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DetailingGeneral discussion forum for detailing your vehicle.
This is a discussion thread titled "To Armor All or not to Armor All?", within the Detailing forum, part of the Technical & Vehicle Assistance Forums category.
I've found Armor All treated dashes crack and disintegrate in 5-10 years. Now I now use no "protectants" as I don't trust them. Instead I use a carpeted dash pad.
I've found Armor All treated dashes crack and disintegrate in 5-10 years. Now I now use no "protectants" as I don't trust them. Instead I use a carpeted dash pad.
That was the old formula AA, now they are re-vamped and have no alcohol to dry the dash out. Using protectants is perfectly fine.
If I only had a dime everytime i've said that............lol
__________________ 2003 Toyota Tundra V8 4x4 AC Exterior: Trd Off-Road package, Trd Skid Plate, Borla Side Exit Exhaust, 30% Lumar tint, Enkei Deep Six 20's, 275/60/20 Cooper Zeon LTZ, Bilstein 5100's, Toytec add-a-leaf, Wilson 1000. Interior: Alpine 9851, CDT 6.5" components, Alpine MRP-F240, MRD-M300, eD SQ 10".
To get Protectant 303 do a google search and it will give you numerous sites. I bought a gallon a long time ago and do not remember which one I got it from. I have been using it for about 15-16 years and it holds up much longer than the others on the interior, so that makes the overall costs about the same. I lived in the Central Valley of CA for 25 years, where the sun is intense in the summer time and the interior looked as good when I sold the vehicles, as it did when it was new. Highly recommend.
303 is better but Armor All works ok as well. Armor All is shiny, but i have a lot saved up and its much cheaper so until i finish my Armor All im not gonna be buying 303.
__________________ TUNDRA786
2007 Tundra Crew Max 4.7 TRD 4x4
285/65/18's with BF Goodrich All Terrain KO's
BedRug, Undercover, Bed Extender, Husky Liners
One protectant I like is from Fk1usa.com and it's their 108 "Top Kote" RVL anti-static Poly protectant. It comes milky white in a 31oz spray that is ideal for leather, rubber really any plastic surface. I live in a very dry climate and this anti-static spray is ideal for my black mirrors, door handles, trim, linex, bed rail covers, etc.
Before using the dust would stick to my mirrors and had to be removed everyday but not anymore. A very light spray on a sponge applicator and you simply wipe it right on. If you get a little on the glass or paint it simply buffs right off with no problems at all. Highly recommended especially if you live in dry climates.
__________________ Website Founder and Account Manager
2007 Toyota Tundra 4x2 Sport Truck 5.7L V8. DZ BU EC EM FE HM PN RN SL SM SP WR Black over Gray / Black interior.
Interior: Dynamat Xtreme and DynaXorb.
Audio: Eclipse AVN6610 with Sirius, Bluetooth and Backup Camera, AudioControl DQXS/DDC EQ, 1, XA4000 Amp, 3, XA1000 Amps, SC8365 3-Way Comps, 3, SW7200 12" Subs, 2 Eclipse MRE-700 7" DVD Sceens.
Security: CompuStar Pro Custom Security System with Remote.
Exterior: Line-X Xtra, FormulaOne Pinnacle AF35 Window Flim.
Exhaust: Magnaflow custom dual-in dual-out exhaust.
Suspension: BellTech Lowered Suspension Kit, coil-overs, TRD Sway-Bar.
Wheels / Tires: 20x9" Zinik Z12 Mazotti Polished Aluminum Wheels inside Goodyear 305/50/20 GT II tires.
Daily Detailing: Optimum No Rinse Wash & Shine, Finish Kare 425 Spray Detailer.
Detailing: Pinnacle Souvern Carnuba Wax from Autogeek.net.
But I never put anything on my Dash Pad. MicroFiber and dampened with water only. I like a real MATT looking dash.
The sun glare from these protectants is a bad thing by itself. Very distracting.
303 is very a good alternative for UV protection alone . But I would not overuse use it too frequently on the dash pad. It will build up a suttle sheen at some point. From experience.
I just don't like any reflection from my dash. I'm anal that way.
Protectants will NOT build up a "subtle" film over time. You have to treat your dash like paint, protect it with the protectant YOU choose, then every once in a while, strip it down with a APC.
And for my customers, I have about 5 MATT UV protectants, they are made. Simply cleaning adds no protection.
__________________ 2003 Toyota Tundra V8 4x4 AC Exterior: Trd Off-Road package, Trd Skid Plate, Borla Side Exit Exhaust, 30% Lumar tint, Enkei Deep Six 20's, 275/60/20 Cooper Zeon LTZ, Bilstein 5100's, Toytec add-a-leaf, Wilson 1000. Interior: Alpine 9851, CDT 6.5" components, Alpine MRP-F240, MRD-M300, eD SQ 10".
Protectants will NOT build up a "subtle" film over time. You have to treat your dash like paint, protect it with the protectant YOU choose, then every once in a while, strip it down with a APC.
And for my customers, I have about 5 MATT UV protectants, they are made. Simply cleaning adds no protection.
I said suttle Sheen ...not suttle Film. There is a difference.
One advantage of not ever using any protectants or cleaners on broad expanses of the interior (e.g. dash, door panels, carpeting) is that the new car smell will be retained for decades.
I get Armor All every year in my stocking, I use it on my tires. Any interior surfaces get the 303 protectant. RV stores and boating stores typically recommend 303, I figure they have a good reason. I thought I read on TS some time ago that AA was actually banned from use by the Navy. It wasn't the alcohol, it was the type of silicone they used. I have to search that one.
In any case, here is a question. The outside rubber trim on my '01 truck has seen better days. Not much can help in the hot socal sun after 7+ years. But in particular, the rubber piece that is on the outside of the door, where the window goes down into the door(where you would rest your arm if the window were all the way down). It is actually a metal piece covered with rubber. That rubber is cracking severely, and I look at any old Tundra and it has this same problem. I'm tempted to replace the piece or simply razor off the cracking rubber to expose the shiny metal underneath. Any of you having this problem? Your thoughts? I am thinking maybe all the years of cleaning my windows, the overspray has landed on this piece and caused it to deteriorate faster than normal, but it is really ugly.
/Mike
__________________
2001 2WD Silver Tundra: 4x4 TRD springs, Daystar 1", Carson AAL, red/blue Bilsteins, 265/75 Revo's, IS kit(minus bumper) and rims(hand polished), RF851X amp, Alpine HU, JL 6.5"XR comps, Qlogic with JL 8W3V2 subs. 176k miles and counting......
2005 Silver Sienna LE with 12" Overhead DVD
Re: To Armor All or not to Armor All?
TUNDRA786
2004 Tundra DC SR5, Blue Marlin, TRD Off-Road, Tow Package, All Weather Guard. The Rest is Stock and Damn it, I Love this truck!
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