The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop How to remove Armor All?

Took my unfinished rolling and driving chassis (no sheet metal) to a car wash place Friday, as my Dad was having his truck washed, and my truck was on the trailer ready for a show the next day, seemed like a good idea to have the dirt and dust washed off mine at the same time.

I get back there to pick up the trucks, and mine is still "wet", and upon closer inspection it is greasy too. The engine, transmission, belts, hoses, frame, rear axle, wheels, about 75% of the truck.
I asked the owner of the shop what they had put on my truck that made it look wet,
He said, "they just put a little armor all on it"
I asked, "Does that have silicone in it, as I have some stuff to paint and have heard that it can be a huge problem"
Hid reply, "No, it is water based, it'll be gone in about 6 hours"

I got home and checked the armor all website, they don't mention having problems with painting something that has had armor all on it, but they do say it is a "water based silicone emulsion". don't give any tips for getting rid of the stuff either.

24 hours later it is still as greasy as can be...

We gave it a try with some simple green, and it helped some, but I don't think good enough.

I explained when I dropped the truck off that I wanted it washed, and that I was going to a show the next day, and that some parts were not painted yet particularly the air tanks and straps, and that it was OK to wash them, just dry them and don't worry about any flash rust, it'll be OK.

I was quite upset the rest of the day, and most of the next, and not sure what to do next. If there is a way to remove it then I am tempted to take it back, and see what they have to say about it, either way I will have a talk with them.

What to do?

Grigg

before a big show i put armor all on rubber stuff and tires only to come home and have everything all dusted up. to remove the AA i just usee spray nine and then give it a good washing and it removes everything down to the rubber. maybe some thinner on painted parts might work. brake clean or metal clean on unpainted parts will do the trick.

this is what the truck looked like the day before I took it to get washed.
[IMG]http://thumb9.webshots.net/t/69/469/0/57/93/2542057930080251109fAgPzP_th.jpg[/IMG]

I never thought they would use anything but soap and water, turns out my definition of "wash" is incorrect.

seems to depend on just what they used Grigg -
"Does Armor All® Car Wash Concentrate contain wax, silicone, ammonia or petroleum distillates?
Armor All® Car Wash Concentrate does not contain any of these ingredients."

I'd find out exactly which product they used and give ArmorAll a call and ask - if it's gonna be a problem, the car wash guy should foot the bill

Bill

I have use Armor All for years on tires and have seen it wash off at the car wash. I would take the truck to a do-it-yourself car wash and give is a good washing.

I had a friend that had a Challenger Convertible. We wanted to paint some stripes on it but as you mentioned, the years of armor-all on the top made it impossible to stick masking tape to the side of the car. We tried all the chemicals we could come up with including laquer thinner and Enamel reducer but still could not remove it. Mel asked his wife if she had any ideas and was embarresed when she suggested Formula 409 in front of me. Long story short, the Formula 409 was the only thing that removed the armor-all.

Well, They did not wax it, that would involve rubbing it in, I suspect it is some sort of spray, I'll find out for sure Monday.

For my Dads truck he specifically asked if we wanted it waxed, we did not. I did not ask for wax on mine, nor was I asked if I wanted it, there is really nothing to wax, it is a semi flat powdercoat on the frame, and a similar paint on most other stuff.

Been reading about armor all and paint online, not good, sounds like lots of fish eyes, and hard to remove.

The restoration shop I worked at, with a paint shop and booth, Armor All, or any kind of silicone spray or grease, was not even allowed in the building. We as employees were not to use it at home on our personal vehicles, as we would then bring it to work on our hands and cause problems with painting any parts we handled.

Grigg

Called them today, went round and round trying to find out exactly what they used, and what is in it. He can't give me a straight answer, "its like armor all, it has something like what armor all has in it, it does not say what is in it..."

I'll stop by and take a look at the bottle myself.

So far I have been very nice about it all, and just asking questions in a curious tone, not mad or frustrated.
I may have to get mad and frustrated before they do anything about it, but that is really not my style.

If only they had done what I asked the first time...

Grigg

I'm a firm believer in the ability of Dawn dish soaps ability to cut through about anything youneed washed off. Can't urt any to gove it a try, and just remember...it's a lot of work to bury the bodies if you go postal with the guys that messed up.

One of the places I read that Dawn, while it may remove it, has some other bad side effect with painting after using it, but not as bad as the silicone in the armor all.

I am leaning toward something like Castrol Super clean, or purple power, and a pressure washer, possibly with heat.

I'll ask a few friends who run body shops for opinions and suggestions first.

Grigg

Grigg, I'd try asking some body shops how they deal with it.

I'm sure they've run into it with owners using it on the rubber or the black facia trim and it ends up on the part they need to paint.

Your rig looks great right down to the heavy duty hitch receiver. You must have some plans to pull something. So, hows it run out.
Been tempted to take it down the road a ways yet ?
Dan

Grigg, sounds like they used a cheaper bulk version of an Armor All-like product. I've used AA for years and never found it to last forever. (Boy, wouldn't THAT be a benefit! I'd never have to re-treat!) I'd first see what Armor All recommends for removing it. AA used to make one version- a milky white fluid, water-based, that was used on plastics, rubber, and other non-metals. Over the years, they've broadened their line to be more like their competitors.

If you are wanting to try a mild off-the-shelf soap, use Joy liquid dishwashing detergent. It washes off clean without a residue. I know that Joy is used as a first wash on parts that are used around liquid oxygen. Clean isn't clean until it is LOx-clean. After the Joy washing, the metal parts are washed in freon. I'm not recommending this step, just trying to show that it is a progressive wash, starting with Joy and moving toward solvents. The Joy can't hurt your parts, is cheap, and really washes off well.

I read in a Meguiars forum that there is a product called 39 that is supposed to be really good at removing AA. No warranty expressed or implied, your mileage may vary!

Good luck.

Bill

Grigg,
I would bet some Castrol Super Clean dilluted down a bit would take care of this problem with no after effects, I wouldnt suggest usin it straight as it may take the shine off your paint, but dilluted down bye at least half should remove the AA.
Tim

wax and grease remover from you local body shop supplier. I used armor all on my truck interior plastic sill plates then found chrome sill plate protectors, I thought I cleaned them well enough with the supplied alcohol prep pads that came with the sill plates....the adhesive tape did not grab. I wiped it with wax and grease remover and reapplied them with new sticky tape and they were fine

Second on the wax and grease remover. Something like PPG DX330 or equivalent. It's made just for this purpose, and it's fairly inexpensive. Plus you KNOW that you won't have any problems top-coating, with some homemade concoction who knows what you'll end up with.

How about washing it with a high pressure hot water washer. The unit I own heats the water to 180 degrees. I then douse it with Dawn dish soap. Let it set for five minutes or so and then hit it agin with the hot water high pressure. Remember high pressure will/can remove anykind of paint / finish. Just be carful. As far as the soap ( dawn ) goes I have not ever had anykind of trouble using the soap and then painting. The paint I have been spraying was always ememal.

If you really want to know whats in it,ask to see the container that the stuff comes in.If it shows whats in it great ,if not get the name and part# off it and seach for a meterial safety data sheet(MSDS)it should tell you what's in it.

Sorry Grigg,
I use to have an old Lincoln with a vinyl top that I used Armor All on. The product would, over time, break down and leave streaks on the windows. I would not be suprised if it broke down with the soaps you have used and left only part of the product on the frame. Have you considered TSP, Tri Sodium Phosphate? I am not sure how the base paint would react but it should be okay, I have used TSP on engine blocks and the like with no ill effect. Just a thought.

Finally got a chance to stop by and look at the stuff in person. Not much info on the 5 gallon jug of it.

Sold by http://www.emautosupply.com/
looks like their part number 3110B
"Car Magic by Details; Bubblegum Dressing"
It is water based, and that is about all that is on the label.

I have a phone number for E&M, so I'll give them a call and see what they recommend to remove the stuff, and what is actually in it. I think they will be able to help, as they are one of the largest auto body supply folks around here.

With luck the shop owner will be wrong, and it is not "just like Armor All" whatever it is, it's slick though

Grigg

I would use 409 liberally, then pressure wash it followed by PPG DX330. Not sure what is in 409, however I use it by the gallon. If I dont have 409, I use Dawn dish soap diluted with water in a spray bottle.

On the show gears they were dealing with how to clean and prep plastic and vynal parts in an old camaro and how to deal with the years of buildup of armour all. They used hot water and mixed some TSP cleaner. You can get it at Home Depot. Not sure if this helps but it workeed on TV