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4 Best Clear Coat for Headlights — Detailed Reviewed
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Before we get down to the review about the best clear coats for headlights, it is important to know why clear coats are important. One of the finest things you can do for the headlights of your car is using “clear coat”.
A clear coat is a transparent layer of paint used to cover the headlights. It has various benefits as it prevents the yellowing of the headlights over time, protects from the damages of UV rays and also prevents fogging which can affect the functioning of headlights.
Moreover, it provides peerless clarity and protection against oxidation. Therefore, it is important to shield your headlights and this article will give you some whopping alternatives to do so.
These clear coats will keep your headlights secure and functioning at full brightness.
4 Best Clear Coat For Headlights On The Market
| Name | Item Weight | Price |
|---|---|---|
| SYLVANIA Headlight Restoration | 0.64 ounces | Check Price |
| Meguiar’s G17804 | 6.2 ounces | Check Price |
| Spraymax 3680061 | 1 pounds | Check Price |
| 4EverBrite Headlight | 0.16 ounces | Check Price |
1. SYLVANIA Headlight Restoration UV Block Clear Coat
The first product is Sylvania Headlight Restoration and UV Clear Coat Kit. Coming in a handy 30ml each bottles of UV coat and activator, this product is idle for polishing your dull and outdated spotlightts and breathing a new life in them.
This kit can fully remove any fogging, corrosion or dullness from the lens of your front light. It has specially formulated UV blockers which provide sealing power that protects the lights.
It keeps the lens clear and has long-lasting results. In addition to the aforementioned constituents of the kit, it also contains 1 blue lint-free applicator cloth and instruction manual.
All in all, Sylvania Headlight Restoration and UV Clear Coat Kit is easy to use and provides a barrier against the hazardous UV rays that protects against fogging & yellowing of headlights.
Firstly, Sylvania can be bought in two different ways
An all-in-one kit that includes sand paper AND the UV clear coat
The all in one Sylvania Headlight Restoration kit is your go to thing if you don’t have any supplies already and simply want to restore your lenses from scratch. It comes with an activator to pre-clean the plastic lens before you apply clear coat. Moreover, it also comes with three sets of sandpaper. Lastly, you get the sparkling clear coat to protect!
UV Clear Coat only
If you have the right sand paper grits and all the other necessary supplies, this pocket friendly alternative is what you should opt for.
It’s half the price as that of full kit but you only get the clear coat. Therefore, this should only be if you already have the required supplies to fix and clean car headlights.
Just spray it on lightly and also a little goes a long way. The box states it just takes 35 minutes to get the work done but that is not accurate.
Approximately, an hour or so per headlight is required to complete the job. This will also hold true if you’re working with severely oxidized headlights.
After you will finish treating your headlights with this restoration kit, the results will speak for themselves. You will end with bright headlights with excellent output and increased visibility at night.
2. Meguiar’s G17804 Keep Clear Headlight Coating
The next product is Meguiar’s G17804 Keep Clear Headlight Coating. Meguiar’s G17804 comes in 120ml(4oz) convenient aerosol spray can which makes the application process easier and has more than enough sealant to keep you going for years.
It maintains clarity on new or restored headlights equally. Its unique formula and proprietary headlight coating provide long-lasting, durable protection against UV. It helps in keeping new headlights looking like new and provides headlight clarity for up to a year.
All you need to do is hold the can a few inches apart from the headlight and just spray it.
However, after applying it readily, you might need few additional actions to get the job done.
If your vehicle is old and your headlamps have some wear, then it’s a better to wash them using a restoration kit before applying this.
However, if your vehicle is newer, then you only need to shield your headlights and this item is the best choice for that.
Keep in mind that you need to apply it by placing it at a right distance from the headlight. Holding it too close may result in smudges or stripes. To avoid this hassle, read the directions carefully before getting started.
“How long will it survive?”, most users reported that it lasts for approximately a few weeks although it’s advertised to survive a year.
The number might vary on your geographical location and it’s better to reapply every month. Moreover, this can has just the enough amount to keep you going for quite a few times.
3. Spraymax 3680061 2K Clear
Spraymax 3680061 2K Clear is hands down one of the best clear coats for headlights
It comes in a can a lot Meguiar’s and also sprays in exactly the same fashion. However, its 11.4 oz can give the most quantity in comparison to its alternatives hence, it is a great pick.
This crystal-clear coat, works equally good on all the other kind of things aside from headlights.
Moreover, it works well on all surfaces like plastic, wood and metal which proves that it’s actually strong. 2K clear coat, with very high chemical, gasoline, and weather resistance elements is aimed for high-quality and long-term sealing of repair paint or new layer on headlights.
The product is durable, easy to spray, lasts for years long and gives a whopping clear as glass coating.
Two to three light coats of spray max are recommended to achieve the desired results. And the process doesn’t take much time hence time saving.
However, one of the major drawbacks of spray max is that it has a shelf life of 48 hours after opening the pack.
As it expires in around 2 days, it’s better to plan ahead to use it for multiple products to consume before expiry. “Pro Tip”, Spray at 6 to 8 inches away from the surface and let it dry for 24 hours before driving.
4. 4EverBrite Headlight UV Clear Coat
The last clear coat product we’ll consider is 4EverBrite Headlight UV Clear Coat. Available at a 16oz jar, this clear coat treats over 30 lenses and this headlight shield isn’t hard to use at all.
The buyers that it’s easy to apply and is so fast, that normally it takes several minutes only. It lasts not for months but years and comes with a 2 Year Warranty 4EverBrite Headlight UV Clear Coat is perfect for those who don’t need a full restoration kit and just need a detailer.
Each bottle of this clear coat treats approximately 32 sets of lights and comes with Lint Free Applicators and applicator tip with order.
Moreover, one highlight feature of the product is that it doesn’t require the hassle to reapply every month.
In fact, it lasts up to a year hence it saves the time and energy for maintenance. One thing that should be kept in mind is to reseal the bottle after using it as you dent need to apply it frequently.
In order to obtain the desired results, you need to make several coats of the product and although it dries quickly, it’s better to give sometime between application of coats. The manual directs to wait for an hour, but users advice to wait longer for even coating without streaks.
The product has received overwhelming positive reviews from the users as it leaves their headlights appearing clear and bright as new.
Buyer’s Guide
How to Choose Best Clear Coat for Headlights
All four of our favorites are idle for your front lights. However, there is one thing that should be kept in mind before making the purchase. And that is, why you need to the product in first place You need to keep in mind your budget, the labor time and maintenance time and find what fits you best. All in all, four of these productions will protect your headlights from ultra violet sun beams and keep your lights all shiny and well maintained.
Recommendations
If you need a coat which requires low maintenance and lasts longer, “4EverBrite” should be your pick as it is the one that comes with 2 years warranty.
If you want a cheap clear coat for headlights “Sylvania” is it! And from “cheap” I do not mean it as in poor quality. You will get extremely satisfactory results but its super pocket friendly as compared to its alternatives. “Spraymax”s your go to clear coat if you want clear as glass coating, easy application and long-lasting results. And finally, “Meguiar’s” should be your pick if your vehicle is new and you only need retailers or shield your headlights.
However, the sun will cause the plastic to break up and become yellowish or foggy. This may cause your lights to become more abrasive. By using the preventing method of applying clear coat, you are going to save yourself money and time being forced to restore your lights. This will also keep them functioning at top-level.
What causes the plastic headlight lenses to fog or cloud up?
The chief crook UV oxidation. Plastic headlights, when new, are treated with UV coating to provide protection against hazardous rays.
But, as time passes by and the headlights are exposed to UV rays and weather elements, the clear coat serving as a resistance barrier will start to fade off. When the clear coat wears off, the lens starts turning yellow, which indicates the beginning of oxidation.
However, the sunlight is not the only one to be blamed for foggy headlights. Sand, dirt particles, gravel, road salt and other road debris are also culprits who wear down the initial layer of clear coat.
Another factor that contributes to the cloudiness of the lens are deep scratches caused by flying stones leaving deep indentations on the lens.
Prevention of plastic headlights from turning yellow
As it is said, “Prevention is better than cure”. Therefore, one should take the precautionary measures to avoid the fogginess when your car is new.
There are certain measures that can be taken to prevent your headlights from oxidizing. If you are habitual of leaving your vehicle under the baking sun, you should expect the headlights to turn foggy much sooner than expected.
It is always better to park your car in a shade as UV exposure is the primary cause of oxidation.
Another way to prevent yellowed headlights is to clean the headlights (and your entire vehicle) regularly.
Your vehicle should be washed with clean water and car shampoo at least once a week, or once a month if the vehicle is not driven regularly.
Moreover, there are a lot of DIY techniques available on internet to wash and protect your headlights.
Washing the headlights will remove standing dirt and road chemicals on them, which in turn, are the two crucial components that contribute in rapid wear on the plastic headlight lenses.
How to Sand and Restore Plastic Headlights?
Here we give you a 10-step guide of the simple process to restore plastic headlights.
Before getting started, make sure you have all the essential supplies which are:
- water-resistant adhesive tape and newspaper
- sand paper/ scratch paper (400, 600 and 2000-grit)
- spray can filled with potable water
- clean paper towels
First, we need to wash the front lights. Initially, use water and car shampoo if they are dirty.
This step will prevent inducing nicks on the lens as you sand. Park your vehicle in shaded area as it makes it convenient to sand.
With the help of adhesive tape, cover the areas surrounding the lights to avoid getting extra product on them. This will also prevent you from sanding off painted surfaces.
Now, grab your bottle and spray enough water on the lights to make sure the lens is wet enough.
Begin with 400-grit sanding paper. Soak the sand paper in water and proceed to sand the plastic lens using horizontal strokes.
Grab a paper towel to wipe of the excess liquid.
In the next step, grab a small piece of 600-grit sand paper and soak it in water. Repeat the process as that of 400 grit sand paper. As using 600-grit will smoothen the rougher surface left by the 400-grit sand paper. This procedure is only recommended for severely oxidized and yellowed headlights.
At last, let’s put the final nail in the coffin. You’ll be using 2000-grit sand paper. Using the same process, sand the headlights with horizontal strokes and using this finer grade will also smooth the surface to achieve desired clarity.
Remove all the traces of sand and wipe the beam lights using a clean towel after the final sanding. Now finally, apply the clear coat.
Depending on the product, read the instructions through the manual and apply the clear coat as directed. Allow the clear coat to dry for at least five minutes before applying multiple coats.
It is important to allow the solution to dry overnight, or for a couple of hours depending on the product.
Lastly, you can also apply a thin coat of pure carnauba wax. This adds an extra protective layer and shields the clear coat from harmful UV exposure and environmental elements.
Finally, wipe off using a clean towel and admire the sparkling headlights of your car!!
You can also check your battery or spark plugs for a better headlights performance and brightness.
Conclusion
So, this was our complete guide from choosing the best clear coat for headlights to what causes fogginess of headlights. And finally, from how to prevent fogginess to how to treat it right. So, get your hands on the product that works best for you, start the work, and get contented with the results.