Optimum Instant Detailer & Gloss Enhancer

[trhland]

Originally Posted by scottburton11

Just got my order and had to try out Optimum Instant Detailer & Gloss Enhancer right away.

It goes on wet and sloppy, comes off streaky and smeary, and smells like cheap bubblegum. It takes more muscle & twice as much time to buff off as my last ID. Didn't appear to add any gloss to the P21S I have on right now.

This is on clean paint washed yesterday & otherwise flawless. I typically use ID to cut through residual water spots and to remove dust/bugs/etc. between washes, but I'm paranoid about hard buffing when there's dust on the clearcoat.

This product came highly recommended. Am I missing something?

you likely had this problem if your working in te sun. or the panel is hot. ive had problems with q/ds in hot weather. ,make sure you wash your car in the shade and apply q/d in shade as well.

[scottburton11]

I didn't shake vigorously, maybe that was it.

My paint is lovingly cared for and otherwise in factory condition. I never wash, dry or detail in the sun, ever ever ever. I only used OID in the shade, several hours after sunset (it's summer here).

Like I said, I don't rely much on ID for shine, mostly for: post-drying water spots from mirror & crevice leakage (I don't use a blower, and they leak for hours); dust that settles on the finish (I park outdoors during the day); occasional bugs.

In this case, I was (not over-) applying it to a perfect finish in the best possible conditions.

Thanks for all the feedback, everyone. I'm going to give it a few more tries and report back.

[dublifecrisis]

maybe you're seeing a bad reaction with a prior product's residual leftovers? I might have experienced something similar where I only polished my hood and OID streaked a little but not on other panels.

It's a LITTLE more effort than QD, but not as much as a spray wax.

[scottburton11]

Originally Posted by dublifecrisis

maybe you're seeing a bad reaction with a prior product's residual leftovers?

Good guess, but I can't imagine what it might be. It was polished with Menzerna PO91E (white pad), then Blackfire Gloss Enhancing Polish (white pad), then two coats of P21S 100% (hand applicator) spaced two weeks apart. Last one was two weekends ago.

Tried OID again this evening, two hours after sunset. Ambient temperature: 76F. Microfiber condition: clean. Bottle agitation: 90 seconds. Sprays per body panel: 1-2. Technique: spray on, wipe off, buff with dry towel.

Still getting streaks and splotches which turn brown after a few seconds. They buff off with 4 or 5 firm passes of the MF.

I will keep trying.

[Alex]

I too have the streaking problems with the 17 oz ready to go bottle and the only way I could get it to 'blend' was to use some ONR qd strength. Thought I'd dilute a tiny bit with distilled water before I relegate it to the sit on the shelf products. Also thought I got a bad sprayer head, but seems that others have noticed it's not the best. However, once it's 'worked in', it's slick as....just don't think I want to be working so hard on the paint with a QD...

[mingraygt]

You guys need to call or email Optimum about the problems your having. The owner David Ghodoussi is a real nice guy to talk to.

[killrwheels@autogeek]

try it on a lightly damp surface also ... never had a problem with that and enough additional lubrication when drying to avoid swirls. Never needed to buff in either situation. It surely sounds more like their car wax product.

[scottburton11]

Originally Posted by killrwheels@autogeek

try it on a lightly damp surface also ...

You and Alex might be on to something with the dilution/dampness. That's the next thing I'll try.

It's plausible that the batch I bought is just glitchy. One ID I've used a lot - no names - had a consistency problem in the manufacturing process. No two bottles I ordered were the same, so it was a learning experience every time.

[trhland]

Originally Posted by scottburton11

You and Alex might be on to something with the dilution/dampness. That's the next thing I'll try.

It's plausible that the batch I bought is just glitchy. One ID I've used a lot - no names - had a consistency problem in the manufacturing process. No two bottles I ordered were the same, so it was a learning experience every time.

ya you might have a bad batch.

[scottburton11]

Originally Posted by mingraygt

You guys need to call or email Optimum about the problems your having. The owner David Ghodoussi is a real nice guy to talk to.

As promised, David Ghodoussi is a real nice guy.

I won't post our correspondence but he suggested that it may be an incompatibility between OID and P21S 100%. He suggested another try immediately following a wash, which I'll do either this Sunday or (due to the holiday) next. I'll report back on my findings then.

Mr. Ghodoussi also very graciously offered to refund or replace the product in question, officially making him a Real Class Act(tm).