Optimum Power Clean on Paint

**bswombaugh** · 01-24-2014, 08:02 PM

I am looking for a product to use for a pre-wash on certain areas to remove heavy crud, bugs, tar, etc. I have heard that OPC is safe on paint mixed at 3:1 but it will remove LSP at that strength.

Are any of you guys using it at say 10:1 for this purpose ? What ratio would be considered LSP safe and still effective to remove bugs, etc? Thanks

**Gurge** · 01-24-2014, 08:24 PM

Originally Posted by bswombaugh

I am looking for a product to use for a pre-wash on certain areas to remove heavy crud, bugs, tar, etc. I have heard that OPC is safe on paint mixed at 3:1 but it will remove LSP at that strength.

Are any of you guys using it at say 10:1 for this purpose ? What ratio would be considered LSP safe and still effective to remove bugs, etc? Thanks

I pretty much assume any apc on the paint will strip lsp so I reapply

OPC at 3:1 I`ll use for exteriors sometimes but I have 10:1 mixed as well. Mostly for interiors but works well outside too

I wouldn`t count on it to remove bugs and tar though. It has its limits. For bugs & tar, pickup some `tarminator`. Or clay it off

I`m typically using OPC during my wash / decon for wheel wells, tires, gas cap, door jambs (if needed - often times I just use ONR diluted), front grills, around emblems / badges. I also add a bit of OPC to my foam cannon in an effort to strip LSP (along with cg citrus gloss and dawn)

**Bunky** · 01-25-2014, 06:47 AM

Poorboy`s Bug Squash 1:3 is generally LSP safe as a pre-wash cleaner. It works well on bugs, etc.

Auto Finesse Citrus Power is a product also intended for pre-wash but have not used it.

**Swanicyouth** · 01-25-2014, 08:41 AM

Well, just to add more confusion - I love 1Z Anti-Insect.

**The Driver** · 01-25-2014, 09:27 AM

Chemical guys citrus was with gloss, probably the greatest all around soap I`ve ever used. Especially for stripping lsp`s.

For bugs SWANIC is 100% on the money, 1z bug an tar/anti insekt is by far the best unless you graduate to car pro trix, which IMO would be overkill an a waste of $.

**Woob** · 01-28-2014, 09:29 PM

Originally Posted by The Driver

Chemical guys citrus was with gloss, probably the greatest all around soap I`ve ever used. Especially for stripping lsp`s.

For bugs SWANIC is 100% on the money, 1z bug an tar/anti insekt is by far the best unless you graduate to car pro trix, which IMO would be overkill an a waste of $.

+1 I use to use gallons of OPC and have switched to stronger car shampoo`s instead of relying on a safe APC. It just isn`t economical although very safe. 1Z is great for a DIY/Enthusiast but can be quite expensive. Besides CG Citrus I like mixing paint safe combo degreasers and being smart of heat/areas on the paint.

**XxBoostinxX** · 01-28-2014, 10:30 PM

Originally Posted by Bunky

Auto Finesse Citrus Power is a product also intended for pre-wash but have not used it.

Love me some Auto Finesse Citrus Power. Strong APC, yet gentle on the paint. Good luck finding a 5L though. Seems like no one in the U.S. carries it.

**The Driver** · 01-28-2014, 10:36 PM

Originally Posted by Woob

+1 I use to use gallons of OPC and have switched to stronger car shampoo`s instead of relying on a safe APC. It just isn`t economical although very safe. 1Z is great for a DIY/Enthusiast but can be quite expensive. Besides CG Citrus I like mixing paint safe combo degreasers and being smart of heat/areas on the paint.

I use them conjunction really, I use w99 a lot as a wheel cleaner an the cg as the body wash on top. I have to say nothing kills engine grime like w99 and nothing strips an lsp faster than a heavy concentration of cg citrus, especially out of the foam cannon.