Prep with Kerosene ???

MDRX8 · 10-22-09, 06:45

I had a friend that right before his winter waxing would wipe his car with kerosene. (lived up north) His car looked extremely good. He then would apply MG #26. His car looked awesome. Anyone else done this?

Jakerooni · 10-22-09, 06:53

don't use kerosene. The process he's doing is really really really old school. It's just like acid washing a white car. The after effects are much more damaging than the initial results. Kerosene is about as bad a gas. It eats through everything. If he's leaving it on it's damaging his clearcoat. If he's washing it off he's washing Kerosene off into the ground and we all know what that does. There are much safer and actually much more effective ways of doing what he's doing. (Namely claying the car first)

MDRX8 · 10-22-09, 06:57

Yeah, his car did not have a clearcoat, just paint. Thanks

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jakerooni

don't use kerosene. The process he's doing is really really really old school. It's just like acid washing a white car. The after effects are much more damaging than the initial results. Kerosene is about as bad a gas. It eats through everything. If he's leaving it on it's damaging his clearcoat. If he's washing it off he's washing Kerosene off into the ground and we all know what that does. There are much safer and actually much more effective ways of doing what he's doing. (Namely claying the car first)

PistolWhip · 10-22-09, 07:29

There's too many better options on the market that are designed to do what kerosene would do, but better. A good stripping wash like Chemical Guys Citrus Wash mixed strong will strip any protectant that's on the paint, followed up with a good claying which will remove any contaminants left behind. I guarantee that the results left behind after the above process will be better, safer and much more environmentally friendly than using kerosene. Clear coat or not, I always recommend using a product that's designed and formulated to do the job your trying to achieve, rather than employing some home remedy that may end up causing more damage in the long run than good.

Fresh330 · 10-22-09, 07:52

Since we're on the topic of a wash prep, what do you guys think about adding some APC in addition to my wash shampoo? I use Meg's Gold Class for my routine washes but I don't have anything stronger to prep my car for claying and what not.

If I throw some of my Poor Boy's APC in my wash bucket with my shampoo, will that help at all? Or should I not even bother?

MDRX8 · 10-22-09, 08:51

Sure you could. Be careful not to add to much. You can always use IPA to Prep your car for claying, polishing, and adding a LSP.

Fresh330 · 10-23-09, 08:15

What's IPA?

What's a safe ratio of H2O:APC? 4:1 ok?

Danase · 10-23-09, 09:58

Prep-sol is what I'd use.

MDRX8 · 10-23-09, 10:02

isopropyl alcohol use it at a 50% ratio with water. Much cheaper. Put it in a spray bottle spray area and wipe. Try it.........

MotorCity · 10-23-09, 10:11

Kerosene is OLD SCHOOL!

I wouldn't know from experience but have read / heard that kerosene will enduce the paint to swell thus, temporarily masking swirls....

OP: As has been offered IPA, Prep Sol would accomplish the same goal your friend is trying get to... a dedicated paint cleaner would also work.

Accumulator · 10-23-09, 10:24

Yep, old school. But it usually doesn't do any damage. A childhood friend's father did that on his '62 Chevy, a ratty work car that was nonetheless 100% mechanically. And I mean he did it for *years and years*, on a car that was outside every day and abused like you wouldn't believe. It worked out surprisingly well, at least for what the car was (note that back then paint failure and rust were almost taken for granted, but this thing held up great).

But it's not something anybody here would ever want to do, and even my friend's dad finally had the car repainted and then treated it more conventionally.

lawrencea · 10-23-09, 04:19

The old school fact is true. Kerosene and water was the original rinseless wash. You would use one cup of kerosene to a bucket of water, and you would sponge your car down and wipe it off with a couple of terry towels. It would keep road film off the car and would help prevent rust coming from behind chrome mouldings.It was also great for cleaning glass. In its day it done a great job.