Rsurfer
Well-known member
- Jan 26, 2007
- 14,159
- 26
Opti-lens yellowing after 90 days
- Thread starter DaveT435
- Start date
rops:
scrubs147
New member
- Nov 15, 2009
- 233
- 0
According to Optimum Polymer Technologies; Permanent headlight coating protects against UV-induced yellowing and fading.
Optimum Opti-Lens Headlight Coating is a resin-based coating designed to protect headlights against yellowing, fading and discoloration for the life of the vehicle.
Optimum Opti-Lens Headlight Coating is a resin-based coating designed to protect headlights against yellowing, fading and discoloration for the life of the vehicle.
davidc
New member
- May 6, 2007
- 1,499
- 0
I really question this "Lifetime" statement. Think I will wait a while before trying this to see what shakes out. I know Wolfgang plastic sealant struggles to last a month in AZ. It all makes me skeptical. The factory coating lasts maybe 5 years and Opti-Lens states lifetime. Not being one to make judgements this early but if I were a vehicle manufacturer for $60.00 and lifetime reliability I would be all over this. If Opti-Lens lasted any where near the factory coating I would be satisfied. Time will tell.
Dave
Dave
Setec Astronomy
Well-known member
- Aug 31, 2010
- 17,035
- 1,321
Yeah, but the factory coating IS a lifetime coating. I wouldn't expect the Opti-Lens to last any longer than that.
After all, your clearcoat (on the paint) is also a "lifetime" or "permanent" coating, but it doesn't last "forever", just like Opti-Coat won't, even though it is "permanent". Nothing is forever, man.
davidc
New member
- May 6, 2007
- 1,499
- 0
Yeah I am old now and question everything so do not state Lifetime instead state 5 years.
I really hate it when the facts get skirted around. I guess the "say what you mean and mean what you say" has all been changed to "tell them what they want to hear". If Opti-Lens will last 6 months then tell me 6 months.
Dave
Rsurfer
Well-known member
- Jan 26, 2007
- 14,159
- 26
Hawaii may not have the extreme heat like the desert, but the UV factor is high year around.
Rsurfer
Well-known member
- Jan 26, 2007
- 14,159
- 26
:iagree:Why would the manufacture want to spend more money making clear headlights longer than the normal 3 year bumper to bumper warranty? BTW lifetime on Opti coat is the lifetime of the plastic headlight and not the car or the owner. Like Dave if it lasts 2+ years I would be happy.
Setec Astronomy
Well-known member
- Aug 31, 2010
- 17,035
- 1,321
My $.02 is if they could save $.02 they would do it. If they make 1 million vehicles a year, that's $20,000 more a year for the CEO that he has to pay you for detailing his cars.
I mean...you don't think they would distribute that extra 20K to the employees, do you??
I've mentioned this before, the "UV protection" these manufactures claim are extremely difficult to prove. On top of that, virtually none of the manufactures provide any data.
Not picking on Optimum, but all detailing products that claim "UV Protection". Heck, is it SPF 15 or is SPF 40 like 303 claims. It's not like we get a tan line on our vehicles to know.
I guess I can put one drop of Banana Boat SPF 100 in my quick detailer and legitimately say it has UV inhibitors.
Again, not directing this at Optimum; the doctor makes great products.
Just the the "UV Protection" claims on many of these products are laughable at best.
Not picking on Optimum, but all detailing products that claim "UV Protection". Heck, is it SPF 15 or is SPF 40 like 303 claims. It's not like we get a tan line on our vehicles to know.
I guess I can put one drop of Banana Boat SPF 100 in my quick detailer and legitimately say it has UV inhibitors.
Again, not directing this at Optimum; the doctor makes great products.
Just the the "UV Protection" claims on many of these products are laughable at best.
jbnery6465
New member
- Dec 30, 2009
- 70
- 0
I don't mean to hi-jack the thread...but can someone clarify the difference between Opti-Lens and Opti-Glass? I was reading the description on AG but couldn't tell...
Setec Astronomy
Well-known member
- Aug 31, 2010
- 17,035
- 1,321
Opti-Glass is for glass, Opti-Lens is for plastics. Opti-Lens is a derivative of Opti-Coat, with added UV inhibitors. Opti-Glass is a specific glass product intended to bond strongly to silica (glass) surfaces.
I have also taken issue with such claims. The things is, proving these claims should actually be quite easy. All it takes is a UV light source and a photodiode - it would take me 5 mins to plot a graph of wavelength versus photon signal for a coated and un-coated substrate. I can immediately give you a real world figure for how much UV light the coating blocks. Fair enough, it probably costs £1k to get the bits and do it right but these companies are claiming to be big global concerns so, by not doing it, they are either just penny pinching or telling us pork pies about how successful they are!
With regards to the topic, whilst Eraser does contains a dose of the most common surfactant in shampoos, I cannot see how this would lead any subsequent coating to turn yellow. My only thought is that it could inhibit bonding so are you sure that the coating is actually still on the lights and that they haven't turned yellow again because the coating never actually bonded properly?