How important is it to use a pH balanced wash?

**imported_RedlineIRL** · 12-07-2007, 09:40 PM

It seems all of the washes out there have different pH levels. How important is it to select a car wash that has a neutral pH, and what are the effects of using a wash that has a higher pH level? Do the higher pH levels strip away wax and protection quicker? I was curious on a few products, so I contacted Meguiars on some of their products and here`s the pH levels on their washes.

NXT Generation = 8.5

Gold Class = 8

Now I believe that Zaino Z7 is supposed to be pH balanced at 7. Is there any other washes out there that contains a netural pH level.

I`m just curious on how pH levels affect finishes and other trim on vehicles, or if it doesn`t really make a difference.

**BigJimZ28** · 12-07-2007, 09:57 PM

what is this like you 4th post about car wash?

trust me

the process is way more important than the product

**SVR** · 12-07-2007, 10:00 PM

That`s way too high, it should be between 6.9 and 7.8 to be PH neutral

Having a high PH means its quite alkalinic and can take alot of slickness out of the paint, dry out exterior vinyl and rubber trims and hurt sealers and waxes to some degree (possibly), though how much depends on the brand

Shampoo`s at 6.8 and below will definately be a problem to sealers and waxes and I`d imagine some loss of shine over a long period of use

I`ve got PH testing strips to test all of my shampoo`s in the bottle and when mixed in with water (in the buckets)

**David Fermani** · 12-07-2007, 10:06 PM

Won`t the final PH depend on how much and how acidic/alkaline the water you`re using is? I`m just refering to my fish tank days where PH had to be perfect and you sometimes added water to level out your ratio.

**imported_RedlineIRL** · 12-07-2007, 11:14 PM

Originally Posted by SVR

That`s way too high, it should be between 6.9 and 7.8 to be PH neutral

Having a high PH means its quite alkalinic and can take alot of slickness out of the paint, dry out exterior vinyl and rubber trims and hurt sealers and waxes to some degree (possibly), though how much depends on the brand

Shampoo`s at 6.8 and below will definately be a problem to sealers and waxes and I`d imagine some loss of shine over a long period of use

I`ve got PH testing strips to test all of my shampoo`s in the bottle and when mixed in with water (in the buckets)

Thanks for clarifying that. From your testing, what kind of shampoos and washes would you recommend that seem to be in the neutral range?

**Setec Astronomy** · 12-07-2007, 11:30 PM

What makes you think that Z7 is neutral, BTW?

**salty** · 12-08-2007, 12:00 AM

You could buy some PH paper or a tester if you need to.

As most city water varies and is usually 7.5- 8.5 PH (one reason to keep the pipes clean) as long as the shampoo is around neutral is will be OK.

APC cleaners are usually much more extreme. 2.0 or 11 PH. Though some newer ones are closer to neutral.

**imported_RedlineIRL** · 12-08-2007, 12:05 AM

Originally Posted by Setec Astronomy

What makes you think that Z7 is neutral, BTW?

I`m just going by what Sal told me, which was a pH of 7.0. Is it not neutral?

**Setec Astronomy** · 12-08-2007, 12:26 AM

Originally Posted by RedlineIRL

I`m just going by what Sal told me, which was a pH of 7.0. Is it not neutral?

:nixweiss I`d never heard that before, but I just mixed a little up in a cup and it did seem to be about 7, tasted pretty good, too.

**SVR** · 12-08-2007, 01:34 AM

Duragloss, Driven to Perfection, Einszett Perls and Jeffs Werkstatt all were in the neutral range

Can`t say anything about other brands as I have not tried them

**Accumulator** · 12-08-2007, 12:58 PM

AutoInt/ValueGuard`s "C" shampoo is ph 7.0.

But yeah, that`s about the least important thing IMO. None of the major-label shampoos are gonna be so far off neutral as to cause problems and there are a lot of considerations that`re more important.

**Biggestmexi** · 06-03-2010, 06:13 AM

I ran some pH tests yesterday.

DI water from my lab came out to 5.94.

Not good.

I will test Tap, distelled, and culligan water again today to find out their pH.

I will also bring in some ONR tomorrow and meg`s gold.

test them with the various waters.

I am using a Accumet basic AB15 pH meter.

If anyone would like me to test anything let me know.

lol, i can be an "independent lab tester"

**Biggestmexi** · 06-03-2010, 07:53 AM

Here is a few more tests.

Tap water at my work is 7.72pH@69F

De-Ionized water from the same source is 5.23pH@68.1F

IGA brand Distilled water came to 7.10pH@69.1F

Distilled water with Dawn (OXI) dishsoap was 9.41pH@70.8F

Culligan water was 7.16pH@39.2F

**sulla** · 06-03-2010, 08:43 AM

Wow..You said you`re going to test ONR ?

**Biggestmexi** · 06-03-2010, 08:48 AM

Originally Posted by sulla

Wow..You said you`re going to test ONR ?

Yup.

Im going to bring it in tomorrow.

Im going to try and break the ratio 1oz to 2 gal down tomorrow to a more testable size.

and i might try to test it as is as well.

I might also test for Conductivity, Resitivity, and Total Dissolved Solids(total amount of dissolved ions)