You're probably right.

I do, however, know that one application of a silicon-based leather
protectant was enough to ruin the leather on a very expensive Hartmann
leather bag.  Of course, that is apples to oranges, but I just wanted
to point out that sometimes things can be destroyed by just one
application of something that purports to be a "protectant."

:-)

On 2/9/06, Jim Felder <felder@knology.net> wrote:
> In 30 years of constant use, I've never been dissatisfied with
> ArmorAll. There are no cracks in my current dashes or any that have
> gone before, as far as I know, and my 90 has spent most of its life in
> the Alabama heat and sun (garaged now, thank goodness).
>
> I'm sure Meguiars is good, maybe better, but it sounds to me like
> ArmorAll's destructiveness is an invented problem. If some branch of
> the armed forces has discontinued its use, it's more likely to to
> lobbyist cash than any actual study. And I'd say the anecdotal evidence
> that ArmorAll is OK overwhelms the anecdotal evidence that it isn't.
>
> The idea that a plastic interior component can be turned into "crap" by
> a single application of ArmorAll is preposterous.
>
> Jim
>
>
> On Feb 9, 2006, at 2:33 PM, Luke Sponholz wrote:
>
> > My understanding is that Armor All is destructive to vinyl because of
> > the silicon that is a component of it.  What you want to find is a
> > vinyl cleaner/protectant that does not use silicon.
> >
> > I would recommend Meguiars.  Outstanding stuff.  They have both a
> > consumer line and a professional line.  It's pricey, but I use it for
> > everything, including wax, polish, interior cleaners, etc.
> >
> > <disclaimer>I am not affiliated with Meguiars.</disclaimer>
> >
> > On 2/9/06, Robert Fisher <refisher@mchsi.com> wrote:
> >> I was told once that Armor All would accelerate the process of the
> >> oils in
> >> upholstery wicking/evaporating if you applied it and then stopped
> >> using it.
> >> Supposedly if you kept using it you would be ok. I have no way to
> >> know if
> >> any of this is true, but I've heard several anecdotes like yours so
> >> who
> >> knows? I agree that a thick layer of grime is probably the best dash
> >> protection. : )
> >> I read in Consumer Reports or someplace like that many years ago that
> >> STP
> >> made the most effective upholstery treatment at that time.
> >>
> >> On another note, I was also told by a DCman while I was in the Navy
> >> that
> >> they were no longer allowed to use WD-40 in their preventive
> >> maintenance, in
> >> that the Navy had done extensive tests and determined that the WD-40
> >> was the
> >> cause for a number of repeated instances of premature failure of
> >> various
> >> kinds of machinery. Again, I don't have any way of knowing if it's
> >> true that
> >> it is harmful in that way but ever since then I've always thought of
> >> that
> >> whenever I see a can.
> >>
> >> Cya,
> >> Robert
> >>
> >> ----- Original Message -----
> >> From: <JordanVw@AOL.COM>
> >> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> >> Sent: Thursday, February 09, 2006 9:02 AM
> >> Subject: Re: Speaking of dashes...is "Armor All" destructive to vinyl?
> >>
> >>
> >>> In a message dated 2/9/06 11:40:57 AM Eastern Standard Time,
> >>> dshowers@CPDS.NET writes:
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>> Also, has anyone removed the padding bar from the sheet metal of
> >>>> the dash
> >>>> and replaced it with something else?  My "friend" did me a "favor"
> >>>> and
> >>>> put
> >>>> armor all on it and it is now crap.
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>
> >>> yes, there is just dead space under there, so if you carefully
> >>> drilled 2
> >>> holes with a big  hole cutting bit on a drill, then you could maybe
> >>> slide
> >>> some PVC
> >>> pipe inserts down in there to house cups.
> >>>
> >>> ps, what did the Armor All do to the dash??
> >>>
> >>> i had my dash in my Audi crack after years of armor all use.   my
> >>> mom, who
> >>> never cleaned her dash, never had a problem, and her Audi sat
> >>> ungaraged
> >>> for
> >>> years in the elements.
> >>>
> >>> is armor all destructive to vinyl??
> >>>
> >>> ps, i have  nice brown or black dashpads if anyone needs them..no
> >>> cracks..
> >>> chris
> >>
> >
>