While performing the semi-annual cleaning and detailing of my wife's '09 G37xS sedan recently, it's clear the scratchshield PG paint has remained swirl-free over the years. It has been garaged in the two states we've lived in and looks great after a Blackfire application. While scratchshield paint uses an elastic clear coat layer to absorb most of the fine scratches, I'm happy to see it hold up after 5+ years of daily driving. My understanding was that this flexible clear coat would eventually harden over the years, but it still seems to function adequately on this Colorado-based G. Infiniti has downplayed this feature in many new models, but I'm wondering what other G owners are finding with their cars?

With all the talk about the company developing a self-cleaning paint treatment, scratchshield is yesterday's news. Still, my experience is that it remains a valid selling point; a feature that I'd consider very worthwhile in a future Infiniti (or Nissan) purchase. What do YOU think?

 

I could be wrong on this, but I thought that the reason they don't advertise the feature anymore is because they stopped offering it. I thought 2009 was the only model year with scratch shield.

If they still had it on the newer ones, then I'm unimpressed, as my car (a 2010) definitely shows some swirl marks and minor scratches.

 

Sorry to say, Infiniti didn't offer scratchshield paint on the 2010 G, but then resumed the feature the following model year. No explanation of why 2010 was the exception.

 

Ah, that makes sense. Well, dang! I wish they had used it on the '10s. I wonder why they left it off for only that model year, and then used it again

 

You know, even though scratchshield (SS) works, the lack of interest (even on a site like this) may be the answer. When I asked Infiniti officials about SS back in 2010, they said they were studying the public response. It obviously costs a little more to paint a car with SS, and I'm guessing unless people notice and are willing to pay more for it, it's not worth adding. As for myself, I consider SS a real innovation.

 

I'd me more interested in the self cleaning paint...

 

I wish the self healing clearcoat didn't also include the self-chipping base coat

 

^ lol. true that. i have an '09. i can't tell how effective the SS is. i take excellent care of the surface, but there are minor blemishes that haven't been self-healed. i had my front end re-sprayed due to the small chipping, and i'm sure the shop did not use SS clear coat. a good polish which heats up the clear coat has to be more effective than some fancy SS coating.

 

I love the SS clear, My first V36 sedan (2007 G35S OB color) did not have this and Almost after every wash I had to at least treat it with the wax detailer. My current PG so far does not show any swirls and I only waxed it up once back in july of last year.

That Self cleaning clear will change the cars for sure!

 

Chipping from small stones, or deep scratches to the primer just won't be covered by scratchshield. But as far as paint swirls go, SS has been amazingly effective on my '09G. After seven years, the paint looks incredibly good after detailing!

 

Had an interesting experience with SS on my 2011 sedan a few months ago. I left a huge splat of bird crap on my hood for about 2 weeks thinking it wouldn't be a problem. When I finally washed the car, I discovered a VERY badly etched and pitted spot directly under the crap. I've painted a few cars in my time and honestly thought a wet sanding wasn't going to be enough to get the pits out, so I left it for a few days to mull it over. When I looked again, it was absolute magic, the damage was completely gone. I live in Arizona, so the car saw quite a bit of sun in those days, which is apparently what the SS needs to heal.

So you might think that's about as good a testimony for SS as you can get right? I'm not so sure because the question I'm asking is why did the paint even let the damage happen in the first place? I have a '99 GMC pickup that not only gets long term bird crap without damage, but also has pine pitch fall on it regularly. The pitch if left long enough actually swells the clear coat a bit, but once it's washed off with isopropyl alcohol and left for a few weeks the swelling flattens out.

I also had a rock bounce off the hood of the G in freeway traffic a while back that left about a half inch long scuff. It didn't break through the clear, so I was hoping that mark would also magically disappear. No luck on that one, it's still there even after sitting in the 650 degree Arizona heat. So I guess I can say that I'm reasonably happy with the SS because it definitely keeps the swirls in check, but durability is probably questionable.

 

I absolutely hate the paint on my 09. It chips easily and gets very smeary when I'm polishing. Hate hate hate, hate it.

 

Perhaps this is why SS paint isn't used more universally. The expectations from one owner or customer, to another is so large that no technology will be broadly loved. Depending on how we care for our cars, SS can be a blessing, a disappointment or a outright curse.

 

This comment got me thinking about the vast differences in opinion on SS. I usually wash, clay and lightly polish the paint before applying Blackfire sealant. I don't use an aggressive pad or polish and it never gets "smeary" as I work it in with my PC. I also live in Colorado where it's pretty dry, so humidity is not a factor. No swirls and the PG paint--for the most part--looks deep and swirl-free.

As for chipping, that a whole different discussion and SS is not designed to address rock chips or heavy scratching. Still, I love this SS paint!

 

A quick update: after a few days of rain, I washed both my '03 350Z and my wife's '09 G37xS sedan. Afterwards, it was clear the Infiniti had a swirl-free finish, while my Nissan sportscar (even after Blackfire polish and sealant) is filled with them. Both cars retain their original factory paint, and from a distance, both look superb. But I can see the difference and wish scratch shield paint was standard on all Nissan and Infiniti products!