Whats everyone using for headlight protection - before yellowing...

MrOneEyedBoh

MrOneEyedBoh

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Something that popped in my head, I should be protecting my headlights PRIOR to them yellowing. I normally swipe then with whatever spray wax I use but maybe I should be doing more? If so, what are you guys using...
 
The Guz said:
PPF
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True but Ive seen PPF pull off coatings on headlights. Like the factory clear. I bought my truck new in 2019 and the one I had picked out had the factory clear peeling already, NEW! Its crazy... I think its a common problem on Power Strokes. Ive read about it several times on groups and forum on my truck.
 
As already noted, PPF is your best choice. waxes, sealants and coatings will all still chip and will not prevent the fine road particles to sand blast your lights.
 
MrOneEyedBoh said:
True but Ive seen PPF pull off coatings on headlights. Like the factory clear. I bought my truck new in 2019 and the one I had picked out had the factory clear peeling already, NEW! Its crazy... I think its a common problem on Power Strokes. Ive read about it several times on groups and forum on my truck.
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PPF. If you're worried about the above, ceramic coat them first. I do PPF after coatings all the time with no issues. I use Premium Shield Elite and my own formulation for activating the adhesive.
 
I don't apply a PPF, but when I coat the vehicle, I'll also include the headlights. I also avoid hitting both the taillights and headlights with anything abrasive for as long as possible. My intent is to preserve whatever UV protection is provided by the OEM part maker.

The rate of yellowing/clouding seems to vary pretty widely by automaker. I've had a Toyota and a Mazda start yellowing around the 5~7 point, yet I've had both a BMW and VW which were crystal clear after 7~8 years. The Toyota seemed to start failing the earliest.
 
Here is some important information to understand when it comes to the factory hardcoat of automotive headlamps:

  • All OEM headlamp lenses are required to meet the abrasion and chemical tests cited in the DOT lighting regulations.
  • All OEM headlamp lenses follow an SAE standard for a 3 year UV exposure test to ensure sufficient optical characteristics.
  • OEM headlamp lenses will have a hardcoat thickness of between 8-18 microns.
  • These hardcoats are UV cured in a clean room. They are not a typical spray on clear coat.
  • The life of a hardcoat is dependent on a number of variables which include sun exposure, weather exposure, climate region, vehicle usage, vehicle care, etc.

Ceramic coatings are NOT a durable or suitable form of protection for headlamps. Ceramic coatings have a thickness of between 0.5-1.5 microns which is MUCH thinner than a headlamp hardcoat.

For the same reason you wouldn't ceramic coat a base paint layer, is the same reason you wouldn't ceramic coat over bare polycarbonate. Clear coats for paint and hardcoats for lenses are thicker, more durable, more UV resistant and longer lasting.

Does applying a ceramic coating over a NEW headlamp offer any benefits? Sure. It won't hurt the headlamp but like any top layer protection, its only temporary. I suppose it *could* possibly extend the life of the hardcoat but only if properly maintained and reapplied at specific intervals.

Does applying a ceramic coating over a RESTORED headlamp offer any benefits? NO. It will wear away within a short period of time and the lamp will become hazy and deteriorated once again.

Aside from re-spraying headlamp lenses with a commercial grade UV hardcoat, the next best thing is PPF (as already stated multiple times in this thread). But not just any PPF will suffice. It has to be optically clear with a high light transmittance level. Remember, these are your headlamps which are safety devices and you depend on them to provide maximum lighting at night. I have not researched which brands are best for clear PPF. The manufacturer of the film should be able to provide documentation of measured light transmittance level.
 
Anthony Orosco said:
As already noted, PPF is your best choice. waxes, sealants and coatings will all still chip and will not prevent the fine road particles to sand blast your lights.
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Good to see you here posting again. Are you still actively detailing?
 
Desertnate said:
I don't apply a PPF, but when I coat the vehicle, I'll also include the headlights. I also avoid hitting both the taillights and headlights with anything abrasive for as long as possible. My intent is to preserve whatever UV protection is provided by the OEM part maker.

The rate of yellowing/clouding seems to vary pretty widely by automaker. I've had a Toyota and a Mazda start yellowing around the 5~7 point, yet I've had both a BMW and VW which were crystal clear after 7~8 years. The Toyota seemed to start failing the earliest.
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I would add Subaru to that list of worst offenders.
 
Rsurfer said:
Good to see you here posting again. Are you still actively detailing?
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Hey buddy, thank you!

Yes still detailing but now more supervising and training. It's still a thing I love to do but running my shop takes center for now. Thanks again, hope you've been well

Anthony
 
"Does applying a ceramic coating over a RESTORED headlamp offer any benefits? NO. It will wear away within a short period of time and the lamp will become hazy and deteriorated once again."
Can't the same be said for applying this stuff to paint???????

I have always detailed my headlamps with the rest of the vehicle and I have never had anything yellow or haze. The one cheap GM product (isuzu Ascender) tha t was starting to get some hazing got treated with some "meguiars reconditoner"?....I sold the car to a buddy and at going on 15yrs old, lenses are still quite decent...say an old Chrysler or Mercedes at 3-5 yrs......
 
ddsski said:
"Does applying a ceramic coating over a RESTORED headlamp offer any benefits? NO. It will wear away within a short period of time and the lamp will become hazy and deteriorated once again."
Can't the same be said for applying this stuff to paint???????
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Yes, but you have to remember that your car has clearcoat which is the real layer that matters and allows your paint to shine in the 1st place. If you were to apply a ceramic coating to the basecoat and try to live off of it the same way the clearcoat does you’d see a quick death in probably less than a year.

I agree with everything he said in his post and have experienced it when it comes to headlights.
Nowadays my process for protecting my restored headlights is to apply a clearcoat spray about every 6-9 months but that’s on my own headlights and is unrealistic for any customers I have because I wouldn’t even be able to keep track of thier headlights nor would I bother to try.
 
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