GRAND FINALE -Optimum Opti-Coating - Durability Test Review!!!

[David Fermani]

GRAND FINALE FOR DURABILTY TEST: GO TO POST #244





16 MONTH UPDATE: GO TO POST #222





1 YEAR UPDATE: GO TO POST #130







6 MONTH UPDATE: GO TO POST #39





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:

[David Fermani]

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……..

[Cleaning Fool]

Can`t wait to see how it holds up. Nice prep work.

[BigAl3]

thanks for sharing, it will be interesting to see how it holds up...



p.s. what`s the recommended way of removing the opti-coating if necessary?

[dsms]

This is some extensive sheeeet, keep us posted Dave!

[Thomas Dekany]

How long did you wait before the first wash? I think Anthony said to wait 72 hours.

[Thomas Dekany]

thanks for sharing, it will be interesting to see how it holds up...



p.s. what`s the recommended way of removing the opti-coating if necessary?

Polishing it.

[David Fermani]

How long did you wait before the first wash? I think Anthony said to wait 72 hours.

Almost 2 weeks.

[Barry Theal]

David, Very awesome man. What a great test car to do it with. Brand spankin new. Hey thanks for the advice. I came home today and got a check for $26,700.00. The origonal was 21,500 lol Your the man.

[MarcHarris]

Epic test - the kind to make the boys across the pond jealous. I can`t wait to see more and great job with all the prep/pics/process thus far David

[Leadfootluke]

I`m loving this. Thanks David, I will be watching this thread!

[PWORLDSTANG]

Thanks for taking the time out to do this, this will definitely be an interesting review!

[tkblazer]

sweet, thanks for doing this test for us

[Scottwax]

Very interested in seeing how this turns out. Put the coating on my parent`s cars in the early fall and so far so good. My Dad will either spray them off at the local coin op, wash them conventionally or use ONR at home. Trying to keep track of their cars as well, although I didn`t do an alcohol wipe-down so my prep wasn`t nearly as extensive.

[dennn]

This is epic... I don`t know if it is because of the fact that the car will be driven 8hrs a day and exposed in South Florida heat all year round, the fact that it will be washed with either Dawn or touchless car wash, or the fact that it is only half sealed. Looks entertaining.



How`s the shine of this coating? I remember seeing a very similar product for the aircraft and boating industry.



It would have been awesome if this were tested on a black car. That way we could see better in the pictures how the expoxy-like seal resists against swirls and micromarring.