I got my oil changed today and while I'm there my dealer hands me this pamphlet about "Xzilon Molecular Adhesion" exterior protectant, saying the dealership now provides this service to their customers. He's going on and on about how amazing this product is and how I won't have to wax my truck again. He said that he thought about me when he saw this product because of my prior complaint about the brake dust that our trucks exhibit as this product "reduces brake dust on wheels".

I've done a search, but only one thread said anything about it. For my truck (1 yr old) I was quoted the price of $399. That's kinda steep, but if I never had to wax my truck again--it sounds kinda tempting. What do y'all think?

Milam

 

Sounds like the gimmick of the century, I have never found anything to replace good hard work to keep the exterior looking good, and now that I have been introduced to the ways of Rockpick I have even more knowledge and a whole new approach to my detail regiment for my vehicle. I think you should stay with what has been tested and proven to work!

 

Just sounds like another coat of clear coat to me.

 

For $500 I'll spray the exterior with an amazingly durable coating that makes waxing unecassary. When your paint peels off, call the disconnected 1800 number for details

 

Sounds like a gimmick!

 

Kevin

 

Maybe, JUST MAYBE...

not all polymer clearcoatings (as opposed to a wax) are all bad, anymore than all waxes (as opposed to polymer coatings) are all good. NOTHING is so absolute as that IMHO.

Some of these ARE good IF you use them the right way, and for the right reasons.

There are some of them that if used properly can recover you much more at resale time than they cost to apply originally, but most people cannot see the "added value" of a clearcoat to a vehicle that already has a nice finish.

What IS clearcoat over paint but a clear coating to help protect and enhance the finish of the painted surface? Problem is that factory clearcoats don't offer much (IF ANY, real) protection against - some hard waters (will pit/etch the factory clearcoat), tree sap, bug splats (love bugs), tar, oils, bird poop, road kill, brake dust, (even rust and corrosion) and on and on, or else we wouldn't see so many questions and concerns about them posted here. Even wax applied over factory clearcoat only offers limited protection, most people just don't know another alternative.

Why NOT cover a clearcoat that WILL pit with a polymer coating THAT WILL NOT??? ESPECIALLY if it is no wax, easy wash, and water will sheet off it.

What is wrong with a better coating that WILL protect the finish (both paint and clearcoat), especially if it has a warranty from someone who is reputable. and you might recover MORE than it cost to do when you resell?

Some people may like additional protection, even swear by it, some may not (not that they even know anything about it, they just THINK it shouldn't work so it doesn't, in their opinion) whether they have any valid experience with it or not.

Take "Armor All" used on an interior for example - some swear by it, others who know better might not even want to touch it (speaking for the "old" chemistry of the product only), myself included.

Same with Rain-X, I wouldn't touch the stuff for my vehicle...

In terms of these coatings, look at the MSDS of the material to know a little more about what is in them. Look for the "flashpoint", as anything with a flashpoint of 145'F or less is considered to be a hazardous material, as is anything that comes in an aerosol can sprayer (those CAN come in handy when used correctly).

Look at the steps needed to perform the process, for example this one is a 5-step process, looks like it might be labor intensive with a lot of things that could go wrong, and a lot to do to make it go right.

Look for what it works with, or does NOT work with, WHAT kind of surface and material is can be used on. Putting the wrong material on paint that contains silicone can be BAD news, and you don't know/see the damage until it is too late.

Generally, some of the places that have a different coating for almost everything are trying "to be all things to all people" and might not do all of them as well as some or maybe just one of them.

The places who will sell their products to just anyone, including DIY'ers are more interested in selling their product than they might be in being careful to MAKE SURE that their product is used and applied by someone who will prep/apply/use/and maintain the surface and the coating properly.

Look for the warranty - and like someone here says SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT that if you "sell poop, and add a warranty, you still have poop that is under warranty"

I am NOT AT ALL recommending this particular product, I am just stating from my experience that not all of these polymer coatings are bad, and some might even be very good, saving a LOT of time and money in the long run, when used and applied properly and for the right reasons.

They are not all "just a bottle of junk for $16", some may be expensive materials (maybe $200/gal., it just doesn't take that much for a vehicle), applied by a professional who is in business to do it, expects to make a profit, and offers a warranty for his product and his work.

What is detailing, other than an end coat of wax (that someone cleaned to prep for), for which you may pay $100-$150 2/3/4 times a year, and get ZERO warranty once you leave their property? If you spend maybe $400 for the RIGHT one (for your needs) of these coatings, applied properly and warrantied for 3 years (some may last longer than that) as NO WAX, and you recover maybe several hundred $$ in resale value, how is that so bad???

Again, as an example, look at Line-X, or Rhino linings. The material is not cheap, needs some expertise to apply (so their material is not generally available to DIY'ers) and the business who applies it makes a fair profit for what they do, and they offer a nice warranty and stand behind it. I bet that originally there were those who had never heard of it, or seen it, that just KNEW that it wouldn't work, so they could make all kinds of negative comments without having any basis for making them.

 

WHY was this thread moved to the "engines" category ???

He got an oil change, but the real subject is about exterior coatings for a vehicle.

 

okay, point taken, but no wax ever??? come on, use some common sense, it sounds like voo doo to me my BS meter is at 150%

 

" I " never said no wax EVER, and I do not know enough about THIS product enough to recommend OR diss THIS particular product...

I am just suggesting that one keeps an open mind - there IS 2-3 year without needing to wax stuff out there that is very good!

I cannot say any more at this point.

 

Yeah, I was kinda confused as to why this was moved to the "engines" category. They developed this product for Boeing, as I understand it, to help prevent millions of $$ in corrosion damage on their planes every year and is heat-resistant up to 450 degrees F. I am friends with the owner of the dealership here in Conway and this company performed a demonstration on one of the cars on his lot. In the demonstration, they spray-painted on the hood of one of his cars that had been "Xziloned". Naturally his pucker factor was peaking until they simply wiped it off with a rag. Needless to say, he was impressed enough that he had his vehicle "Xziloned" and they incorporated it into their business as a service available to their customers.

I'm not afraid of a little hard work using elbow grease trying to maintain my truck, but time is a precious commodity to us all. Otherwise, why do we have vehicles or microwaves instead of horses and wood-burning ovens. I know the examples I'm using maybe the extreme, but they still prove the point that if something makes our lives a great deal easier and efficient and is proven to work--paying a little for it is considered a wise investment. Key words--"proven to work" which is why I posted this thread to see what experience others may have had with this product.

Milam

 

Note the 5 step application process, that's a lot of work, and a lot to go wrong if you do not do it right...

ALSO - I saw a photo on the website - a black vehicle - wet with lots of water spots. Do you want water to bead up or just run off the surface in sheets without beading???

From the text on the website, this material is still not an alternative to repainting...

 

I'm not worried about repainting--my paint still looks great. That 5 step process sounds like it could take a while to say the least and yes--I could easily mess it up. That's why I would be more than willing to let one of their professionals do the job. As for rain--I think it looks kinda cool when water beads up but I'd rather it sheet off before collecting dust from the air and dries on my black paint.

Milam

 

I'm having trouble accepting this as the end all be all to environmental damage to a vehicles exterior surface. As withall of the other BS products out there they all work during "demonstartion" remember that infomercial with the british guy that lights the car hood on fire and stuff, or those nu-finish commercials where they poish the junker car? I guess I'll have to research this and make my own determination before I sing it's praises.

 

Hey KurtBusch, nobody is singing its praises. I'm just wanting to know more about this stuff because of what my dealer's experience has been. I don't necesarily believe everything I hear, but I pick up a lot of great insight from forum members here. This place has been instrumental in making the most of my truck. I'm not advertising, I'm just curious. I hope you find something in your research that I haven't and then we'll all know a little more about whether this stuff is snake oil or if it's legit.

Milam