"J. Perry" <j_perry@musicians.net> wrote in message
news:JfQXb.151$8Z6.6891@eagle.america.net...
> One of the young engineers in my department at work is regularly telling
> people to avoid applying Armor All Protectant to their cars' dashboards.
He
> says that instead of preventing cracks in a car's dashboard it will
actually
> cause them. I've used Armor All on my vehicles' dashboards for 27 years
and
> have yet to experience a single crack in any of them to date. In fact,
they

I've never heard of or experienced Armor All causing cracks in a car's
dashboard, but apparently it can give off fumes that puts a haze on the
inside of your windshield.

I use Mother's (or is it Meguiars?) vinyl protectant instead.... gives it a
nice citrus-y smell.

 

Jim Yanik wrote:
> The reason the plastic cracks is that the plasticizers in the plastic
> get baked out by heat(the haze on your windows is plasticizers[or cig
> smoke]). Do you think a surface application of ArmorAll is going to
> replace the baked-out plasticizers?

The leeching of the plasticizers is dependent on the polymer and their
specific plasticizers. Flexible PVC is probably the most widely know for
it's use of DOP, DEHP and now DIHP is also being looked at by the EPA.

Here is some insight for polymers
http://www.psrc.usm.edu/macrog/index.htm

As well, here is a study of PVC plasticizer loss

http://www.geocheminc.com/pvcfaqplasticizers1.htm

Newer dashboards are being made with a PVC ABS blend that reduces but does
not eliminate the use of plasticizers

http://www.psrc.usm.edu/macrog/work/dash.htm

Of course, none of this answers the question of "Is Armor All good to use on
the dashboard?". I have never taken the time to study the ingredients of
the product and how they interact with each other and how it all interacts
with different polymers. If the design of dashboards have changed such as
with the ABS being added in, Armor All should have changed it's product
accordingly to compensate and the appropriate warnings for it's non-use
should be on the packaging (the "small print").

 

Jim Yanik wrote:
> The reason the plastic cracks is that the plasticizers in the plastic
> get baked out by heat(the haze on your windows is plasticizers[or cig
> smoke]). Do you think a surface application of ArmorAll is going to
> replace the baked-out plasticizers?

The leeching of the plasticizers is dependent on the polymer and their
specific plasticizers. Flexible PVC is probably the most widely know for
it's use of DOP, DEHP and now DIHP is also being looked at by the EPA.

Here is some insight for polymers
http://www.psrc.usm.edu/macrog/index.htm

As well, here is a study of PVC plasticizer loss

http://www.geocheminc.com/pvcfaqplasticizers1.htm

Newer dashboards are being made with a PVC ABS blend that reduces but does
not eliminate the use of plasticizers

http://www.psrc.usm.edu/macrog/work/dash.htm

Of course, none of this answers the question of "Is Armor All good to use on
the dashboard?". I have never taken the time to study the ingredients of
the product and how they interact with each other and how it all interacts
with different polymers. If the design of dashboards have changed such as
with the ABS being added in, Armor All should have changed it's product
accordingly to compensate and the appropriate warnings for it's non-use
should be on the packaging (the "small print").

 

Jim Yanik wrote:
> The reason the plastic cracks is that the plasticizers in the plastic
> get baked out by heat(the haze on your windows is plasticizers[or cig
> smoke]). Do you think a surface application of ArmorAll is going to
> replace the baked-out plasticizers?

The leeching of the plasticizers is dependent on the polymer and their
specific plasticizers. Flexible PVC is probably the most widely know for
it's use of DOP, DEHP and now DIHP is also being looked at by the EPA.

Here is some insight for polymers
http://www.psrc.usm.edu/macrog/index.htm

As well, here is a study of PVC plasticizer loss

http://www.geocheminc.com/pvcfaqplasticizers1.htm

Newer dashboards are being made with a PVC ABS blend that reduces but does
not eliminate the use of plasticizers

http://www.psrc.usm.edu/macrog/work/dash.htm

Of course, none of this answers the question of "Is Armor All good to use on
the dashboard?". I have never taken the time to study the ingredients of
the product and how they interact with each other and how it all interacts
with different polymers. If the design of dashboards have changed such as
with the ABS being added in, Armor All should have changed it's product
accordingly to compensate and the appropriate warnings for it's non-use
should be on the packaging (the "small print").

 

The PhD polymer scientists where I work think its a good idea; they believe the plasticizers are being replaced. How long has non-shiny Armor-All been available? I have never heard of it, but will ask at my local carwash next visit.

 

The PhD polymer scientists where I work think its a good idea; they believe the plasticizers are being replaced. How long has non-shiny Armor-All been available? I have never heard of it, but will ask at my local carwash next visit.

 

The PhD polymer scientists where I work think its a good idea; they believe the plasticizers are being replaced. How long has non-shiny Armor-All been available? I have never heard of it, but will ask at my local carwash next visit.

 

I seriously doubt the "replacement" theory but I'm pretty sure it lays a
protective layer on top of the plastics.

--Viktor

"Goal500k" <emailnotavailable@nospam.net> wrote in message
news:239be7c7e07a511351a429218399a125@localhost.ta lkaboutautos.com...
> The PhD polymer scientists where I work think its a good idea; they
believe the plasticizers are being replaced. How long has non-shiny
Armor-All been available? I have never heard of it, but will ask at my
local carwash next visit.
>

 

I seriously doubt the "replacement" theory but I'm pretty sure it lays a
protective layer on top of the plastics.

--Viktor

"Goal500k" <emailnotavailable@nospam.net> wrote in message
news:239be7c7e07a511351a429218399a125@localhost.ta lkaboutautos.com...
> The PhD polymer scientists where I work think its a good idea; they
believe the plasticizers are being replaced. How long has non-shiny
Armor-All been available? I have never heard of it, but will ask at my
local carwash next visit.
>

 

I seriously doubt the "replacement" theory but I'm pretty sure it lays a
protective layer on top of the plastics.

--Viktor

"Goal500k" <emailnotavailable@nospam.net> wrote in message
news:239be7c7e07a511351a429218399a125@localhost.ta lkaboutautos.com...
> The PhD polymer scientists where I work think its a good idea; they
believe the plasticizers are being replaced. How long has non-shiny
Armor-All been available? I have never heard of it, but will ask at my
local carwash next visit.
>

 

On Sun, 15 Feb 2004 15:02:50 -0500, "J. Perry" <j_perry@musicians.net>
wrote:

>One of the young engineers in my department at work is regularly telling
>people to avoid applying Armor All Protectant to their cars' dashboards. He
>says that instead of preventing cracks in a car's dashboard it will actually
>cause them. I've used Armor All on my vehicles' dashboards for 27 years and
>have yet to experience a single crack in any of them to date. In fact, they
>all looked like new when I sold or traded them. The dashboard on one of my
>cars, a 1990 Nissan 300ZX that I still own, looks like new to this day.
>There isn't the first indication that any cracking is about to occur within
>any region of the car's dashboard. Or any other plastic parts that were
>protected with Armor All shortly after I purchased the car. Have any of you
>guys experienced dashboard cracking with your Honda, or other type of
>vehicle, that you actually believe was caused by a protectant rather than
>neglect from a previous owner or something? J. Perry
>


That's the same thing I read years ago in another newsgroup. I used
the stuff on a '77 Monte Carlo and eventually the dash did crack but I
can't say it was or wasn't due to the Armor All so I guess I'm not
able to answer your question conclusively. If I had to answer the
question with a "yes or no" only, my "guess" would be yes (with only
my gut instinct no scientific proof).

If I had to re-decide whether to use it on my dashboard nowadays, I
wouldn't take the chance. I think there are enough other products
around to use and I suppose a damp cloth might work for just dirt /
dust removal.

 

On Sun, 15 Feb 2004 15:02:50 -0500, "J. Perry" <j_perry@musicians.net>
wrote:

>One of the young engineers in my department at work is regularly telling
>people to avoid applying Armor All Protectant to their cars' dashboards. He
>says that instead of preventing cracks in a car's dashboard it will actually
>cause them. I've used Armor All on my vehicles' dashboards for 27 years and
>have yet to experience a single crack in any of them to date. In fact, they
>all looked like new when I sold or traded them. The dashboard on one of my
>cars, a 1990 Nissan 300ZX that I still own, looks like new to this day.
>There isn't the first indication that any cracking is about to occur within
>any region of the car's dashboard. Or any other plastic parts that were
>protected with Armor All shortly after I purchased the car. Have any of you
>guys experienced dashboard cracking with your Honda, or other type of
>vehicle, that you actually believe was caused by a protectant rather than
>neglect from a previous owner or something? J. Perry
>


That's the same thing I read years ago in another newsgroup. I used
the stuff on a '77 Monte Carlo and eventually the dash did crack but I
can't say it was or wasn't due to the Armor All so I guess I'm not
able to answer your question conclusively. If I had to answer the
question with a "yes or no" only, my "guess" would be yes (with only
my gut instinct no scientific proof).

If I had to re-decide whether to use it on my dashboard nowadays, I
wouldn't take the chance. I think there are enough other products
around to use and I suppose a damp cloth might work for just dirt /
dust removal.

 

On Sun, 15 Feb 2004 15:02:50 -0500, "J. Perry" <j_perry@musicians.net>
wrote:

>One of the young engineers in my department at work is regularly telling
>people to avoid applying Armor All Protectant to their cars' dashboards. He
>says that instead of preventing cracks in a car's dashboard it will actually
>cause them. I've used Armor All on my vehicles' dashboards for 27 years and
>have yet to experience a single crack in any of them to date. In fact, they
>all looked like new when I sold or traded them. The dashboard on one of my
>cars, a 1990 Nissan 300ZX that I still own, looks like new to this day.
>There isn't the first indication that any cracking is about to occur within
>any region of the car's dashboard. Or any other plastic parts that were
>protected with Armor All shortly after I purchased the car. Have any of you
>guys experienced dashboard cracking with your Honda, or other type of
>vehicle, that you actually believe was caused by a protectant rather than
>neglect from a previous owner or something? J. Perry
>


That's the same thing I read years ago in another newsgroup. I used
the stuff on a '77 Monte Carlo and eventually the dash did crack but I
can't say it was or wasn't due to the Armor All so I guess I'm not
able to answer your question conclusively. If I had to answer the
question with a "yes or no" only, my "guess" would be yes (with only
my gut instinct no scientific proof).

If I had to re-decide whether to use it on my dashboard nowadays, I
wouldn't take the chance. I think there are enough other products
around to use and I suppose a damp cloth might work for just dirt /
dust removal.

 

Exeter wrote:
> Well, who are you going to believe, your young engineer or your own
> experience???? Did you really need to ask that question?

He doesn't need to believe anyone.
The post looks like a promotional PR of sorts of vain treatments.

 

Exeter wrote:
> Well, who are you going to believe, your young engineer or your own
> experience???? Did you really need to ask that question?

He doesn't need to believe anyone.
The post looks like a promotional PR of sorts of vain treatments.