ValuGard ETR vs. GTechniq C4 vs. BlackWOW vs. Forever Black vs. Opti-Coat vs. Ultima Tire & Trim Guard vs. CarPro Perl vs. Meguiar`s Hyper Dressing.



Okay. I know those aren`t really all in the same category but I decided to just round out the field to compare looks, durability, ease of use and cost efficiency.



I have a Chevy Avalanche on the schedule for this week. The plan is to Opti-Coat the paint and coat the plastic with something dedicated for the task. I told the customer about the ValuGard ETR kit and he was interested. Problem is I had not actually used it. So what do you do when faced with this situation? Order a few different products and test them.



I have been too busy recently to do any significant testing and today was my last opportunity before starting the job so I was forced to use my own car as a test subject. I had been avoiding this because I had used Forever Black on my trim about a year ago and knew that it would likely affect the testing. Without any other option on short notice I stripped the Forever Black from the trim on one of my doors. I used lacquer thinner to strip it, (Mineral spirits just wasn`t cutting it) and wiped with straight 70% IPA.









This is the comparison. For the cost I have been relatively happy with the look of Forever Black. The problem is it does not hold up well against tape, as you can see from the splotchy look on the left side where I had taped off at one point to do a light polish.









I ended up adding products to the test so I ended up stripping part of the trim on the left also.



The rear door trim was divided into 5 sections. It was late in the evening and I was about to lose the light.









From left to right, in alphabetical order, the first 5 products tested were: BlackWOW, CarPro Perl, GTechniq C4, UTTG & ValuGard ETR.









Not sure the photo depicts the real world results but I`ll break it down. All these products are not cheap, especially when you look at the volume of them but they all go a Lllloooooonnnnnnnngggggg way.





BlackWOW ~$45 for 4 oz. kit. (4 oz. PreWow and 4 oz. BlackWOW) I first used the PreWOW cleaner, then applied the BlackWOW. The PreWOW seemed to do a great job of cleaning, but after a treatment of lacquer thinner I can`t say exactly what it is capable of. Application of the BlackWOW was easy (used a makeup foam wedge), as was removing the excess with a wet paper towel as per the directions. A somewhat shiny, dressing type look.



Pros: Effective pre-cleaner, easy to use, effective on all colors of plastic trim (I haven`t tested that yet. I need to find a test subject), watermelon smell.



Cons: Slightly shiny, dressing type look.





CarPro Perl ~$25 for 1 liter. This was my first experience with Perl, though I have heard many great things about it. Dilutes to many ratios, depending on the purpose. For this test I went 1:1. using the same application method as the BlackWOW it took a bit more product on the applicator. At first it went on easy, but it quickly became tacky and required more on the applicator. The look at this ratio was almost identical to the BlackWOW.



Pros: Dilutes for different looks, reasonable price, sprayable for large area coverage, usable on all colors.



Cons: became tacky quickly (this might just be due to working a small area and small amount of product)





GTechnique C4 ~$40 for 15ml (1/2 oz.) Price is comparable to Opti-Coat for the volume, but like Opti-Coat, the coverage is quite reasonable. Once again I applied using a makeup wedge. Very easy to apply (similar to the BlackWOW but without the additional step of the PreWOW. Excess was wiped off with a microfiber towel, I don`t know that there was really any excess. The look was a nice, matte finish that looks the most like new, undressed trim.



Pros: Natural look, easy application, usable on all colors.



Cons: Cost (Not sure of the coverage possible so this may not be an issue in the long run.)





Ultima Tire & Trim Guard Plus ~$32 for 12 oz. This has been my dressing of choice for quality so I am quite familiar with it. Same application method was used, applying generously. I then waited about 5 minutes (a wait of about 15 minutes I have found to be ideal with this product but I wanted to keep moving) then removed the excess with a microfiber towel. The look before removing the excess is rather shiny but after removing the excess it is more of a semi-matte look.



Pros: Spreads easy and far, deep, rich look, usable on all colors.



Cons: Splotchy look if excess not wiped off, wait time before removing excess, long dry time, greasy feel (not once dry on the trim, but on your fingers after application and any that drips down bottle.)





ValuGard ETR kit ~$80 for 4 oz. kit (4 oz. each of 3 parts) I have heard good things about this product but, due to the price, the reviews are few and far between. The section was first cleaned with the New Car Prep (part 1) and a Microfiber towel, then allowed to dry for a few minutes. The Color Guard (part 2) was then applied using a foam paint brush (included). The instructions say to spread evenly but to not try to get rid of all the little bubbles. I was a little disappointed that some of the bubbles remained and left little bumps. Since I only did a small section I wasn`t too worried about it and I figure a little experimentation and practice should eliminate this issue. Once dried (5 minutes as per the directions) I applied the UV Guard using another foam paint brush, allowed it to dry 5 minutes, then applied a second coat as recommended. The look was truly black. Not shiny or greasy looking, but more of a smooth, plastic like look.



Pros: Dramatic color difference, dark, BLACK look.



Cons: Price (again dependent upon coverage as yet to be observed), bubbles, several steps, time to apply/wait time between steps. Only viable on black trim.











After doing the above tests I decided I wanted to add some products. The additions (Left to right): Meguiar`s Hyper Dressing, Forever Black, Forever Black topped with Opti-Coat & Opti-Coat solo.









Meguiar`s Hyper Dressing 2:1 ~$37 per gallon. This was added in just to round out the field. I expect it to come in last in every category except cost. From the photo, though, you can clearly see that it has dramatically improved the look compared to the taped off section. That cost, however, makes it a good product for the times when speed and cost are the priority. I just wanted to see how it compared in looks. Glossiness was similar to that of the BlackWOW and Perl, but any variations in color/fading in the plastic shows through. My usual use for this dressing is wheel wells and engines where it can be sprayed and left to dry.



Pros: Cost, dilute to suit, sprayable for large coverage, speed of use, Grape smell, usable on all colors.



Cons: Already stated.





Forever Black ~$13 for 4 oz. kit. I have used this product several times and have found there is a learning curve. The kit includes a cleaner, though I have found simply using an APC works just fine. Applied using a foam paint brush. The first coat looks very uneven and has lots of bubbles. The bubbles go away as it dries, though on the first coat it might leave some little spots. If you stop here you will be disappointed. After allowing the first coat to dry about 5 minutes a second coat was applied. This made the coverage look much more even and took care of the spots from the bubbles on the first coat. On large surface areas that are nearly smooth it might not ever look perfectly even, but from a step or two away it looks fine. In the past I have put a third coat on, though it is a case of diminishing returns. The look is deep, dark black, though it does sit on the surface and any drips or thick spots can cause a slight change in appearance of the texture, particularly in direct sunlight.



Pros: Cost, easily removed from paint with IPA,



Cons: Will stain skin for days and clothes and driveway permanently, multiple coats necessary, can be tough to get even coverage. Easily removed by tape. (This is a test I plan to do on all sections as I know that UTTG makes taping nearly impossible. Only viable for black trim.





Forever Black topped with Opti-Coat This is being done to see if appearance and durability can be improved. The OC on top made it slightly richer and glossier.





Opti-Coat ~$70 for 20 ml. I remember reading that OC can darken trim, and I know that it does slightly when applied to trim in good condition. I decided to see what it could do to faded trim. At first it darkened a little but as it dried it almost disappeared as you can see in the photos. No need to explain more.















Comparisons: I have stated "shiny/greasy dressing look" for a few of the products. I just want to clarify that such comments are based upon comparing one against the other and not that they are like cheap tire dressings. On a 1-10 scale, with 10 being "vaseline coated" I would say the Gtechniq C4 would come in at about a 3, ValuGard & Forever Black would be about a 4, UTTG would be about a 4.5, Perl, BlackWOW & Meg`s HD would be about a 5. The richness of the products can affect the impression of these as everyone has their own opinions on what they like.



My initial impressions are that these all have a place in my arsenal. I will wait to observe them over time before giving any rankings. For now I will simply say that, from a looks standpoint, right now I would give the nod to GTechnique and ValuGard, each for different reasons. The ValuGard looks great against the dark paint of my car and, I suspect, would look appropriate in a lot of situations. The GTechnique would be my choice if the most natural, original look is the goal.



I will be watching these to observe durability and will update periodically.



A question for anyone who has used GTechniq C4: What sort of durability have you gotten from it?