Maintaining the interior

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

What do you lovely guys and gals use to protect the interiors of your Prado? Mine was all nice and clean when we picked it up from the dealer but I want to give the vinyl, plastic, and leather some treatment to protect it. I've always used Armourall on the vinyl in the past but I'm sure there are other products being used by PP members.

I'd also like to Scotchguard the carpets and mats, will pick up a can in the next few days unless I get a different suggestion.

Have no idea what to use on the leather so fire away with some recommendations.

My Prado was purchased from a dealer 2nd-hand but I'm chasing that new car smell LOL.

[jhiace Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close jhiace]

Hey Fido, Getting the new car smell is not really possible as its the combination of plastic, glue, paint and material that creates it and thus far i don't believe any of those 'new car smell' air fresheners have pulled it off.

I would suggest NEVER using Armorall, it has a heavy silicone content and silicone dry's things out. People always use it to 'rejuvinate' their faded plastics and yeh, sure it makes it nice and shiny when first applied but once it fades away the plastic is even worse because the silicone dries it out. Don't use it on anything at all!

With the leather i use and recommend Ge-Wy leather dressing, though it is hard to find now but any decent saddlery leather dressing is the way to go. Mequirs and mothers all make them but they add way to much 'chemical' to their leather dressing and it prevents it from actually putting moisture back into the leather like it should. Note; leather dressing is NOT to clean the leather but to put the moisture back in keeping it soft and stopping it from cracking. When it comes to cleaning the leather i use turps (shock horror) but i always have used it and as long as the leather hasn't been dyed by that DIY dye stuff then you won't have any problems.

When i clean my interior on the prado (and every other car ive had) i only wipe down all the plastics with a wet chamois and then wipe it with a microfibre mitt and i find this give the best 'new' result. (p.s i'm a motor trimmer by trade)

Good luck with it!

[jhiace Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close jhiace]

*double post*

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

I was being facetious with the new car smell comment :-)

So if Armorall is a no go is there an alternative product? Water will clean the plastics but it doesn't do much to protect them.

Who would have thought turps was safe to clean leather, I always thought it had solvents that would damage it.

[sbclover Member Find all posts View Profile Close sbclover]

We use a product called Cobra Cockpit by Molytec. We find it doesn't get dust etc stuck to it.

http://www.molytec.com.au/HTML%20PAGES/M811.html

Sean

[jhiace Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close jhiace]

What so you want to protect the plastics from? As far as I know there is nothing that will prevent them from Marking but I have seen people use mequires vinyl cleaner etc and it seems to work OK.

We used turps in everything (except the plastics) and I use it to clean the denim stains off the leather now.

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

We use a product called Cobra Cockpit by Molytec.

Do you mean Cobra Cote? That's where the link ends up anyway. Is it available in stores?

What so you want to protect the plastics from?

There's a few scuff marks and scratches that I'd like to smooth out. There's also UV damage to consider.

[yowie Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close yowie]

I use CRC brand Liquid Armour, it is harder to find than Armorall.

It was recommended to me by a caravan dealer, for use on my van, and he also suggested it for vehicles. Seems O.K. so far.

[sbclover Member Find all posts View Profile Close sbclover]

Yeah thats the one. In the shop we just called it cockpit.
Selcted stores but would think Repco have it
We also used it to lube the window seals in early E series falcons

Sean

[Bazza Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bazza]

I've used Armourall every since it was available in OZ. I've used it on countless numbers of cars & motorbikes over the years including my two recent 120 Prados. My 2003 Prado never suffered the fate of cracking dash's like many others of that year. In all that time while applying it at least once every month, I've never that an issue with materials drying out, fading, cracking or the like. I've also found that it makes an excellent polish for paint work on motorbike if you apply it wet, leave it on overnight, and polish it off in the morning. Unbelievable shine.
I respect everyone's opinion on this product, but while it's still available, I'll continue to use.
Bazza

[JasT Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close JasT]

I use 303 Products Aerospace Protectant on the interior. Brilliant stuff.
Link to where I bought it from below. Used it on the previous car, now on the Prado.

http://www.carcareproducts.com.au/pr...ace_protectant

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

I've used Armourall every since it was available in OZ.

I must admit I've used it on every car I've ever owned and never had a problem.

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

I use 303 Products Aerospace Protectant on the interior.

Seems to get some good customer reviews on various forums. I tried looking up the ingredients on the 303 website but they aren't listed. Is there anything listed on the bottle?

[JasT Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close JasT]

Just had a look, there are no ingredients listed at all on the bottle.

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

Ahhh, the old secret formula trick!

What's best to apply this with, sponge or cloth?