My truck is not looking quite as good as the first time I waxed it. I was considering striping all the old wax off, claying, and rewaxing. I have heard of people using dawn to strip wax, is this safe for your paint? Every car that I have ever seen that uses Dawn to strip their wax has spidercracks in the paint. Is there a better way to strip wax other than Dawn?

 

the Dawn may work. If you really want a product designed for this visit your local NAPA store and get Prep-Sol. This is specific for getting the paint surface clean of wax (silicons, carnubas, and oils).

 

*Some* claim Dawn is too harsh and that it removes needed oils from the paint and plastics. Others (including the very popular Zaino) recommend it.

I think it is like most things; when used in moderation (ie no more than once a year, tops) I HIGHLY doubt it could cause any real harm. But maybe if used regularly it might.

Back when I was 15-16 and started washing my Dad's car that later became mine, I used to use Dawn to wash it every week. In fact, prior to me discovering how to really detail a vehicle, my family had basically used Dawn primarily on all of their vehicles, and we never had a car get problems in the clearcoat or paint. So...it's probably a safe call.

I basically only use it once on every car I buy or work on- the first time. After that first serious stripping, followed by intense claying, and whatever other steps are needed, I then use normal Meguire's Gold Class and NXT I actually use both in the same bucket) from then on out.

 

Personally, I'm one of the ones that would lean on the side of it being too harsh but, as he goes on to say, doing it in moderation isn't probably all that bad. A once or twice per year deal won't kill your paint.

Here's my preference though... utilize the abrasive polish that you'd probably be using any way to remove the blemishes in your paint to remove old wax. Just about any polish with some level of 'cut' in it will remove the wax -- otherwise it wouldn't be doing its job on the clear to remove those swirls and/or marrs...

-RP-

 

Thanks for the input. I really don't have any flaws in the paint, at least no glaring flaws. Really I just want to remove the wax because the color is not the same as the first time I waxed it. My truck is AZ Beige and with the first wax coat of NXT it looked very silverish, now it looks like it has a more brownish tint.

 

I use the Dawn just for to srip the "wax" that the dealer put on. I think that the one or two times that it is done would not affect the paint.

Woof
Bowser

 

wax and grease remover

 

I agree this will definately get rid of all of the old wax.
Dawn is not really harsh but will leave a residue that takes a while to wash off.