can you clean a car with degreaser?

[aimzzi]

hi i got told that you can clean a car with degreaser and water no matter the colour of the paint but i thought i was only white car you could clean it? is this true? and i got told it cleans the car up better?

[holden_calais_VT_1999]

hey mate from what i have read and searched on google every one say its a big no no but i have read on a few different sites that you can as long as its a water based degreaser and u wash it off fairly quickly and dilute it please dont try it under anything i have said as i have not tried it personally

[99VT]

wash it normally, if you have a lot of tar /bugs that are hard to get off, spend a good hour with a couple of soft clothes and a nice little product called Bug and Tar Remover (suprisingly enough) just make sure you rewash the car after using the bug and tar remover as you don't want to leave it on your paint.

[Huntington]

there are products made specifically for cleaning a car, alot of research has gone into these products. why would you want to use degreaser instead?

thats like saying i know you can run your car on unleaded petrol, but i was thinking of trying a tank full of citronella oil instead because i hear it burns.... and smells better

[MikeCuzzy]

Degreaser can damage paint work, especially if you leave it on there for too long.
If your car doesn't have a clear coat, I would recommend the green Armour All cleaner (forget what it's called), then a cut and polish cleaner like Kitten No2, than apply a wax.
If you have a clear coat then use the blue Armour All, then a No1 Polish (for clear coats), then a wax.

But not degreaser...

[GEN3RATD]

Just use car soap, it isn't that badly priced.

Keep in mind if you upset the pH levels of your paintwork it'll fk up quicker then a St Kilda footy player in the off season

[GEN3RATD]

Degreaser can damage paint work, especially if you leave it on there for too long.
If your car doesn't have a clear coat, I would recommend the green Armour All cleaner (forget what it's called), then a cut and polish cleaner like Kitten No2, than apply a wax.
If you have a clear coat then use the blue Armour All, then a No1 Polish (for clear coats), then a wax.

But not degreaser...

The green is called "heavy duty", you can use it on cars with clear coat but it's designed to remove lots of caked on road grime, best left to the really really dirty cars. The blue is simply "car wash" and suitable for weekly use

[304runner]

After I have done work to my car it always ends up with grease in places it shouldn't have grease so I just spray the whole lot with degreaser and hose it off within 60seconds and it come up a treat. The car shampoo is crap for removing grease, dont care what you buy.


I have airbrushing and good paint to match, never had an issue....

[monkeys437]

Keep in mind if you upset the pH levels of your paintwork it'll fk up quicker then a St Kilda footy player in the off season

Ok so it will fk it up at a very young age in a group situation then?

[GEN3RATD]

Wasn't the situation I was referring to but carry on

[MikeCuzzy]

The green is called "heavy duty", you can use it on cars with clear coat but it's designed to remove lots of caked on road grime, best left to the really really dirty cars. The blue is simply "car wash" and suitable for weekly use

Nice and simple, god knows why the name escaped me. I use the green as I live in a rural area and do a lot of km's so my car gets very dirty very quickly. I only suggested it since the OP wants to use degreaser, figured he needed a bit more kick than general car wash, you're right though for most people the 'car wash' is fine... that's if they even bother to wash their cars :P

[Full Spectrum]

I knew a guy that had a show car look paint job that did it. he allways said if it's used under the bonnet and it's still going on the paint and doesn't kill that. why should the body be any different.

[Bravotwozero]

hi i got told that you can clean a car with degreaser and water no matter the colour of the paint but i thought i was only white car you could clean it? is this true? and i got told it cleans the car up better?

You may be surprised to know that most new cars are cleaned with a degreaser such as Prepsol during pre-delivery.

wash it normally, if you have a lot of tar /bugs that are hard to get off, spend a good hour with a couple of soft clothes and a nice little product called Bug and Tar Remover (suprisingly enough) just make sure you rewash the car after using the bug and tar remover as you don't want to leave it on your paint.

Which tar & bug remover are you referring to? There are plenty available.

Just use car soap, it isn't that badly priced.

Keep in mind if you upset the pH levels of your paintwork it'll fk up quicker then a St Kilda footy player in the off season

What? A degreaser won't do any more than strip waxes and sealants. Normally you don't want to remove wax and that's why ph neutral shampoos are preferable. Nothing to do with the paint.

[JSTCOZ]

Can you? yes
Should you? no

[IBLOWN]

Is it ok to use carby cleaner mixed with brake fluid? I got told it works a treat.

[acarmody]

Can you seriously not afford a $5 bottle of Armour-All wash and wax??

[87LAG]

Wd 40 works well on tar

mix a bit of kerosene into your soap also does wonders. Alot of truckies do it and you rarely see a truck thats got crap paint

[bogan_vk]

just buy some car wash soap ,its cheap as and wont #### your paint.

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

Degreaser won't #### your paint either.

Used to wash trucks with degreaser first then truck wash. Washed plenty of cars with degreaser as 304runner has done, never had an issue. You are washing it, it's not like you will be leaving it to soak over night. Just wash with soap and give it a wax aftwerwards and it will be all good.

[Preferred Car Care]

Degreaser will tear the wax's and sealants from your paintwork leaving it at the mercy of the elements, in time your paint will become oxidised/faded. Neautral ph car wash is the best

[fuzzy2308]

Degreaser won't #### your paint, butt dont use it.

[Johnsy]

You can if you don't care about your car !!

[Bravotwozero]

Degreaser will tear the wax's and sealants from your paintwork leaving it at the mercy of the elements, in time your paint will become oxidised/faded. Neautral ph car wash is the best

I doubt many here use waxes or sealants.

[RiCeY]

Just use car soap, it isn't that badly priced.

Keep in mind if you upset the pH levels of your paintwork it'll fk up quicker then a St Kilda footy player in the off season

Lol paint is a solid not a liquid it doesnt have ph levels unless its still wet. Products used to clean your paint on the other hand do have varying ph levels.