Wut is wrong with armor all?
New User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4
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From what I've been told, Armorall and some other protectants used to contain chemicals that would actively try to revitalize the plastic and vinyl. They added oils and made them swell and become more supple. If you continued to use them, you where fine. But if you slacked off, the plastics and vinyls would begin to dry out and shrink. That's what caused the cracking.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 369
Likes: 0
From: Rose Hill, Ks
find your local detail supply store, The products they will carry are far superior and a fraction of the cost. I run a small mobile detail business on the side and If you take regular care of your car you can buy the stuff in gallon jugs and it will still last 2 years. I buy this stuff by "Eraser" and they have interior dressing, leather, engine, you name it. You can buy a whole gallon for 18 bucks. I use the interior dressing on everything, interior, tires, hoses, belts (out side only), to moldings and plastic mirror shells. My last truck I had for 3 years and never put a belt on it, and it still looked new. I think the dressing keeps it from drying and cracking. When i started out I bought a lot of the stuff from WWW.RightLook.com I took classes out there for detailing, PDR, and paint / dent repair. But usually when I buy it its cause I need it, I cant wait to have it shipped
Last edited by BigHazard; Aug 3, 2005 at 04:21 PM.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 8,786
Likes: 28
From: Northern California
My autoshop teacher recomended, Vaseline.
Vaselined is good for plastics and rubber. Coat it on let it soak in for a while and wipe off. Really good for tailights, and stuff too.
He also said if you didn't use armor all regularly it would make things crack.
Vaselined is good for plastics and rubber. Coat it on let it soak in for a while and wipe off. Really good for tailights, and stuff too.
He also said if you didn't use armor all regularly it would make things crack.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 258
Likes: 0
From: Black Hills South Dakota
My wife liked the armor all look, the worst thing was it attracted dust and actually made it look dirtier in the long run. I used the cracking hype to get her off of it. But it did seem to make tire sidewalls crack sooner than normal.
When I clean the rig, it's with just a damp rag, rinsed often. Car owner's manuals mostly just say use mild cleansers.
My '67 MGb still has that "new car" smell on occasion if it's been parked in the garage all closed up for awhile. Probably the leather seats.
-Smoky
When I clean the rig, it's with just a damp rag, rinsed often. Car owner's manuals mostly just say use mild cleansers.
My '67 MGb still has that "new car" smell on occasion if it's been parked in the garage all closed up for awhile. Probably the leather seats.
-Smoky
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
outside i use Mothers or Mequiars, havent used anything else in a long long time, inside have used armor all, never had any cracks, but have been using recently some stuff my wife bought, its some new turtle wax stuff similer to armor all, its supposed to have some new nano technology to it, it holds a shine for quite a while on the dash, a bit longer then armor all and it dont feel as greasy, as for under the hood, on all the rubber hoses and plastic, a buddy of mine that ownes a detail shop, (a quite popular one) he goes out and buys a cheap can of hairspray and sprays on the stuff under the hood, and it all looks like it just came from the factory and the hair spray holds a long shine on the hoses and plastic under there.. just my 2 cents 
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,242
Likes: 2
From: Bartlett, TN
I've never tried this over fear of someone thinking I'm an idiot (better someone think your an idiot than to oper your mouth and remove all doubt), but a friend once tokl me to use mayonaise on tires. I'm thnking that would cost more than armor-all types.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,322
Likes: 0
From: Northeast Ohio
Years ago I would use ArmorAll on my Mustang's, Mach 1's and Boss Mustangs. I used it on everything plastic or vinyl, including the seats. The seats were so slippery you would slide around in them on curves, but they sure looked good. My first Mustang was a 66 Convertible w/289 4 barrel. I added headers and wheels etc. Anyway, I used ArmorAll on the rag top regularly. The problem was the water would cause it to run down my new paint. I would have to use soap and then wax to clean up the paint. I eventually stopped using it on the rag top due to the mess but I always had a shiny rag top due to the build up. I never noticed any problems with cracked tires or vinyl due to using ArmorAll. It just collects dust and dirt too quickly for me to keep up with it now adays. Good Luck!