combo.

Tort

How many passes are you guys making with the PC and the Paint Prep+?

ufourya · 09-19-07, 02:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by arenner80

How many passes are you guys making with the PC and the Paint Prep+?

The instructions for PPP say to polish with a 'swirl remover' pad until a 'fine film' remains and buff off the film with a MF buffing towel. So there is no set number of passes.

ufourya · 09-28-07, 09:26

Update of my Ultima Paint Guard Plus ( UPGP ) vs. Optimum ( OS ) OptiSeal test:

Last application (the 2nd) was on 9/16/07. Since then I have washed the car 5 times (twice with a foam gun and Megs shampoo and three times with ONR) and wiped with a detail spray at least once a day.

The UPGP side remains slicker than the OS side, but the water shedding properties remain much as they did during the first wash - see previous pictures. A dirty bird dropped (wouldn't you know) directly in the center dividing line of the test and even though it only sat a few hours, it dried and after washing I noticed it had etched through the sealant. I polished by hand the small section with OP and coated with OCW ( Optimum Car Wax ). If the bird had dropped on both sides, we might have dicovered something. By the way, the small area where I covered the removed etching with OCW, it was noticeably slicker than any other part of the hood.

Two new pics:

DavidB · 09-28-07, 09:33

Thank you for the update. I'm anxious to see your report after 12+ washings.

ufourya · 09-30-07, 10:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidB

Thank you for the update. I'm anxious to see your report after 12+ washings.

I'm the kind of obsessive who finds it difficult not to put some wax or sealant down every week. I'll try and hang in there for the 12+ washes; it'll be a great sacrifice. Well, that's why I'm only testing the hood and I have the rest of the vehicle to lovingly caress.

I'll do my best.

maesal · 10-11-07, 04:55

Do you have updates?

ufourya · 10-13-07, 09:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by maesal

Do you have updates?

Hello. I first started the test on 9/15, so it has been almost a month. I have washed more frequently than normal - 10 washes so far. I've also detailed even more frequently. Right now, the slickness advantage has remained with the UPGP over Opti-Seal, but the difference between the two has lessened over that time and the washes.

If there is a rain, both sides bead up equally. If the hood is flooded with water as in a sheet-rinse, some beading occurs on the UPGP side and the OS side stays a sheet of water that runs down and off with gravity, leaving that side of the hood with less water than the UPGP. However, the time it takes the sheet to run off has increased over the length of the test.

As far as appearance is concerned, there has not been a great deal of deterioration on either side. This is my daily driver, but I garage the car at home, so that is the limitation of my test. I am trying to make up for this by washing and detailing very frequently to accelerate the test. After 12 or so washings, what I think I'll do is wash the hood with Dawn dishwashing detergent as it's supposed to remove most waxws, sealants. After that, I'll post more pics and give my overall impressions.

maesal · 10-15-07, 12:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by ufourya

Hello. I first started the test on 9/15, so it has been almost a month. I have washed more frequently than normal - 10 washes so far. I've also detailed even more frequently. Right now, the slickness advantage has remained with the UPGP over Opti-Seal, but the difference between the two has lessened over that time and the washes.

If there is a rain, both sides bead up equally. If the hood is flooded with water as in a sheet-rinse, some beading occurs on the UPGP side and the OS side stays a sheet of water that runs down and off with gravity, leaving that side of the hood with less water than the UPGP. However, the time it takes the sheet to run off has increased over the length of the test.

As far as appearance is concerned, there has not been a great deal of deterioration on either side. This is my daily driver, but I garage the car at home, so that is the limitation of my test. I am trying to make up for this by washing and detailing very frequently to accelerate the test. After 12 or so washings, what I think I'll do is wash the hood with Dawn dishwashing detergent as it's supposed to remove most waxws, sealants. After that, I'll post more pics and give my overall impressions.

Thanks for the news

ufourya · 10-15-07, 10:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by maesal

Thanks for the news

Before the final review, I'll just post these two pics of the hood after rain. First is the beading after 5 washes and the second is after 11. You will notice that the rain beads on both sides during a rain, but that the earlier pictures show what happens at a car wash where large amounts of water from the sprayer react differently than rainwater.

See you soon for the final comments and pics. I wanted to accelerate the whole thing because it is time for my semi-annual claying, polishing, and sealing ritual.