Xylene?

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MnRiverman

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I was reading up on a few things, and I came across this: http://www.autoint.com/highmagnclctfail.htm



Now, I went and looked at my 3M Adhesive Remover, and sure enough it contains xylene.



I looked at the description and it said for use on automotive painted surfaces to remove adhesives and foreign material from paint.



So isn't that a little conflicting? I know that 3M knows their stuff when it comes to paint, so why would they put out this product if according to autoint's website it is bad for the clear coat?



I haven't really seen a discussion about this on here before, just seeing what you all think.



- Anthony
 
Hmm, does the 3M tar remover say how much xylene it contains? Maybe it's in such small amounts that it won't do much damage.



Does the MSDS say anything about % xylene? Sometimes they do.
 
I am suprised this hasn't garnered more interest seeing the impact it could have with people wiping the clear & wheels down with all kinds of stuff to remove different contaminants.
 
Auto International is in the business of selling detailing supplies and products... if they can develop a tactic to help move their own product....
 
I can understand that, but no where there are they pushing their New Car Prep.



So are you saying that their information is false?
 
adg44 said:
I can understand that, but no where there are they pushing their New Car Prep.



So are you saying that their information is false?
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adg44 .. why don't you post the piece of information that generated this Xylene question .. This piece of information in no way promotes someones product but informs the potential user of possible concequences. I read the original posting.
 
geekysteve said:
Auto International is in the business of selling detailing supplies and products... if they can develop a tactic to help move their own product....
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Gotta' side with Steve on this one.
 
I appreciate your guys' input, but you have not given any facts to offset their information.



Is there any hard evidence that says xylene is not bad for your paint and won't damage the resin system in the clear?
 
I am not sure if Xylene will harm the paint surface BUT it is some pretty nasty stuff otherwise. It can be inhaled as you pump gas in your car and is present in many types of solvents.



If you are unsure about it and need a solvent try a citrus based solvent.



Anthony
 
Xylene is a solvent, and is a constituent in paint strippers. As such, it is quite capable of damaging or even destroying and removing paint from surfaces. However, its ability to do this are limited by the concentration of xylene, and the length of time it is allowed to sit on the paint.



There is no one simple single answer as to when and how much paint damage will occur. A good paint will not be phased by being wiped with a bug and tar remover. Rattle can enamel can be stripped quickly by straight xylene and a rag.
 
foxtrapper said:
Xylene is a solvent, and is a constituent in paint strippers. As such, it is quite capable of damaging or even destroying and removing paint from surfaces. However, its ability to do this are limited by the concentration of xylene, and the length of time it is allowed to sit on the paint.



There is no one simple single answer as to when and how much paint damage will occur. A good paint will not be phased by being wiped with a bug and tar remover. Rattle can enamel can be stripped quickly by straight xylene and a rag.
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Xylene has very little effect as a paint stripper for modern day automotive paints. If it's in a paint stripper it is there to keep the material wet longer so that the paint can be removed. Common stripping solvents are Methylene Chloride (MEC) or N Methyl Pyrolimine (NMP). The idea for a stripper is to get the paint to lift and then be able to wipe it away before it dries and adheres itself back on the surface. The active ingredients I mentioned above would dry to fast if it didn't have slower evaporating solvents like Xylene in it. Xylene is a mildly aggressive solvent and shouldn't cause any lifting with a properly painted modern automobile. I've been working and selling for a chemical distributor for 27 years and we purchase Xylene by the rail car. MEK and Acetone are much more aggressive solvents than Xylene.
 
Qestion: Does it have the same effect with water based paints as it does oil based?





Experience unshared; is knowledge wasted…/



justadumbarchitect
 
It all depends on what kind of resins and hardeners that are used in the water based or oil based paints. In any type of paint situation, it's always wise to test in an inconspicuous area to make sure there are no adverse afects from any product that is being used, especially when dealing with solvents.:)
 
geekysteve said:
Auto International is in the business of selling detailing supplies and products... if they can develop a tactic to help move their own product....
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Ron Ketchum and Tim Brune are in charge of all the technical stuff at Auto International and I can assure you that they would not post the information if they had not covered their bases first. Just because a manufacturer of products issues a technical service bulletin doesn't mean they are trying to sell more of their products or promote an agenda. In fact Auto International does not focus on selling RETAIL product to the individual but rather to supplying OEM's with product. Don't knock someone without knowing the facts first (and in case this comes up - I do not work for Auto International and buy limited amounts of their product so I have an unbiased opinion).
 
If one were to put straight xylene on your car's painted surface and keep replenishing it, in time you may see some clearcoat damage. It is an agressive solvent. I disagree however, that is it milder than Acetone.....



The truth is that it exists in most products in dilute quantities and since it has a very low flashpoint, flashes off very quickly so the contact time with your paint is shortl.



3M adhesive remover does the job and is safe to use on your car. You are not going to use it every day like a car wash so I wouldn't worry about using it for one application here and there. Same thing goes for a bug and tar remover. You wouldn't put straight kerosene on your paint, but using a bug and tar remover only occassionally won't hurt anything either.



Some manufacturers will always try to twist the facts, but sometimes all it takes to "see through" their claims is thinking the application though carefully.
 
DETAILKING said:


Some manufacturers will always try to twist the facts, but sometimes all it takes to "see through" their claims is thinking the application though carefully.
Click to expand...



I think if you read back .. no one was twisting facts .. a search was done on a topic and a question was asked about products that may have amounts of Xylene and the thoughts on this.
 
ShineShop said:
Ron Ketchum and Tim Brune are in charge of all the technical stuff at Auto International and I can assure you that they would not post the information if they had not covered their bases first.
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Obviously we're forgetting about the problems that one of those fella's got into here (and at other forums) for how he talked-down to folks as he sold and/or promoted his own products...



I don't have any problem with them (or AutoInt), but I find it sorta funny that they would post nonsense about xylene when they're supposedly "experts" in the field of automotive chemistry...



It's like Butyl Cellosolve...in pure form, it's horrendously nasty stuff...but, it's one of the primary cleaning agents in Simple Green. I wouldn't dream of saying anything like, "Simple Green will ruin your wheels because it contains Butyl Cellosolve."
 
Anthony, wazzup ?



I have used that particular 3M solvent for years and never had a problem with it...It's an excellent GP solvent and I wouldn't hesitate to use it to clean tar or gum or whatever with the expectation that I will need to re-wax the treated spot. No big deal.
 
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