I did some checking when this thread came up the last time, and here is the other half of the story. I checked with FAA and could come up with anything that banned, or even suggested not to use this product. If this product was dangerous and caused extreme corrosion, I can guarantee that FAA would put a bulletin out very quickly.

I went to Simplegreen.com and looked at there web site. I was very impressed!!! Here are some excerpts:
“Many private and commercial aircraft owners and operators have cleaned their craft with All Purpose Simple Green or Crystal Simple Green for many years. However, these products do not have Mil-Prf (military testing) authority. The testing involves very long (168 hours in one test) soaking of various metals in the solution and then a corrosion inspection. If an aircraft owner only wants to use mil-prf approved products; he will not want to use Simple Green. Parts cleaned with alkaline cleaners include hydraulic valve bodies, fuel injector components and machined aluminum castings.” They even have parts washers that most engine rebuilders will have to use because of the ban on solvent type cleaners in California. Parts washers will have to go to water base in California very soon.
I then call Simple green (800-228-0709) and talked to them about their product. Here is what I learned: The bulk of their sales go to the government. They never did have a mil spec on their product, although many commercial and private aircraft owners have used this product with no problems. It's bad for your career if your a C.O. in the military and you use any product that does not have a mil spec on the label. ( I wonder if toilet paper has a mil spec on it?)

As far as problems with aluminum. Go to Fiske wheels and see what they recommend to clean their big buck aluminum wheels. If there was problem, I don’t think they would recommend using this product if it was damaging wheels as used / label.

As far as hydrogen embitlement goes. Yes it can do this. I’ve learned; so can most other cleaning products and a lot of other things in the world. One of the worst, is salt water. My point is, for you that ride beach dunes, you are doing far more damage to your quad than Simple Green would do.

I’m not saying that anybody is wrong. I’m just trying to give a balanced story. And usually there is two sides to every story.

I say clean with what you feel most comfortable with; or just leave it dirty, it's not a Rolls Royce you know!!!! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

I use car wash soap on everything except the motor and tires, I usually use a citrus based degreaser of some sort on them.

 

KNOWSALOT, my mom used it on a set of 3 month old rims on our tahoe, pretty much screwed up a set of $800 rims [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img] i couldn't even get them to polish out, it dosen't RUIN them, i just changes the color and makes them dull...... there not gona break but they will look like crap

 

i use car wash a sponge and a hose (with water lol) but this is interesting on the simple green, i'll give you guys another good idea DON'T buff your plastic i tried it it makes your plastic really smooth but it takes the shimmer and gloss away [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-disgusted.gif[/img] any ideas to bring the gloss back? i have tryed tire wet type stuff and it makes it really slippery but no shine, i have tyred caranauba wax and it helped a little but didnt get it all back. any suggestions would be appreciated

 

oh also its only on one fender so it looks kinda odd. 3 nice shiny fenders and one flat no shine one

 

powerwasher from a distance a rag, and a steel wool brush about once every 3 months, there's nothing better[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

Simple Green is an industrial cleaner and will, with over use, damage certain metals. Its your quad so do what you think is best. As far as people using 'tire wet' and such, it makes me giggle. If you own a motorcycle and are using these products you should be dead soon. I wouldn't think twice about you.
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As a new owner of a 2004 Raptor I did thumb through the owners guide. It went as far as to say that 'car wash' detergents often damage the metals on the atv and suggest only using mild soaps for automobiles to clean your atv(If wanted, I will post word for word what the manual says).

 

If you all are interested in keeping the shine on your rides, why not take all the plastic off and take it to your local auto paint shop and have them clear coat it. I have seen this on a few machines and the shine lasts a long, long time. When it gets dull, just wax it and back to new. For a cleaner look, remove all stickers, but if you want to keep the "factory" look, leave the stickers on and clear coat over them. With the clear coat, there will be no wear look to certain parts of the plastic because the clear does not wear to quick.

Stan

 

VBAR that is right what the dealer told you. I have used Pledge for around 10 years on my snowmobiles plastic parts after I have washed them and it does cover some scratches and also gives a shine and leaves a wax so the mud doesn't stick as easy.

I used Pledge on a used 99 Scrambler I bought that hadn't seen wax or anything else in 3 years and it shined it right up and looked somewhat new again.