Product Testing - Trim: Adams, Optimum, Collinite, BlackWow

Accumulator said:
Ooooh, brave man there, following in my footsteps with the 476S! Glad that worked out OK with no staining. Now watch and see what happens; when I did it, once the 476S died, it looked *bad*, worse than when 845 needed redone. No biggie in a way, just redo it, but it really did look awful, the dead-wax artifacts looked like a mild case of "wax staining the trim". I'll be interested to hear what happens for you, I was working on a really neglected vehicle and you're not.
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I have never held back product testing, and I really look forward to how long 845 lasts and how long 476 lasts and how long it looks good.



The good [and...bad thing], is that there is a bit of that similarly textured plastic on the car. Which means I have a good protection option in 845.



I wish I could speed up time though, so far the 845 looks the exact same as it did on day 1, and that includes a few different washes, Instant Detailers that may have gotten onto it, overspray from stripping wax on other parts, etc. The beading properties have decreased, but it looks the same. I wonder if an APC would bring back the OEM look, or if 845 on trim is detergent proof as well.
 
Leadfootluke said:
I have never held back product testing, and I really look forward to how long 845 lasts and how long 476 lasts and how long it looks good...
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Heh heh, I'm tempted to challenge you to try doing trim with FK1000P, another "don't try this at home, kids!" approach that I've done OK with.



I wish I could speed up time though...
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Heh heh, I read that and thought "OMG, he must be a lot younger than I am!" :chuckle: But yeah, I know what you mean regarding this test...



.. I wonder if an APC would bring back the OEM look, or if 845 on trim is detergent proof as well.
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I've never tried to deliberately kill off the LSP on trim that I can recall, I just wait until time/wear/etc. makes it need redone. And, since I'm not testing the wayt you are, I use QDs to help it hang on. I'm currently liking AutoInt/ValuGar's Fast Finish for use on black trim.
 
Accumulator said:
Heh heh, I'm tempted to challenge you to try doing trim with FK1000P, another "don't try this at home, kids!" approach that I've done OK with.
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If you send me an ounce of it, I will do put it on anything.



Heh heh, I read that and thought "OMG, he must be a lot younger than I am!" :chuckle: But yeah, I know what you mean regarding this test...
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I didn't realize you aged :D



I've never tried to deliberately kill off the LSP on trim that I can recall, I just wait until time/wear/etc. makes it need redone. And, since I'm not testing the way you are, I use QDs to help it hang on. I'm currently liking AutoInt/ValuGar's Fast Finish for use on black trim.
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Hmmm, do you used Fast Finish on the paint too, or just black trim? That is cheap.
 
Leadfootluke said:
If you send me an ounce of it, I will do put it on anything...
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Hmm..I might just do that.

I didn't realize you aged :D
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Heh heh, I sometimes think my "keep the vehciles showroom-new looking!" is part of some "I'm not aging" strategy; like...I can't be getting older, my car's still brand-new!"



Hmmm, do you used Fast Finish on the paint too, or just black trim? That is cheap.
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I've only used it on trim. This'll maybe sound weird, but I just have the feeling I wouldn't like it as well as my other leaves-stuff-behind QDs and so, since I only have some little sample bottles, I'm just using it on trim. Though I did do the entire underneath of the S8 with it yesterday..sorta got carried away doing a really thorough job on that car.



It's not as "bright" as FK425 and I like using wax-based QDs on the vehicles that I use waxes on. Eh, maybe I'll be surprised (Ron Ketcham sure seems to think I'll like it), we'll see. But I also get the feeling it might not be quite as Accumulator-proof as my current faves. Again, we'll see after I've tried it some more. But it's maybe worth trying if you're into comparing this stuff.
 
It's about time for an update, and since today was not raining or snowing I thought I would wash my car and get a few pictures. It was about 35 degrees outside and cloudy so the pictures aren't great, but you can still see the line. I have driven about 5500 miles since I began testing, and have now seen snow, mud, and ice frozen on my car. This is right about day 100. Testing began in the second/third week of September.



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Random pictures from after the wash.



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Leadfootluke- Too bad I couldn't work out the FK1000P sample, since you're so fearless about putting the 476S on I really do want to use you as a control-test, see if recommending that is a good idea or not.



You're *not* using a leaves-stuff-behind QD on the mirrors are you? I'm guessing that you're not, and note that doing that can help this approach last even longer.



My current/new QD-fave on black trim (LSPed or not) is ValuGard's Fast Finish, which Ron Ketcham recommended I try. I'm not sold on it for use on all the paint/the rest of the vehicle, but I sure like it for some things including trim.
 
Accumulator said:
Leadfootluke- Too bad I couldn't work out the FK1000P sample, since you're so fearless about putting the 476S on I really do want to use you as a control-test, see if recommending that is a good idea or not.



You're *not* using a leaves-stuff-behind QD on the mirrors are you? I'm guessing that you're not, and note that doing that can help this approach last even longer.



My current/new QD-fave on black trim (LSPed or not) is ValuGard's Fast Finish, which Ron Ketcham recommended I try. I'm not sold on it for use on all the paint/the rest of the vehicle, but I sure like it for some things including trim.
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Honestly, I am not using a QD at all on the mirrors as of late. When I used OID I would mist the whole car and dry it, but since the temperatures have dropped so low, I use mf's to dry the windows and mirrors/housings, and then I am using a QD on the paint. When the temps are this low [and the wind is prevalent], it is easiest for me to use a localized approach with QD, spraying it on the towel and drying as opposed to misting it on the car. This time of year I find QD to smear a little bit more, so I use less and I don't mist the whole car at once.



Also, I didn't take a picture of the other mirror with 845/476 because there was not sufficient lighting to see the difference in the two sides.
 
Another update!



6700 miles, a bit of snow and slush, random temperatures, and not getting washed a lot.

One of the big concerns I had, was that I used Car Wash and an APC to strip the wax so I could add a fresh coat of 476 and I did wash the mirror housings. I also liberally used glass cleaner and hit the mirror housing as well.



With and without flash for added detail.

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And the 845 on the roof trim is still beading and sheeting water quite well.

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Still going strong and winter is supposed to hit hard this week, but I will be sure to get an update when I can.
 
Makes you wonder why you'd want to buy trim-specific products, when 845 looks good and lasts so long...
 
Leadfootluke- Cool! And keep those updates coming :D Seeing its performance in your pix sure beats just hearing me rave about it ;)



umi000 said:
Makes you wonder why you'd want to buy trim-specific products, when 845 looks good and lasts so long...
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Exactly! I only use the "slime approach" when I have a very good reason to do so (namels, the LSP-based approach won't work for some reason).
 
Alfisti said:
Wow! 845 is amazing on trim. Thanks for 845 trim chronicle, Leadfootluke. Much appreciated. :xyxthumbs
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Yes it is, and you're welcome!



umi000 said:
Makes you wonder why you'd want to buy trim-specific products, when 845 looks good and lasts so long...
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I agree. Why buy very expensive trim protectant when this application probably cost $0.15. Given, it does not work perfect on all plastics and needs to be done correctly or you will have staining.
 
8800 mile update! So far Winter has been weird, we have had about 20 inches of snow all year, so much less than normal. We have had plenty of days with rain or snow though, and a variety of temperatures. I have washed with numerous different washes in the last month as well, including P21S Paint Conditioning Shampoo, Wolfgangs Auto Bathe, Meguiars Shampoo Plus, Meguiars Gold Class, and Optimum Car Wash [Still my favorite by far]. I had several portioned bottles and decided to use a different one every wash.



I washed my car today but forgot to take pictures. I grabbed a few tonight when I got home from work, which I had to use a flash for. I will have to get better daylight ones too at some point, but it is evident that the 845 remains, and remains strong as far as darkening the plastic.



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6 MONTH and 11,000 MILE update! We have had an array of weather, ranging from snow to 60* in the last week. So far I have driven my car in it all. It is by no means dead, but I am almost ready to restart the test with 476. Which will possibly happen after I detail my car... unless I OC it instead :D



Here are some pictures, unfortunately the car wasn't washed, but it still shows how it is still darkening the finish.



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