PurpleJalopy.com Presents - Ultra Luster : Waterless Car Wash Technology

Vehicle Finish & Graphic Protection Information

Purplejalopy.com has searched for years for a surface protection product manufacturer that has actually tested its products with adhesives and graphic films.
We found it...

Every PurpleJalopy.com customer has heard our lecture about selecting a surface protection product that is semi-clear without large amounts of petroleums and silicone.
We found it...

We have long warned about paste waxes and other products that use abrasive materials. We always make it clear that graphics must be protected from the elements and harsh chemicals picked up on the road.

From time-to-time we hear from customers who did not follow this advise. They have rubbed through the clear protectant and color layers on their graphics.

We agree that it is difficult to find just the right product, but...
We found it...

This product is fantastic! So fantastic that PurpleJalopy.com is now a North American Distributor and recommends UltraLuster Waterless Wash, Polish & Protective Glaze to protect your finish and graphics.

Click on one of the links below or scroll down for more on why we endorse this product.

When asked for a Sponsor's User ID: purplejalopy

If you are in an area now restricting water, your vehicle will suffer.

As you are aware, these restrictions usually restrict car washing to Car Wash facilities. Those of you who know us know that we are apposed to most car washes.

Folks with show cars or that just love their daily driver are on the program of hand washing at home can stick to your routine without the water.

Not only will you help protect your limited water supply by conserving, you'll save over 50% over the car wash.

UltraLuster will clean and protect your vehicle from the harsh chemicals you pick up each time you drive.

The Products

Ultra Luster Waterless Wash, Polish & Protective Glaze

This amazing product will save you big bucks over the Touchless Car Wash. You probably use the touchless car wash because you realize that the last car that went through the Flapper Wash was covered with oil from the leaking semi truck on the interstate.

Anyway, you will spend an average of $8.00 at the car wash and still have to dry your car. Additionally, you have to worry about water spots and un-rinsed soap residue drying where you do not want it.

First let's look at cost. Using a PT Cruiser as an example; we wash ours for about $3.30. That is a difference of $4.70 over the Car Wash. That is an annual savings of $244.44 if you wash your car once per week.

How about this one; I have to go over the entire car if I use Ultra Luster. Yes you do; ONCE. If you use a car wash you will have to go over the entire car at least once to dry it. Also, show me a touchless car wash that gets all of the film off of your car. The fact is when we dry our cars we are usually finishing the car wash's job. Think about it. After you dry your vehicle you get to go around it again with the wet towel or chamois to clean off the film residue or soap that did not get blasted off.

Now lets move to the magic wand car wash. Same or more money but now you get to spray, brush, wipe and dry. Being fair you have to scrub and dry, that is 2 times over the entire vehicle if you work from the top down and don't miss anything. By the way, you are using a brush that Bubba just used to scrub off the mud from Saturday's hunting trip with the boys.

Hand wash at home. Always a fun mess washing into the storm drain and making a great spot for Fido to dig and roll around next to the drive way. By the way, UltraLuster is not recommended for washing your pets. Back to the cleaning. Let's see, we have our bucket, the dish soap that we will not be able to find after dinner, our favorite big plush sponge, the garden hose that has the pressure of the kitchen sink that we will probably let run between washing and rinsing to be sure the dog has a good time and 4 or 5 old bath towels (oops, I wasn't supposed to use that one!). OK well that was a fun exaggeration but we have to wash, dry and wax here at home. That is 3 times over your entire vehicle.

The last method is to spend $25.00 with tip at Cruiser's Buggy Bath. Let's hope they understand that tire shine splattered all over the side of your car will pick up every bit of dust that you drive through on the way home. That is 1/2 times over your entire vehicle.

With Ultra Luster you work no harder than any of the above options with the exception of having it detailed by a pro. By the way, we are seeing some retailers moving toward waterless because of restrictions in mobile car washing.

To recap: One time over the car (12-20 min.) for less than $3.75!

Perfect Clear Coat Bar

There are times that you need to go over your vehicle with a verrrrry mild abrasive. Common clay bars can only be used a couple of times per year. Our Clear Coat Bar can be used as often as once a month. You may find that since you did not UltraLuster you vehicle for over a month that the road dirt and heat caused a certain amount of fine grit to bond with your finish. The Clear Coat Bar can be used to remove this film and return your finish to the mirror you have become used to. Note: a solid schedule of UltraLuster Treatments will virtually end this possibility.

Metal Polish

I will put our Metal Polish up against any on the market. It can also be used to remove oxidation on some clear coats.

Tire & Trim

Stop splattering oil all over your car. This product cleans and restores your tire to look new not oily. If you do want that wet look for a show, use it a second time with out wiping it off.

Leather Cleanditioner

Does a great job and smells great. One thing I like about ours is that it doesn't leave the seats uncomfortably slippery or greasy like some other popular brands.

BUG BUSTER

This thing is awesome! It helps you remove bugs and such with out using any more Ultra Luster Polish and it will not scratch your car like a Greene Pad.

Testing*

As we stated above, we have asked several manufacturers to inform us as to there testing their product with graphic film adhesives. In all cases we received no response or were told that no such testing was performed.

Ultra Luster not only responded but informed us that their chemist actually has experience with graphic film and graphics and striping and the products behavior with them was addressed.

After our introduction to Ultra Luster we ran our own tests. This is what we found:

Graphic Edge Build up.

There seems to be no noticeable build up at the edge of graphics or striping. Our concern with any product is that a powdery or caked residue can build up at the edge of our product and, over time, cause a failure of the adhesive layer at that edge. This can cause the PVC to release from the adhesive layer and cause cracking or pealing. We have determined that the lack of abrasive compounds/material in the UltraLuster Polish is the reason for a lack of build up. Our conclusion is that the UltraLuster Polish as currently formulated is safe for the edge of out vinyl products. We will however continue to caution our customers about allowing this product and others to build up at the edge of our products.

Protective Abilities relative to PVC Graphic Film.

This testing was limited to Avery Graphics film. While testing UltraLuster Polish on several metallic and specialty film products we had an opportunity to monitor its protective qualities at a car dealership near a railroad tracks. We noticed, on products of PurpleJalopy.com, Inc. installed on lot vehicles that rail dust had left spots that were presumed to be rust that we were unable to remove from the product using UltraLuster Polish or other chemicals including 91% Isopropyl Alcohol. Other vehicles at the same location with installed PurpleJalopy.com, Inc vinyl graphics that were treated with UltraLuster Polish seemed to show no signs of the same reaction to this rail dust. This is not a controlled test as we have not attempted to track the schedule of rail traffic in the area nor did we inquire with the dealership staff as to the frequency of their cleaning of the vehicles. Never the less, we feel that the UltraLuster Polish did, although we can not determine to what degree, protect the vinyl graphics/striping on those vehicles.

Other testing was performed on our test vehicle and there seemed to be an equal amount of water beading between the painted and vinyl covered areas. When re-cleaning the vehicle using only a micro fiber towel we noticed that the vinyl and painted surfaces returned to approximately the same percentage of luster. Our conclusion is that the UltraLuster Polish protects the vinyl and painted surfaces equally or close to equally.

Surface damage to calendared and cast PVC Graphic Films.

Using UltraLuster Polish on several Specialty films we did not find that it had a detrimental effect on the clear layer or the color layer of the tested vinyl. Our concern with most polishes on the market is that the abrasives in the products will wear through the clear and color layers of the graphic film. UltraLuster Polish shows no signs of wearing through these layers. However, only about 3 months of testing was performed. Our conclusion is that the product did not seem to damage the finish of our products over the short time we tested it and it is our belief that the lack of abrasives in the UltraLuster Polish will prove to be the reason that no damage was or will be done to our products.

Vibrancy restoration.

Understanding that most polish products on the market use abrasives to cut through built up, hard to remove, grime we were concerned that the UltraLuster Polish may not restore vibrancy to the graphic film when used as specified. We were pleasantly surprised to find that is did restore vibrancy to specialty films as well as products using abrasives. We have concluded that the Ultra Luster Polish will restore vibrancy without the damaging effects of materials containing abrasives.

Application in the sun.

When applying UltraLuster to specialty film on the top surfaces of our test vehicle in the sun we found that UltraLuster clouded and dried to quickly. This surprised us as we had used the product on other vehicle with specialty films where this did not happen. After reviewing the differences we discovered that none of the non-test vehicles were darker than red. None were black or very dark blue.

After noticing the cloudy affect UltraLuster had on the specialty film on the test vehicle we moved to the shade & reapplied UltraLuster to the same area. We were happy to see that the film was restored to its original condition. Our conclusion is that Ultra Luster can be used in the sun as advertised including on vinyl specialty film. However, common sense must be used to recognize extreme conditions when working with materials with coatings softer than the clear coat on a vehicle. Customers should use UltraLuster on the graphic film applied to their vehicle and should do so using common sense to determine if the hood, roof or other panels are to hot for UltraLuster to be applied vinyl specialty film. Customers should be able to hold entire hand on the vehicle's panel for more than 10 seconds with out discomfort. (CAUTION: painted, plastic, glass or rubber vehicle parts can be heated by the sun to the degree that serious burns can occur. Use CAUTION when testing a vehicle to determine how hot it is.)

Note: We have found no reason not to use UltraLuster in the sun with the exception to those comments made above.

*Tests were performed by PurpleJalopy.com, Inc. over a 3 month period with the ultimate purpose of determining wether to endorse, market and distribute products manufactured by or for UltraLuster for the purpose of profit and were not scientific in nature. These tests were on real products in their actual intended environment and not in a laboratory and should not be considered "Independent Testing". PurpleJalopy.com, Inc. does not, as a result of the stated tests or its association with UltraLuster assume any responsibility or Liability for, but not limited to, the stated product(s) or its behavior or reaction to any person or persons property whether or not the product is used as specified by any party.