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Corey
06-02-2014, 05:21 PM
Review: CQuartz Dlux Plastic & Rubber Coating (SKY Kit) - www.CarPro-US.com (http://www.carpro-us.com/cquartz-dlux-plastic-rubber-coating-sky-kit/wheel-tire-care/)

Introduction:

I’ve had the pleasure of using this product many times over the past 5 months and have wanted to review Dlux for a long time. This product is CarPro’s solution for coating headlights, plastic, rubber, metal, and wheels. Below I’ll share my thoughts on CQuartz Dlux and the other components I have added to create this kit.

Product Claims:

DLUX Long Life Trim Coat was engineered specifically for coating plastics as well as rubber and metal. It can be used on all metals, and wheel finishes such as clear coated, chrome, aluminum, and plastic. This coating is the pinnacle of exterior plastic protection and darkens the trim as well without leaving any slick greasy feel that washes off or runs in the rain. With a heat range exceeding 800 Deg. it’s an excellent option for exhaust tips, wheel components, and engine bays. Expect UV and environmental protection of all kinds for 9-12 months or longer.

SKY Kit Contents:

(3) Assorted Miniature Foam Swabs for tight areas
(1) 2" Dia. Cotton Applicator Pad
(4) 4"x4" Suede MF applicators
(1) Blue Foam Block Applicator
(1) CQuartz DLUX 30ml.
(1) Nitrile Glove
(1) CarPro Product Brochure

Applications:

Plastic
Rubber
Engine Bay
Exhaust Tips
Headlights, Fog lights, & Taillights
Wheels
Tires
Wheel Wells
Stainless steel
Aluminum
Chrome
And more

Details:

1.- Packaging: Dlux in glass bottle with drip stopper / Kit in zipped plastic bag
2.- Viscosity: Thin
3.- Color: Clear
4.- Scent: Chemical
5.- Regular Price: $39.99
6.- Size: 30ml
7.- Manufacturer: CarPro
8.- Made in: Korea


Product (Image Does not show Cotton Applicator)

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j376/CEEDOG7/Reviews/CarPro%20Dlux/00-CQDlux.jpg

Directions:

· Thoroughly clean surface to remove all existing products, and oils.
· For textured plastic scrub surface with an all-purpose cleaner and or water spot remover, rinse and agitate with microfiber towel completely clean, and allow to dry.
· Do not apply to hot surfaces or in direct sun
· Use ERASER to remove any residue left by the APC or oil film and wait until the cleaned area is completely dry.
· Shake bottle and open slowly
· Wet the applicator with 5-6 drops of DLUX and spread evenly across the surface.
· On textured plastic simply apply even and walk away
· On smooth plastic let cure about 5 minutes and lightly wipe to ensure even finish
· On rims (metal, chrome, clear coat, etc) let cure 1 minute at 85 degrees F up to 10 minutes at 50 degrees F and use a suede MF to wipe it off gently until no marks are left
· Allow the surface to cure for 1-3 hours without any moisture on its surface


Trim:

The first step in preparing trim for a coating is similar to preparing any surface for a coating, which is to remove all of the existing oxidation and old lsp from the surface. On our test bumper I was dealing with old faded plastic therefore I applied water spot remover (acidic) to the bumper, allowed it to set a few minutes and then vigorously scrubbed it with a microfiber towel. Next I rinsed and wiped and followed it up with an APC (alkaline) cleaner and again agitated it via mf towel. Finally I thoroughly rinsed it, wiped it dry and sprayed with Eraser before wiping clean and allowing to completely dry.

Next was the really fun part! After shaking I touched the bottle of Dlux to the suede wrapped applicator and released about 5 drops before wiping across and into the surface. I repeated this method until the plastic was transformed from faded junk to something much nicer!

Observations:

Dlux itself is incredibly easy to apply. During application I found that when used on textured trim the 4” suede mf that comes with the “standard” Dlux kit from CarPro left a bit of lint behind. Not a big deal but I decided to correct this issue when I created the “SKY kit” for my store. One of the items I added is a woven cotton applicator, which I recommend for texture trim.

The suede mf applicators don’t go without use though, not by a long shot. Just as they work incredibly well on paint with coatings they also work incredibly well with Dlux on wheels or metal trim, and are perfect for getting that even layer on smooth plastic.

The following photos show before, after, and then updates from July 4th 2012 until now. The vehicle was outside 24 hours a day 7 days a week in Florida summertime rain and sun with no shade.

Images 01-08

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j376/CEEDOG7/Reviews/CarPro%20Dlux/01-BEFORE.jpg

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j376/CEEDOG7/Reviews/CarPro%20Dlux/02-AFTER.jpg

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j376/CEEDOG7/Reviews/CarPro%20Dlux/03-After.jpg

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j376/CEEDOG7/Reviews/CarPro%20Dlux/04-After.jpg

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j376/CEEDOG7/Reviews/CarPro%20Dlux/05-After.jpg

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j376/CEEDOG7/Reviews/CarPro%20Dlux/06-After.jpg

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j376/CEEDOG7/Reviews/CarPro%20Dlux/07-After.jpg

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j376/CEEDOG7/Reviews/CarPro%20Dlux/08-After.jpg

SKY kit foam swabs:

When the head gaskets blew on my old faithful 97 SL (my fault) I knew it was time to finally get wifey a decent ride and inherit her SL for my daily driver. After a brief flirtation with an SUV or crossover type vehicle she told me her dream car had always been a mustang. After many hours of searching we found the one she wanted about 90 miles away.

You would think a 2011 with 23,000 on her would still have trim that looked great but you would find that not to be the case… Actually it didn't stick out much to me until I started applying Dlux.
The rear view mirrors came out so incredibly well I haven't seen any plastic look that good even brand new.


http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j376/CEEDOG7/Reviews/CarPro%20Dlux/09A50-50.jpg

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j376/CEEDOG7/Reviews/CarPro%20Dlux/09B-After.jpg

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j376/CEEDOG7/Reviews/CarPro%20Dlux/10-After.jpg


Honeycomb Grill:

Here you'll find a couple of the tools added into the Dlux "SKY kit". Our Foam Swab is made of 100ppi foam (perfect absorbency) and works an absolute treat for applying product to window seals and in the honeycomb grill area!

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j376/CEEDOG7/Reviews/CarPro%20Dlux/11-Before.jpg

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j376/CEEDOG7/Reviews/CarPro%20Dlux/12-Process.jpg

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j376/CEEDOG7/Reviews/CarPro%20Dlux/13-Process.jpg

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j376/CEEDOG7/Reviews/CarPro%20Dlux/14-Process.jpg

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j376/CEEDOG7/Reviews/CarPro%20Dlux/15-Process.jpg

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j376/CEEDOG7/Reviews/CarPro%20Dlux/16B-50-50.jpg

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j376/CEEDOG7/Reviews/CarPro%20Dlux/16C-After.jpg


Window Seals:

The Sky Line "Foam Pick" with a drop of Eraser applied to it is great for cleaning beneath the seal or for getting into places you never thought you would remove TOGW from! :wave:


http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j376/CEEDOG7/Reviews/CarPro%20Dlux/17A-Prep.jpg

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j376/CEEDOG7/Reviews/CarPro%20Dlux/17B-Prep.jpg

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j376/CEEDOG7/Reviews/CarPro%20Dlux/18-50-50.jpg

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j376/CEEDOG7/Reviews/CarPro%20Dlux/19-Process.jpg

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j376/CEEDOG7/Reviews/CarPro%20Dlux/20-Process.jpg

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j376/CEEDOG7/Reviews/CarPro%20Dlux/21-After.jpg

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j376/CEEDOG7/Reviews/CarPro%20Dlux/22-After.jpg


Cowl:

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j376/CEEDOG7/Reviews/CarPro%20Dlux/23-Before.jpg

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j376/CEEDOG7/Reviews/CarPro%20Dlux/24-Before.jpg

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j376/CEEDOG7/Reviews/CarPro%20Dlux/25-50-50.jpg

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j376/CEEDOG7/Reviews/CarPro%20Dlux/26-After.jpg

Runners and Door Sills:

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j376/CEEDOG7/Reviews/CarPro%20Dlux/27-50-50.jpg

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j376/CEEDOG7/Reviews/CarPro%20Dlux/28-After.jpg


Headlights:

For a long time I have wanted a coating capable of protecting headlights and hopefully this is it! I have tried a lot of things even including that sand, skip the polish, spar urethane and mineral spirits trick. That little trick quite frankly shocked me when it worked but the headlights did lose some transparency over time. CarPro recommends Dlux for protection of headlights along with the rest of the plastics and with it's UV blocking attributes I am hopeful! So far I'm going on 5 months on a headlight test (not the headlights pictured here) but some that are much older and were sanded and polished before coating with Dlux.

On these headlights (during the wash earlier) I applied iron x snow soap to the face of them. This was used to not only help me easily remove the bugs but to also strip any wax from the headlights. before applying Dlux I wiped them with Eraser to be sure nothing had been left behind. Application was performed with a 4" MF suede towel by wiping left to right and then up to down. After about 5 minutes I very gently wiped the headlights off with the rear side of that same 4" suede towel.

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j376/CEEDOG7/Reviews/CarPro%20Dlux/29-SnowSoap.jpg

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j376/CEEDOG7/Reviews/CarPro%20Dlux/30-After.jpg

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j376/CEEDOG7/Reviews/CarPro%20Dlux/31-After.jpg


Rims:

The wife had made a comment to me when we arrived home with her car about the wheels. She was very concerned about how dull they were and wondered if they could be any shinier. Well, as all of us here know of course they can! I believe she would prefer new chrome wheels but that won’t be happening! Prep consisted of TRIX decontamination utilizing our 3" wheel woolie as an agitator after 5 minutes dwell time. That really did the trick to cleanse the surface of all brake dust, tar, and grease!

I am ashamed to say I did not remove the wheels on this go around for lack of time so the barrels will be getting coated another day.

After an Eraser wipe down I applied about 6 drops of our CQuartz UK coating to a 4" MF suede and applied it to the face of one of the front and one of the rear wheels. Next I wrapped it around my finger to coat the sides and corners of the spokes. Dlux was used on the other two wheels as a sort of a long-term test between the two.


http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j376/CEEDOG7/Reviews/CarPro%20Dlux/32-Before.jpg

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j376/CEEDOG7/Reviews/CarPro%20Dlux/33-Before.jpg

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j376/CEEDOG7/Reviews/CarPro%20Dlux/34-During.jpg

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j376/CEEDOG7/Reviews/CarPro%20Dlux/35-During.jpg

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j376/CEEDOG7/Reviews/CarPro%20Dlux/36-After.jpg

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j376/CEEDOG7/Reviews/CarPro%20Dlux/37-After.jpg

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j376/CEEDOG7/Reviews/CarPro%20Dlux/38-After.jpg



Wheel wells:

Do it right the first time! Yeah... If I had taken those wheels off this would have been easier too but instead I simply jacked pony girl up enough to alleviate the pressure and enlarge the gap between tire and well.

Do it RIGHT the first time! There are plenty of options for plastic wheel wells but almost all involve using something often and that "something" usually attracts dust and grows dirt like its alive! Coating the wheel wells means they will spray rinse clean, often without having to even mess with a brush and better yet no reaching my arm in there or removing wheels! Worst case its simply a wash with a brush and then easily blow them dry with my Blaster.

I had cleaned the wells ?well? with brushes during the wash but now I could see areas I had missed here and there. With an MF towel wrapped around my gloved hand I gave it an apc wipe down followed by an eraser wipe down. For application of Dlux I decided to try a foam applicator this time due to the odd angle of reach and difficulty of being able to see my applicator. It actually worked quite well for this!

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j376/CEEDOG7/Reviews/CarPro%20Dlux/39-During.jpg

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j376/CEEDOG7/Reviews/CarPro%20Dlux/40-During.jpg

I am very much looking forward to all dirt and water sheeting off the wells instead of drying hard to the plastic. The rear wheel wells are a fabric material which would receive CQuartz Fabric & Leather Coat but that's for another day.

Tires:

The tires on my wifes vehicle were sealed with 2 coats of PERL so there’s no place for that here. Instead we will skip back 4+ months ago to when I started testing Dlux on the tires of the Blue SL.

During the earlier wash phase tires were wetted and then sprayed with Brow Royale courtesy of my pops (Old Tiger) Thanks dad! Anyway, that was allowed to dwell a minute or so before being scrubbed with a brush.

Put down that brush! Pick up that towel!

Something I have found works incredibly well is to use an old microfiber short weave towel for scrubbing the tire during the second go around. Then as you finish scrubbing it run water over it at the same time and keep scrubbing until nothing else is visible coming off the tire.

I do not enjoy applying Dlux to tires because I find PERL and traditional dressings are so much faster and easier to apply inside the ribs and lettering. However, obviously none of them offer nearly the durability that Dlux does so it is another tool and option based on the design of the tire and the service you want to offer.

I did have a though Dlux topped with PERL might be very cool but I haven’t tried it… yet J

I’ll let the pictures do the talking for the durability testing of tires.

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j376/CEEDOG7/Reviews/CarPro%20Dlux/41After.jpg

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j376/CEEDOG7/Reviews/CarPro%20Dlux/42After.jpg

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j376/CEEDOG7/Reviews/CarPro%20Dlux/43-3WeeksLater.jpg

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j376/CEEDOG7/Reviews/CarPro%20Dlux/44-Tires4WeeksLater.jpg

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j376/CEEDOG7/Reviews/CarPro%20Dlux/45-Tires12WeeksLater.jpg

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j376/CEEDOG7/Reviews/CarPro%20Dlux/46-Tires17WeeksLater.jpg


Pros:

1.- Durability!!
2.- Application: Very easy (Spray on, wipe off gently)
3.- Appearance: Darkens plastics and rubber very nicely
4.- Versatility: Use on exterior trim and tires, under the engine bay, on exhaust tips, etc. etc.
5.- Price: About $5 to $10 per vehicle for durability that looks to last a full year or more
6.- Extreme heat resistance: Excellent for components that get extremely hot
7.- Very resistant to chemicals
8.- Dry: does not feel greasy or wash off whatsoever
9.-The foam swabs, glove, and cotton pad are a great addition to the kit


Cons:

1.-Not as fast or easy to apply to tires (unless you have an air gun)
2.-Price: if used on tires could be a bit pricey

Final Observations and Summary:

Dlux is a very impressive product with many of the tasks it is asked to handle and while no product is perfect I believe Dlux is as good as it gets for plastics. It does an incredible job of protecting all surfaces it is applied to from oxidation, UV, bugs, dirt, brake dust, and all manner of contaminants. On plastic and rubber it greatly darkens all but the very worst faded trim. Brake dust washes off much easier on wheels and doesn't bond to the coating the way it does to the raw surface. On headlights I don't know how long it will keep them free from oxidation but I know I'm still completely clear so far and bugs come off easier than before.

On tires the application can be cumbersome and time consuming but if the time and attention is invested the durability on tires has got to be the very best of anything anyone can put forth. While the durability is incredible even past 4 months now I would say it faded enough to ask for a new coat or a dressing after about 2-3 months.

There is no other product on the market that offers the performance, versatility, durability, and value that Dlux offers. Based on my experiences there is only one other product on the market that is in the same league as a plastic coating and it can't be used on other surfaces and still costs nearly twice as much as Dlux. On top of that Dlux sheets water much more cleanly (I’ll get some video soon) which leads to less chance of water spots compared to the competitor.

Where To Find Dlux: CQuartz Dlux Plastic & Rubber Coating (SKY Kit) - www.CarPro-US.com (http://www.carpro-us.com/cquartz-dlux-plastic-rubber-coating-sky-kit/wheel-tire-care/)

Thank you for taking the time to read this review. Comments and questions are appreciated! Cheers

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j376/CEEDOG7/Reviews/CarPro%20Dlux/42.jpg

Detailed Designs Auto Spa
06-04-2014, 03:03 PM
Carpro Dlux is used on every car that leaves our shop after a thorough paint correction. All exterior vinyl is coated and the customers love it. It provides them with ease of cleaning, less issues with contaminants bonding and a sweet hydrophobic-like effect. Coupled with a long lifespan, Dlux offers what nothing else does for exterior trim.

As a matter of fact, we tend to order 3 bottles or more at a time. If you're a professional or an amateur car enthusiast, Dlux is a MUST HAVE.

mobilejay
06-04-2014, 09:35 PM
I will have to order this. I have kicked around the idea of getting it but it will probably be on my next order.

James
06-09-2014, 08:41 PM
I just ordered my DLux kit today! Cleaning the honeycomb grills on a mustang can be a real pain in the neck!

GreatAvalon
06-09-2014, 09:05 PM
I just ordered my DLux kit today! Cleaning the honeycomb grills on a mustang can be a real pain in the neck!
Smart man.

Jaddie
06-10-2014, 12:23 AM
Dear Corey

My goodness, man, you are a detailing scientist.

I appreciate your methodical, extremely well-documented journeys in detailing education.

You make my life better. Thank you.

Corey
06-11-2014, 11:49 AM
Thank you Jaddie, a pleasure as always my friend!

b0b
06-14-2014, 07:07 PM
How long, roughly, does DLUX last on the wheel wells? I have been searching for a product that makes this area much easier to maintain as it is my least favorite thing to do every wash... I hate washing the car and having brown wheel wells every time. If this makes it easier to clean and is durable I am going to buy a big bottle of this stuff...

Please advise! Thanks!

Corey
06-16-2014, 02:19 AM
How long, roughly, does DLUX last on the wheel wells? I have been searching for a product that makes this area much easier to maintain as it is my least favorite thing to do every wash... I hate washing the car and having brown wheel wells every time. If this makes it easier to clean and is durable I am going to buy a big bottle of this stuff...

Please advise! Thanks!

It definitely makes them easier to clean.
Durability will hinge in the exact plastic material and how often you wash. If you let dirt sit on them for months at a time it will hurt the durability. Honestly I haven't documented, measured, or inspected in an intelligent way on wheel wells in particular.

Prep is a huge key also. This will often decide if you get months or years.

Corey
06-18-2014, 06:34 AM
New packaging for Dlux -

http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j376/CEEDOG7/CarPro_Dlux.jpg (http://s1082.photobucket.com/user/CEEDOG7/media/CarPro_Dlux.jpg.html)

GreatAvalon
06-18-2014, 10:04 AM
Oh I like the box. Hopefully they push that to all coatings as well.

OT- I really like the new carpro bottle labels as well!

Corey
06-18-2014, 12:16 PM
Oh I like the box. Hopefully they push that to all coatings as well.

OT- I really like the new carpro bottle labels as well!

[emoji2][emoji2] have you seen the picture of UK box?

Wors
06-18-2014, 05:13 PM
New DLUX packaging looks great!

James
06-19-2014, 11:22 PM
^^^Yes indeed

ChrisDA
06-20-2014, 12:36 AM
[emoji2][emoji2] have you seen the picture of UK box?

http://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/t1.0-9/1545694_771289169548301_498714106_n.jpg

Deceptor
06-20-2016, 10:06 AM
Is dlux working well on matte powder wheels?

Merlin
06-20-2016, 05:44 PM
I recently joined the "Apply DLux to tires with an air brush" family.

So off I went to Harbor Freight, and picked up a inexpensive air brush kit.
Yes, I purchased the least expensive "kit" they have. It was under $100.
I am not an artist or am I trying to be Piccaso. I'm spraying DLux on tires.
I poured a little DLux in the air brush bottle and plugged in the compressor.

From the first press of the button I fell in love. Yes, it's a bit pricey but...
I believe I used less product with the air brush & got a better coat on the tires.
Did I mention it gets into all those tiny little tire grooves in just a few seconds?

It's quick, easy, and leaves a dark, even, uniform finish that lasts a long time!

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc140/merlinhd03/Detail/2015%20Dodge%20Challenger%20SRT%20392/2015%20Dodge%20Charger%20SRT%20392-2a.png

Ebg18t
08-07-2016, 08:30 PM
Merlin - how's it holding up on tires?