All Season Dressing?

[WillRyan]

I was wondering if the ASD will run on to the paint if it gets wet?

I used some over the counter stuff this weekend and the condensation made it run onto the paint.

[LelandGray]

Re: All Season Dressing?

I've heard ASD doesn't run, that's what makes it good for exterior plastic trim. Right now I used Hyper Dressing, and it doesn't last once it gets wet. I'll be placing an order for ASD soon to try it out.

[WillRyan]

Re: All Season Dressing?

cool, thanks thats what i needed to hear

[Murr1525]

Re: All Season Dressing?

The best thing to do is apply it, let it set for 5-10 minutes, and then come back with a clean cloth to get the excess.

[Fly Bye]

Re: All Season Dressing?






This is what I use yo.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: All Season Dressing?

AS long as you remove the excess. You should not have any problems. I use it regularly on my trim.

[Mary S]

All Season Dressing/silicone?

I had a question about All Season Dressing. I read it was solvent based but does it contain silicone?

Is this the professional line product that has the most endurance on outdoor rubber and plastic trim, compared to the others which I think are all water based?

Also, if it does contain silicone, is this safe (in other words won't have long term negative effects on rubber etc.) because I hear "negative things" said about silicone.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: All Season Dressing?

Ah yes, the "silicone is bad" discussion.......

First off, ASD is a solvent based product, not water based, and it is also a non-paintable product meaning you don't want it in a body shop environment where fresh paint is being sprayed.


As to the whole "silicone is bad" discussion, my personal favorite discussion about silicone, taken from a car forum I frequent (vehicle specific forum, not a detailing forum) went something like this:

• A forum member asks "what's the best stuff to use on my dash"
• Many other members respond, each with the own personal favorite product, all from various different manufacturers
• One guy comes on and says "I only use Brand X because it's water based, not silicone based. That silicone based stuff will rot your dash. I've used Brand X religiously for 5 years and my dash still looks like new."
• Brand X noted above is indeed a water based product (these things are either water based or solvent based, nobody makes a "silicone based" product, but silicone can be present in one shape or form in either type of product)
• Brand X is also a highly regarded "boutique" product, and rather pricey too.
• Brand X has the MSDS for this product available online, as does Meguiar's for all of our products, as do most companies dealing with any sort of "chemical" products
• The MSDS for Brand X shows it to have almost double the silicone of Meguiar's Natural Shine, also a water based protectant
• This information is then shared with the members of that forum specifically to make a point - that point is NOT that Meguiar's Natural Shine has less silicone than Brand X does, but rather to point out that silicone in and of itself is not the horrible, evil ingredient that so many would have us believe
• The forum member who so proudly touted his "safe, water based product" that has done no harm to his dash after 5 years of "religious use" never posted back on the thread. Go figure.

Bottom line - silicone is an inert ingredient, and the silicones generally used in car care products are put there to enhance or alter the characteristics of another ingredient; gloss, ease of application or ease of removal are the most common reasons for silicone to be present in a car care product. But silicone will not rot your dash, it won't dry out vinyl or rubber, and it won't make your tires turn brown.

[Mary S]

Re: All Season Dressing?

Thanks, Michael. Meguiars makes so many dressings, I am just trying to better understand what to use for what. I thought maybe ASD was the only one that might have silicone, but it sounds like maybe a lot of the Meguiars dressings also have silicone, except of course the Silicone Free one.

The bad rumor I did hear was that Armour All would rot your dash (well maybe not rot it but dry it out and make it crack) and make your tires explode (well maybe not explode but make them dry out and crack too). My husband won't let me put any dressing on his tires because he associates that with the rumors about Armour All.

I know Meguiars isn't going to make something that's bad for the cars.

So is All Season Dressing a better dressing to use for the exterior because it stands up better to rain or snow since it is solvent based?

[Murr1525]

Re: All Season Dressing?

Yes, ASD is better for the exterior because it stands up well to the environment. It can be a bit too glossy, and a bit greasy for the interior.

I believe silicone has to do with how the product applies, and spreads over the surface, and things like that.

[Mary S]

Re: All Season Dressing?

Thanks, Murr. I have been using it mostly for the rubber seals and trim around my windows but haven't really had a chance to test it against the elements.

I wouldn't be surprised if the silicone adds to the protection and/or the shine as well.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: All Season Dressing?

The bad rumor I did hear was that Armour All would rot your dash (well maybe not rot it but dry it out and make it crack) and make your tires explode (well maybe not explode but make them dry out and crack too). My husband won't let me put any dressing on his tires because he associates that with the rumors about Armour All.

Armor All sells a very impressive amount of product and truth be told, there's nothing at all wrong with it. Yes, it may leave a shiny finish, and perhaps a bit of a greasy finish as well, but the average consumer doesn't seem to mind this one bit, only enthusiast detailers seem to.

If you think back to the early 70s when the materials used on dashboards was nowhere near as advanced as it is today, you start to realize the real problem with cracked dash boards. As vinyl and plastic goes through temperature and humidity cycles it expands and contracts a bit. Not hugely, but it does. And because of this it fatigues, much the same way aluminum fatigues when you bend it repeatedly. Unfold a paperclip and then keep folding it back and forth on itself and it will eventually just break. Where textured vinyls and plastics differ from aluminum is that they are a bit porous and when slathering on a liquid they will swell a bit. But if it's cheap plastic on a 60's or 70's vintage car (or just a dash pad that is poorly engineered and suffers from hidden stress points) and it has gone through dozens (if not hundreds) of temperature and humidity swings that have made it swell and shrink, swell and shrink, it becomes weak and brittle. Now slather on a liquid, almost any liquid, and it will suddenly swell quite a bit. If it's sufficiently weakened, it will crack. Back in the late 60s through the 70s what other protectant was there than......... wait for it......... Armor All. So Armor All took the brunt of the blame and their reputation suffered, when in fact it wouldn't have mattered what you put on that dash; it was doomed to failure. Heck, plenty of 'em cracked even without anything ever being applied to them!

And that is a reputation that is hard to overcome. And Internet myths spread like wild fire. So while you may not like the look and feel of Armor All on your dash or tires, the truth is it's not going to hurt them at all.

And, yes, I just rambled on defending our competition. But truth is truth.

[Mary S]

Re: All Season Dressing?

I appreciate the history, Michael. You are right, there are rumors that die hard. I still have an almost full bottle of the stuff in my garage that must be more than 20 years old.

[roushstage2]

Re: All Season Dressing?

Great stuff Mike!

[Shawn T.]

Re: All Season Dressing?

Finally, someone puts to rest the myth about Armor All! I have been looking for that explanation for a while. I will say that it does not have the longevity of other protectants though IMHO as it is a water based dressing.