Has anyone tried doing or using this?

Discuss all things Model T related.
Forum rules
If you need help logging in, or have question about how something works, use the Support forum located here Support Forum
Complete set of Forum Rules Forum Rules
User avatar

Topic author
Marv K
Posts: 182
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 8:44 pm
First Name: Marv
Last Name: Konrad
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '26 TT Steel Cab ("ToyBox Twoo"), '25 Coupe ("Cranky")
Location: Green Bay area
Board Member Since: 2010

Has anyone tried doing or using this?

Post by Marv K » Mon Jan 21, 2019 12:24 am

Perhaps it has been discussed before, but it is an idea I never thought of....
While catching some TV this weekend, there was a commercial stating about using Dawn ULTRA dish-washing detergent to remove oil and grease from a car. In addition to it's common uses, they illustrated putting it on a cloth, then to actually wipe the tar and grease from a car's exterior body and a wheel.
This caught my attention.... I've got some very stubborn and caked on heavy oil stains on the TT Ruckstell, and even a hot power-washer won't remove them. The commercial identified "Dawn ULTRA", and I even found a bottle of the Ultra PLATINUM version residing under our kitchen sink! Short of 'blasting, I've been at a loss, not wanting to try painting over the stains, so am wondering if anyone has tried this? Sometimes, simple solutions are the best ones. Thanks!
"Let's Figgur it owt!" Just fix it (right), and make it work.....
Aah-OO-Gah! (and), "Happy T-ing!"


Scott C.
Posts: 805
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:44 am
First Name: Scott
Last Name: Clements
Location: Waynetown Indiana
MTFCA Number: 49592

Re: Has anyone tried doing or using this?

Post by Scott C. » Mon Jan 21, 2019 1:00 am

I think they use Dawn to clean up water fowl that have been covered in oil spills.

User avatar

Humblej
Posts: 1690
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:23 pm
First Name: Jeff
Last Name: Humble
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Canadian built coupe, 1924 TT C-cab, survivor 1924 roadster
Location: Charlevoix, Mi
MTFCA Number: 28034
Board Member Since: 2006

Re: Has anyone tried doing or using this?

Post by Humblej » Mon Jan 21, 2019 6:47 am

I have used dishwashing soap to clean light oil and grease with good results, but heavy caked on dry grease, no.


Dallas Landers
Posts: 2786
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:26 pm
First Name: Dallas
Last Name: Landers
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 26 Rpu, 23 TT, 24 coupe,
Location: N.E. Indiana
MTFCA Number: 49995

Re: Has anyone tried doing or using this?

Post by Dallas Landers » Mon Jan 21, 2019 8:06 am

I use Dawn to clean my hands after grease and oil work in the shop. The wife gave me my own bottle for obvious reasons. Its the best on grease and oil. Never tried it on dried 90 year old crud but a good soak and stiff brush may work.
On a side note a heavy mixture of Dawn dish soap and water in a spray bottle used on boxelder bugs that gather on the side of my house in the summer works also. Within a few seconds they drop dead. Amazing!

User avatar

NHUSA
Posts: 156
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 2:21 pm
First Name: Fred
Last Name: Dimock
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1919 T with Mifflinburg Suburban body
Location: Timberlake NC

Re: Has anyone tried doing or using this?

Post by NHUSA » Mon Jan 21, 2019 8:28 am

Dawn kills grease, bug, and vampires.

It is almost as good as Marvel Mystery oil. :lol:
NH - Where I used to live - not the carburetor ! :lol:

User avatar

TWrenn
Posts: 3389
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 10:53 am
First Name: Tim
Last Name: Wrenn
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '13 Touring, '26 "Overlap" Fordor
Location: Ohio
MTFCA Number: 30701
MTFCI Number: 24033
Board Member Since: 2019

Re: Has anyone tried doing or using this?

Post by TWrenn » Mon Jan 21, 2019 9:19 am

Putty knife/scraper/steel bristle brush followed by copious amounts of lacquer thinner seems to
works the best for me. ;)


Victor Borg
Posts: 32
Joined: Sat Jan 19, 2019 10:02 am
First Name: Victor
Last Name: Borg
Location: Tuscon AZ
MTFCA Number: 35213

Re: Has anyone tried doing or using this?

Post by Victor Borg » Mon Jan 21, 2019 11:18 am

i discovered using dawn as a degreaser by accident.it out performed all the supposed best degreasers on my shelves by a mile at half the price.i also had a few bad experiences with the purple stuff discoloring some paint finishes,but never a problem with Dawn


TeveS-Nor Cal
Posts: 105
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 7:11 pm
First Name: Steve
Last Name: Straw
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1915 and lots of parts
Location: Penn Valley, CA
MTFCA Number: 12542

Re: Has anyone tried doing or using this?

Post by TeveS-Nor Cal » Mon Jan 21, 2019 11:28 am

Works great to clean out radiators, especially on Model A's that have had 50 years of water pump grease in them. A little goes a long way

User avatar

ironhorse
Posts: 397
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 7:59 am
First Name: G.R.
Last Name: Cheshire
Location: La Florida
MTFCA Number: 29759

Re: Has anyone tried doing or using this?

Post by ironhorse » Mon Jan 21, 2019 11:38 am

If you have a tub big enough to soak the part in about 1oz Dwan per 10 gallons of water and a way to keep it warm (140 deg F) and the time a 2 day soak under these conditions will remove about 95% of the hardest caked on crud.
Last edited by ironhorse on Mon Jan 21, 2019 11:39 am, edited 1 time in total.
Do it right or do it over,your choice. Drive like everyone is out to get you!

User avatar

Steve Jelf
Posts: 6463
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 9:37 pm
First Name: Steve
Last Name: Jelf
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1923 touring and a few projects
Location: Parkerfield, Kansas
MTFCA Number: 16175
MTFCI Number: 14758
Board Member Since: 2007
Contact:

Re: Has anyone tried doing or using this?

Post by Steve Jelf » Mon Jan 21, 2019 11:38 am

Whether you're using Dawn, lacquer thinner, or any other solvent, ancient grease/dirt deposits usually need to be removed mostly with tools first and then the solvent to wash off the little remains. The same applies with sandblasting. Washing/blasting away thick deposits may work eventually, but it takes approximately forever.
The inevitable often happens.
1915 Runabout
1923 Touring

User avatar

Topic author
Marv K
Posts: 182
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 8:44 pm
First Name: Marv
Last Name: Konrad
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '26 TT Steel Cab ("ToyBox Twoo"), '25 Coupe ("Cranky")
Location: Green Bay area
Board Member Since: 2010

Re: Has anyone tried doing or using this?

Post by Marv K » Mon Jan 21, 2019 11:43 am

-G.R.-
My Bride doesn't seem too keen about my soaking 'T' parts in the kitchen sink.... ;)
When weather becomes suitable, I'll try out some suggestions. Thanks!
"Let's Figgur it owt!" Just fix it (right), and make it work.....
Aah-OO-Gah! (and), "Happy T-ing!"

User avatar

Topic author
Marv K
Posts: 182
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 8:44 pm
First Name: Marv
Last Name: Konrad
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '26 TT Steel Cab ("ToyBox Twoo"), '25 Coupe ("Cranky")
Location: Green Bay area
Board Member Since: 2010

Re: Has anyone tried doing or using this?

Post by Marv K » Mon Jan 21, 2019 11:52 am

-Steve-
Just saw your comment, then thought about the baked on drum crud between the wood spokes.... Would that heavy dose of Dawn help to loosen that crud as well, or harm the spokes? I hesitate using something too harsh. Then, if successful, the re-treating/prep of those spokes? Had intended a natural finish for spokes.
"Let's Figgur it owt!" Just fix it (right), and make it work.....
Aah-OO-Gah! (and), "Happy T-ing!"

User avatar

Steve Jelf
Posts: 6463
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 9:37 pm
First Name: Steve
Last Name: Jelf
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1923 touring and a few projects
Location: Parkerfield, Kansas
MTFCA Number: 16175
MTFCI Number: 14758
Board Member Since: 2007
Contact:

Re: Has anyone tried doing or using this?

Post by Steve Jelf » Mon Jan 21, 2019 12:14 pm

Before you tackle the wheels, try it on an old spoke and see if it has any effect on the wood.
The inevitable often happens.
1915 Runabout
1923 Touring


Rich Bingham
Posts: 1922
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:23 am
First Name: Rich
Last Name: Bingham
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1913 runabout
Location: Blackfoot, Idaho

Re: Has anyone tried doing or using this?

Post by Rich Bingham » Mon Jan 21, 2019 12:21 pm

". . . tools . . ." and, ". . . a little goes a long way. . ." Both Steves have it right. Ancient caked on mud,oil,grease and dirt is often tough to clean off. Soaking in a penetrant like kerosene or WD-40 can help, detergents work best when in solution with water. Dawn is good at cutting grease, I don't know if it's really superior to TSP or Orvus paste, which are cheaper.
"Get a horse !"


Art McTevia
Posts: 16
Joined: Sat Jan 12, 2019 11:49 am
First Name: Art
Last Name: McTevia
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1924 Runabout
Location: Medford, OR
Board Member Since: 2017

Re: Has anyone tried doing or using this?

Post by Art McTevia » Tue Jan 22, 2019 1:07 pm

They also make a clear Dawn soap. Not at every store.


Dean Kiefer
Posts: 54
Joined: Thu Jan 10, 2019 5:10 pm
First Name: Dean
Last Name: Kiefer
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1914 Touring, 1926 Snowmobile, 1926 Wrecker
Location: Adams, MN
MTFCA Number: 16653
MTFCI Number: 15244
Board Member Since: 2015

Re: Has anyone tried doing or using this?

Post by Dean Kiefer » Tue Jan 22, 2019 3:29 pm

WARNING! Dawn dish washing soap will also take your freshly waxed finish off your car if you use it to wash your car with.


Tmodelt
Posts: 167
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 3:48 pm
First Name: Kim
Last Name: Wynn
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1923 Roadster & 1927 Speedster
Location: Morris, IL

Re: Has anyone tried doing or using this?

Post by Tmodelt » Tue Jan 22, 2019 7:43 pm

Dallas, I found that shaving cream rubbed onto hands until dry prior to work with oily / greasy parts works as well as dawn for washing away the mess.

Just my $.02 worth.

Post Reply Previous topicNext topic