I was recently at the gas station and saw a man with a newer 04+ F150. His bed rails, step boards, and mirrors looked awful!! they were a grey color with white spots, that looked like sun damage! I asked the guy what was up, and he said he wasn't sure that all he ever used was Armorall. Will armorall cause this? I am new to cleaning a vehicle, and have been using armorall on all of my plastic surfaces. Is this wrong to do??? Any help, is greatly appreciated!

 

Answer... yes, yes and yes. Armorall is petroleum based, which will actually break down plastic. If you want good protection, use a water based protectant. Personally, I use 303's Areospace Protectant.

I do use petromleum based protectants on tires... as it's cheaper and the tires will wear out before the protectant causes any real damage.

 

303 is an excellent recommendation. Additionally, you may try Vinylex or Meguiar's #40... All of these products are water-based and offer a much higher level of protection than that of AA.

Also, to add, Amor All is actually no longer a petroleum based product. It was in yesteryear but, today's formula is actually water-based (LINK TO MSDS).

-RP-

 

Thanks so much guys, I appreciate your help! I felt really bad for the guy his truck was relatively brand new.

 

Mine look like faded plastic due to the Back to Black and the tire dressing I tried after the back to black. Both turned white in the grain of the plastic. I have not been able to locate the 303 or the Vinylex.

 

another vote for 303. excellent stuff. you should be able to find it at places that sell soft tonneau covers.

 

Try using ICE wax on ur plastic parts! I dont use it on the paint but it works great for ur Black plastics!

 

It won't turn white after a week or so? That is what happened with the clear tire stuff.

 

No it is formulated to not turn ur plastics white. I use it on my truck and my 2006 Gsxr 1000. I dont use it as a wax on the paint even though u can.. I just love the way it looks on ur plastics! Try it you will love it and let me know what u think!

 

I'm a little confused...if AA is water-based then why did his boards turn white in spots?
All I ever use is AA...will it hurt my truck down the road at all if i continue using it?

 

Turned white because of the stuff that is mixed into the water. It dries white.

 

My flares on my FX4 have started to show up white spots. I haven't used any petro based products on them. The bed rail caps, grill, running boards are still black as can be. I need to take it to my dealership to get them to replace them.

I think it is the type of plastic. It seems to be the same type of plastic that the flares on my Jeep were made of which turned white. Not much of anything could keep them looking black. It really sucks too.

 

I've got some white spots on my grill.

They showed up not 2 months after coming home from the dealership. At that point, I hadn't used any kind of plastic dressing on it. It's the only way to make them disappear now.

Not sure what could have caused it.

 

I use Meguiars Hyper Dressing on mine and haven't had any issues with it turning white.