[see above post with pictures]
Melb140
Welcome to Benzworld, and thank you for your post.
I think you have a bad batch as I have used my gallon of leatherique on like 8 different seats, and never seen anything like that, yet my gallon is like six-years old too...
Martin
I think you have a bad batch as I have used my gallon of leatherique on like 8 different seats, and never seen anything like that, yet my gallon is like six-years old too...
Martin
Leatherique Before/After + Warning for use on perforated "Y" section of seat leather
I recently used the lauded Leatherique system (Rejuvenator Oil + Prestine Clean) with adverse and seemingly irreversible effects on the perforated leather which forms the "Y" section of each seat. I used the product on a '91-93 type car, which I believe has leather of a different and perhaps thicker kind than later cars.
Specifically, while the unperforated leather improved, the perforated leather shrunk, hardened, developed bizarre textural changes similar to scars and nodules, and lost some colour despite not being re-dyed (Leatherique advise that their product will remove after-market dye).
It was also impossible to keep the perforated areas clean for more than a few days, as they seep Rejuvenator Oil despite repeated cleaning with Prestine Clean, particularly in hot weather (heat increases expulsion). Several months later the seats still require cleaning every few days to prevent staining clothing.
I contacted the local (Australian) distributor and they advised I continue reapplications until I restore the leather by continuing to remove impurities (I sent them a large batch of progress photos) and to drive the product in with extra heat. The tacky/hazy finish they describe is supposed to be impurities floating to the surface for removal by step 2 (Prestine Clean).
Unfortunately reapplication made things worse, there was additional colour extracted, additional shrinkage and no improvement, either short-term or weeks later in the other surprise changes. I also contacted the US manufacturer a few weeks ago and did not receive a reply.
The seats weren't that dirty and only lightly used, so I suspect the tacky finish is due to the Leatherique having questionable suitability in this case. Either the perforated leather is not holding on to the "correct nutrients" the product contains, or it is too perforated to allow it to ever finish without substantial ongoing release the product.
None of the issues apply to the other leather types used (upper backrest, bolsters, front of squab).
I would recommend applying Leatherique very sparingly to the perforated "Y" section (if at all), and waiting at least 3 weeks to assess the outcome before a reapplication, as the final result materializes several weeks after the process is complete.
As for the "scars" and "nodules", hardening, and the colour leak, I think only repeated cleaning over time and the physical pressure of sitting which may resolve them... At this rate it's going to be an indefinite period of time.
I recently used the lauded Leatherique system (Rejuvenator Oil + Prestine Clean) with adverse and seemingly irreversible effects on the perforated leather which forms the "Y" section of each seat. I used the product on a '91-93 type car, which I believe has leather of a different and perhaps thicker kind than later cars.
Specifically, while the unperforated leather improved, the perforated leather shrunk, hardened, developed bizarre textural changes similar to scars and nodules, and lost some colour despite not being re-dyed (Leatherique advise that their product will remove after-market dye).
It was also impossible to keep the perforated areas clean for more than a few days, as they seep Rejuvenator Oil despite repeated cleaning with Prestine Clean, particularly in hot weather (heat increases expulsion). Several months later the seats still require cleaning every few days to prevent staining clothing.
I contacted the local (Australian) distributor and they advised I continue reapplications until I restore the leather by continuing to remove impurities (I sent them a large batch of progress photos) and to drive the product in with extra heat. The tacky/hazy finish they describe is supposed to be impurities floating to the surface for removal by step 2 (Prestine Clean).
Unfortunately reapplication made things worse, there was additional colour extracted, additional shrinkage and no improvement, either short-term or weeks later in the other surprise changes. I also contacted the US manufacturer a few weeks ago and did not receive a reply.
The seats weren't that dirty and only lightly used, so I suspect the tacky finish is due to the Leatherique having questionable suitability in this case. Either the perforated leather is not holding on to the "correct nutrients" the product contains, or it is too perforated to allow it to ever finish without substantial ongoing release the product.
None of the issues apply to the other leather types used (upper backrest, bolsters, front of squab).
I would recommend applying Leatherique very sparingly to the perforated "Y" section (if at all), and waiting at least 3 weeks to assess the outcome before a reapplication, as the final result materializes several weeks after the process is complete.
As for the "scars" and "nodules", hardening, and the colour leak, I think only repeated cleaning over time and the physical pressure of sitting which may resolve them... At this rate it's going to be an indefinite period of time.
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Let me know
My leatherique looks like "apple juice" in color, or the color of tea?
Martin
Let me know
My leatherique looks like "apple juice" in color, or the color of tea?
Martin
Leatherique is a very well-regarded product, so this is a strange case indeed.
My two cents -- I have a basement foyer where I keep some of my care-care products. Generally speaking it's cool but not cold. However one year it got particularly cold and the temperature dropped well below freezing in that foyer.
As most people know, some products cannot be exposed to freezing temperatures because the petroleum distillates will separate out and ruin the product, so I lost a few bottles of polish.
Anyway, I had two bottles of Leatherique in there as well, and they seemed to separate out also. No idea if the formula contains petroleum or what, but even after I shook them up to try and mix everything up again, I wasn't really satisfied that the product was still usable so I threw it away.
So I guess what I'm saying here is that Leatherique is definitely sensitive to improper storage. Perhaps you got a batch that was damaged in that way?
My two cents -- I have a basement foyer where I keep some of my care-care products. Generally speaking it's cool but not cold. However one year it got particularly cold and the temperature dropped well below freezing in that foyer.
As most people know, some products cannot be exposed to freezing temperatures because the petroleum distillates will separate out and ruin the product, so I lost a few bottles of polish.
Anyway, I had two bottles of Leatherique in there as well, and they seemed to separate out also. No idea if the formula contains petroleum or what, but even after I shook them up to try and mix everything up again, I wasn't really satisfied that the product was still usable so I threw it away.
So I guess what I'm saying here is that Leatherique is definitely sensitive to improper storage. Perhaps you got a batch that was damaged in that way?
Very strange indeed. I've used the full Leatherique treatment (moisturizer, cleaner, perparer, and final-coat dye) on perforated leather with pretty nice results. Granted it was a different model, a W220, but I'd imagine the tanning process is either the same or very close to the same.
It has worked perfectly everywhere except the perforated leather.
The products require shaking before use according to the instructions, there was some sediment in the Rejuvenator Oil.
Several layers were applied over 4 days, garage heated to 40 degrees C to improve penetration.
Rejuvenator Oil was darker than the US version, however the bottle states colour varies from batch to batch.
Only 'natural' similar products were used in the years prior, no silicone-based products.
For now I'm wearing black pants until the seepage is over, I'm resisting trying to clean the leather with anything drying.
It'll have to go to a leather restorer to restore the original finish.
Possibly it worked too well, if you note that all the original stretching was completely taken up and then contracted further, maybe there was some structural damage in the process.
Perhaps it is easier to oversaturate the perforated areas, although there was no sign of that during the process.
The products require shaking before use according to the instructions, there was some sediment in the Rejuvenator Oil.
Several layers were applied over 4 days, garage heated to 40 degrees C to improve penetration.
Rejuvenator Oil was darker than the US version, however the bottle states colour varies from batch to batch.
Only 'natural' similar products were used in the years prior, no silicone-based products.
For now I'm wearing black pants until the seepage is over, I'm resisting trying to clean the leather with anything drying.
It'll have to go to a leather restorer to restore the original finish.
Possibly it worked too well, if you note that all the original stretching was completely taken up and then contracted further, maybe there was some structural damage in the process.
Perhaps it is easier to oversaturate the perforated areas, although there was no sign of that during the process.
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