This thread is heading in a direction that I really didn't want it to go,... it just seems like every other dawn wash thread on here, where everyone gives thier two cents on if it should be used or not. I already know that there are better alternatives for stripping wax. As a matter of fact, If I was working on a well prepped car, I would just polish over it, and not owrry about it. I'm not cencerned with "stripping wax" at all.....I'm more concerned with really abused vehicles, vehicles that have so many bonded contaminants that doing just a regular wash wouldn't be much help. So much so, that if you tried claying after a normal wash, or without trying some sort of
body solvent, that you would be able to hear the contaminants scrape your paint while claying, and/or it would feel very rough.
I already know, and have made the descision a LONG time ago, that I am going to use a Dawn wash on really neglected, "beater" vehicles that people bring me and have done so with what seems to be NO adverse effects whatsoever. Here's a perfect example: Sunday I have a little white Geo Metro (rolls eyes) that's owned by a 21yr old girl. The paint on this car is in such bad shape that you can run your finger down certain panels and the oxidation from the paint will turn your finger a diffrent color. The car looks like it hasnt seen love in at least over a year. The lower panels have so much contaminants, bugs, road paint, tar, and other things. When you look at the lower section of the car it almost, makes you want to give up.
I would MUCH rather use a dawn wash on this car, and possibly remove a lot of the stuck on stuff, then to wash with a regular soap, and leave it all behind. Only to have to spend a lot of time attempting to clay it all off, wasting clay, and marring the finish (scince there are wayyy more contaminants down there then usuall)