Armor All on dashboard: Good or bad?

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

 

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I nearly lost a cell phone out the window after using a protectant. Good
thing I saw it start sliding and lunged for it !


'Curly'

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Just avoid putting it on the steering wheel.

 

I've never had a dashboard crack with or without Armor All. I did have to
get a dashboard rug for a Nissan 240sx because the Armor All made it shine
instead of the original dull finish. As it turned out, the dullness was
necessary. Glare from the shiny dash reflecting onto the windshield made
the car all but undrivable in the day time. If you are going to use Armor
All, make sure your dash isn't designed to be intentionally dull (or use the
dull finish version of Armor All).

 

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

 

So, which is older, your personal experience with the product, or the young
engineer? Besides, if you have not had any bad experiences, using this
product, why even consider the breeze coming out of your co-workers mouth?

 

I do believe that a Saturn I used to own actually stated in the owners
manual, not to use protectents on the dash. I think it stated it would
remove a facotry coating on the dash? I don't have the car anymore, so
someone out there with a late 90's Saturn might be able to verify.

 

I have not seen any cracking in my dashboards using Armor All.

I do know one place you should NOT use Armor All and that's on a motorcycle
banana seat. Tried it once. Looked really nice but when I accelerated the
bike, I almost slid backwards off the seat.

Bearman

 

One of the young engineers in my department at work is regularly telling

When I bought a BMW motorcycle, I was told by several people at the
dealer NOT to put ArmorAll on the various rubber boots and covers
because they would deteriorate. Instead, I have been using silicone
spray since it's availibility for consumer use (early 70's I believe)
I use it on CV joint boots, muffler hangers, door seals, hoses, brake
fluid resevoir caps, etc. When I use it on the dash, I spray it onto
a cloth and let any solvent evaporate before applying. I never had any
problem with solvent damage, but prefer to err on the side of safety.

P.S. DO NOT put any slippery protectant on a motorcycle seat;
I discovered this the hard way......

 

Hehe, that's worse than the steering wheel.....

 

Some cars already have some type of protective coating. I'm pretty sure it's
okay to put protective coating once the old one worns out, and it will start
deteriorating after a while under sun and moist conditions. Just don't put
it on anything that requires a good grips such as steering wheel, tires,
driving belts, etc. The protective coating is slippery, especially All
Armor. Other than that, it cleans and protects very well from personal
experience.

This type of questions are great, even if you might know the answer prior to
asking. A lot of people have these same questions so I'm sure it will be of
some use to the less experienced.

--Viktor

 

I can only imagine your discoveries

 

If friction is required, don't use protectants since they add a layer of
slippery chemicals. There are special cleaning kits that let you clean the
dirt and still keep the grip on the surface.

--Viktor

 

check your silicone spray,it may contain petroleum products,too.

 

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?

 

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.

 

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.

 

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

--Viktor

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.

 

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.