XPEL Ultimate: (1) Why need sealant? (2) Needs polishing to stay shiny? (3) Clay?

[not_a_virus.exe]

I`m thinking about having XPEL Ultimate installed on my car, but want to understand what the long-term care is to maintain a new, shiny look.



1. If the PPF is self-healing, then why does it need a sealant?

2. Does it need polishing to stay shiny? If so, why if it is self-healing?

3. Does it need to be periodically clayed to remove contaminants?

4. How would XPEL Ultimate look if a sealant was never applied, and it was only washed?

[JohnKleven]

Great questions. Xpel Ultimate is self healing, but I recommend to wax the film, as this makes cleaning easier, especially when removing stubborn insects or bird droppings. It does not need polishing. You can clay the film if necessary, but I have not found this to be necessary 99% of the time. If you don`t seal the film it will continue to look great, but it`s a fairly costly investment, so why not take the best care for it possible.



Check out this blog post we wrote. Metropolitan Detail | Xpel`s Ultimate Self Healing Film vs. Terminator 2`s T-1000 | Bellevue | Seattle | Kirkland | Redmond





John

[not_a_virus.exe]

Great questions. Xpel Ultimate is self healing, but I recommend to wax the film, as this makes cleaning easier, especially when removing stubborn insects or bird droppings. It does not need polishing. You can clay the film if necessary, but I have not found this to be necessary 99% of the time. If you don`t seal the film it will continue to look great, but it`s a fairly costly investment, so why not take the best care for it possible.



Check out this blog post we wrote. Metropolitan Detail | Xpel`s Ultimate Self Healing Film vs. Terminator 2`s T-1000 | Bellevue | Seattle | Kirkland | Redmond





John

When the sealant cures, will the PPF still self-heal? Does the sealant cure hard or flexible?



Is the sealant necessary to maintain the PPF`s shine?

[gmblack3]

If you don`t put anything on it, you could get bug etching. I have opticoat pro on ours and that seems to work very well. It will still self heal.

[Accumulator]

Ah, good info.



Wish somebody (whom I`d trust ) in my area worked with that stuff, I really need to get a few areas covered with it and I somehow doubt I`d do a decent job of it.



gmblack3- I`m guessing that when the time comes to refresh the OptiCoat, the minor polishing required will be no issue due to the self-healing, right?

[not_a_virus.exe]

It`s weird how the PPF will still self-heal with a sealant, even with OC. I thought the PPF self-heals because the CC is like a plasma that naturall settles flat. I would think a sealant would be like a layer of ice over a lake. If a scratch cuts into the sealant and PPF`s CC, I would expect the PPF`s CC to self-heal (thanks to its plasma-like settling properties) but the sealant to be forever scratched (like a hole in the ice of a winter lake).

[JohnKleven]

The film self heals because it has a memory polymer in it, and wants to go back to it`s original form. 1 micron or less of Opti Coat won`t disturb the self healing at all, just helps keep it clean.

[not_a_virus.exe]

XPEL recommends using their XPEL Flawless Finish Paint Protection Film Sealant. Would that be the best sealant to use for durability and/or shine? Or would Opti Coat be better?

[JohnKleven]

Opti coat is much better. Their sealant is terrible.

[not_a_virus.exe]

1. Any special prep or instructions to apply OC on XPEL Ultimate? Or apply OC just like with any painted surface?

2. Will OC on XPEL Ultimate last just as long as it would on a painted surface (5+ years)?

[JohnKleven]

It`s the same as paint for application. I would not expect it to last as long as it does on paint. At least I don`t have any proof of durability, so I don`t make false claims to my customers of a durability to expect.

[pingable]

PPF is porous. I would say more porous than paint.

I don`t have a good time on the Ultimate to compare but IMO, it`s good practice to keep it sealed as often/much as possible withing your care regiment. The more sealed it is...the less it absorbs grime.

[not_a_virus.exe]

Would XPEL Ultimate have any issues adhering to an Opti-Coated car?

PPF is porous. I would say more porous than paint.

I don`t have a good time on the Ultimate to compare but IMO, it`s good practice to keep it sealed as often/much as possible withing your care regiment. The more sealed it is...the less it absorbs grime.

That makes sense, chefwong. In between sealing, claying would remove any absorbed grime, right?

[jsoto]

I don`t want to talk you out of it....and I don`t have too much time on Ultimate to tell you a informed opinion.

However, I only put PPF on the front bumper, rear and lower body (below rockers) depends on style-line of the car.



PPF afford paint protection, IF that is your intent.

Lookwise, it takes away a bit IMO. This would be one of those things where you see people polish paint 50/50.

If you had a panel with 1/2 of it on PPF after a couple of years without polished paint....you could clearly see the difference.



With a whole panel like a hood covered - it would be hard to see that 50/50 difference

[Accumulator]

In between sealing, claying would remove any absorbed grime, right?

Remember that clay works on "above surface" contamination. When I read "absorbed grime" I don`t really think of "above surface" :think:



Heh heh, lots of quotation marks in the above, even for me