Honda dashes??!?

M

misterzippo

New member
I had a customer request that I use nothing on her civic's dash the other day. I said my dressing is water based so its safe but she said no. She said that the owner's manual says not to put any type of dressing on the dash b/c when the dash was mixed (plastic w/ whatever) there was a special chemical in it to keep the dash from cracking. Supposedly putting anything on the dash will mess it up.
Well I looked for her owner's manual and couldn't find it.
Has anyone else run into this problem?

-Josh
 
Nope not at all and we have a Honda. I have never had a problem putting dressing on it. Its had dressings on it since 93 :)

Cujo
 
I didn't think there would be a problem but I didn't. I know her's was a nerwer type of dash, it didn't look like vinyl, it looked more like plastic. It was a 2001 Civic.
 
I have a 2000 civic, nothing in the owners maual that I know of. I have never dressed the dash with anything, but only because of personal preference. I also have a 94 accord which I have dressed with meg's #40 as well as 303, no problems. I have owned the car since early 96.
 
My Fiance has a 2002 Accord and I have had no problems with it. She takes it to the dealer every month and they are always impressed with the condition of the car. Of course I don't let her but anything but Meguires on the dash. She used to put Armoral.:eek: I think that ladies dealer just gave her a line to sell the car. You how people are these days some think all they need to do is put gas in it and drive, and run it through a cheap car wash every now and then. That boad doesn't fly with me. :o

R3
 
It is not un-heard of for the owners manual to say something like this. I have seen it before, and my Grand Prix's manual also says it. There is a blurb on there saying that to clean the dash some water should be used then dried. It says to use no dressings on it. The reason, it says, is because over time certain chemicals can dry and crack the dash.

They are partially right. ( someone correct me if I am wrong ) A product like Armorall can do damage over time after repeated uses. As long as you stick with a nice quality product you should be all set. Example: megs #40, 303, Lexol, EF, Stoners.....

303 is my choice because 1. water based 2. leaves a nice matte finish when used properly. I dont like cheasy looking shine.


Hope that helps out.
 
The problem here is solvents in the dressings.
Many old-school dressings (and some modern cheap ones) are that they contain silicones which must be dissolved in hydrocarbon based solvents (alcohols and petroleum distillates). These same solvents will easily penetrate into the dash's plastic and leech out chemicals called plasticizers. These chemicals are designed to increase the flexibility and softness of otherwise brittle plastics. Many of these double as UV absorbers and thus oxidation and cracking are sped up by the application of dressings with hydrocarbon solvents.

High quality dressings like Poorboy's Natural Look, 303, Meg's products, etc. etc. are water based, and contain little to no hydrocarbons.

High pH cleaners like simple green and Eimann Fabrik HI cleaner can will also remove plasticizers.

All of the above applies to vinyl as well since vinyl is a plastic polymer and automotive vinyl is coated with plastic to enhance color, texture, and durability.
 
Yep I had to get off all the yellow type greasy stuff of my dash with #39 after haveing old armorall on it I still cant believe I used that stuff along time ago.
 
I just looked in my 2000 Accord book it says that you can use commercially available spray or foam type vinyl cleaner. In my Safari 2001 cargo van book it says use of waxes or silicones may cause a reflection making it hard to see. Both recommend mild soap and water. The only thing I have used is 303.

Sammy
 
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