The Dawn Wash (let's be a little more clear)

Neo62381 · 09-15-06, 03:10

I know a lot of people are against doing a Dawn wash, and there are varying opinions. I like to do a Dawn wash, on vehicles that are really contaminated and dirty, BUT only before polishing. I figure, If I can do any damage, it isn't going to be THAT much, with ONE wash, not to mention, I'm going to be polishing the paint anyway.

Everywhere I have looked where people talk about doing a Dawn wash, all they say is "Washed with dawn" or "Do a dawn wash, followed by." But, It never really gives specifics. There seems to be this grey area, that I would like to find out more about.

Questions such as:

1. Normal car wash soaps are diluted 1oz. per gallon, would it be the same with Dawn? More? Less? If so, why?
2. Does it have to be Dawn only? Are there other dishwashing detergents (possibly cheaper) that could be used as an alternative? One's with less, or more cleaning ability maybe?

Open for a good healthy discussion!

mikebai1990 · 09-15-06, 03:26

I personally don't use Dawn anymore, because it's too harsh and just isn't designed for car paint. Dawn's lubricity isn't designed like car wash shampoo's, which are specifically designed for cars. It doesn't sud very much, therefore contributing to possible swirling if one is not careful.

If I was trying to remove the old wax on the car, I would just do a regular car shampoo wash, followed by a good claying, followed by a good polish. By doing this, your paint will probably be even cleaner than compared to using Dawn.

Cam07 · 09-15-06, 03:36

Even though I never use dawn to take off the wax, I did it one time and it had a lot more suds than any car wash i've ever used.

Neo62381 · 09-15-06, 03:45

Thanks for the replies guys:-) My intent behind the dawn wash, is not to strip wax or anything of that nature, but more to remove some of the bonded contaminants, and other stuff that is just stuk in or on the paint. I use this step ONLY before polishing the paint, So I'm not worried too much about wash induced marring. Kind of like G35stilez uses a dawn wash on abused vehicles before heavy polishing.

a.k.a. Patrick · 09-15-06, 03:48

Its not the CC its harming. It's the plastics, vinyls an rubber componants.............

mikebai1990 · 09-15-06, 03:48

Well, using Dawn once in a while definitely won't do any bad to your car, I just think that it's probably not going to be as effective as using, say, clay, to remove the bonded contaminants that you are talking about. Do you plan to clay in your detail job?

Neo62381 · 09-15-06, 03:52

Of course, however, I have found that on really neglected cars, especially on some of the lower panels, even after washing the clay can become so contaminated that it is actually a waste of clay, and can mar the paint very easily.

edit: this is just considered a step to help save the clay a bit, without shelling out the bucks for an expensive solvent. Inwhich I would think that a dawn wash wouldn't be more harfull then using a solvent on your paint, to remove the really baked on stuff.

300th post..... w00t

AL-53 · 09-15-06, 04:22

As Patrick said...Dawn is more of a degreaser..it will pull the oils out of rubber..trim plastic....and any other plastics...can cause drying of the rubber..discoloring of trim...

the reason Dawn is perscribed as a wash for say Zaino..is mainly to remove oils on the paint from waxes and polishes...

AL

HondaGuy · 09-15-06, 04:35

Dawn wash IMO is pointless. If you wanna remove the LSP, then buff the paint, it wont take a compound and cutting pad to take it off, if its strong enough to cut paint, I'm pretty sure you gunna take off the LSP first.

BigAl3 · 09-15-06, 04:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by a.k.a. Patrick

Its not the CC its harming. It's the plastics, vinyls an rubber componants.............

agreed, you read my mind...

John Styrnol · 09-15-06, 05:05

If you are going to polish/glaze the vehicle anyways, why use Dawn. If you are not going to polish/glaze then use a good car shampoo/wash.

Mikeyc · 09-15-06, 05:09

I completely agree. The Dawn wash is more harm to the car than it is good.

Here's my reasoning . . .

-Why bother using Dawn to strip wax? If you're doing a Dawn wash you're likely claying and polishing afterward which will remove all the wax/sealant on the car anyway.

-Dawn is a degreaser and will pull oils from the plastic/rubber trim causing it to discolor or prematurely crack/degrade.

-Why bother using Dawn on neglected cars? First Dawn does not provide the lubricity a true car wash soap does. So, you're likely instilling marring. Even if you're going to be polishing afterward you could possibly be making the paint worse necessitating the removal of additional paint. Just spray the car down with an effective cleaner like Meguiar's Body solvent to loosen up the grime before washing.