Leatherique On Full Leather Interior
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Leatherique On Full Leather Interior
I'm 8 months post delivery of my 992 and started to clean/condition my full leather seats with Leatherique Rejuvenator Oil and Prestine clean as I do with all my cars with leather. I've always avoided conditioning my leather dashboard and the tops of my doors due to an article I read several years ago in the 996 forum:
The leather Porsche uses on the dash contains almost no moisture - it is specifically dried so there will be less "movement" as it goes through the big temperature changes that can occur on the dash. Introducing moisture back into the leather by using a conditioner will cause the leather to "move" with temperature changes and possibly break loose from the surface it is glued to. Here's what Porsche has to say about the leather used on the dash...
"All leather is not the same. We work with classic upholstery leather, but we also work with low-shrinkage leather. The instrument paneling, for example, can get extremely hot in summer. If the material starting tightening, what would that look like after a while? So we're talking about leather whose residual moisture has been largly removed, which means that it won't be able to shrink later." (Christophorus, No. 276 January 1999)
Do you guys think this article is still applicable to the 992 Full Leather interiors? I'm committed for the long run and I want to ensure I don't see shrinkage years later due to improper care. Paging @drcollie if you have any insight?
The leather Porsche uses on the dash contains almost no moisture - it is specifically dried so there will be less "movement" as it goes through the big temperature changes that can occur on the dash. Introducing moisture back into the leather by using a conditioner will cause the leather to "move" with temperature changes and possibly break loose from the surface it is glued to. Here's what Porsche has to say about the leather used on the dash...
"All leather is not the same. We work with classic upholstery leather, but we also work with low-shrinkage leather. The instrument paneling, for example, can get extremely hot in summer. If the material starting tightening, what would that look like after a while? So we're talking about leather whose residual moisture has been largly removed, which means that it won't be able to shrink later." (Christophorus, No. 276 January 1999)
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Car leather has a polyurethane coating on it so the marketing guff of feeding your leather etc is just that.
you can only clean the surface.
from the manual
Caring for leather
NOTICE
Unsuitable cleaning and care agents and inappropriate treatment may damage the leather.
Stains resulting from rainwater or moisture may occur on the perforated leather of the seats.
Removing water and moisture stains
you can only clean the surface.
from the manual
Caring for leather
NOTICE
Unsuitable cleaning and care agents and inappropriate treatment may damage the leather.
- Do not use caustic cleaning agents or hard cleaning aids.
- Ensure that perforated leather does not get wet on the reverse side.
- Remove water drops from the leather immediately.
- Clean all types of leather regularly to remove fine dust using a soft, damp, white woollen cloth or a commercially available microfibre cloth.
- Remove heavy soiling (not water or moisture stains) with a leather cleaning agent. Read the instructions for use on the containers. Porsche recommends car care products from Porsche Tequipment.
- Treat cleaned leather only with a leather care product.
Stains resulting from rainwater or moisture may occur on the perforated leather of the seats.
Removing water and moisture stains
- Seat heating and seat ventilation is switched off.
- No direct sunlight.
- Dab the entire seat and backrest surface using a clean, fine-pored sponge and distilled water. Make sure that the perforated leather does not get wet on its reverse side.
- Allow the seat cover to dry completely at room temperature out of direct sunlight. Do not switch on seat heating and seat ventilation.
- Once dry, wipe the seat cover with a dry, lint-free cloth.
Last edited by jeremylondon; Dec 13, 2024 at 09:16 PM.
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From: Whidbey Island / PNW
My take:
- I would not use leatherique on a new 992...Pristine clean is a good clean product but the rejuvenator oil is total overkill and it's going to devolve into a greasy mess. It's designed for leather at a different phase of life. (I am very familiar with the product, and the correct order of application per the Leatherique people, which is the reverse of what you would think -- you put the rejuvenator oil on first, then the pristine cleaner to clean it off after... , etc).
- I would recommend Leather Masters cleaner or soft cleaner (if needed) and Leather Masters Matte Protection Cream instead. Matte Protection Cream is sold in the US as just "Protection Cream" btw. The protection cream is your best bet. It is excellent. Excellent. I cannot say enough good things about it
- My classic vehicles with old style leather get leatherique once a year. With maintenance in between with Leather Masters products. The new cars in the fleet (including a porsche with full natural leather interior, although not sure if you have that or just regular full leather)... only get leather masters every few months.
- As for your dash question: Be INCREDIBLY careful not to apply too much of *any* liquid-based product to leather door panels, leather dash, etc. Over time, you can / will cause premature delamination from over saturation of the material. People blame glue, UV light, I am somewhat convinced this is a catalyst ...
- And -- Do not put leatherique rejuvenator oil on a leather dash or any other leather that is glued to a hard surface. Ever. Ever Ever. It will come unglued. For my Porsche leather dash, I use leather masters very sparingly on a rag, and then wipe down for things like leather sun visors, leather dash, leather door panels, rear side panels, etc.
- And I always (100% of the time) use a sun visor when parking the car in the sunlight on hot days, and my windshield is tinted with clear UV protective tint.
Last edited by Nashvegas; Dec 13, 2024 at 11:40 PM.
