Just bought first PT Cruiser

[Candyman]

Hey creflo,

Armor All is actually a Silicone / Oil Based Dressing originally designed to absorb oils into black tires to give them a dark glossy appearance. They do have some new diluted formula's that are not quite as oily, but it is still a Silicone Oil Based Product. Most manufacturers of Vinyl, and Leather products made specifically for the Automotive Industry agree that no type of silicone / oil is recommended for use directly on vinyl surfaces. Silicone / oil vinyl treatments should not be used for several reasons:

1. Silicone oils typically attack the vinyl topcoat by trapping heat which over time could lead to cracking and other related types of damage.

2. Silicone oils contain no effective UV screening ingredients.

3. Silicone oil formulas are greasy, build-up products which attract dust, and soil more quickly.

4. When you apply a Silicone oil dressing to a dash or other highly visible area, the oils in the product usually produce an extremely reflective surface which can be an issue as it can cause a distraction when driving your PT on a sunny day.

My best advice to offset this would be, if you would like to use Armor All on your interior, try mixing it down 50/50 chemical to water, shake well, and apply by spraying the chemical directly to a clean microfiber towel folded into four, and then apply on the dash or other interior component's. Let the Chemical set up for a couple of minutes to absorb, and wipe up the execc with another clean microfiber towel.

The other thing you could do is look for a good water based dressing like Meguiar's No. 40 Vinyl & Rubber Cleaner & Protectant. Aplication is the same way, apply to a microfiber towel folded into four, and then apply to the dash. Let the chemical set up for a couple of minutes to absorb into the material, and wipe up the excess using another clean rag. The Meguar's protectant is designed specifically as a low gloss product and will leave you with a nice even sheen rather than an oily slick shiny surface.

In either application, if you have uneven gloss, or would like to get into all the tight areas around the dash where its hard to reach, you may want to pick up a good 2" paint brush, some Q-Tips, and Tooth Picks. These tools come in handy for getting into the vents, and other hard to reach areas to clean, and apply products with ease.

If you would like to check out the Meguiar's Product, please click on the Link below:

Meguiar’s No. 40 Vinyl & Rubber Cleaner & Protectant

Another good product I have used before which is a little more pricey, but works great is: BLACKFIRE Interior Protectant. It is a 100% Water Based Dressing, and provides a nice barrier of protection Here is a Link for more info on this product:

BLACKFIRE Interior Protectant.

I hope that helps answer some of your questions. For more information on Detailing, please check out my Guide to Detailing in "The Detail Shop thread on this Forum, and if you ever need any more info, please feel free to drop me a line any time!

Go easy, and I will catch you llater!

Candyman

[soonercruiser]

Welcome!
A dash cover is the very best way to protect your dash. My last 3 cars, all around 10 years old, h no cracks in the dash!
You can even customize your dash cover! See below...
Custom Dash Mat picture by SoonerCruiser_photos - Photobucket
The Black Sheep :: Custom Dash Mat picture by SoonerCruiser_photos - Photobucket

[creflo]

Thanks for the info, actually I never liked the greasy residue from Armor All when used in the interior of a car, but always thought you had to use it to protect the dash. I'll use one of the above, thanks again!