#1: Why do you recommend using a vinyl treatment on leather?

I think you have said that today's car leather comes with a vinyl coating as a protectant. But why does this in turn mean that one should not use a leather conditioner? Also, why doesn't a single vinyl protectant recommend on the bottle that it be used on leather? Do you have any info. sources that support using a vinyl protectant on leather?


#2: Can you recommend a few good polymer sealants (other than Zaino)?

I am thinking about trying Liquid Glass. Do you have any experience using it? Also, I have heard that polymer sealants give black or dark colored cars a hazy look. Is this the case?

 

Leather today is "finished" leather, and sould be treated with a quality water based potectant. I recomend 303 because its the best out there. The reason most manufactures dont say this is so that you spend the extra money on leather coditioner.

BUT, quite a few vinyl protectants out there (Armor All ect) still have the bad silicons in them along with petroium distilates and this is very bad for the leather surface. But stick to a good water based protectant (303, Vinylex, Meguars #40 in the tan bottle, Eagle One Interior Protectant, AutoInt Vinyl Rubber Portectant) These protect very well from the sun and body sweat (303 moe than ony of them) better than leather conditioners, and wont build up over time.

Liquid Glass is suposedly fairly good (never used it). The hazy finish is somewhat of a myth. Some polymres are hard to buff out (Klasse Sealant Glaze) and will therefore look streaky/hazy, but that just means you didn't buff it all off.

 

Thanks for the quick reply. I've got a couple follow up questions.

Both lexol and vinylex are made by the same co. and I currently both for the purposes they are marketed for. Is it inappropriate to use lexol conditioner on the 350z's leather?

Also, can you recommend a few good sealants (other than Zaino)?

 

Innapropriate. Well , I don't know, I've talked to a chemist at AutoInt and with discussions wth other enthusiast came to this conclusion. Usuing an oil based conditioner like Lexol may not do imidiate harm, but its just simply unescesary. Usuing 303, Vinylax will also protect the seats from te elements better, which is what you really should be worrying about. "Conditioning" leather really isn't nesecary, and I find 303 to actually provide enough hydration to the seats allready, as the seats are water dyed.

Zaino is a good all around polymer. Blackfire looks the best, but it doesnt seem to old quite as well as others. Klasse is good, the Sealant Glaze is harder to remove if applied to thick. Liquid Glass is ok.