New way to clean your car September 11, 2010, 11:03:16 AM So... my car gets this wierd coating on the paint if it doesn't get washed for awhile. It comes out looking all purple and bleh. I'm not entirely sure what causes it, I think its exhaust fumes or something.Well, up until now, the only thing I've found that will take it off is dish soap, like Dawn or something with "grease fighters" in it. But, I found something else that works. Kinda by accident. Rain-X???? Like the kind you buy for using as wiper fluid.Yep. I cleaned my whole car with rain-x and some paper towels yesterday. This is how it came out. No soap or water whatsoever. The first picture is before, the second 2 are afters. Quote Selected
New way to clean your car Reply #1 – September 11, 2010, 11:41:25 AM Sounds like oxidation. I wouldnt wash any of my cars with dish soap, pretty abrasive stuff. Since dish soaps remove grime from dishes you have effectivly removed all wax and paint protectants from your car. I had a AMX years ago which would do similar between cleanings. Car really needed a re-paint but being young & poor I was reduced to waxing it every 3 weeks or so didnt help any that the car was black and I was living in Florida either Quote Selected
New way to clean your car Reply #2 – September 16, 2010, 09:39:34 PM stop using dish soap! it will only dry out your paint. use a good car wash like meguiars,1z or Blackfire. followed by a good wax from any one of the above. unless your capable of using a high speed polisher,in which case, polish it using meguiars m105,followed with m205 and top it with meguiars techwax 2.0. this will keep it looking good and healthy.(aka) WET Quote Selected
New way to clean your car Reply #3 – September 16, 2010, 10:12:44 PM holy guys I only used dawn once!!! I've tried using Meguires before, and another kind, it will not take that off without vigorous scrubbing. Whatever it is, its some sort of grease/oily substance that does not like to come off. The rain-x took it right off with just a wipe of a cloth. And don't anyone try to tell me rainx is bad for paint. (let me be specific: rainx windshield washer fluid)All I'm sayin is it worked great for a quick and easy temporary clean job, if you don't really care about your paint long term, like I don't. Since I'm going to paint it next year anyway. Quote Selected
New way to clean your car Reply #4 – September 16, 2010, 10:55:23 PM Did standard polishing/rubbing compound not work? A good rub down and then keeping a good wax on it will keep the paint lasting up to...forever in the lifetime of a vehicle. Protecting the paint that has UV protectants will prevent light damage and separate the paint from all the in the air that causes surface damage and oxidation.I know in my car's history, it received dish soap washes for like 10 years - the clearcoat only started to peel after 17 years or so, 2 years after I got it. The proper washing and waxing at that point couldn't save it but the peeling may have not even had anything to do with the fact that the car was washed with the soap and rarely waxed in its history. The only waxing I know of that it had previously was turtle wax like once a year, if that.So anyways, I don't think dish soap is really an issue although I wouldn't use it :p Quote Selected
New way to clean your car Reply #5 – September 19, 2010, 10:31:31 AM i do a good wash with a little Dawn,clay bar,then wax........Sweetness. Quote Selected
New way to clean your car Reply #6 – September 20, 2010, 07:55:12 AM What it all comes down to... is that your paint is at the end of it's life. Older paint technology won't (and couldn't) withstand half of what the new stuff can. Not much can really damage new urethane based paints, and the delaminating of the older type clear coats, seems to depend mainly on sun and heat abuse. Even new paint will do the same. May take 20 years in the blazing sun, but it will. Quote Selected
New way to clean your car Reply #7 – September 20, 2010, 07:57:41 AM BTW, I used dish soap on my car all it's life. it never did anything to the paint. The rust on the other hand.... Quote Selected
New way to clean your car Reply #8 – November 01, 2010, 03:51:56 PM i had the same problem years ago w my 87 and the paint. i noticed any oil will have the same results and is cheaper then rainx. but it did wash off with rain. please no comments i was 20 and it was my science experiment Quote Selected
New way to clean your car Reply #9 – November 02, 2010, 10:18:33 AM But rain-x is only $2 a gallon...? Quote Selected