SuperClean on car to remove grime?

[MoneyJohn]

Hello folks,

Since yesterday, have been checking videos on recommendations in other thread as to how to use those products. But since the car is pretty dirty, it is not yet ONR ready. So to make ONR ready, have been checking options.

In this video by Dallas Paint Correction, at 5:30, the guy uses SuperClean on the car paint to remove grime. My cars are far worse than this. (I can post pictures if anyone wants to see before giving suggestions.) So I am just wondering if it makes sense to use on the car paint.

What I read on this board, I was under the impression SuperClean is for wheels and engine, too harsh for paint, or my understanding is not right?

Thanks in advance.

(P.S. - Next two days, its going to pour really well, so was thinking to capitalize on it, as one of the members mentioned.

 

[SZR48207]

Depends on how concentrated we are talking. Super clean at a 100% strength can strip paint, as this was a common use of it for model car builders.

But if you really dilute it then you probably have something as strong as the soap at most coin OP car washes.

So the better question is what exactly are you trying to clean? If you plan to polish then that alone may provide the cleaning power to remove things like sap or tar buildup. Claybar is also an option before polish.

 

[Delta]

If it's a nicer vehicle not sure if I would try it, even at a lower dilution rate. A good car washing and decontamination (claybar or substitute) would do wonders.

Now having said that, my truck has "meh" paint at best and doesn't get waxed. Being white it will accumulate all kinds of crud that normal washing won't take off. I will use a 1:1 ratio of Zep Purple Degreaser on it. I only spray the panel I'm washing at the time. If you try this do it at your own risk.

 

[wdn]

I would first clay bar the car once, or twice, before I put and of that caustic degreaser on my paint. In fact I would never let that stuff touch my paint. But that's just me.

 

[RTexasF]

Scott (video) is well known and highly admired in the detailing world. He is a bit of a maverick and finds ways to do things quickly and efficiently that might be out of the box thinking. He did say the Super Clean is diluted 3 to 1. I would follow his advice without a second thought.

In your case of really dirty car(s) why not use the diluted super clean on a section then wash as you normally would with suds and a wash mitt? Once rinsed it should certainly be ONR ready regardless of the water used. Remember he is mobile and showing how to deal with a job without having water or electricity available.

 

[HYUNDAIFAN0001]

Originally Posted By: RTexasF
Scott (video) is well known and highly admired in the detailing world. He is a bit of a maverick and finds ways to do things quickly and efficiently that might be out of the box thinking. He did say the Super Clean is diluted 3 to 1. I would follow his advice without a second thought.

In your case of really dirty car(s) why not use the diluted super clean on a section then wash as you normally would with suds and a wash mitt? Once rinsed it should certainly be ONR ready regardless of the water used. Remember he is mobile and showing how to deal with a job without having water or electricity available.

Not so sure about the admired description - plenty of folks see him just as much a nutcase than a maverick.

He's known for contradicting his own advice as well.

That said...yes...others have also recommended the dilution in this case.

 

[wdn]

I've seen the guy's videos too. He is a good presenter on video. He also cuts corners, in my opinion. To his credit at least he is up front about it though, like he says I am in business to make money so I am going to let this Jescar power lock I just applied wet, sit only 10 minutes before wiping it off instead of the 'at least 30 minutes' it says on the label. Many people allow 30-60 minutes drying time before wiping it off. He just lets the first coat dry for 10 minutes only then wipes it off immediately sprays on top of it, a spritz of with spray wax. So the power lock has not even dried never mind cured yet, far from it I would suppose since Jescar recommend three hour curing time between coats. Even if you are going to do the one coat of Jescar sealant followed up with one coat of wax like Collinite you really ought to at least wait for the Jescar to properly cure first before applying the wax -- don't you think?

 

[Rolla07]

Originally Posted By: RTexasF
Scott (video) is well known and highly admired in the detailing world. He is a bit of a maverick and finds ways to do things quickly and efficiently that might be out of the box thinking. He did say the Super Clean is diluted 3 to 1. I would follow his advice without a second thought.

In your case of really dirty car(s) why not use the diluted super clean on a section then wash as you normally would with suds and a wash mitt? Once rinsed it should certainly be ONR ready regardless of the water used. Remember he is mobile and showing how to deal with a job without having water or electricity available.


+1

 

[SatinSilver]

I'd use a spray bottle filled with a diluted mixture of Dawn and water. I just used this in the engine bay and it worked great. Plus I used the super concentrated Dawn Platinum that has 3 or 4x the cleaning power of regular Dawn. Probably a 1:6 ratio. Worked great.

 

[Kestas]

I made myself a plastic chisel for these tasks. It'll scrape off any hardened stuff that won't wash off, without scratching the paint.