Angus
New member
- Jun 14, 2012
- 1,583
- 0
For this review I’m going to share my experience using Four Star’s Ultimate Auto Wash Shampoo:
From PBMG’s copy for Ultimate Auto Wash Shampoo:
Directions:
1. Dispense 1oz of shampoo into a clean bucket. - Check
Whenever I see vague dilution ratio instructions like this, to be on the safe side I assume “a clean bucket” means a 1 gallon bucket. Not a 5 gallon bucket, fitted with a grit guard, and fill up with at least 3 to 4 gallons of water. So following this logic, I’ll use 1oz of shampoo per gallon of water.
As you can see, this shampoo is purple in color. It has no discernible odor.
One thing that surprised me was how thin this shampoo is. I’m used to using more viscous shampoos that leave “legs” in the water after being poured in.
2. Add heavy jet of water to activate foam. - Check
Pressure washer powered jet of water coming right up!
3. Rinse auto to remove any loose dirt. - Check.
4. Start with the top of the auto and work down, applying with a soft sponge or wash mitt. - Check
A nice thick foam was produced, that clinged to my wash mitt and arm:
After quickly washing the passengers side roof and windows, the little dirt that was present was easily lifted up and away:
At this point I stopped taking photos and concentrated washing the whole car since the sun had already crested my garage roof and was starting to warm things up. Time to work quickly!
The remaining direction steps are typical and not worth going over - we all know how to correctly wash a car using the standard 2 bucket method.
Conclusion
I appreciate this shampoo is environmentally friendly, pH neutral, easy on your skin, and Made in the USA.
Did this shampoo safely lift up and remove the dirt from my car? Yes, it did. It also rinsed cleanly and did not leave a film behind. Was this an “Ultimate” shampoo? Well... I don’t know about that.
At $14.99 per 16oz bottle = $.94 per oz. I ended up using 5 oz (refilled my bucket once w/ 2 extra gallons) during this wash session which means it costs ~$4.68 to wash a mid-sized car. Moreover following this logic, a single 16 oz bottle will only last for a total of 3 car washes or less if you have a larger vehicle like a full-sized SUV. Again, this was following my own dilution ratio guide line for safe car washing. Perhaps you can get away with using less soap, and if so this will become a much better value for money.
Overall, I felt that this was an average shampoo that did a good job but I can’t say it was the best I've ever used in terms of added lubricity or excellent dilution ratios.
As always, I hope this review was helpful. Thanks for reading.
From PBMG’s copy for Ultimate Auto Wash Shampoo:
A lubricant-rich car wash for auto enthusiasts!
Four Star Auto Wash Shampoo is a mild blend of cleaners, natural oils, and gloss enhancers that safely cleanse your vehicle without stripping wax. This gentle car wash lubricates the paint to protect against scratching while you wash.
Ok lets find out how “Ultimate” this shampoo is.Four Star Auto Wash Shampoo is a mild blend of cleaners, natural oils, and gloss enhancers that safely cleanse your vehicle without stripping wax. This gentle car wash lubricates the paint to protect against scratching while you wash.
Directions:
1. Dispense 1oz of shampoo into a clean bucket. - Check
Whenever I see vague dilution ratio instructions like this, to be on the safe side I assume “a clean bucket” means a 1 gallon bucket. Not a 5 gallon bucket, fitted with a grit guard, and fill up with at least 3 to 4 gallons of water. So following this logic, I’ll use 1oz of shampoo per gallon of water.
As you can see, this shampoo is purple in color. It has no discernible odor.
One thing that surprised me was how thin this shampoo is. I’m used to using more viscous shampoos that leave “legs” in the water after being poured in.
2. Add heavy jet of water to activate foam. - Check
Pressure washer powered jet of water coming right up!
3. Rinse auto to remove any loose dirt. - Check.
4. Start with the top of the auto and work down, applying with a soft sponge or wash mitt. - Check
A nice thick foam was produced, that clinged to my wash mitt and arm:
After quickly washing the passengers side roof and windows, the little dirt that was present was easily lifted up and away:
At this point I stopped taking photos and concentrated washing the whole car since the sun had already crested my garage roof and was starting to warm things up. Time to work quickly!
The remaining direction steps are typical and not worth going over - we all know how to correctly wash a car using the standard 2 bucket method.
Conclusion
I appreciate this shampoo is environmentally friendly, pH neutral, easy on your skin, and Made in the USA.
Did this shampoo safely lift up and remove the dirt from my car? Yes, it did. It also rinsed cleanly and did not leave a film behind. Was this an “Ultimate” shampoo? Well... I don’t know about that.
At $14.99 per 16oz bottle = $.94 per oz. I ended up using 5 oz (refilled my bucket once w/ 2 extra gallons) during this wash session which means it costs ~$4.68 to wash a mid-sized car. Moreover following this logic, a single 16 oz bottle will only last for a total of 3 car washes or less if you have a larger vehicle like a full-sized SUV. Again, this was following my own dilution ratio guide line for safe car washing. Perhaps you can get away with using less soap, and if so this will become a much better value for money.
Overall, I felt that this was an average shampoo that did a good job but I can’t say it was the best I've ever used in terms of added lubricity or excellent dilution ratios.
As always, I hope this review was helpful. Thanks for reading.
