Isopropyl alcohol on bodywork?

[chan61922]

Hi guys so posted some weeks back about bonding on/taping on a roof spoiler on to my vehicle. The weathers been a nightmare so it actually had a chance to get it done. Have a few days off due to the new year coming up and since there’s no rain expected I’d like to tackle this small job.
I realise prep is going to be the most important step, so I’ve ordered some isopropyl alcohol 99.9%. After checking some vids on YouTube, it’s seems that isopropyl can actually damage the cars clear coat? Is this the case? Should I have ordered a lower concentrate solution, 70% etc say? Would 99.9% be too harsh on the cars paintwork? One video suggested doing a 50/50 mix with distilled water? Also how do I go about washing the area in question, surely a shampoo solution will just add more wax/protection on area. Many thanks

[Andeh1]

Have you tried hot water, letting it soak in & a hair dryer to get it off?

Worked when required for me... Though this was a couple of decades ago though!

[Belle427]

I’d try a hair dryer and something like autoglym intensive tar remover afterwards.

[V8covin]

Are you talking about cleaning the paintwork before you bond your spoiler on ?
If so all you need is some solvent panel wipe / degreaser from a car paint supplier

[paintman]

V8covin said:

Are you talking about cleaning the paintwork before you bond your spoiler on ?
If so all you need is some solvent panel wipe / degreaser from a car paint supplier

^^^This. It's intended for the purpose.
If you want to wash the area first then don't use a wax type car shampoo. Unnecessary as the panel wipe should take everything off.

You'll see a lot of the American professional vinyl wrapping videos recommending isopropyl alcohol. Most of the ones I've seen speak of a 70% solution.
If you must use it then test on an inconspicuous area first.

Edited by paintman on Tuesday 31st December 10:26

[chan61922]

Thanks for the input guys, would I be okay just rinsing the area with warm water then? And doing around with a pet dryer then using some wipes? Link below. Think I’m frightened to go near the isopropyl now, esp as I’ve had the car machine polished a while ago.
https://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet...

[Winky151]

Use the Isopropyl to clean your windows. Its great for that.

[227bhp]

We buy it by the drum full and slop it all over the place, It won't damage your paintwork, but you've got the ideal chance to test it if you're worried.
It's quite simple; wipe some on where the spoiler will go and see what happens.

[Chris32345]

Unless you out it on half dried Paint it will be fine a few times before touching up stone chips

[chan61922]

Thought F it and went ahead and done this morning lol, is isopropyl same thing as isopropanol? As I’ve just slapped on a load of it on my roof spoiler lol only used a few dropped on a micro fibre then went ahead and worked in and buffed off. I didn’t have any wax free shampoos knocking about in the garage so I used a few drops of fairy liquid in water lol made a right mess of the rear end! Worrried the washing up liquid is going to be too harsh on my paint work now it’s dried up on the rear bumper and boot lid now just got fed up with the bloody thing lying around for months and thought sod it im doing it

[paintman]

chan61922 said:

is isopropyl same thing as isopropanol?

According to the label on my bottle of it yes.

[Mr Dendrite]

paintman said:

chan61922 said:

is isopropyl same thing as isopropanol?

According to the label on my bottle of it yes.

Methyl alcohol = Methanol
Ethyl alcohol = Ethanol (cheers)
Isopropyl alcohol = Isopropanol
Although to be really sad about it what you’ll be using is propan-2-ol rather than propan-1-ol.
Industrial Methylated Spirits or IMS is Ethanol that has 5%-10% methanol added to it so it’s not subject to duty. In terms of cleaning or degreasing a surface there is little or no difference in everyday terms between any of them.

[chan61922]

Thanks for the science of it all mate lol seems to have dried out one side of the gloss plastic trim, not by colour just feel, no longer smooth to touch and feels rough. This may just be because I washed area with washing up liquid though, not something I’d ever do as I’m quite ocd with my washing but didn’t have any wax free shampoo in my Arsenal

[anonymous-user]

ipa 50/50 with distilled / deionized will be just fine.

[chan61922]

Oops I went ahead and applied 99.9% didn’t go crazy just a few drops on a micro fibre