What does APC do?

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cheekyage

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Hi guys,

As the title suggests, I am trying to understand what an APC is used for.

I have so far understood it is used as part of the paint decontamination process prior to paint correction and machine polishing. This will strip off all waxes and sealants. Is this correct?

Here are a couple of my other questions:

1. When would I want to use APC?
2. Where on the car can I use APC?
3. Which APC product/brand is recommended?

Many thanks!
 
Tires, rims, black plastic, seats, doors, etc..........hence the word All Purpose Cleaner.

Optimum Power Clean is one of many favorites on here.
 
cheekyage said:
Hi guys,

As the title suggests, I am trying to understand what an APC is used for.

I have so far understood it is used as part of the paint decontamination process prior to paint correction and machine polishing. This will strip off all waxes and sealants. Is this correct?

Here are a couple of my other questions:

1. When would I want to use APC?
2. Where on the car can I use APC?
3. Which APC product/brand is recommended?

Many thanks!
Click to expand...

Some all purpose cleaners(apc) does have the strength to strip of waxes and sealants, you will want to use a all purpose cleaner to either cut down on cost/products use or when you need that extra power that dedicated cleaner wont give you can use all purpose cleaner on engine bay, tires, wheel wells, trim etc be sure to dilute this product so it wont cause extra problems as for brands otc wise purple power and zep citrus cleaner online wise meguiars d101 and optimum power clean
 
So APC is safe to use on paint?

Or should I be using something like Iron X instead?
 
cheekyage said:
So APC is safe to use on paint?

Or should I be using something like Iron X instead?
Click to expand...

Some are when properly dilutedly but you should never let it dry. I would stick with products like P21s Total Auto Wash.
 
You could also consider paint bug removers (like PB's Bug Squash) as an all purpose cleaner for paint. At full strength it can degrade your LSP but at 1:3 it should be LSP safe..YMMV...but at least PB has done the math and dilutions.
 
The premium (something that is not just focused on cost) like Optimum Power Clean do not contain 2-Butoxyethanol if that is a concern.
 
Bunky said:
The premium(something that is not just focused on cost) like Optimum Power Clean do not contain 2-Butoxyethanol if that is a concern.
Click to expand...
The premium's:
Sodium Metasilicate
.........vs.........
2-Butoxyethanol

"Choose your poison" :D

Bob
 
FUNX725 said:
The premium's:
Sodium Metasilicate
.........vs.........
2-Butoxyethanol

"Choose your poison" :D

Bob
Click to expand...

Cannot find the Sodium Metesilicates in the OPC MSDS http://www.optimumcarcare.com.au/msds/MSDS Power Clean PC2008 2009(1).pdf

The sheet says it contains
WATER,GLYCOL ETHER DPNB, SILICILIC ACID, DISODIUM SALT, ETYLENEDIAMINETETRAACETIC ACID SODIUM SALT, SURFACTANT BLEND

Are these similar to the Sodium. The reason for asking is simple curiosity, I have no meaningful knowledge of chemistry
 
So I've sprayed some undiluted Detailer's Pro Cleanse-All Exterior Cleaner directly on my paint to remove some tar and it seems to have left some stains behind and made the paintwork look dirty. Kinda like I haven't wiped off the product properly.

I made sure it didn't have time to dry so I'm not sure what's caused this.

Any ideas?
 
You probably used a dirty towel. If the paint surface was hot that May have made it streak.
A quick detailer will cleaning right up.
 
Lowejackson said:
Cannot find the Sodium Metesilicates in the OPC MSDS http://www.optimumcarcare.com.au/msds/MSDS Power Clean PC2008 2009(1).pdf

The sheet says it contains
WATER,GLYCOL ETHER DPNB, SILICILIC ACID, DISODIUM SALT, ETYLENEDIAMINETETRAACETIC ACID SODIUM SALT, SURFACTANT BLEND

Are these similar to the Sodium. The reason for asking is simple curiosity, I have no meaningful knowledge of chemistry
Click to expand...

Silicilic acid, disodium salt - more or less is sodium metasilicate. Personally, I think this is one of the least concerning ingredients we would talk about. Yes, it provides alkalinity but it is miles safer than something like caustic soda/potash (sodium/potassium hydroxide) which you would find in the cheaper and more hazardous products (you are in the UK so have a look at some of the products popular over there, you would be shocked how many are based around caustics).

Butyl, IMO, is not a big concern either. Maybe if you were using it, routinely, at high strength, it would be an issue. However, most of the time it would be included at low percentage levels and then diluted further before use. Certainly in an APC, it would not be going to contact a surface at more than a fraction of a percent. I would be more concerned with other things (for instance the caustics). The optimum product noted has ingredients which are from the same family as butyl.
 
PiPUK said:
Silicilic acid, disodium salt - more or less is sodium metasilicate. Personally, I think this is one of the least concerning ingredients we would talk about. Yes, it provides alkalinity but it is miles safer than something like caustic soda/potash (sodium/potassium hydroxide) which you would find in the cheaper and more hazardous products (you are in the UK so have a look at some of the products popular over there, you would be shocked how many are based around caustics).

Butyl, IMO, is not a big concern either. Maybe if you were using it, routinely, at high strength, it would be an issue. However, most of the time it would be included at low percentage levels and then diluted further before use. Certainly in an APC, it would not be going to contact a surface at more than a fraction of a percent. I would be more concerned with other things (for instance the caustics). The optimum product noted has ingredients which are from the same family as butyl.
Click to expand...

good to know!
:props:
 
The next thing you know it people will start noting the dangers of DHMO - Dihydrogen Monoxide in all purpose cleaners. ;)
 
Sounds like most chemicals in detailing marketed cleaners or either bad for you, bad for your car, bad for the environment - or bad for all 3.

Maybe we should just use water to wash our cars. But that could cause rust. Just blow them off with air? Well... a particle could kick up from the ground and scratch your paint.

Now what?
 
Whilst there is a line, an expert detailer needs a basic grasp of the chemistry. In these days where your brands lie, both intentionally or through ignorance, not having the info could mean paying out large amounts for cheap and nasty products.
 
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