Hey guys,

Dash on my cab is getting a bit dry, but I am looking for something that will clean, nourish and protect without being greasy or shiny like cheap Armor All. Any suggestions?

 

Aerospace 303 - fairly matte look and great UV protection.

 

+1 for Aerospace 303 as a protectant for your dash. If it needs cleaning first, I would use warm soapy water (sparingly), dry off, then apply 303.

 

Aerospace is the best. I messed up my dash initially with 1z cockpit, I would not every recommend that product for Porsche non-leather dash surfaces.

 

Lexol vinylex works well also

 

Sonax. Been using it for about 4 years now.
http://store.carcareonline.com/sonaxmattefinishdashboardcleaner-300mlpumpspray.aspx

 

+1 on both.

I don't know why people think soap and water is bad and are willing to spend money on some labeled cleaner. Dish detergent and water work on anything (ok, maybe not glass) especially plastic and leather. Leather? yea, leather is skin like your hands and face. Soap will pull moisturizers out of the leather so follow up with a good conditioner (not a cleaner/conditioner) and any of the big names have good stuff (McGuires, Mother's etc.) - although Lexol stinks and will relax the leather to much for me.

Peace
Bruce in Philly

 

For cleaning I typically use a damp microfiber unless it's extremely dirty. If it's extremely dirty I use Griot's interior cleaner. For protection I also like 303 although I've heard from many that sonax also makes a great interior product.

 

no silicones or coatings like armorall , use a good product like lexol or meguares or such and just wash with warm water and mild detergent and then thin coat of lexol

 

Ardex Neuclean- best ever interior cleaning product provided it is cut to the appropriate concentrate to water. Works on everything, will not dry leather, excellent for serious stains as well. Have been using it for years and no issues. As always, small tester in out of the way location is best before using on high profile areas.

 

I'll throw this out into the ring and you can take it or leave it... .

For vinyl, I have found that rubbing baby oil on the surface, letting it sit overnight and then wiping off thoroughly, keeps the material soft, pliable and crack free forever. If you can tolerate the smell (there may be unscented baby oil, I don't know), this method is inexpensive and works better than any expensive vinyl "conditioner" or "protectant" that I have ever tried.

I learned this trick from an old fellow I knew many years ago who had a late sixties Lincoln Continental. The vinyl parts in his car (dash, console, door panels, etc.) were not only perfect, but still as soft as the day the car rolled off of the assembly line. He told me his secret and I started doing it myself on my own cars.

I brought more than one dried-out, crispy dash back from the dead that way. I still use it on my '67 Mustang and my old trucks and it still works. I really only smell the baby oil for a day or two after application.

 

1Z Einszett Cockpit Premium -- an effective mild cleaner but more importantly leaves behind good UV protection with a very OEM matte finish. It's a great product that I have been using for years on all of my cars. Try it, you will thank me later. Bonus is that you can use it on your dash, all interior panels, and even PCM screen / gauge cluster with no worries.

http://www.autogeek.net/1z-einzett-cockpit-premium.html

No idea how the poster above felt it messed up their dash -- not possible IMO.

 

I did a fair amount of research on interior cleaning products prior to using 1z cockpit. So many people like yourself raved about that product. So I bought some and proceeded to ruin the finish of my non leather 997.2 dash. That product basically caused a "speckleing effect" on the texture of the dash. It looked bad, I tried to wash it off but the speckles remained. Did further research and found some others who had a similar effect. After a bit of panic and pricing out a new dash, I found aerospace 303. And miraculously returned my dash to normal. Not sure why my dash reacted with 1z that way, but be cautious before use.

 

Were you wearing polarized glasses when seeing the "speckles"? Just curious because I notice that at times and believe it to be the UV protection or perhaps tiny pieces of lint from the microfiber I use -- not noticeable at all when not wearing polarized glasses (and even then, minimal). I've used it on my 911TT leather dash as well as a plethora of cars with traditional dash materials (BMWs, Audis, Honda/Acura, Toyota/Lexus, VW, etc). I have not tried it on a Porsche non-leather dash but still have trouble believing this German product reacts unusually with a German-made auto dash. But thank you for sharing your experience -- it is important to get out there.

RE: Aerospace 303, I use this product as well but not on dashes. I like to use it on engine cover plastics and the like. It has more of a darkening effect and slight sheen if that is the look you are after. Bonus because I met the CEO of 303 products on a plane a few years back -- he gave me a bunch of samples. My favorite of their products is "Shower Shield" -- works great in the house on shower tiles, etc. Sorry for the digression.

 

No, was not wearing glasses but was very obvious in direct sunlight or led flash light. It was weird. Aerospace was great, it had a little too much sheen at first but easily reduced with a little buffing with dry microfiber cloth.