Chemical Guys CLY_113 OG Clay Bar & Lubber Synthetic Lubricant Kit – 16 fl oz, Light/Medium Duty, for Car Lovers, Detailers & Auto Enthusiasts – Essential Car Detailing Kit Accessory, 2 Items, Yellow

The fastest way to tell if your paint needs attention is the “sandwich‑bag test”: slip a thin plastic bag over your hand and glide it across the paint. If it feels gritty, it’s time for clay. I put the OG Clay Bar Kit from Chemical Guys through that exact routine on a few daily drivers and a weekend car, and it easily restored that elusive glass-smooth feel with minimal drama.

What’s in the kit

• Yellow light/medium-duty clay bar (natural clay)
• 16 fl oz bottle of synthetic clay lubricant (ready-to-use)

The yellow color is a small but meaningful advantage; it makes it easy to see the particulates the clay lifts from the surface. The lubricant is a dedicated “clay lube,” not a generic detail spray, and it’s designed to reduce friction, keep the clay from sticking, and extend the clay’s working life.

Setup and workflow

My process with this kit was straightforward:
1. Pre-wash and rinse to remove loose dirt.
2. Optional iron remover on neglected panels.
3. Work a quarter of the clay bar into a flat disk roughly the size of a half dollar.
4. Generously mist the panel and the clay with the lubricant.
5. Glide the clay in straight lines with light pressure, frequently re-misting.
6. Wipe and check the surface; knead the clay to expose a clean face and continue.

On a mid-size sedan with moderate contamination, I used a little over half the 16 oz bottle and one quarter of the clay bar. For a full-size SUV that lived outdoors, I went through most of the bottle and half the bar—still within what I’d consider reasonable for a light/medium-grade setup.

A quick note on safety and best practices:
- If you drop the clay, throw that piece away. It will pick up grit instantly.
- Don’t let the lube dry on the panel; work in shade and in small sections.
- Avoid “wash-and-wax” soaps or quick wax sprays as lubricants; they can gum up clay and trap contaminants.
- Clay can remove wax; plan to seal, wax, or coat afterward.

Performance on paint, glass, and trim

The clay is firmly in the light/medium category. On newer or well-maintained paint, it eradicated rail dust specks, the faint overspray haze I sometimes see after body shop visits, and the fine grit that accumulates after a winter’s worth of road grime. On glass, especially windshields with wiper chatter, it lifted the bonded film and restored a smooth sweep. It had no trouble with fresh tree sap dots; older, baked-on sap required a few extra passes or a quick pre-softening with a dedicated sap remover.

Where the clay’s “gentle” nature shows is in heavy tar spots or fully neglected finishes. It will get there, but it takes patience. If your car is heavily contaminated (industrial fallout, overspray, months of highway tar), a medium/heavy clay or a clay mitt/pad might be faster, with the understanding that more aggressive media may require polishing afterward. For typical maintenance on daily drivers, this kit felt like the right balance—effective without being overly aggressive.

As for marring, I didn’t see noticeable haze on harder clear coats using proper lubrication and light pressure. Softer paints can be finicky; even with careful technique, very light micro-marring can appear under harsh lighting. If you’re ceramic-coating or chasing perfection, plan a quick refining polish after claying.

The lubricant: slip, residue, and scent

The included lubricant offers excellent glide. It kept the clay moving with minimal effort, and I never had that nerve-wracking “grabby” moment that can lead to marring. It flashes cleanly and wipes off without smearing. The scent is mild and candy-like; pleasant but not overpowering.

My only quibble is consumption. Dedicated clay lubes tend to be thirstier than dilutable detail sprays, and this one is no exception. If you’re tackling multiple vehicles or large SUVs, consider buying a larger refill or supplementing with a compatible clay lube to keep costs down.

Durability and maintenance of the clay

The bar itself holds up well. It doesn’t crumble and stays workable as you knead it. Kneading is easy thanks to the composition—soft enough to mold, but not so soft that it smudges or tears. The yellow color lets you spot when it’s time to fold or retire a piece.

To stretch the bar’s lifespan:
- Only work on extremely clean surfaces.
- Use ample lubrication.
- Tear the bar into quarters and rotate pieces as they get dirty.

With this approach, I comfortably completed two vehicles with one bar and still had usable material left for spot decontamination later.

Where it excels

• Light to moderate contamination removal across paint and glass
• Low risk of marring when used properly
• Clear visual feedback thanks to the yellow clay
• Leaves a noticeably slick surface that accepts waxes, sealants, and coatings well
• Straightforward process ideal for enthusiasts who want professional results without aggressive media

Where it falls short

• The included 16 oz lube can be used up quickly on larger vehicles
• Not the fastest choice for severely contaminated finishes
• Like all traditional clay, it’s single-use; once it’s dirty or dropped, you’re discarding material

Practical tips for best results

• Do the plastic-bag test before and after to gauge progress.
• Work top-down; glass first, then horizontal panels, then vertical panels.
• Use more lube than you think—if clay drags, you need more.
• Keep a clean microfiber stack handy and flip often.
• Wear nitrile gloves if you’re sensitive to product staining.
• Plan a protection step right after claying to lock in the clean surface.

Comparisons and context

Compared to generic detail-spray-and-clay setups, this kit’s dedicated lubricant noticeably improves glide and consistency. Against more aggressive clays or synthetic clay mitts, the OG Clay Bar is gentler and more forgiving, though slower on heavy contamination. If you’re the type who details quarterly and stores vehicles outside, pairing this kit with an iron remover for periodic deep cleaning gives an excellent one-two punch without jumping straight to compounding.

For those who clay multiple cars regularly, a larger bottle of lube (or a concentrate) makes sense. If you’re a first-time user or you only plan to clay once or twice a year, this two-piece kit hits the convenience sweet spot.

Value

Value depends on how you use it. For single-vehicle owners who want a thorough decontamination before waxing or sealing, the kit is fairly priced and convenient. If you’re claying SUVs or multiple vehicles, you’ll likely want more lubricant on hand; that’s the only aspect that can push the cost up. The clay itself lasts as long as any light/medium natural bar I’ve used, and the yellow color is not a gimmick—it’s genuinely helpful.

Final thoughts and recommendation

The OG Clay Bar Kit strikes the right balance for most enthusiasts: gentle enough to be safe on well-kept paint, effective enough to make a dramatic difference in smoothness, and simple to use with predictable results. It won’t transform a neglected surface in record time, but that’s not its purpose. Used correctly, it leaves paint and glass ready for protection with minimal risk and a very satisfying “before and after.”

I recommend this kit for anyone looking to perform proper mechanical decontamination at home, especially on newer or moderately maintained vehicles. You’ll appreciate the slip of the dedicated lube, the visual clarity of the yellow clay, and the confidence that comes from a process that just works. If you regularly tackle heavily contaminated surfaces or multiple large vehicles, plan on supplementing with additional lubricant or stepping up to a more aggressive clay option for those edge cases. For routine maintenance and a smooth, clean finish, this kit is a reliable, user-friendly choice.