Meguiars All Purpose Cleaner Issue on 2021 Mach 1 engine bay

[kciN]

Hello everyone was hoping to find some help here. I Went to clean the engine bay on my 2021 Mach 1. When I started cleaning the cross brace the Meguiars all purple cleaner left a white coating over the cross brace and I am not sure if it took paint off as well or if is just dirt. I tried a damp microfiber towel to wipe it off but I can’t get it off. Any ideas or help is greatly appreciated. I didn’t have the best lighting since it was the evening in my garage but I can retake more photos in the morning.

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[JnBama]

If just residue maybe try WD40.

 

[2022 Mach 1]

An alcohol wipe should get that off real easy

 

[kciN]

I will give that a try ! Thank you !

 

[kciN]

An alcohol wipe should get that off real easy

I tried but no luck it seems like part of the paint definitely came off with that detail spray

 

[2022 Mach 1]

I tried but no luck it seems like part of the paint definitely came off with that detail spray

Dang. Well thanks for the heads up not to use the product.

 

[Cobra Jet]

Can you post up what Meguiars product you used?

I know there was a product on the market years ago, something called “Purple Power” or similar in name. That shit would dissolve not only any engine grime, but it would remove paint from painted surfaces…. People were finding out the had way unfortunately by not reading the bottle’s fine print or instructions warning of the content strength or dilution needed when using on certain surfaces.

The ONLY product I’ve ever used in an engine bay that is safe for cleaning, aside from actual leftover car wash soap, is Simple Green. I’ve never had an issue with Simple Green causing any damages or etching painted surfaces.

 

[kilobravo]

No doubt it's this.

OP: I have had Simple Green remove paint so it is entirely possible that this stuff did the same to your cross brace. I dilute 50/50. Thankfully, the spot is under the hood. By chance did you leave it on the surface for an extended period of time? Were you using a towell or a brush? I'm gonna guess, a rag. Obviously, Ford doesn't put much paint on that brace.

For engine bay cleaning, it's generally considered best practice to soak the area with an engine cleaning product, agitate with a detail brush as necessary, than rinse and air dry.

 

[DFB5.0]

These strut tower braces are "silver powder coated finish".

Meguiar's All-Purpose Cleaner if not diluted correctly could have caused a reaction with the finish. I say that in the assumption you used the green dilutable APC sold by the gallon, which is then diluted to suit the cleaning power required. In which case, what was your dilution ratio?

Meguiar's® D101 Detailer All Purpose Cleaner, 1 Gallon (meguiarsdirect.com)

Also, did you remove the product residue before it dried?

APC's can do this sort of thing, they are highly alkaline and unless removed via water to neutralize that alkalinity, the white spots will be the result.

Sometimes, removing like with like can work. Also try using an IPA product. Failing that, try using some polish on a test section and see what you get.

Good luck.

 

[DFB5.0]

And while on the subject, Meguiar's websites (in the USA and Australia) are garbage. Dim witted with searches and poorly, illogically laid out. Not good enough these days.

I suspect Meguiar's need some fresh blood in their management and marketing departments, the whole brand image and the look of the products is so outdated. And I say that as someone who likes and uses many of their products.

 

[kciN]

It’s the green all service cleaner. I was using a brush then a rag to wipe it off. Lesson learned here. I have the paint code to touch that spot up in the future. It’s unfortunate I see so many people using this product.

 

[DFB5.0]

It’s the green all service cleaner. I was using a brush then a rag to wipe it off. Lesson learned here. I have the paint code to touch that spot up in the future. It’s unfortunate I see so many people using this product.

Do you remember what dilution ratio you used?

 

[ice445]

It’s the green all service cleaner. I was using a brush then a rag to wipe it off. Lesson learned here. I have the paint code to touch that spot up in the future. It’s unfortunate I see so many people using this product.

It's a good product. I dilute 10:1 with distilled water and it's safe for any surface in that ratio.

 

[Topblissgt]

apc will never remove powder coating if used correctly. There is something else going on

 

[kciN]

From what I am reading I don't think I diluted the product enough. From talking to others quite a few people don't dilute as much as people are recommending here. Thank you everyone for the advice.

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