Teflon Coating / Environment Package -- Is It Worth It?

[David Greenapple]

Please share your brief opinion on whether it is worth purchasing the Teflon Coating / Environment Package. It is advertised as providing 5 years of worry free shine for your car -- could save you at least $600 on annual detailing over 5 years. Also, it's supposed to keep the car beautiful. I'm wondering if it's worth it.

Thanks!

[TOGWT]

Water-based paints are used on modern cars are softer and more porous than the older oil-based paints; they are protected by a urethane or polyurethane paint clear coat. These clear coat systems are primarily formulated from oils that are subject to oxidation and attack by environmental pollutants and the suns heat that dry out the resins in the paint leaving a porous surface that is susceptible to attack from acid rain, hydrocarbons, ozone, industrial contaminants, and many other forms of foreign particles.

It requires protection from the environment by the application of a sacrificial barrier. Most polymer sealants will last approximately 4-6 months, dependant upon driving and environmental conditions. Currently there is no care product that will provide protection for 5-years without re-application; nothing could be further from reality The paint film surface also requires that road dirt and tar, dust and grime be removed by washing the vehicle on a regular basis.

Teflon® PTFE (DuPont): [: a polymer of the monomer tetrafluoroethylene]

Teflon® will help ‘spread ability’ (but then so do silicone oils) it does nothing for durability because of its required application method-although Teflon® is an exceptional product when used as intended; it provides no benefit in a wax or polish.

According to G.R. Ansul of DuPont's Car Care Products, Specialty Products Division, "The addition of a Teflon® flouropolymer resin (PTFE) does nothing to enhance the properties of a car wax. We have no data that indicates the use of Teflon® fluoropolymer resins is beneficial in car waxes, and we have not seen data from other people that support this position." Manufacturers of gimmicky, over-hyped products sometimes claim that their products contain Teflon®, hoping that the consumer will believe there is something special about that product. Ansul also notes that, "Unless Teflon® is applied at 700 degrees F, and using a dissolving chemical C8, it is not a viable ingredient, and is 100 percent useless in protecting the paint's finish." This is hot enough that your car's paint (let alone your car) wouldn't survive.

Information resource-

Grisanti, Stephen "The Truth About Teflon®" Professional Car washing & Detailing, Jan1989)

http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-...RS=PN/4,284,668