I have heard that Armor all and STP Protectants can actually harm your dash over time,I have been using it but one day I wiped my dash(red dash)and red powder came off onto the soft rag I used!This is what lead me to believe what I heard,has anyone heard of that as well?I also use a sun visor to help protect my dash so why the red powder?Is there anything out their that shines that is truely safe and will not leave streaks?

 

F150LowDown:
I haven't heard of your problem before, but I've used Armour All on my '91 Explorer dashboard and interior trim for 9 years with no problem. Still looks like new.

 

F150LowDown..I have been using Armor All since the 80s and have *never* had a problem, no cracking, or faded dash/interior trim at all.

I have been using the low gloss Armor All since it came out and it is great.

Do not use it (Armor All) on the exterior plastic as it *WILL* turn black trim to grey in time. Our 92 Mazda 626 did this. I have never put it on either the 98 F-150 I had or my new F-150.



------------------
2000 F-150 XLT, 4x2, 5.4L Supercab, Styleside, Black with silver two-tone, 3.55, class III towing package with heavy duty cooling package, 4 wheel disk ABS, overhead console, sliding rear window, keyless entry, dark graphite interior, in dash CD, Pendaliner bedliner, K&N air filter, rubberized undercoating, cabin filtration system, Bugflector II, 5W-30 Mobil 1, engine build 10/4/99

 

ok i think i can shed some light on this..

From what i understand if you have a dry dash and start to put oil back into it and then let it go again it will crack .....any product that puts oil back into it is fine as long as its kept up..

kinda think of this lame analigy..

you have chapped lips so you lick em or put water on them then they dry and hurt and crack even more unless you keep doing it
hope that kinda makes sense?!?!?!

 

F150lowdown,

I used ArmorAll for years but never really liked it. It was sticky, showed water marks easily. From a tip posted here some time ago I changed to Lexol Vinyl Protecant and like it much better.

------------------
Dunbarton "The Middle Aged Kid" '99 XLT SC SB 4x2 4.6 auto 3.55 ls The occasional Z-71 Eater! Wedgewood & Denim, SuperChipped, Airaid FIPK, HD electrical and cooling, power seat, Rhino Liner, Extang Classic tonneau cover, Mobil 1. Man, I got it all! (New Jersey)

 

I have been useing 303 protectant since I bought my truck works good inside and out. Recommended by the manufacturer of my tonneau cover.
Jeff

------------------
1999 F150 Lariat
Reg cab Short box Styleside
5.4L 3.55ls
Deep Wedgwood Blue/Silver
Lund Interceptor hood shield, VentVisors, Class III hitch, Ford molded mud guards, soft tonneau, factory CD with changer (thanks Dusty), tinted windows, Factory fog light kit

Menasha, WI

http://www.fortunecity.com/silversto...ton54home.html




[This message has been edited by JA_Stang86 (edited 03-06-2000).]

 

Yes moose-man that does make sense!I also heard that as well that once you start you have to keep doing it sort of like shaving.Thanks to all who replied!

 

I use 409 Automotive to clean my interior. It does very good. I have heard about armor all and different stuff actually damaging your dash. A body shop man told me that Black Jack tire silicone, works great. I have a 4-wheeler, and I use the silicone on the plastic and it works great. Makes the plastic look great. I have never tried the stuff on my dash, but you might wanna try it on a small area out of site. You can get the stuff at any car parts dealer. Its clear and thick.

 

You guys ever use One of those "Swifter Sweeper" Pads to dust the dash? They Work wonders, No lint or dust left behind whatsoever. They Do a heck of a job

 

I also heard about the Armor All type products. What it is, is it is (whoa)water based. You should use a silicone protectant, as silicone actually "treats" the plastic or rubber parts, not coats them. I use Black Magic. It is a lot cheaper than most products and does an excellent job. Shines well, and lasts a long time. I will never use a water based product again. Part because of what I heard abot water based products causing harm over time, and because I fell in love with the long lasting shine and protection the silicone based products provide. Little tip, if it's white, it's water based. I even tried the Meguiars spray. It's water based, and I totally hated it. I used the whole bottle to give it a fair try, but went right back to Black Magic. It shines the hell out of everything!

------------------
1997 F-150, 4.6, automatic, Dark Toreador Red, Supercab, Flareside, 4X4 Off-Road, Towing Package, Ford hvy dty rubber floor mats, Kenwood 10-disk cd changer, Ford bugshield, Chrome Grizzly Wrap Around Push Bar with 2 KC 100w Daylighters, Ventshades, Ford bedliner, Lund Premier tonneau cover, cab and bed professionally undercoated, Code Alarm Sure Start RVS remote starter, Ford alarm, Realistic CB with Wilson Little Wil antenna and Astatic power mic, ported MAF sensor, and Lots of TLC!! (Besides being an F-150 nut, I am a Ford auto technician.)

 

I used black magic years ago on the exterior black plastic parts of an older truck and it ended up turning them hazy with a white haze after time. It would be black again once you treated them and then turn back hazy again in a short time. Just my experience.

Dunbarton mentioned the Lexol product which I have seen as the favorite and best rated product of this type on several car care and detailing web sites. I have also been looking into the Enviro-tech waterless products and their website states that silicon is not good for your plastic or tires.

I am leaning heavily towards the Dri Wash 'n Guard waterless products by envirotech. The person who details my wife's Cobra and a few of the members of my truck club use them and swear by them. I will report any additional findings later.


------------------
Chris Thomas
1998 F-150XLT Flareside STX Sport Package, 4.6L Auto 3.55 Oxford White/Gray interior, Factory Anti-theft system
Picture: http://216.147.104.171/Y2K/members/ChrisT/christ1a.jpg
Homepage: Chris & Brandi's Universe
Mods: A.R.E. Decklid/Oxford White with gray fabric liner, K&N filter with Airbox Mod (removed silencer), Lowered 3" front/5" rear, Tinted Windows, GTS sloted taillight covers (painted Oxford white to match), Removed STX stickers
Audio: Kenwood Truck speakers with 10" woofers, Rockford Fosgate and Alpine Amps, Ford 10 disk CD changer
Future Mods: 20" rims and tires, True duals with Supertrap tunable mufflers, Superchip, Supercharger, Jacobs Ignition, and whatever else I can think of!!!

 

Chris,

Used silicone a couple times on an opponents rear tires when we we gonna race. When he wasn't looking I sprayed his tread real good with it ...... I thought it worked very nicely.

------------------
Dunbarton "The Middle Aged Kid" '99 XLT SC SB 4x2 4.6 auto 3.55 ls The occasional Z-71 Eater! Wedgewood & Denim, SuperChipped, Airaid FIPK, HD electrical and cooling, power seat, Rhino Liner, Extang Classic tonneau cover, Mobil 1. Man, I got it all! (New Jersey)




[This message has been edited by Dunbarton (edited 03-07-2000).]

 

LOL, that would work really well.

 

Here's a new one for ya that doesn't cost a whole lot. I use baby wipes that do not contain alcohols or perfumes. They have just enough cleaning agent to remove dust and spills. If their gentle enough for the baby's behind then.... You get the picture. I also use it on the leather seats. Works great.