How do you determine proper diliution ratio for APC?

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simplybao

New member
I just got some Hi-Temp APC from TOL and have no clue how to dilute it for different uses.



Is it safe to use on wheels? According to the bottle, it only says to use it full strength to clean the engine bay, but no other advice is given.



I know that you use it diluted more if you are going to use it on paint, so what ratio should I dilute it for these uses:



  1. Wheel cleaning
  2. Wheel wells
  3. Tar and road grime from the body, will it remove my LSP? I'm using Collinite.
  4. Engine bay -- should I really use it full strength?
  5. My final question is when I see a ratio of say 3:1, does that mean 3 parts of chemical to 1 part water?



I do not plan on using it for anything inside the car. I use Lexol, Blackfire, woolite (diluted) and 303 on my interiors.
 
simplybao said:
I just got some Hi-Temp APC from TOL and have no clue how to dilute it for different uses.



Is it safe to use on wheels? According to the bottle, it only says to use it full strength to clean the engine bay, but no other advice is given..
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I really dunno...I wouldn't use it on wheels but that's just me; I use shampoo mix if they're LSPed or dedicated wheel cleaner (Griot's or P21s) if they'e not.



It's (probably) not like it'll do any immediate damage, lots of APCs are OK to use on wheels. It might not be something you want to use long-term though, as any issues (damage to the finish) will usually be very incremental/gradual so you won't notice it until it's too late (this happened to somebody who used Simple Green on his VW's wheels, he was happy for a long time, then he had to get 'em refinished).

I know that you use it diluted more if you are going to use it on paint, so what ratio should I dilute it for these uses:
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I just dilute my APCs by eye. Yeah, I know, "big help" huh? But once you get an idea what's right it's pretty easy to be consistent *enough* knowing how it looks when it's to your liking.



Better get some input from somebody who's actually used the TOL stuff (or call TOL and ask, they're very helpful- "Hi, Irene!").



Very general guidelines follow:



  • Wheel cleaning- Pretty diluted, maybe 3:1 water:APC
  • Wheel wells- Generally ess diluted, maybe 2:1 or weaker, depends how dirty they are.
  • Tar and road grime from the body- I wouldn't do this, might strip your LSP even with Collinite, though it doesn't always.
  • Engine bay -- should I really use it full strength?- Yes.
  • My final question is when I see a ratio of say 3:1, does that mean 3 parts of chemical to 1 part water?- Beats me, call and ask :nixweiss In this case I woulda guessed it's 3 water : 1 APC but I'd rather err on the side of caution





In any event, better too weak (oops, add more APC) than too strong (oops, how to repair?).



Sorry I wan't of more help with this, I use the same APC (EF High-Intensity) year-in-year-out in part because I know how I like to dilute it. But all I use it for under normal circumstances are undercarriages and the wheelwells of daily drivers. I don't take the "All Purpose" bit all that literally but that's just me.



For engine compartments, once I get 'em clean (P21s TAW and or dedicated engine cleaners) I just keep 'em that way with a quickie cleanup at every wash using shampoo mix. I don't have to *really* clean things up with aggressive stuff again for years.
 
Thanks for the reply. I was just experimenting and bought it on a whim. I really like the idea of having dedicated cleaners for stuff, but I think I've read too much autopia the last few days. My partner says that I'm supposed to be banned from the site because everytime I visit the site, I want something else.



TOL is close to my parents' house and I go there to pick up stuff from time to time. It's hard for me to go in there and not feel like a kid in a candy store. And they are so helpful and let me walk through the store room in case I didn't see something on the store floor that I can't live without...LOL.



It's also nice going into the store because I don't have to pay shipping and sometimes when I buy enough stuff, they throw in free stuff :D
 
Accumulator said:
simplybao- OOOH...I'm envious, living near TOL would be great :D
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Yeah and it can be expensive....really expensive, LOL.



Those guys are so nice up there. They just make you want to buy more from them. My brother and I have been buying from them for years. Up until recently, it's only been a few things here and there car wash soap, TOL Trade Secret, applicators, small stuff. My brother bought his cyclo there (the one he gave me). He's moved on to a PC and a Makita, so lucky me :D
 
Without any other instructions, I guess you'd have to go at it trial-and-error. I've been using Optimum Power Clean for about a month now. All it says on the jug is use full-strength for tough grime and stain. Then it goes on and on about diluting it "up to" 1:3 for this and that. I guess that means anything more than 1:3 is no longer effective as a cleaner.
 
Blade9 said:
... it goes on and on about diluting it "up to" 1:3 for this and that. I guess that means anything more than 1:3 is no longer effective as a cleaner.
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Don't be so sure ;) IME manufacturers want to make sure their products seem effective (and, well, they want you to go through it and buy more) so they tend to recommend pretty strong mixtures.
 
well, i was going to start a new thread, but "sometimes" i search first and found this thread



my understanding ( i googled, cause i didnt know) is a 10:1 mixture is say for 1 litre... 0.9 water, 0.10 of product,

4:1 would be 0.8 water. 0.20 product

Mixing Ratio Calculator



speaking of APC..what is really good..?

i bought some 303 spot remover and KLEENOL APC to see which i like better



from reading here, the most common ratios seem to be 10:1 and 5:1, so i may grab 2 spray bottles and mix it up....if i read correctly 10:1 for carpets should be good?



looking for some recommendations here, mix up 2 or is one or the other perfect for most jobs anyway>?



cory
 
First off you could phone or e-mail TOTL, they are always ready to help.



I usually dilute more than they say as Accumulator said, better to be safe and you can always add more.



Also some times it amazes me that these APC's are so weak. I know they want to sell more chemical but if you are doing any amount of cleaning you are going through it pretty fast.



My normal APC i dilute 4:1 for engines and wet tires. 15:1 to 40:1 for interiors and carpet.
 
phatkid77 said:
my understanding ( i googled, cause i didnt know) is a 10:1 mixture is say for 1 litre... 0.9 water, 0.10 of product,

4:1 would be 0.8 water. 0.20 product..
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Wrong on your first example, right on your second ;)



10:1 = ten parts + one part = 11 parts (1.10 liters total)



Which is why certain dilutions are a PIA to figure out when you just want to "mix up a gallon/liter of stuff". And.. that's why dilution calculators like the one in your link are handy :D



Fortunately it seldom really matters if you're all that precise or not.

speaking of APC..what is really good..?
Click to expand...



Ask ten people and you'll get eleven different responses. I like EF High Intensity but that's just because I'm use to it.
 
phatkid77 said:
yeah, well i will be making 32oz likely so im facked either way..
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Eh...call it 33 ounces (there're your multiples of eleven) instead of 32 and that 10:1 will work out OK :D That's so close you'll never know the diff, just make the third ounce of APC a little short.
 
phatkid77 said:
..BTW my 10:1 example was .9L of water and .10 of APC



ill still screw it up..oh well
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And that's *why* you screwed it up ;) the 10:1 should be 1.0L water plus 0.10L APC for a grand total of 1.10L of mix (not .9 +.10 for a total of 1.0). Heh heh, you just repeated your initial (incorrect) version.



Sorry to beat you to death with this, it's the retired teacher in me getting a chance to lecture a student :chuckle: Fortunately it's just *never* gonna matter and I gotta admit I just mix everything up by eye...never bitten me, not once.
 
If you are using clear bottles, just take a tape measure and a permanent marker and mark the sides with the dilution ratio. Water on the bottom and APC on top, as it will foam up the other way.
 
So for a 3:1 ratio, you mix 3 parts water to one part APC correct? I just got some Optimum power clean and that's the ratio recommended for wheel cleaner.
 
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