Using Palmolive as foam Cannon wash?

S

solstice

New member
I just got a foam cannon a little while ago and am experimenting with different washes. The problem around here is when we go for a drive outside the city they put some sort of peroxide or something on the road which is like liquid salt, but rots the cars 10x faster. The other problem with that stuff is that every time it seems to get wet again it rebonds onto the car.



As i am in the process of trying to find the best combination for a "No touch" wash, aka using foam cannon and air gun/cannon/blaster for drying i am trying to find some detergent that doesn't need agitation to work. I tried using Meguiars gold class, and it normally works with the 2 bucket method and washmitts like wookies, but not via foam cannon. It has no lifting power at all.

Chemical guys citrus and gloss is in the mail and will try this as well. I will also try using P21s TAW, however just trying for find something for cost comparison. I can get a 128once Palmolive at Costco for less then 10bux where that for P21s would be over $100..

I know they are degreasers, but for this salty gell crap it might do the job.

About it destroying wax / sealent, i am not to worried as the car gets redone every month any ways.





Anyone know if Palmolive would be paint safe? :nixweiss



Let me know
 
I have been using degreaser on paint prior to correction fo 12 years now. Dawn or PAmolive would be fine. The problwm with this is there will strip lsp's well It takes a few dawn washes for 845I. Also if you let it dwell to long in may dry out plastic moldings.
 
As for plastic moldings, just the ones not protected.. the ones painted should be find i guess ..



What about rubber seals?
 
try the CW&G and see how you like it. no need to use harsh dishwashing soap and over time it will do more harm than good...
 
the problem with CW&G it is way over priced for weekly washes. up here it is $32 per 16oc .. just trying to find something that will also break this crappy peroxide salt gel down.
 
the best thing to do then is use what wash will be economical for you. if you foam and then pressure wash off, follow it up with a bucket wash...
 
Well to report .. Palmolive sux as well... Foams nicely like shaving cream.. even more then the Gold class shampoo, but it doesn't seem to be able to break down and lift the grime from the car. However something interesting i found it works like magic with brake dust and cleans the rim nicely without any agitation, as well as loosen some of the tar spatter. But the salt brine gel stuff it doesn't touch.. Will try P21s TAW tomorrow or sometime this week..

Then the following combos:

1) P21s TAW

2) P21s TAW with ONR

3) CWG

4) CWG with ONR

5) P21s + CWG ..



Something will have to work .. This is just for testing phase as mentioned.. Hunting for a perfect "No touch" wash. Not sure what they use in some of our "commercial coin-op" wash bays, but the soap stuff they use seems to be able to brake the brine down, with almost no agitation at all.
 
Well to report back.. NONE of the combinations worked for lifting any of the dirt of the car. It seems as soon as that salt brine gets hydrated it bonds hard to the car again. So far the best result i have achieved with foam cannon alone is with Palmolive as it breaks up the tar spatters nicely and loosens that, but utilizing a foam cannon alone (well together with a pressure washer) without any agitation on the car they all fail. However as soon as one touches the dirt, lets say windshield with your finger, it clears right up in that area.



The worst actually was the Chemical guys CWG, it foamed nicely but did absolutely nothing at all, plus i don't like the smell of it and seems to bond to the container more then it dissolves in water.



I guess i have to go back to the 2 bucket method again and play with the dodo wookies (or as some people mistook them for furry pompoms / dead cats.. list goes on) :).



If someone else has an idea, let us know.
 
Try ONR in your canon, might not foam up, but it does a good job of cleaning. Also look at 1Z-einszett Blitz All-Purpose Cleaner Concentrate
 
Tried ONR as well just on its own .. used a total of 5onces in the cannon (bought the 128onc unit of ONR so for test didn't matter), didn't do squat either.
 
What LSP are you using? 845 and 476 release dirt film quite well.



Not many soaps or detergents remove road film just by sitting on the surface. Full strength APC's usually work because they are bordering on etching the paint, stripping anything alkaline.



Think about it, coin-op wash (TSP is usually one of the main ingredient detergents) and blast away at 1500 pounds per square inch, and you usually still have a film. It will peel paint but not totally clean the paint. LSP helps greatly.



Yet you can take your finger with one pound of pressure and wipe away the dirt.



Touchless washes work on the principle of acids and bases. Spray one then the other, neutralize and then a shine enhancer. But there usually still is a film. As a quick QD wipe will show.



So to find a safe spray soap-detergent that rinses away tough road film would be revolutionary.
 
salty: your comment totally makes sense about coin ops ..

Yes currently there is no wax on the car, as it has been stripped now testing multiple different things. However normally it wears a coat of z'mol concourse or vic wax concourse.



so yea finding a paint safe detergent (or detergent combo) that could cut through road film that is the goal.
 
I think you are asking too much for anything! I dont think there is a product out there that will completely clean a car without some agitation. Look at the touchless car wash posted fine print "touchless may not remove all dirt from vehicle". Whether its a degreaser, or a soap, you are going to have to touch the car some how with some wash media
 
I was debating a foam cannon for a while thinking that some form of soap that might actually break down dirt if let to dwell for a little while, but it sounds like nothing will really do it. If you were brave enough to try some form of vinegar mix, I am sure that would help with your salt problem considering how alkaline vinegar is (not recommending it). I am still curious to hear if you found anything that works.
 
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