If you park your car outside permanently here in Australia you're going to have issues if you don't apply a protectant, maybe not 12 times a year but at least 4 or 5 perhaps. The sun here can be brutal.
I've just used Armoral matte finish for years. My interior looks like new even baking in the Perth summers and now I'm in Brisbane. I apply it about 6 times a year.
@@OFFICIAL_VIDEO_AWARDS Good on you. I have not used any Armor-All anything since forever ago, when their original spray that they sold as a "protectant" that simply dried out dash plastic and make any cracking worse.
What do you consider brutal in Australia? I'm from AZ where temps are 110F to 120F in the Summer. It's also very dry which makes the plastics very brittle. AZ is great against rust but very harsh against plastic. I just moved to the Southeast where its not as hot in the summer but very humid, 85F to 100F degrees with up to 100% humidity, so rust is a bigger problem.
I am new to 303 and have used it on my two cars now only one time at the current car clean. A 2003 mazda 6 and a 2006 grand marquis. I only ever used Armor All before. I do like that 303 gave my plastics a deep rich color and there is just a hint of shine until it completely soaks in. But frequent application will keep that deep rich color, a healthy look to the inside of my car. If I remember Trim Shine when my bottle is empty I will get a bottle and try that.
I have to agree with Scott. Out of ignorance, I did nothing to my 2005 Honda for four years. Both my paint and interior cloth was sun bleached, I had some clear coat damage, some rubber molding broke down and the glue on the interior headliner and door panels failed. But the plastic interior dash and plastic door trim held up remarkably well. No cracking, no fading. There is no need to use UV protection very often on modern cars anymore.
I bought one gallon of 303 when I bought a new vehicle, economy of scale/ I’ve used it on average 8 times a year exterior and interior. I feel like it’s made a difference, I live in sunny so cal.
@@dallaspaintcorrectionautod8343 Yes the origila aerospace bottle it sais 40 spf BUT in the newer aytomitive bottle version surprizly the spf rate is NO mentioned in the label at ALL..............it is very suspicious...... And if we consider that the front windshield has constantly 60 spf and the side windowes 15-30 spf rate constantly.............and we never know how much the 303 can hold the 40 spf rate after the application.....then the Scott video it is making a lot more sence that.............DO NOT OVER THINK IT
I spray this stuff generously in the engine bay after washing it. It makes everything shine and as added bonus, it prevents future dirt from from sticking to plastics, rubbers, hoses, etc which makes the next wash easier
I originally used 303 40 years ago on scuba equipment. It most defiinitely protected rubber from UV degredation. Most of that equipment still in usable condition today. I don't know if applying it to modern car interiors is beneficial or necessary. I used it in a 2004 Element for 11 years, treating the extensive plastic cladding and fenders and the tire sidewalls. They had scratching but otherwise looked like new when I replaced that car in 2015. I removed exterior trim pieces the first year to install a roof rack and stored them in my home. When reinstalled 10 years later, those pieces perfectly matched the surrounding plastic. Regarding cost: 303's original directions were to apply, and after 24 houts, wipe away any excess. The claim was that it bonded with the plastic. My guessis that with few people able to not use a cars for 24 hours after applications, the application interval was reduced to reflect less material being left on the surface. I never waited for 24 hours for an interior application to "cure" but I never polished it away as shown in this video. One 16 oz bottle applied to all the exterior plastc and rubber, all the CLEANED interior hard plastic, was enough to do the entire SUV 24 times. My trick was to use the smallest possible piece of cloth that I could manipulate and apply a few drops of 303 to it whenever it was no longer leaving a visible coating. The only chemical I've ever used for a car surface protectant than came close to that level of coverage was Meguiars Paint Protect. My theory is that the reason the exterior plastic looked like new was that it wasn't coated with layers of degraded waxes and embedded grime, because I was scrupuous about keeping wax off the plastic. I believe the interior plastic didn't need a protectant, becasue a used Element I bought with 8 years heavy use that has no sign of ever being detailled before I bought it has like new interior plastic everywhere except where the woman onwer rested her over-lubricated left arm on the door. After cleaning that panel with APC and LVP cleaner, it looked as good as new.
I apply this about three times a year to our three cars,but then I live in the UK so not that hot in summertime however I do use it on my LR discovery D4 that we drive to Spain and in my opinion it definitely helps keeping the dash looking fine and protected in the hot Spanish sunshine.I thoroughly recommend 303.
303 is great stuff. I dress the engine bay with it. $40 a gallon on amazon. I think it looks great and I feel like it protects the belts and hoses reasonably well. Guess I'm just a fan boy :)
I think this depends a lot on where you live and if your car is garage kept or out in the sun all day. South Florida, definitely need some sun protection, especially on leather seats and the headlights, if you don't have a garage!
just a guess perhaps 303 application interval is to help stop complaints from people who own 80's vintage cars with plastic interiors that are looking for a like new appearance that would last more than a month. I know if 303 were available in the 80's I would have used it on my rx7. I know the armorall that I used once was to greasy and seem to promote interior cracking. I ended up not using any protectant
I would believe that some protectant is better than none. In todays age with todays plastic, being made cheaply "Not better" I would rather Have some protectant than none at all., I have two Infiniti's home. One is 2003 FX45, last year i found two cracks on the dash, now i am upto 4, Not very Notocable. But enough that it bothers me. Also I am from NY like you Scott 😁 You know it not hot all year long down hear and the sun isn't as intense here in Queens, but my dash has cracks on it. Lot's of Modern Cars have Dash issues, bubbling, peeling, cracking, spliting etc. I think that is all do to cheaper quality material used in order to Maximize their Profits. Also, I have noticed a difference, in feel and look of my dash using 303 Protectant , So for me, I am very Satisfied with the Product and i think it's Superior to other brands, because of the look and feel of my treated dash. I think at $14-16+ for a 16oz Bottle is a bit over priced. I picked up three bottles of 303 Protectant, on amazon $6.16 as an "Add On Item". So i took advantage 😁
Automobile plastics, rubber and the like are light years beyond what they were even in the 90’s. Most automobile companies test their plastic and paint formulations in the Arizona desert 🌵, yes there’s a actual testing facility where that’s all they do. So extreme advances in formulations have been made. That said, I still think 303 is worth the investment for a car you plan to keep for the long run. It’s proven to protect plastics and rubber. The effect it has on rubber specifically is very impressive! I use it on my host primarily and the vinyl looks new (it’s a 1987 ski boat).
303 also states that it protects for up to 6 months. Sure if you want the absolute best protection then you have to apply it 10-12 times a year but for an automobile, you don’t really need that. If you’ve got a boat or a convertible where the interior is in direct sunlight and doesn’t have automotive glass taking some of the “sting” out of the sunlight, you do really need to apply it that often. For all other cars, once a season is perfect. If you’re in a really hot climate then throw in an extra top off application in the middle of the summer months when the sun’s rays are strongest. If you’ve got a proper winter/fall season... then you can get away with one application for both since there’s no danger of uv rays in the winter and barely any in the fall.
I've used 303 since it first appeared, like 20 years ago. First, I don't believe SPF is a valid measure for other than human skin exposure, and while upholstery may be like skin it is not necessarily prone to the same type of damage; windscreens may have SPF 60, but that is to protect the occupants. 303 at least in Colorado altitudes does not last very long on exterior surfaces; I've been using Outlast with better results, but ICE wax lasts at least 6 months so that's my exterior choice. 303 leaves no apparent change, greasiness, color or texture change on either plastic or leather, not slippery beyond an easier surface to dust. It also does NOT do the interior windshield condensation that silicone oils produce, an obvious sign that they are really just coatings that vaporize when hot, leaving no protection beyond a simple oil coating. So far nothing ever seems to reverse aging in vinyl, a disappointment in a 2012 white Impreza; perhaps sweat and not UV is the culprit?
Sorry disagree with you Scott! If you live in the boating and trailer world where your equipment is constantly exposed to high levels of sun, you will use 303 on a regular basis. It seems to be the only product that works, the rest of the stuff offered is junk! Over time, even at the higher price the 303 turns into a great value! My experience tells me to stick with the 303, thank you.
John T Davis I used 303 that was made for plastic and vinyl once on a vinyl shutter and it disappeared and faded after 3 hours! The 303 disappeared and faded back into amazon’s return system the next day! I applied Chemical Guys VRP on the same shutter 2 weeks ago and it’s just now starting to fade. I know that the shutters need a nice clear coat to restore them. There is no rub on product that will last or protect, they are mostly all lies. To many products to many promises. The only product that I trust to put on my interior is Meguiars Natural Shine Protectant, it’s the only interior product that has lasted for over a year on my dash and tops of the door panels.
Anybody who owns a boat especially one used in Salt water knows nothing protects and lasts as long as 303. That is where 303 earned its well deserved reputation. The ocean is one of the harshest environments on earth and few products stand up to its test 303 does which is why people like me figured if it keeps my boat vinyl looking great then my truck would really benefit. Here in the harsh northeast I use 303 twice a year to protect my tourno cover and my dash. I use stoner trim shine my doors and engine mainly because it's so easy to apply and holds up great in area not constantly in direct sunlight. If you want to truly compare do something plastic that sits outside in the sun & weather and see for yourself which lasts. PS nothing cleans dirty marine vinyl like Megs HD vinyl cleaner.
yes i understand...but also 303 says you need to use it every 3-5 weeks...thats 12 times a year!..perhaps vinyl and interior plastics are strong enough so that we only need to really use it a few times a year and we will be fine:)
Dallas Paint Correction & Auto Detailing c no idea why they would say that except maybe in the marine environment where a boat sits in the unobstructed sun plus reflection off the water plus salt water. As I said, that's 303s traditional market. It's the only thing some marine stores even bother carrying. On an automobile 1x or 2x a year is all that's needed. I do my torneau cover 2x a year in fall and spring and it still looks brand new after 5 years here in New England. I never tried it on the external hard black trim but will shortly as a test.
303 does not last all that long in all honesty. That said, I love the product and use it on my personal and client's cars and boats. It looks fantastic on vinyls and plastics. I buy it by the gallon.
I use and have been using Meguiars Quick Interior Detailer and have never had interiors fade. If a customers wants a "dressed" look I reach for CarPro Perl (heavily diluted), or Meguiars Hyper Dressing (heavily diluted).
I will but I’m an enthusiast. My car has to be clean and perfect or I get anxiety. I love this stuff. Goes on smooth and looks nice. Works on tires too.
Once a year or maybe for extreme cases twice a year is what I see as a professional detailer. Most of my clients do an interior detailing in the spring, so that is once a year.
303 isn't the only product out there to say "protection for weeks" there are many that claim that. But how many tell you how many weeks for maximum protection? I personally treat my interior every time it starts getting overly dusty, which means it varies from 1-3 months depending on how much I'm opening my windows. I love 303, especially on my tires, really keeps the dust and grime off while keeping a nice satin finish. Want to know how a product does keeping dirt off, spray both of these products on your tires and drive a mile or two through a dirt road, see which one keeps the tires cleaner.
@@randomrazr Its used to condition the rubber, otherwise it would dry-rot and crack apart in less than a year. I understand that manufacturers use various coatings on the rubber blades.. I cant 100% confirm that 303 is used for this... BUT its suspicious to me that a company who makes wipers also owns 303 lol. just putting 2 and 2 together.
Here in the Nevada desert I use it at the start of our summer heat and at the end so July and then October. That’s for the interior rubber seals dash and any vinyl. Same outside including the headlight and tail light lenses. That’s in my 2010 fj cruiser. It doesn’t shine but it does clean and I think protects really well. A crazy friend of mine applies sunscreen lotion with SPF 100. Banana boat and nutragena brand. His car is never garaged and it seems to work. Won’t hurt your skin so it should be okay on vinyl, plastic and rubber. He applies it once a month. The banana boat he uses for the interior so it leaves a nice scent that the women like 😎
To really see the difference that 303 makes, you really need to be in the marine application, where heavy UV exposure all day every day is a constant thing. In the automotive world, maybe if someone parks outside in a desert climate. The product's distinguishing characteristic is that the UV protection is LEGIT.. but if you want the highest level of sun protection, you do have to reapply monthly. Protection from dust/dirt is secondary and not unique. ALSO it is indeed water soluble and will wash off at the slightest contact with water, a minus. But it is the real business in its niche, and highly suitable for automotive interiors.
i have that 303. one thing i notice is if like opening the door on a rainy day and the door panel with 303 gets wet and i was not able to wipe it and gets dried out the next day, there is a "rundown" mark or streaks. i dont know if anybody experienced it or its just me. very nice vid scott, helped me bought alot of products because of your real-world reviews
It has on the directions that it does not air dry. So, if you apply too much or do not follow the application of wiping with another clean dry microfiber, you will get the streaking effect.
I am going to test it and put some on my car for the next 30 years, if my plastic crack in February 2050, I will let you know....keep posted. Seriously, for me, I like it because of the finish it give, not because of the UV protection...
My car detailer swears by 303, because it does not give you a linting problem. I have been using it about a year. I put it on 3 and 4 times a year, no lint problem. With all the pl Glossier products attracted lint
I use simple green wipes in the canister - doesn't hurt anything, picks up the dust, and I use sun shades in the windows - my car is a 2008 and it's just fine.
My former bubblegum Camry dashboard really made me think hard about UV protectant. I bet replacing all those dashboards made Toyota think really hard about investing in better materials. I swear my parents had some type of leather in their Camry as the dashboard material.
Since its the SUMMER SUN, that has the STRONGEST UV rays, id go ahead and use it may june july august. The rest of the year every 3 months. The California desert sun is super strong, and today the temp reached 117 f !
My common sense opinion. Based on personal experience, it all depends on where you live. While living in Texas, I seen cracks on interior vehicle parts. The heat is so strong that it feels like an oven. Some cities in California, definitely in Arizona, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico are the same. My experience in Western Washington State much different. I see many older vehicles with original paint looking good. There interior are excellent. The weather is much more cooler. 303 in my opinion is a much better product. I’ve noticed on hot days that the other products tend to aerosolize onto your windshield. Cleaning this involved multiple towels. I used to get a film on my windshield only noticeable at night. Armor All is a bad product for vehicle interiors. As far as how much( many) times. It is less in northern cooler states.
I agree to a point - I think that over a period of many, many years in pretty harsh conditions (say in Nevada or Arizona) the plastics (even modern ones, especially since they're "greener" now) may be about as bad off as those we saw in the late 80's through the mid 90's. I really do think (and again agree) that one can go overboard by following the directions in a strict fashion - my guess is that using 303 once a month won't "hurt anything" but it probably won't help that much more vs. a couple times a year. Some other RU-vidrs swear by 303 Aerospace - I think they add it to their coffee in the morning (not really but they seem to use it on everything else) - I think you said something that was "key" - people overthink stuff and the reality is that people really don't keep cars all that long and the vast majority of cars that over 10 years old today will never be "classics" or worth any more later than they are worth today.
I agree Scott, think maybe I shine my own personal cars 2 times a year using chemical guys silk shine and it looks good all year. Thanks for the heads up was wondering about 303.
Great video Scott. I have gotten by using meguiars quik interior cleaner. And I just started on griots interior cleaner. I have never used a dressing per se on the interior trim. I did like the fact that there are water based products out there and like on a recent video of yours using diluted vrp to achieve a desired effect.
In one video you recommended Protectall....do you prefer that over other products for the interior? Various recommendations are scattered across a bunch of videos and can be a bit confusing. It would nice if you could do a video with your top current products that you recommend for certain tasks.
I gotta say....lotions for your skin...you can use 10 different lotions and once it dries they all can look the same but what they DO for you can be completely different. There's a reason that for umpteenth years pilots and exotic car owners have been using 303 and not stoners trim shine and im willing to bet it has to do with a highly researched formula. No....I don't use 303 twelve times a year because I don't feel the necessity but I do use it 3 to 4 times per year amd you don't have to use much at all each time. I've found with other "plastic lubes" people really have heavy hands when applying. 303 is different and they even say DONT APPLY TOO MUCH or you need to wipe it off. Yes, it's 15 bucks a bottle vs 6 but if you're only buying 1 bottle a year isn't she worth it????
I've used and tried all sorts of protectants starting with Armor All way back (that stuff is crap compared to what is available now). I really like the way the 303 goes on. The only one I have liked as much is Mr. Wizards but that stuff is even more and hard to find. I do get Formula 1 protectant through work dirt cheap. I use it first on really faded parts or budget detail jobs. It reminds me of old Armor All though.
Not exactly sure, but I think the parent company of 303 is TRICO wich is a windshield wiper manufacturer.. I'm assuming they needed something to keep rubber wiper blades from breaking down, and so they purchased either the patent or the company producing 303... I can't tell because the information isn't readily available to me. MY POINT IS lol, they probably are saying apply it 12 times a year to garuntee that plastics/rubbers will be UV protected in the worse case scenario... Like in a desert climate. I don't think this applys to the rest of the world where there is trees and cloudy days/parking garages and so on.. So it should be acceptable to do it once every 2 or 3 months in my opinion thats not over-doing it and should keep the plastics safe.
I believe and this is just my opinion but if you keep your plastic vinyl clean free of dust build up that there is 3/4 the battle with occasional application of dressing.
I assume that 303 is giving advice that meets the worst case scenario. If your car is outside in the Phoenix sun, then use protection once a month. If you live somewhere that gets much less sun or you park in a garage or you cover the car, then you don’t need as much protection but you’ll have to guess how much you need. If you use less and guess wrong, then 303 will say that’s on you.
I always wipe down the interior with cool water before I use 303. I love the product. But please clean you interior first. I use it about every 6 weeks. and it's wonderful. And the smell isn't bad at all. Remember they want to sell the stuff too, wink wink! thanks bud nice video. Got a new sub!
yes trim shine is water based just like 303 so its safe on leather...we also need to remember that most modern day leather is coated in a form of plastic, so just about anything can be applied to leather:)
Hmm, i was sold 303 by THE premier detailing products company here in NE Ohio( Recognized by the International Detailing Association as the World's First Detailing Training Center in the World). They supply every detail shop, car wash, and car dealer i know. Being a former detailer i am picky about my cars. My wife recently got a Honda odyssey with tan leather interior and the dealer tried to sell me a surface protectant package for exterior and interior. Not wanting to spend $600, i figured i could do it all myself. Come to find out most likely the exterior protectant is probably a ceramic coating of some sort which i do not have the time to prep for and guaranteed to last for years with a reapply after 7 years (which i dont believe) However i did inquire with my detail products supply store about "scotch guarding" the interior. They also sold me a leather lock prduct "aka ceramic coating for leather interior" whcih i took the bait and bought and applied. However they pushed me to use 303 for the interiror as a scotch guard protectant supposedly better than even their own line of repellant. DOES ANYONE ON HERE USE 303 FOR THEIR INTERIOR CARPETS?
I Like the Wet Look it Leaves and stays there for at least 4-5 weeks, but i don't know if it is really non toxic. It does not evaporate away so must have some sort of oil in it, i'm thinking coconut. Really does make interior look new and nice. I was told bowdens was great but does not look like you even applied anything its just dry compared to 303.
Windshield glass has plastic in the middle, which blocks 100% of the UV, and side windows have UV-blocking chemicals added that, varying by manufacturer block, I believe like 95%. So why, on modern cars, do we need a UV-blocker on the interior?
Visual looks vs. what the components of the two sprays have in them are completely different. You may get the same look but are you getting the same protection? One person said 303 is rated for SPF 40. If that is true is the other spray comparable? One thing I have yet to see is anyone taking like a car dash and putting it out in the sun for a year or two, making a video showing a raw dash, a protected dash and what the difference would be after a year or so. That would be interesting.
Great video and your correct the 303 cost me around 15 dollars in autozone and was told this would be good for the tongue cover and i see that you were demonstrating on doing the door panel do you think this can be used on the tongue cover too ?? If so im definitely doing something wrong !! If you have any ideas i would appreciate your input, the cover is in good shape but it needs some love and i was hoping to make it pop ! Like i said autozone told me it would work!! I appreciate your video just like to know what you think!! Thanks and i appreciate it!!!!!
I usually like your videos but not this one. Your review is not exactly true and is not tested. I've used aerospace (original white bottle) for 7 years now. My interior and leather still look new on all my vehicles and I have yet to change my wiper blades as I use on rubber as well. I have not tried stoners but I know Aerospace is tried and proven and worth the money on my opinon
StreetHitzEnt I called gold eagle and they state this bottle is verbatim without a doubt same forumula as the older packaging that had "aerospace" in the name with the boat on graphic etc...
saxplaya07 I emailed them aswell and they have confirmed same exact product. Not sure about you but it works great for me and one of my staple products
I know that you enphesies that it just your opinion but in my opinion you really do a discredit to your channel, brand and opinion when you say that you are no difference. I really wouldn't expect to see difference in a visual side by side, but I do believe that there could be a huge difference between both product. To truly provide information of value in your review and product assessment you need to get a panel and apply both product and place in a your yard to bake in the side as test. Application would be best dividing the panel into 3 section - section 1non treated, section 2 treated with product 1 and section 3 treated with product 2, product should be applied by spraying directly to panel and wipe. Then review on a two week intervals to compare, nyway that my opinion.
With me first time using it the 303 soaked in and it was gone did 3 applications and after it dried rubbed it and it had little shine and does huge on tires here it’s $16 a bottle used to get gallon at parts store I’m going online to order it’s way cheaper
So I use various UV type products once a month. Maybe once every 2 months. Adam's VRT, Leather Conditioner, etc. In between I use their Interior Detailer. Am I just removing the protectant with the detailer? I like the matte finish and you have to use something to get the dust off. I spray the microfiber and lightly swipe because it's a weekender car and doesn't get dirty, just dusty from driving
I hear what you are saying about new cars having better interior because of better plastics, but in the same token there are pressures to save money and the environment (socially and by law). Europe has had laws since the mid 2000s to use recycled plastics in autos. In many cases and applications (IMHO), recycled plastic do not go distance.....Also as others have pointed, out many autos have rubber coated plastic interiors. I do not believe recycled plastics should be used in autos for durability and safety reasons. There are plenty of other applications that recycled plastics can be used. My whole point is "Are the interiors really getting better, especially if they are full of recycled plastic?" I think it is all a marketing ploy.
This was a great video. Thanks for the insight. I agree with you that both products are pretty much the same and deliver the same benefits. I bet if you did an experiment and used the 303 twelve times a year and the Stoners Trim Shine a few times a year, you'd most likely get the same results.
Good review from experienced person. Its also a worry that the ingredients are unknown. Silicones are inert and have a long history of safe use. What if 303 contains Plasticisers like BPA or other endocrine disrupters? You'd be absorbing it through your skin and also your lungs, given that it's a spray.
I have a 2000 outback. What do you use to clean your interior plastic and vinyl. I have used baby wipes alcohol free wipes. They just leave fibers behind. Love your vids by the way.
Scott, I appreciate and enjoy your videos. Workz owes you some royalty....I purchased the portable power washer after watching your videos. It is great! On to 303, I live in FL and use it on almost every surface possible (car, boats, etc) I use it about every 3 months and it seems to work just fine. I would love t see a long term test of the protect to actually prove how much SPF it really has,, but until then, 303 has me convinced to use it! Plus I like the way it looks. Keep up the great videos!
