Protection for new headlights?

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SilverStreakRam

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What would you recommend for a brand new vehicle? I just bought a '12 Ram and it sits outside 100%. I also have a new patrol car that sits out 100% and I'm trying to figure what I can use to keep them clear. I wax on a very regular basis on both vehicles. Will that be enough? Any advise would be awesome.
 
There's another thread called protection for glass on the top of the board. My comments there would refer to my current thinking on your subject as well. Some would tell you however that regular waxes and sealants will color your headlights over time. There was a time when that worried me but now I believe it's a ridiculous thought and even if valid so what... A light polish would remove it.

Having said all that I know there are many times when we like to feel good about using something design specifically for a certain surface. This product http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...-review-wolfgang-plastik-surface-sealant.html is the only headlight sealant I ever used. It works very well and is very easy to use. Recently I'm testing CQ, CQ Dlux, and a couple other CQ coatings on headlights.

Short answer to your question is use any sealant you want. Headlights have a protective coating on them when new so don't use any abrasives or polishes on them now. However a sealant, wax, coating, etc. Will help

No matter what you use they will fade over a couple to a few years. Then you simply polish them and put a coating on them every year.



If you want something specifically for plastic headlights use the product I linked in that review.

If you have a coating on hand use that.

If you are sanding old headlights skip the polish step and try the spar urethane mix

Best Regards!
Corey
 
I slap a coat of Meguiar's Headlight Protectant on mine about once a month. If you really wanted to protect them you could Opt-Coat them and do monthly Meg's HP rub downs.
 
I don't think anything protects headlights better then covering them with that 3M clear vinyl film. I even coat the film with whatever sealent I'm using on the rest of the vehicle.
 
It really doesn't become an issue until the factory clear wears off. Aside from that I would us Meg's headlight protectant. Also, carnuba waxes do a good job since it is a natural uv blocker. Synthetic sealants however do nothing.


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Talvanos said:
It really doesn't become an issue until the factory clear wears off. Aside from that I would us Meg's headlight protectant. Also, carnuba waxes do a good job since it is a natural uv blocker. Synthetic sealants however do nothing.


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Click to expand...

I think he's trying to prevent the factory coat so it won't fail eventually. They don't just fail willy-nilly; they fail because they've absorbed all the ultraviolet they can handle. So it quit absorbing and starts transmitting, and that's when the polycarbonate starts oxidizing.

And I'm not sure what you mean by "Synthetic sealants do nothing". Are you saying they don't block UV light? If so, I think most on this forum would call shenanigans on you. :dunno:
 
And just to add for the OP, Meguiar's Headlight Protectant, according to Mr. Stoops, has much more UV blocking capabilities than most regular waxes and sealants.
 
I would Opti-Coat them or use another coating. That should extend the life of the factory coating by some amount.
 
Gentleman, thank you for all the good advice. I'll have to get some Meguiers stuff. I hope it can last for a while cause I have to wash my patrol car so often due to the bugs in my area. I come home every morning and the front end is covered in them.

Again thanks for the advice.....
 
You need to protect the headlight from UV. A good synthetic or carnuba wax will do if you apply it regularly. OptiCoat is a good sealer, but does not block UV. If you maintain a decent coat of wax on your headlights, they'll probably last longer than the car.
ray6
 
mhphoto said:
I think he's trying to prevent the factory coat so it won't fail eventually. They don't just fail willy-nilly; they fail because they've absorbed all the ultraviolet they can handle. So it quit absorbing and starts transmitting, and that's when the polycarbonate starts oxidizing.

And I'm not sure what you mean by "Synthetic sealants do nothing". Are you saying they don't block UV light? If so, I think most on this forum would call shenanigans on you. :dunno:
Click to expand...

I had read somewhere that synthetic sealants didnt have UV protection in them like a good nuba wax did. That is what I was baseing my suggestion on. It is obvious now that I am wrong on that. :props:
 
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