Optimum Opti-Coat on 2008 Toyota Highlander

[Matt S.]

After wanting to try this product for a long time, we got a small sample and I finally got my hands on it!

Products used:

Optimum Opti-Coat
Optimum Power Clean (http://autogeek.net/optimum-power-clean-apc.html)
Optimum Car Wash (http://autogeek.net/optimum-car-wash.html)
Optimum Tire Shine (http://autogeek.net/opt500.html)
Optimum Hyper Polish Spray (http://autogeek.net/optimum-hyper-polish-spray.html) w/6.5" Lake Country Tangerine Hydro-Tech pad (http://www.autogeek.net/lc-hydro-tech-foam-pads.html)
FLEX XC3401 VRG Dual Action Polisher (http://www.autogeek.net/flex-orbital-polisher.html)
Pinnacle XMT Speed Clay (http://www.autogeek.net/xmt-speed-clay-bar.html)
DP Universal Clay Lubricant (http://www.autogeek.net/dp365.html)
Griot's Garage Paint Prep (http://www.autogeek.net/griots-paint-prep.html)
DP High Performance Glass Restorer (http://www.autogeek.net/dp515.html) w/Purple 6" LC Kompressor pad (http://www.autogeek.net/kompressor-6inch-foam-pads.html)
Cobra Blue Micro-Chenille Wash Mitts (http://www.autogeek.net/cobra-blue-microfiber-mitt.html)
Daytona Speedmaster Wheel Brush (http://www.autogeek.net/ezdebrfca.html)
Long and Short Handle Wheel & Tire brushes (http://www.autogeek.net/tiwhbr.html)
Cobra Guzzler Waffle Weave drying towels (http://www.autogeek.net/guzzler-microfiber-combo.html)



For those who don't know what Opti-Coat is, it is not a sealant or wax. It is an actual permanent coating by Optimum and I like to think of it as adding another layer of clear coat to the car. This product is not available to the general public, and can be obtained directly through Optimum if you sign a waiver and have a business license.

The 2008 Toyota Highlander belongs to my parents and sits outside 24/7, and pretty much never gets washed let alone waxed. Never been clayed or polished in any way. As you can see from the pics below, this paint has seen better days. This car is going to New York for approximately 4 months, later this week. I will have my father take it through some touchless washes to see how it cleans up, and send me before/after pics and some beading shots down the road.

This is after a rinse and no beading is present. The amount of embedded contaminants is just horrible!

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/891/IMG_1792.jpg

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The first step was to pre-soak the whole SUV with Optimum Power Clean, diluted 3:1 water:OPC. For this step, I used one of our Chemical Resistant Pressure Sprayers. Notice all the gunk and brake dust running off the wheel/tire...

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/891/IMG_17981.jpg


Fully soaked

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/891/IMG_1799.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/891/IMG_1800.jpg

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Daytona Speedmaster in action!

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/891/IMG_1804.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/891/IMG_1805.jpg


Short Handle Wheel Brush

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/891/IMG_1806.jpg


Long Handle Wheel Brush - perfect for wheel wells.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/891/IMG_1807.jpg


Rinsed clean...that's a lot of filthy run-off!

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/891/IMG_1809.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/891/IMG_1810.jpg


After washing with Optimum Car Wash (love the new scent) and pulled in the Show Car Garage

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/891/IMG_1811.jpg


Used XMT Speed Clay with DP Universal Clay Lubricant for the claying step.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/891/IMG_1812.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/891/IMG_1814.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/891/IMG_1815.jpg


Now that the paint is clean, there is some swirling that needs to be addressed. For an '08, I was surprised at how minimal the swirling was...considering the few times it was washed it was done by local girls in bikinis or done with a brush (notice: I had no control over any of this!).

It was pretty tough to get the swirls to show up, but my 300 lumen LED flashlight did the trick.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/891/IMG_1817.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/891/IMG_1819.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/891/IMG_1821.jpg


Weapon of choice? Flex XC3401VRG with the new Optimum Hyper Polish Spray and a Tangerine LC Hydro-Tech 6.5" pad. The most impressive part was that I polished this entire vehicle with that same pad! I've never been able to do that before with any polish, ESPECIALLY with a Hydro-Tech pad. I was truly amazed at how "efficient" this polish was to use and being in spray form, it did not cake up my pad.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/891/IMG_1824.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/891/IMG_1825.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/891/IMG_1826.jpg


Ok, now that that's over with...I wiped down the entire vehicle twice with Griot's Garage Paint Prep. This product strips the surface of any oils and leaves a squeaky clean finish. It worked pretty similarly to Meguiar's Body Solvent IMO.


5 CC's of Opti-Coat were left in our sample syringe, and this was JUST enough to complete the entire vehicle (all painted surfaces, lights, glass, plastic trim, wheels).

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/891/IMG_18281.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/891/IMG_1829.jpg

[Matt S.]

THIN was the goal here. I spread a nice, thin application with a foam applicator and made sure I was very thorough in the process.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/891/IMG_18301.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/891/IMG_1832.jpg

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Product was removed with an Indigo Edgeless polishing cloth. This towel, with its short nap, made removal of Opti-Coat pretty painless.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/891/IMG_1836.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/891/IMG_1835.jpg


All trim surfaces were coated, and the difference was dramatic.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/891/IMG_1837.jpg

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Products used (sans Opti-Coat)

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/891/IMG_1844.jpg


All finished :)

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/891/IMG_1845.jpg

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http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/891/IMG_1852.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/891/IMG_1847.jpg


My two favorite shots.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/891/IMG_1857.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/891/IMG_1848.jpg


http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/891/IMG_18581.jpg


Clarity - check; flake - check

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/891/IMG_18611.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/891/IMG_1865.jpg


Of course it had to rain all weekend, so I leave you with these beading shots. :)

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/891/IMG_1866.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/891/IMG_1867.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/891/IMG_1868.jpg

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/891/IMG_1869.jpg


Overall impressions of Opti-Coat were, while it is not a hard product to use, it is beyond the abilities of Average Joe. I would say just about anyone on this forum can use it with good results - thin application is key and to quote Mike Phillips "you need to pay attention to the task at hand". You don't want to slab this stuff all over your hood, go answer the phone, drink a beer, and come back an hour later!

Other random notes: Optimum Car Wash smells awesome (I know I said it already; I had to say it again), Optimum Power Clean cleaned very effectively, Optimum Hyper Polish is just awesome. If you don't have it, you need to buy some!

Also, since I know someone will ask, we have no plans to carry Opti-Coat. I won't say it won't happen because anything is possible, but right now it's not in our plans in any way, shape or form. I did this write-up for educational purposes, and to satisfy my own curiosity. :D

Updates will come in the future. In the meantime, feel free to post any questions or comments. Thanks for looking!

[Marc08EX]

Nice documentation Matt!!! How long did it take you to polish the entire vehicle with optimum spray polish? How was the working time of this polish compared to let's say Menz SIP?

Thanks!

[Matt S.]

The working time of the new Optimum polishes is longer than just about anything else I've used. You can literally work it and work it and it never dusts. I started at 9am and finished the whole process around 3:30pm.

[rwright]

Subscribed. Car looks good too Matt!

[SRHTX]

Optimum RULES!!!!!! :cruisin:


Uh. Can you tell I like using the Optimum Products? he he he :props:

Nice work Matt.

[Marc08EX]

The working time of the new Optimum polishes is longer than just about anything else I've used. You can literally work it and work it and it never dusts. I started at 9am and finished the whole process around 3:30pm.

Wow that's quick!!! How do you guys do that?!

Great write up Matt! The white paint just looks wet, which is so hard to achieve so your results speaks for itself.

[Matt S.]

Wow that's quick!!! How do you guys do that?!

Great write up Matt! The white paint just looks wet, which is so hard to achieve so your results speaks for itself.

I literally did not stop working at all. Just kept working through trying to finish by 4PM, and I got it done with some time to spare. Hyper Polish also helped quite a bit since it's so quick and easy to use.

[Grizzly]

Do you have to sand it to get it off.

[Matt S.]

There is some speculation on how it can be removed. Some say compounding is required, some say light wetsanding is required.

[ryandamartini]

Optimum RULES!!!!!! :cruisin:


Uh. Can you tell I like using the Optimum Products? he he he :props:

Nice work Matt.

Nice. I think I am getting close to switching to optimum for a majority of my detailing needs. I am reworking the main focus for my business and I think optimum will take the head seat in my products.

I think I will be contacting optimum for the opti coat. I think this could be a very nice and marketable item for my process :)

Thanks for the writeup. Good work!

[AeroCleanse]

I've tried a few times to email Optimum about Opti-Coat, never heard back from them.

[Chris Thomas]

I have removed it with a medium cutting pad and Hyper Polish, however it will not come off with a Prepsol wipedown. Basically the amount of abrasive necessary to remove it is directly related to how thick it was applied.

[Chris Thomas]

I've tried a few times to email Optimum about Opti-Coat, never heard back from them.
Sounds like you have an unchecked email address. I would just call. Most of the time Dr. G himself answers when I call. I'm sure he'd be happy to help you.

[AeroCleanse]

Sounds like you have an unchecked email address. I would just call. Most of the time Dr. G himself answers when I call. I'm sure he'd be happy to help you.

Why bother having an email contact address on their site if they never email back?