Treating leather for C7
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
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Smells amazing, check, but it can't condition C7 leather, which is coated. It can't penetrate the coating, so no leather conditioning is happening.
As Lisa said above in post #10, some of these products can actually break-down the protective coating already there to protect the leather.
As Lisa said above in post #10, some of these products can actually break-down the protective coating already there to protect the leather.
Last edited by Foosh; Aug 6, 2017 at 12:59 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 25,583
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I suspect there are many successful "flux capacitor" salesmen out there too. There's a lot of BS in that video designed to sell a product.
On the other hand, if people stopped spending money on stuff that serves no real useful purpose, the U.S. economy would be in trouble.
On the other hand, if people stopped spending money on stuff that serves no real useful purpose, the U.S. economy would be in trouble.
Last edited by Foosh; Aug 6, 2017 at 01:15 PM.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 711
Likes: 200
I suspect there are many successful "flux capacitor" salesmen out there too. There's a lot of BS in that video designed to sell a product.
On the other hand, if people stopped spending money on stuff that serves no real useful purpose, the U.S. economy would be in trouble.
On the other hand, if people stopped spending money on stuff that serves no real useful purpose, the U.S. economy would be in trouble.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,449
Likes: 770
Last year up at Laguna Seca for the races, most of the Corvette big wigs were there and I spoke one on one to the fellow that was the head of interior design and development for the C7. He said that since all leather surfaces were coated, leather cleaners and protectorates are a complete waste of time and money, because nothing applied gets into the leather. To clean the leather a damp micro fiber towel is all that is needed, and if there is heavy soil a slight touch of simple green. I have a '16 3LT black interior and what he said works for me.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 711
Likes: 200
Last year up at Laguna Seca for the races, most of the Corvette big wigs were there and I spoke one on one to the fellow that was the head of interior design and development for the C7. He said that since all leather surfaces were coated, leather cleaners and protectorates are a complete waste of time and money, because nothing applied gets into the leather. To clean the leather a damp micro fiber towel is all that is needed, and if there is heavy soil a slight touch of simple green. I have a '16 3LT black interior and what he said works for me.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 25,583
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Chances are you're not hurting anything, although there is some evidence that some products slowly remove the protective coating already there. There's no way to tell until it's gone.
On the other hand, you're not helping the leather either, but if you like shine and fragrance, cool.
Last edited by Foosh; Aug 6, 2017 at 02:17 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 3,104
Likes: 626
From: Baton Rouge LA
As hard as it is to abandon using something on my leather surfaces, as I've done for decades on other cars, I've come to the same realization based on recommendations in the manual and among other owners. My last C7 was a 3LT and even then I never used leather cleaner or conditioner. My current 2LT has very little leather in the interior, only on seating surfaces, so that makes it an even easier decision. Mine sits in a garage protected from the sun 99% of the time, and here in the Deep South humidity is never low enough to cause drying of anything inside or outside of the car.
Last edited by iclick; Aug 6, 2017 at 03:02 PM.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 3,104
Likes: 626
From: Baton Rouge LA
You know that if there was any advantage to using chemical products on the interior GM would sell and vigorously promote one with a Corvette logo on the bottle and the requisite Corvette tax.
Last edited by iclick; Aug 6, 2017 at 03:14 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 839
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From: SC from CT
St. Jude Donor '18 thru '25
Okay for the "there is never too much information" folks I leave you with this.
http://togwt1980.blogspot.com/2013/1...aning-and.html
http://togwt1980.blogspot.com/2013/1...aning-and.html
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 25,583
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Good article, and a lot of great info. Bottom line, on C7-type, coated leather, a damp microfiber is best for most things, but for heavy soiling, a gentle, water-based, mild cleaning product (which they name) will emulsify the dirt, and clean the coated surface, without harming the protective coating.
Traditional leather-care products, containing cremes, oils, and certain types of cleaner chemicals, are really bad for coated leather, and will damage the protective coating.
Traditional leather-care products, containing cremes, oils, and certain types of cleaner chemicals, are really bad for coated leather, and will damage the protective coating.
Last edited by Foosh; Aug 6, 2017 at 07:00 PM.
Disabled by request 13 Oct 2023
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 27
Likes: 4
From: Harrisburg PA
I was using Griot's Garage leather conditioner and was really happy with the results. Then I came across Gyeon products. I started using Gyeon Wet and Bathe+ on the exterior and found that they had a "ceramic" (SiO2) coating for leather called Leather Shield. Fairly easy to apply after first prepping the surface. After applying the leather has a real nice matte finish that is not greasy and has made the leather much softer feeling than ever before. I have a '17 2LT Grand Sport that has the "base leather" in black. The coating is suppose to last at least 12 months, has UV protection yada yada. I would recommend trying this one out!
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 2,886
Likes: 173
From: Scottsdale AZ
St. Jude Donor '11
Okay... For those of you unwilling to accept the fact that the only thing you need is a damp microfiber towel, try this experiment.
For the next month, before you take a shower, cover your hair with plastic wrap (for those of you who still have hair).
Next, wash your head with your best expensive shampoo.
After a month, do you notice how clean and fresh smelling your hair is?
Of course not. The plastic wrap prevented your expensive shampoo from getting to your hair.
Same principal applies to trying to freshen and vitalize leather that is under a plastic coating.
I use nothing but the damp towel on all my vehicles. Including my 5 year old MINI with white leather seats. They all still look great.
Hey, your money, and if makes you feel good!
For the next month, before you take a shower, cover your hair with plastic wrap (for those of you who still have hair).
Next, wash your head with your best expensive shampoo.
After a month, do you notice how clean and fresh smelling your hair is?
Of course not. The plastic wrap prevented your expensive shampoo from getting to your hair.
Same principal applies to trying to freshen and vitalize leather that is under a plastic coating.
I use nothing but the damp towel on all my vehicles. Including my 5 year old MINI with white leather seats. They all still look great.
Hey, your money, and if makes you feel good!
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 26,232
Likes: 4,357
From: Chirper Island
And in the same vein, for those of you who think that putting something on your plastic-coated leather is not hurting in the long run: Like dissolves Like.
I'm not a chemical engineer, but they taught me that in High School. So if there is any ingredient in your treatment that is the same as whatever the plasticized coating on the C7 , it will affect it in the long run.
But! (standard disclaimer following), it's your car, and your money so do as you see fit.
I'm not a chemical engineer, but they taught me that in High School. So if there is any ingredient in your treatment that is the same as whatever the plasticized coating on the C7 , it will affect it in the long run.
But! (standard disclaimer following), it's your car, and your money so do as you see fit.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 77
Likes: 9
I'm another 303 user. Been using it for years. Adds just a tad of shine to the interior, but the C7 is the first vehicle I don't care for the shine on the dash. So I'm just using it on the doors, seats, and all plastic bits, but not the dash.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 25,583
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It clearly makes a lot of folks feel better to pay for and use costly products, even though essentially free water to dampen a towel is equally effective, and in fact, may be both safer and better for the C7's leather seats in the long run.
For those who dump cars every 2-3 years, it probably doesn't matter what one uses. However, for those who tend to keep cars for 7-10 years, I sure wouldn't be using something that could compromise the urethane coating that was manufactured into the leather.
Being water-based, I think 303 is probably safe, and adds a 3rd layer of UV protection. Auto glass and the OEM leather coating also provide UV protection, so it sounds like overkill to me. It's kind of like adding 3 different layers of sunscreen, when one is probably sufficient.
For those who dump cars every 2-3 years, it probably doesn't matter what one uses. However, for those who tend to keep cars for 7-10 years, I sure wouldn't be using something that could compromise the urethane coating that was manufactured into the leather.
Being water-based, I think 303 is probably safe, and adds a 3rd layer of UV protection. Auto glass and the OEM leather coating also provide UV protection, so it sounds like overkill to me. It's kind of like adding 3 different layers of sunscreen, when one is probably sufficient.
