wash with kerosene??

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What Nasty Stuff do You Work With?

A long time friend has for years put a pint of kerosene in the bucket of water when he washes his truck. I have never given it much credit, but his truck usually looks real shiny.

Today I was talking with another fellow with a real nice looking CTD, and when I commented on its looks, he credited it to the kerosene; he said that AFTER washing and drying his truck, he soaks a mit in kerosene and goes over the whole truck??

Anyone know anything about this, could it be a good practice?



Vaughn
 
I've heard of using kerosene on aluminum siding to keep it looking new, prevents oxidation. I've seen the benefit of kerosene on the old types of automotive paint that used to get chalky but not on modern paint. My feeling is that using it on a newer rig may be a hold over from the past, sort of like ATF for diesel fuel additive. Seems like modern waxes do an excellent job.
 
Vaughn, It really works. I saw it 1st hand as a mechanic when I lived in Ohio through the 60's and 70's.



It also helps to keep cars rusting in the areas of the snow belt where they use salt on the roads in the winter. In the old days before galvanized body panels you could really tell the difference in a cars longevity when the owner washed his car with soapy water cut with kerosene. The kero acted as a preservative as it washed through the body panels. Some people used to spray the stuff inside body panels also. A poor man's rustproofing.
 
This is an old body shop trick. When my brother came home and told my dad about it my dad's response was: We did that for years. K1 is good because it does not dry out the paint. You can use it directly to remove bugs and other road grim. It will remove all the wax too. Always best to use it in water.



Oh and I would not suggest smoking while washing with it or being around another ignition source. Think safety!
 
We used to do that to our self propelled howitzer's in Germany when we were going to be in the public's eye. I didn't ask, I just did it. Anyway, it was a hoot to wash the dust off and wipe em' down before we loaded up on the train coming back from the field.



People will do that to farm machinery for the auctions around me too.
 
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