Degreaser on paint?

R

Riding Backward

New member
Hi all I"m new to the board and have tried to do a search but have turned up nothing.



I just bought a new used truck back in Sept. and had a guy from the dealer come out and detail it. He didn't use a carnuba wax but some polymer stuff that he claims lasts much longer, I forgot the name of it.



Anyways I haven't washed my truck in a few weeks due to a couple back to back ski trips and its been raining for a week straight here in So Cal. My truck is pretty dirty and I was thinking about hitting most of the grime with a little degreaser before washing. Is this bad for the finish?
 
I talked to a few bodyshop workers about washing cars with degreaser.



They all say that they don't recommend it. I think they mention something like degreaser would "dry out" the paint. Not just removing wax from it, but drying it. Even the use of bodyshop solvent on paint work is not advisible.



A detailer I know who is popular in the Mazda3 scene says that he ocassionally uses diluted APC on the sideskirts and the front bumper when they are really dirty. He says that the use of APC on paintjobs could dull the paint, which would require machine polishing. I could imagine degreaser having this kind of effect on paint.



Wheels, however, are different. My trusted wheel repair shop uses full strength degreasers and acid to wash wheels. Not advisible, but the adverse effects are not as profound.
 
Normally I'd say that it is ok to use apc on the car (quality apc) but it will remove the protection so don't do it. Unless you polish and wax afterwards.
 
If you don't have a power washer go to the coin-op and blast it with water. Don't be afraid to get somewhat aggressive with it. Then wash with your normal car wash soap at a lower dilution. If the directions say 1oz per 1 gallon, maybe go 1.5-2oz per gallon. If the detailer did a good job and used a quality sealant, it should come off just fine, especially with the power washing pre-cleaning.
 
I use degreaser on some cars. I just cut it back a WHOLE lot and wash it off fast! Just remember it strips wax so you'll need to redo the panels you degreased.
 
I wouldn't use degreaser on the paint at all, there are too many what ifs and variables that can potentially destroy the finish. Like said before I use a dilluted APC (megs APC+) on rocker panels and other highly soiled areas as a pre wash. Sometimes I even mix a little bit with the soap to help strip the wax off before I start polishing.
 
Riding Backward said:
Anyways I haven't washed my truck in a few weeks due to a couple back to back ski trips and its been raining for a week straight here in So Cal. My truck is pretty dirty and I was thinking about hitting most of the grime with a little degreaser before washing. Is this bad for the finish?
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Boy, perspective is everything. Not getting washed for a few weeks and a week of rain calls for degreaser in SoCal :lol . Here in NJ, we call what you're talking about winter, and we just use car wash. Unless there is some oil-from-the-road effect in CA that I'm not familiar with since it never rains there, I don't see why you would need to use degreaser. If you really want to do something like that, how about mixing your car wash up regular strength in a spray bottle and pre-soaking your trouble spots?
 
Setec Astronomy said:
Boy, perspective is everything. Not getting washed for a few weeks and a week of rain calls for degreaser in SoCal :lol . Here in NJ, we call what you're talking about winter, and we just use car wash. Unless there is some oil-from-the-road effect in CA that I'm not familiar with since it never rains there, I don't see why you would need to use degreaser. If you really want to do something like that, how about mixing your car wash up regular strength in a spray bottle and pre-soaking your trouble spots?
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LOL...my thoughts exactly....what is in the rain out there that would warrant a degreaser?....or on the roads...I would think "dirty car" issues are a little more severe out in Nj and here in Ny
 
melissa809 said:
LOL...my thoughts exactly....what is in the rain out there that would warrant a degreaser?....or on the roads...I would think "dirty car" issues are a little more severe out in Nj and here in Ny
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….in the OP’s defense (and as a fellow So. Californian myself), the rain we had recently was the first one in quite a while. I can relate to what the OP speaks of. The first day of most rain storms we get will coat your car in a nice layer of oily, road grime that doesn’t always wash off so easily. ….I’m sure this is nothing new to anyone. Anyhow, I can understand his idea of using an APC to help loosen some of this film as part of his next wash process.
 
Kean said:
….in the OP’s defense (and as a fellow So. Californian myself), the rain we had recently was the first one in quite a while. I can relate to what the OP speaks of. The first day of most rain storms we get will coat your car in a nice layer of oily, road grime that doesn’t always wash off so easily. ….I’m sure this is nothing new to anyone. Anyhow, I can understand his idea of using an APC to help loosen some of this film as part of his next wash process.
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In defense of those of us in the Northeast, that IS new to us (although if you look at my post I did predict it might be some oil-from-the-road effect). We just don't get that here because we average some sort of precip once a week or so.
 
Setec Astronomy said:
In defense of those of us in the Northeast, that IS new to us (although if you look at my post I did predict it might be some oil-from-the-road effect). We just don't get that here because we average some sort of precip once a week or so.
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....I saw that and didn't intend to come off as though I was :argue . I was just letting Melissa know what the OP is likely facing after last week since I can relate. The intial rain after a few months of no precipitaion is the worst. The roads get very slick and the grime sprayed up by cars in front of you can be pretty nasty at times. ....yuck.
 
I have occaisionally used APC+ on my vehicle, but I mix it with some soap and spray it through my foam gun. Then I wash it off pretty quick. I dont think you want it spending much time on the paint.
 
I sometimes use degreaser on paint, and often on wheels, though on paint I usually cut it about 30% with H2O. It does dull the paint a bit, so you have to polish after. I use a spray bottle, and wash and rinse panel-by-panel; it works best with a power washer.



I've only used it on paint once per car; it def. wouldn't be good for the paint if you did it multiple times. I hate claying, and the degreaser often makes that step unnecessary, especially for removing pitch. It's also excellent for cleaning your tires and floor mats.
 
I add some degreaser to my carwash mix if I'm about to polish and protect a car that is protected by a wax or sealant before I start. If you don't leave it on long, it doesn't harm the paint/clearcoat. If you leave it on for a long time...I'm not sure you'd like the outcome. Degreaser is very corrosive and your paint will pay the price for having it on there too long. rest.I use a very light degreaser solution. Something like 15-1 mix ratio. 15 parts car wash to 1 part degreaser and rinse off quickly. If that doesn't remove all of the wax, then I use an APC to remove the rest.
 
adrock2003 said:
I add some degreaser to my carwash mix if I'm about to polish and protect a car that is protected by a wax or sealant before I start. If you don't leave it on long, it doesn't harm the paint/clearcoat. If you leave it on for a long time...I'm not sure you'd like the outcome. Degreaser is very corrosive and your paint will pay the price for having it on there too long. rest.I use a very light degreaser solution. Something like 15-1 mix ratio. 15 parts car wash to 1 part degreaser and rinse off quickly. If that doesn't remove all of the wax, then I use an APC to remove the rest.
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....I think it’s important to note that the term ”all purpose cleaner” and “degreaser” are broad descriptions/characteristics of a wide range of products. Dilution ratios, chemical properties, applications, etc. will vary.



OP: On a side note, SuperBee364 uses a touchless wash method that I think you might be interested in. If anything, it will give you an idea of what certain cleaners/soaps he uses and has found effective at removing dirt without agitation. Keep in mind however that the key in his process seems to be his selection of LSP(s) (waxes/sealants) that he says are able to release filth more freely. ….he had a thread a year or so ago (IIRC) that included pictures. Even if I don’t use a particular product, tool or method I might read about, I will sometimes be able to draw something useful from it that I can incorporate into my own routine.
 
go to the local coin op and use the pre soak setting all over the car twice

then prerinse it with the soap

then hand wash the car

pressure rinse the car

low pressure spotless rinse the car

skip the "wax"



then go home and handle it!



Where in socal are you located?
 
toyotaguy said:
go to the local coin op and use the pre soak setting all over the car twice

then prerinse it with the soap

then hand wash the car

pressure rinse the car

low pressure spotless rinse the car

skip the "wax"



then go home and handle it!



Where in socal are you located?
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I live in Pasadena, but work in Orange County.



How Corrosive is "enviro friendly degreaser" ala Simple Green or that Orange stuff vs. Oil Eater etc?
 
If you want the low down on degreaser for paint use, it's called P21s total auto wash. It's around $70 for a bit over a gallon, but it's specifically designed for paint. It has some washing properties as well as an incredible cleaning ability. You can use it straight or dillute it some. I primarily use it for engines and lower body grime. Very potent, so you don't need much. It'll strip the wax too, so it's more of a treatment done before a full detail, than as a regular maintenance thing. I think for much less money, you could probably mix some regular citrus degreaser with some water and car wash soap and come up with something reasonably effective. I'd keep it in a spray bottle, since you won't need much. With the soap in it, it shouldn't etch the paint or anything, just work somewhat quickly.
 
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