Review: CarPro PERL

:dblthumb2: Thanks for your concise and informative post mic! Please do keep us updated on if you get any streaking and if durability outlasts 303AP on your cover.
 
Very informative thread. I definately have PERL on my list to try.

:props:
 
I gave PERL a try this weekend. Interior (1:5), MBTex, nice low sheen, dries quickly, not oily. Exterior (Full Strength), Tires, door, trunk and engine bay seals, rubber trim around windows, plastic body trim. Depending on the material, the amount of gloss varies and in all cases I was satisfied by the look. I like my paint to shine, but not so much with the trim and tires. Once again, it dried quickly and wasn't oily. Wiping down the seals later picked up very little excess and checking today, I see no residue on the door jambs from the seals. A little goes a long way.
 
Very informative thread. I definately have PERL on my list to try.

:props:

Thank you, Let us know what you think!


Can I use PERL on running boards or will it make them slippery?

I haven't tried it there but ime it is not slippery. I would however definitely do a test section and test it to be sure for this type of situation.

I gave PERL a try this weekend. Interior (1:5), MBTex, nice low sheen, dries quickly, not oily. Exterior (Full Strength), Tires, door, trunk and engine bay seals, rubber trim around windows, plastic body trim. Depending on the material, the amount of gloss varies and in all cases I was satisfied by the look. I like my paint to shine, but not so much with the trim and tires. Once again, it dried quickly and wasn't oily. Wiping down the seals later picked up very little excess and checking today, I see no residue on the door jambs from the seals. A little goes a long way.

Excellent Charlie! Thanks so much for the feedback :props:
 
I'm still playing around and experimenting with PERL a bit. I initially tried to spray onto a tire sponge (1:1 dilution), and then wipe on the tires. Looked good initially but blotchy/streaky the following day.

I've since tried spraying a 1:1 dilution directly onto the tires and then spreading with a tire sponge. So far the results have a much more consistent look on the tire, but was quite a bit messier to apply.

I have also tried putting PERL directly into an AG squeeze bottle, squirting onto sponge, and then applying with a sponge. This application method worked as well as, if not better than, my spray on and wipe application and was a much cleaner method to apply.

What are you guys using for spray bottles? I figured this may be an appropriate place to ask, since the spray bottle I'm using for PERL is a little disappointing. Horrible pattern and very inconsistent depending on how hard you pull the trigger. This is the one I'm currently using:
32 oz. Heavy Duty PVC White Spray Bottle, storage bottle, chemical sprayer
 
I just got a liter of PERL for Christmas and am still experimenting with it as well.

I haven't tried it on my tires straight from the bottle (no dilution), but I have been using it at a 1:1 (maybe a tad more PERL to water) & I like it a lot!

This: 4 oz. Sample Bottle with Sprayer

is what I bought and with the diluted mixture I spritz it around the tire and then I wipe it down with a tire swipe. I'm starting to prefer it because applying it this way gets more uniform coverage into the ribs and small spaces on the outer face of my tires. (I adopted this method of application after seeing Ceedog's video*)

I was and still am a fan of PB Natural Look for my tires & I find that PERL can give me the same look, but does last longer.
 
Cee dog not sure if this was talked about. But I got some perl and did the 1:5 for interior parts well I like the look but I prefer to not wipe it off would that cause a problem if I decide not to wipe off once applied like directions say. I found it loses it shine once wiped off.
 
Cee dog not sure if this was talked about. But I got some perl and did the 1:5 for interior parts well I like the look but I prefer to not wipe it off would that cause a problem if I decide not to wipe off once applied like directions say. I found it loses it shine once wiped off.

It should not be a problem if thats the look you like. Its water based as far as I understand it so if your happy go for it :dblthumb2:

Just leave it off the steering wheel maybe. Im the MAN
 
What are you guys using for spray bottles? I figured this may be an appropriate place to ask, since the spray bottle I'm using for PERL is a little disappointing. Horrible pattern and very inconsistent depending on how hard you pull the trigger. This is the one I'm currently using:
32 oz. Heavy Duty PVC White Spray Bottle, storage bottle, chemical sprayer

Here you go! These work in my experience for over 10,000 sprays so far without a hitch for me... well, thats with the bottle I gave wifey that she sprays distilled aloe with but I use them with many products as well and not a failure or glitch yet. http://www.amazon.com/Fantasea-Fine..._2?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1325475361&sr=1-2-catcorr
 
this will deff. be added to my next order... as already mentioned excellent review.:dblthumb2:
 
this will deff. be added to my next order... as already mentioned excellent review.:dblthumb2:

Awesome! Thanks for the feedback!

Thanks for the additional source Doug :props:
 
If you clean your interior with OPC at a 3:1 ratio first, would PERL still bond to the plastic surfaces or do you think it would create a durability issue?
 
Thanks guys!

If you clean your interior with OPC at a 3:1 ratio first, would PERL still bond to the plastic surfaces or do you think it would create a durability issue?

No, it won't be an issue. It will still bond.

On a different note I would recomend using a damp cloth after using any APC on an interior surface. Nothing to do with what your protecting with... just wouldn't want to leave the apc on there. Having said that I suppose when you apply PERL it will remove the remnants of the APC just as a damp cloth would have.
 
I just tried PERL on the fading exterior plastic parts at the base of the windshield on my Accord. It took me a couple of attempts to figure out the best application method was to spray it directly on a sponge and wipe it on. I also had to be careful not to get any on the paint because it leaves a streak. I'm pretty happy with the results. It left the plastic darker with a nice sheen. I will probably do a better job the next time I apply it now that I figured out what and what not to do. I also had to adjust the mixture. I originally tried the recommended 1:3 (PERL:Water) ratios, but it wasn't doing the job, so I bumped it up to 1:1.

Here's a random question that just occurred to me when reading another thread. PERL is Silicon Oxide. Wasn't silicon a bad word a few years ago?
 
Here's a random question that just occurred to me when reading another thread. PERL is Silicon Oxide. Wasn't silicon a bad word a few years ago?

Good question! I think you are thinking of Silicone. Silicone and silicon are very different as I understand it. Silicone being more like a plastic... and silicon being more like a glass or quartz substance. Then add to that it is Silicone Oxide. By adding the word Oxide I belive it changes it to something else entirely different than even Silicon.

Silicone = A synthetic compund

Silicon = Chemical Element Si

Silicone Oxide = SiO2

As far as Silicone being bad even this is a generalization as far as I understand it.

I think a lot of us hear someone say something about Silicone or Petroleum Distillates or Polymers for instance and because we don't have enough knowledge on the specifics and details as say a chemical engineer we have to make assumptions. We don't understand what all of the different things those words cover so when a word is used in a certain context we then hear the same word about something else later and have no choice but to see it as the same when it may be completely different. Then someone repeats that something is bad and it goes from there.

In other words, I obviously have no clue when or what silcones are bad but I'm as sure as I can be that the Silicon Oxide in PERL is completely and entirely different and the two words sounding similar is all they have in common.
 
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