Re: Review - 303 Rubber Seal Protectant
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Accumulator
Huh, I`m late to this party by a few years!
The 303 looks a *LOT* shinier than the 1Z or Wurth...how is it IRL?
All really good questions. IRL I`d say 303 is very similar to 1Z in appearance. Which Wurth product are you using? Their silicone lubricant?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Accumulator
How is it with regard to transfer onto surfaces that press against the seals...like, any mess if the seals contact glass directly?
I just walked out and look at look - as far as I could tell transfer isn`t an issue. I only noticed the slightest transfer in one spot and I had to look pretty hard to see it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Accumulator
Regulars here know that I *slightly* prefer the Wurth stuff due to the transfer issue, and I`m all about satin/matte appearance, so despite my satisfaction with the stuff I have now I`m still curious about this version (which I don`t think I`ve even heard of before).
Oh I agree with you on the satin/matte appearance. Since I was just outside I took a shot showing the seal at the bottom of my door for you:
http://i.imgur.com/oYtDhs4l.jpg
Maybe hard to tell in the photo but it`s more satin than matte.
Re: Review - 303 Rubber Seal Protectant
*Bump* applied 303 seal protectant over the weekend as part of my fall/ winter prep. And since photobucket screwed us, heres the reivew again WITH photos reinserted from Imgur:
For this review, I’m going to share my experience using 303’s brand new Rubber Seal Protectant on my 1998 Honda Civic (see Vega, I do give it a little love from time to time)
https://i.imgur.com/04eSjF1l.jpg
From PBMG’s copy for 303 Rubber Seal Protectant:
Protects rubber seals against drying and cracking
303 Rubber Seal Protectant conditions rubber seals on doors, windows, hoods and trunks to help prevent long-term drying and cracking. If you have an older vehicle with discolored door seals, 303 Rubber Seal Protectant will rejuvenate the color while restoring elasticity. 303 Rubber Seal Protectant is 100% water-based, and the shoe-polish style applicator makes application quick and easy.
The rubber seals on my Honda are original and showing their age. Up until now I’ve been using 1Z’s Gummi Pflege to maintain them however it’s been quite a while so now is the perfect time to test 303’s above claims.
Directions:
https://i.imgur.com/GKI6OOil.jpg
1.Shake well before use. - Check & ready for use:
https://i.imgur.com/dxWSBDFl.jpg
2.Apply 303® Rubber Seal Protectant evenly onto a dry, clean surface using attached foam applicator. - Check. *Application Tip* There’s a valve hidden underneath the applicator sponge that needs to depress in order to break the factory seal and thus allowing product to flow freely.
Door seal:
https://i.imgur.com/YazudnCl.jpg
50/50 on rear side window seal:
https://i.imgur.com/Vw7shOsl.jpg
Trunk seal:
https://i.imgur.com/YazudnCl.jpg
50/50 on the sunroof`s seal:
https://i.imgur.com/XB7vxENl.jpg
3. Allow product to fully dry. - Check. The waterbase formula doesn’t take long to dry at all, 5-10 minutes tops:
Door seals look good:
https://i.imgur.com/RBbPVV6l.jpg
Side window seal looks better but is probably too forgone at this point to expect miracles:
https://i.imgur.com/lvneQ8Pl.jpg
Trunk seal looks good. You can easily see the lighter section I missed in the center of the trim (oops):
https://i.imgur.com/xh4hyjpl.jpg
The sunroof seal is better but a little streaky:
https://i.imgur.com/SyGwRSIl.jpg
4. Repeat procedure if necessary. - Unnecessary since 1 coat was enough given the overall condition and age of my seals vs what I can reasonable expect from 303 Rubber Seal Protectant.
5. Use regularly for optimal protection (every 3-5 weeks). - Can’t say I’ll follow this one to a T… but I’ll try.
6. Keep product from freezing. - Duh, of course!
Even though I had washed & dried the car before applying 303 the foam applicator tip was looking a little gross:
https://i.imgur.com/QVrMGz4l.jpg
Enter APC 3:1, a clean tooth brush, and a rinse under warm water:
https://i.imgur.com/CMQLsdll.jpg
Good as new!
Final thoughts
Even though it’s the middle of summer and for the most part the Honda’s rubber seals felt nice and flexible, come winter they’ll start to stiffen up and potentially freeze leading to stuck doors and interior leaks (both have happened on this car). So it’s important to keep the seals hydrated allowing them to maintain their flexibility year round. Not to mention, reduce the amount of cold weather “creak” noises from stiff rubber seals on a car of this age produces once the temperature starts to drop. My sunroof creaks like crazy in the winter!
303 Rubber Seal Protectant vs. 1Z Gummi Pflege
Without directly comparing 303 Rubber Seal Protectant to 1Z Gummi Pflege side by side it’s very hard to say which is better since they’re both excellent products, 100% water based, dry to the touch, don’t attract dust or other debris, and leave rubber surfaces with a nice natural sheen - in short you can’t go wrong using either one. I will say, 303 Rubber Seal Protectant’s applicator seems thicker/more robust, I do appreciate the heavier plastic screw on lid, and it’s made in the USA.
For less then $10 using a rubber protectant on your vehicle regardless of age/ location makes perfect sense. It will only help prolong the rubbers ability to do it’s job and seal out whatever mother nature throws at it and by default YOU!
Hope you enjoyed this review. As always, please feel free to ask any questions :)
Re: Review - 303 Rubber Seal Protectant
Angus- I`ll be interested to hear how it compares to the 1Z, whether you discern any significant diffs as you use it more.
FWIW, I never use the foam applicator on bottles of stuff like that, but rather apply it to a cloth/swab/whatever. Guess I just don`t like seeing the applicator looking all soiled every time I open it up. Nah, I don`t clean it up the way you did :o
Re: Review - 303 Rubber Seal Protectant
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Accumulator
Angus- I`ll be interested to hear how it compares to the 1Z, whether you discern any significant diffs as you use it more.
FWIW, I never use the foam applicator on bottles of stuff like that, but rather apply it to a cloth/swab/whatever. Guess I just don`t like seeing the applicator looking all soiled every time I open it up. Nah, I don`t clean it up the way you did :o
Will do, Accumulator! I still have the Mrs` car to do so I`ll use 1Z on it and update this post.
And to your point, I ripped off the foam applicator from the 1Z bottle since it was heavy soiled and use swabs instead.
Re: Review - 303 Rubber Seal Protectant
I just ordered some of this even though I had the headless 1z bottle around here somewhere likely in the basement. Time to juice them up before winter
Thanks for the review and reminder of these products
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Re: Review - 303 Rubber Seal Protectant
Quote:
Originally Posted by
MattPersman
I just ordered some of this even though I had the headless 1z bottle around here somewhere likely in the basement. Time to juice them up before winter
Thanks for the review and reminder of these products
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
You`re very welcome! Rubber seal products like 1Z and 303 are fantastic.
Re: Review - 303 Rubber Seal Protectant
Yeah, thanks for the reminder on this, Angus. I think I`ve got old bottles of 1Z and WURTH product.
Re: Review - 303 Rubber Seal Protectant
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Angus
*Bump* applied 303 seal protectant over the weekend as part of my fall/ winter prep. And since photobucket screwed us, heres the reivew again WITH photos reinserted from Imgur:.......
:)
Thanks Angus for taking the time to re-post the pictures via a different photo-host. The Photobucket "no-pay-no-show linking issue" is reeking havoc within this forum.
I`ve used regular 303 protectant on seals since I discovered 303 from reviews in this forum about 8 years ago.
I just wonder if this Seal Protectant is the same as regular 303 protectant, only rebottled in a smaller size container/bottle with a foam applicator tip OR a new (or hybrid-variant) protectant designed specifically for rubber seals? (Edit: Oh great!, I see that question was posed in previous posts. Never mind...) The fact that it says "Keep from Freezing" on the bottle is one of 303`s worst nemesis and anyone who has had a bottle of regular 303 Protectant freeze and then thaw will tell you that its odor is like BAD body odor. (Seen it, been there!)
And speaking of Gold Eagle, the manufacturer, when did they buy this product line from Aerospace 303?? I did not see that "news" posted anywhere within this forum. I see that manufacturer`s name on my new bottle of 303. With Gold Eagle, I think of Sta-Bil gas stabilizer or Heet gas anti-freeze.
Re: Review - 303 Rubber Seal Protectant
Yes, I`d like to know if it is different than regular 303 or is it just 303 in a different bottle?
Re: Review - 303 Rubber Seal Protectant
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Lonnie
Thanks Angus for taking the time to re-post the pictures via a different photo-host. The Photobucket "no-pay-no-show linking issue" is reeking havoc within this forum.
I`ve used regular 303 protectant on seals since I discovered 303 from reviews in this forum about 8 years ago.
I just wonder if this Seal Protectant is the same as regular 303 protectant, only rebottled in a smaller size container/bottle with a foam applicator tip OR a new (or hybrid-variant) protectant designed specifically for rubber seals? (Edit: Oh great!, I see that question was posed in previous posts. Never mind...) The fact that it says "Keep from Freezing" on the bottle is one of 303`s worst nemesis and anyone who has had a bottle of regular 303 Protectant freeze and then thaw will tell you that its odor is like BAD body odor. (Seen it, been there!)
You bet! I was able to download all of my review photos from Photobucket and will be reposting them to Imgur/ updating my old reviews as time allows. Stoopid Photobucket....
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Lonnie
And speaking of Gold Eagle, the manufacturer, when did they buy this product line from Aerospace 303?? I did not see that "news" posted anywhere within this forum. I see that manufacturer`s name on my new bottle of 303. With Gold Eagle, I think of Sta-Bil gas stabilizer or Heet gas anti-freeze.
Golden Eagle acquired the 303 Brand back in 2012. Gold Eagle Co. Acquires 303 Products, Inc.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Dan
Yes, I`d like to know if it is different than regular 303 or is it just 303 in a different bottle?
It`s a good question and from my casual observations, 303 rubber seal protectant appears thicker than "regular" 303. So in addition to the fancy applicator bottle, it`s a slightly different formula.