Light scratch on leather seat

[blinkme323]

Hey everyone, I just picked up a new car last week and it has black leather seats. A few days after delivery, I noticed that there was about a 3 inch scratch / scuff on the passengers seat upper bolster. The scratch is very faint and can only be seen at certain angles, but it still bothers me. The strange thing is that there doesn't seem to be much or any abrasion to the leather, so I'm thinking the scratch might just be in the top coating of the leather (clear coat?).

My question is - is there any way to remove this from the leather? Any advice is appreciated.

[blinkme323]

Re: Light scratch on leather seat

Anyone?

[mis3]

Re: Light scratch on leather seat

I had 2-3 light long scratches on the side bolsters on my leather seat.
Talked to the dealership, they referred to someone who did these repairs for them.
It"s fixed now. I believe they applied small filler and sprayed some paint on it. I now can still see it's darker in that area under the sun.

[TOGWT]

Re: Light scratch on leather seat

For future reference- finished leather has a coating (clear coat) so minor scratches can be removed with a mild abrasive.

Deeper scratches would need a filler and then a clear coat application

[mis3]

Re: Light scratch on leather seat

For future reference- finished leather has a coating (clear coat) so minor scratches can be removed with a mild abrasive.

Deeper scratches would need a filler and then a clear coat application

Really? There is a clear coat on finished leather in cars?
This, I did not know.

[TOGWT]

Re: Light scratch on leather seat

Really? There is a clear coat on finished leather in cars?
This, I did not know.

Always remember you are dealing with the finished coating on the leather and not with the leather hide itself

Automotive finished leather upholstery is a multi-strata urethane coating that allows hydration (transpiration and evaporation of moisture); consisting of the actual hide, colour pigmentation and the surface protective finish. It is similar to vinyl but it remains flexible while retaining its tensile strength, to enable it to expand and contract, following the temperature fluctuations (elasticity) of the substrate.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Light scratch on leather seat

Always remember you are dealing with the finished coating on the leather and not with the leather hide itself

Automotive finished leather upholstery is a multi-strata urethane coating that allows hydration (transpiration and evaporation of moisture); consisting of the actual hide, colour pigmentation and the surface protective finish. It is similar to vinyl but it remains flexible while retaining its tensile strength, to enable it to expand and contract, following the temperature fluctuations (elasticity) of the substrate.

And the above description should tell any doubters that the coating on automotive leather seating is not just a clear coat that nothing can penetrate so there's no need to ever use any sort of conditioning product on it. If that were the case, then how would a product like Leatherique ever be able to work at all? For those who aren't familiar with Leatherique, it's a fairly pricey but highly effective product for deep cleaning and rejuvenating old, dry, hard and worn automotive leather surfaces. If that clear coating was impermeable, then this rejuvenation could not occur.

Now, if you're planning on using any sort of abrasive liquid to address this new scratch on your leather seat, just know that Meguiar's does not make anything specifically designed for this purpose. Anything we do make may prove to be too aggressive, or may be used in an overly aggressive manner, and that could result in the complete removal of the coating around the affected area, and then you'd be worse off than you are now.

[blinkme323]

Re: Light scratch on leather seat

And the above description should tell any doubters that the coating on automotive leather seating is not just a clear coat that nothing can penetrate so there's no need to ever use any sort of conditioning product on it. If that were the case, then how would a product like Leatherique ever be able to work at all? For those who aren't familiar with Leatherique, it's a fairly pricey but highly effective product for deep cleaning and rejuvenating old, dry, hard and worn automotive leather surfaces. If that clear coating was impermeable, then this rejuvenation could not occur.

Now, if you're planning on using any sort of abrasive liquid to address this new scratch on your leather seat, just know that Meguiar's does not make anything specifically designed for this purpose. Anything we do make may prove to be too aggressive, or may be used in an overly aggressive manner, and that could result in the complete removal of the coating around the affected area, and then you'd be worse off than you are now.

Thanks for the responses fo far. I guess the best option may be to just clean and condition it regularly and hope the mark wears off over time?

[mis3]

Re: Light scratch on leather seat

If there is protective coating to the leather seats, they would be worn off after a few months of use.
I use the Meguiars Leather Cleaner and Conditioner for a long time. My car is 5 years old and the seats are in excellent condition.
I would only use leather-specific products to my car seats.

[rapport25]

Re: Light scratch on leather seat

Hey everyone, I just picked up a new car last week and it has black leather seats. A few days after delivery, I noticed that there was about a 3 inch scratch / scuff on the passengers seat upper bolster. The scratch is very faint and can only be seen at certain angles, but it still bothers me. The strange thing is that there doesn't seem to be much or any abrasion to the leather, so I'm thinking the scratch might just be in the top coating of the leather (clear coat?).

My question is - is there any way to remove this from the leather? Any advice is appreciated.

On my previous car. It had a few cracks/scratches in the leather. I found mixing black boot polish with a leather wax balm in a small pot worked really well as a temp fix to fill scratches /cracks.

I used a small foam applicator pad and dabbed it on the affected area. Allowed to dry then buffed off.

Hth's

Rappy.

[TOGWT]

Re: Light scratch on leather seat

Leather Master Scratch Away (A-Aniline / Non-Coated) is a professional formula designed to erase these light surface scratches and scuffs. It performs this by moving the surrounding dye to cover the area where the colour is missing. It is perfect for dealing with fingernail type marks.

[blinkme323]

Re: Light scratch on leather seat

Leather Master Scratch Away (A-Aniline / Non-Coated) is a professional formula designed to erase these light surface scratches and scuffs. It performs this by moving the surrounding dye to cover the area where the colour is missing. It is perfect for dealing with fingernail type marks.

I guess this wouldn't work on coated leather though?

[Blueline]

Re: Light scratch on leather seat

And the above description should tell any doubters that the coating on automotive leather seating is not just a clear coat that nothing can penetrate so there's no need to ever use any sort of conditioning product on it. I

Since you may be referring to me as one of the doubters, please refer to Dr. Jenkins, Technical Driector at Lexol. With all due respect to TOGWT, I would think the good doctor's comments to carry as much weight at his. Please note the very last line of Dr. Jenkin's piece.

"Dr. Herndon Jenkins, an industry authority and Technical Director of the Lexol Division of Summit Industries, is the author. “A Plastic Coating"
"Most of the leather upholstery in domestic cars of recent vintage is plastic coated. The upper surface of such leather is ‘vinyl’.”
“Leather upholstery in most European cars is 'naked' leather which has no protective finish. The surface is that of the original hide. This leather 'breathes' and accepts conditioners applied to its surface.”
Dr. Jenkins explains how to tell the difference between “coated” and “naked" leather. Referring to coated leather he states, “Such leather can be identified by the failure of a drop of water applied to its surface to be absorbed into the leather after a few minutes.”
Contrasting the ability of naked leather to absorb conditioners (and water) with coated leather, Dr. Jenkins states: “While vinyl-coated leather is care free by virtue of its protective plastic surface, it is also inaccessible for purposes of maintenance.” Meaning, of course, there is absolutely no point to using leather conditioners on plastic coated leather.
So, how should plastic coated leather be maintained? According to Dr. Jenkins, “Such leather should be maintained exactly like vinyl upholstery.”

[mis3]

Re: Light scratch on leather seat

Is there any way to tell if my car seats are coated?