OPT powerclean

[Jeff120]

Our weather has seems to be breaking, it was 50 and windy this weekend. Better then 20s and snow! I had some time where I didnt have to rush around trying to keep my hands from freezing so i decided to take some quick photos of my process.
I used powerclean diluted 3:1 per direction on the bottle. I was going to tackle my wheels and tires that havent been cleaned for about 3 weeks. Last protectant that I put on them was the the Opt tire shine, which seems to keep my tires cleaner, but that will be another review.
The subject, as you can see my tires have raised white letters that make it a little more difficult to clean. I typical use Blech White or Megs APC+ @4:1 to clean the tires. Wheels had typical break dust and some grime on them

Sprayed the product on wheel and tires, let it soak for about 30 sec and scrubbed with a tire brush. Looking at the white letters 1 pass didnt get them bright white, it left a little behind.

After another quick spray and scrub of just the letters its nice and clean now.

Full wheel view

Tire dried

Overall I am happy with how the product cleaned. Comparing Powerclean to Megs APC+ they seem similar to me for cleaning wheels and tires, Powerclean is more expensive. For wheels and tires I think I will continue to use Meg APC based solely on cost. This is somewhere I tend to use a lot of product so I am thrifty with what I use.

I will have to try some Powerclean under the hood, on exterior bugs/left over wax, and on the interior before I make my final ruling on this product. Powercleans label says paint safe, I cant make that same claim for Megs APC+. Let me know if you have any questions that I can answer.

 

[WRAPT C5Z06]

Try power clean un diluted. Megs can't compare and they don't even recommend using it straight. Of course, if u use it straight, it's less value. However, OPC is paint safe...

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[C. Charles Hahn]

I agree with Mark; the bottle even specifically says it can be safely used at full strength on wheels and tires, and my experience has been that it does a great job.

 

[Dr Oldz]

I just got some of this last week and I love it!!! At 3:1 it worked great on my wheels, removed tar from paintwork and inner fender wells effortlessly and cleaned leather seats really well! ALL being done safely! GREAT product altho a little pricey compared to other APCs the results, and wide variety of SAFE uses are worth it to me personally!

 

[Bates Detailing]

Just make sure you are using water to rinse them off!!!! Or else your tires could either change colors or maybe even explode!!!! I don't know this from experience but according to many.... You MUST wash product off with water before dressing!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good luck :dblthumb2:

 

[Jeff120]

Try power clean un diluted. Megs can't compare and they don't even recommend using it straight. Of course, if u use it straight, it's less value. However, OPC is paint safe...

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Your right, it can be used full strength, but like I said, I like to use an economical product for tires and wheel wells. If I have to use it full strength to get the cleaning of Megs @ 4:1 then that REALLY makes OPT more expensive.

I agree with Mark; the bottle even specifically says it can be safely used at full strength on wheels and tires, and my experience has been that it does a great job.

Ill have to try it on paint and see how it does.

I just got some of this last week and I love it!!! At 3:1 it worked great on my wheels, removed tar from paintwork and inner fender wells effortlessly and cleaned leather seats really well! ALL being done safely! GREAT product altho a little pricey compared to other APCs the results, and wide variety of SAFE uses are worth it to me personally!

Ill give it a try!

Just make sure you are using water to rinse them off!!!! Or else your tires could either change colors or maybe even explode!!!! I don't know this from experience but according to many.... You MUST wash product off with water before dressing!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good luck :dblthumb2:

Ummmmm..... OK! Why wouldnt you rinse it off?

 

[Chris Thomas]

Just make sure you are using water to rinse them off!!!! Or else your tires could either change colors or maybe even explode!!!! I don't know this from experience but according to many.... You MUST wash product off with water before dressing!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good luck :dblthumb2:

Power Clean will not make your tires explode. You should rinse to keep it from attracting debris, but there is no real danger to letting it dry on rubber...easy there wasper.:dig:

 

[WRAPT C5Z06]

Your right, it can be used full strength, but like I said, I like to use an economical product for tires and wheel wells. If I have to use it full strength to get the cleaning of Megs @ 4:1 then that REALLY makes OPT more expensive.

Understandable. However, I've used Meg's 4:1, but I find OPC at 3:1 to clean as well or better than Meg's at 4:1. To each their own. :dblthumb2:

 

[Dr Oldz]

Understandable. However, I've used Meg's 4:1, but I find OPC at 3:1 to clean as well or better than Meg's at 4:1. To each their own. :dblthumb2:

I have to agree with Mark here....and I'm new to using OPC but so far it has surpassed my expectations of what an APC can do! But just a personal opinion.......

 

[StoneRaizer]

I really wish Optimum would make their product names more diverse. I'm constantly confusing Optimum Power Clean (their APC) with Optimum OptiClean (their waterless wash). I've also seen some posters confuse OptiSeal (their WOWO sealant) with PoliSeal (their AIO).

Suggestion - rename Power Clean to Optimum All Purpose Cleaner and PoliSeal to Optimum All-In-One.

 

[DARK HORSE]

Try power clean un diluted. Megs can't compare and they don't even recommend using it straight. Of course, if u use it straight, it's less value. However, OPC is paint safe...

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Hey Mark,

Although I've never used Megs APC to strip paint (if I use an APC type cleaner on paint I use P21S TAW), but according to Mike Phillips and Jason Rose it is safe to do so. Here is an excerpt from an email that Mike and I were sharing a year or two ago. This is a quote from Mike;

I don't know the dilution levels for other APC's only Meguiar's as I had to get this from Jason Rose accuracy reasons... You can use either APC or APC+ to remove or strip car waxes and paint sealants from your car's paint. This is technically for what's called de-waxing but the same principals apply to removing any unwanted film or residual polishing oils off the surface for inspection.

64:1 for a regular car wax type products
20:1 for hi-tech polymer type products


It's also recommended to chemically strip paint before damp-sanding to insure not chemicals sand off and load-up or contaminate your paper or discs.


It's a good idea to test any product on any coating if you've never worked on it before and you're unfamiliar with it.

Maybe this will help to clear up some of the confusion of; "Is megs paint safe or not"? Hope this helps someone...BTW Megs APC+ has never not let me down, or not performed what I've asked of it...and yes I do have a couple gallons of OPC too , and yes OPC also works very well and has never let me down either...

 

[rwright]

Maybe this will help to clear up some of the confusion of; "Is megs paint safe or not"? Hope this helps someone...BTW Megs APC+ has never not let me down, or not performed what I've asked of it...and yes I do have a couple gallons of OPC too , and yes OPC also works very well and has never let me down either...

The expert says stop being cheap and just use OPC oke::laughing:


But really though, that's good info to have. Maybe someone will put it to use. rops:

 

[WRAPT C5Z06]

Hey Mark,

Although I've never used Megs APC to strip paint (if I use an APC type cleaner on paint I use P21S TAW), but according to Mike Phillips and Jason Rose it is safe to do so. Here is an excerpt from an email that Mike and I were sharing a year or two ago. This is a quote from Mike;

I don't know the dilution levels for other APC's only Meguiar's as I had to get this from Jason Rose accuracy reasons... You can use either APC or APC+ to remove or strip car waxes and paint sealants from your car's paint. This is technically for what's called de-waxing but the same principals apply to removing any unwanted film or residual polishing oils off the surface for inspection.

64:1 for a regular car wax type products
20:1 for hi-tech polymer type products


It's also recommended to chemically strip paint before damp-sanding to insure not chemicals sand off and load-up or contaminate your paper or discs.


It's a good idea to test any product on any coating if you've never worked on it before and you're unfamiliar with it.

Maybe this will help to clear up some of the confusion of; "Is megs paint safe or not"? Hope this helps someone...BTW Megs APC+ has never not let me down, or not performed what I've asked of it...and yes I do have a couple gallons of OPC too , and yes OPC also works very well and has never let me down either...

Very informative info, Tad! rops:

However, I'll still continue to use OPC. I know you're not trying to convince me to change, just sayin'.

 

[Jeff120]

Thanks for posting that Dark horse! Good to know that Megs is also paint safe.

I can see where OPC has its place. I currently have megs APC, APC+, and will probably try Super Degreaser. All about 12-13 a gallon or so. OPC can be dilluted say 10:1 for interiors, 3:1, for little dirtier areas and full strength where you would use Megs SD. I guess it could really replace 3 or my products.

 

[DARK HORSE]

Thanks for posting that Dark horse! Good to know that Megs is also paint safe.

I can see where OPC has its place. I currently have megs APC, APC+, and will probably try Super Degreaser. All about 12-13 a gallon or so. OPC can be dilluted say 10:1 for interiors, 3:1, for little dirtier areas and full strength where you would use Megs SD. I guess it could really replace 3 or my products.

I agree, OPC definitely has it's place. I have a couple gallons of it that I am currently testing (and enjoying), but so far I haven't found anything that I can't clean w/ Megs APC+, that I can with OPC (again that's just me). I want to reiterate that I have never used either product on paint. I do however plan to test OPC against P21S TAW for what I call "squeaky cleaning paint" before polishing soon. If I use a product like this on paint I have always used TAW. I'm sure most everyone already knows this, but for those who may not. There are some simple precautions that should be observed when using any APC "type" product on paint. They are as follows:

-Always work out of direct sunlight
-Always work on a cool surface
-Always rise the paint with water before applying
-NEVER let the APC "type" cleaner dry on paint
-You should ALWAYS do a test spot (somewhere inconspicuous) of any product on any coating you've never worked on or are unfamiliar with it

 

[WRAPT C5Z06]

I agree, OPC definitely has it's place. I have a couple gallons of it that I am currently testing (and enjoying), but so far I haven't found anything that I can't clean w/ Megs APC+, that I can with OPC (again that's just me). I want to reiterate that I have never used either product on paint. I do however plan to test OPC against P21S TAW for what I call "squeaky cleaning paint" before polishing soon. If I use a product like this on paint I have always used TAW. I'm sure most everyone already knows this, but for those who may not. There are some simple precautions that should be observed when using any APC "type" product on paint. They are as follows:

-Always work out of direct sunlight
-Always work on a cool surface
-Always rise the paint with water before applying
-NEVER let the APC "type" cleaner dry on paint
-You should ALWAYS do a test spot (somewhere inconspicuous) of any product on any coating you've never worked on or are unfamiliar with it

We all know you love your Megs APC


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[DARK HORSE]

We all know you love your Megs APC


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Actually Mark, I have tried many APC's and have selected a few of them to have on hand (including OPC). I find all the ones I have to be very effective. As to Megs APC+, yes it is a great product at a great price. It is obviously very effective! I find it ironic that you would say this. When we all know how much you love OPC (this week). I am just stating that I have and use both, and have not found anything that OPC will clean that Megs won't.

 

[WRAPT C5Z06]

Actually Mark, I have tried many APC's and have selected a few of them to have on hand (including OPC). I find all the ones I have to be very effective. As to Megs APC+, yes it is a great product at a great price. It is obviously very effective! I find it ironic that you would say this. When we all know how much you love OPC (this week). I am just stating that I have and use both, and have not found anything that OPC will clean that Megs won't.

Tad, you know I'm just messin' with ya buddy

I laughed out loud about the "this week" comment! You know me all to well!


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[CEE DOG]

I agree, OPC definitely has it's place. I have a couple gallons of it that I am currently testing (and enjoying), but so far I haven't found anything that I can't clean w/ Megs APC+, that I can with OPC (again that's just me). I want to reiterate that I have never used either product on paint. I do however plan to test OPC against P21S TAW for what I call "squeaky cleaning paint" before polishing soon. If I use a product like this on paint I have always used TAW. I'm sure most everyone already knows this, but for those who may not. There are some simple precautions that should be observed when using any APC "type" product on paint. They are as follows:

-Always work out of direct sunlight
-Always work on a cool surface
-Always rise the paint with water before applying
-NEVER let the APC "type" cleaner dry on paint
-You should ALWAYS do a test spot (somewhere inconspicuous) of any product on any coating you've never worked on or are unfamiliar with it

Important tips to add Tadman!

Tad, you know I'm just messin' with ya buddy

I laughed out loud about the "this week" comment! You know me all to well!


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LMAO at "this week" as well! :laughing:

 

[CEE DOG]

Thanks for the review Jeff!