ITB19-008

Classification:
Reference:
Date:
BT19-004
ITB19-008
April 2, 2019
EXTERIOR CLEANING INFORMATION
APPLIED VEHICLES: All Infiniti Vehicles
SERVICE INFORMATION
When cleaning the exterior of an Infiniti vehicle, damage may occur when using a cleaner with too high of an
alkaline concentration.

Always refer to the Appearance and care section of the related owner’s manual.

Not all cleaners are created equal.

Many cleaners come in concentrated form.

Alkaline cleaners (cleaners with a high pH value) can cause spots on paint and trim when not used as
directed.

Some commercial car washes use cleaners with a high pH value.

When using cleaners that meet the conditions defined in the Appearance and care section, be sure to
carefully follow the cleaner’s directions.

When finished cleaning/washing, rinse thoroughly with clean water.
IMPORTANT: Damage to paint, glass, bright metal, or any other exterior surface caused by using improper
cleaning products is not covered under warranty. Always refer to the Paint Incident Identification Manual
(PIIM) and Assurance Products Reference Manual (APRM). Follow the guidelines in the PIIM and APRM for
non-warrantable exterior body, glass, or painted surface quality issues.
To access the PIIM and APRM, login to nnanet.com:

For the PIIM, select: MY LINKS > Warranty > Paint Incident Identification Manual

For the APRM, select: MY DOCUMENTS > Warranty > APRM
See further information in this bulletin.
Infiniti Bulletins are intended for use by qualified technicians, not 'do-it-yourselfers'. Qualified technicians are properly trained
individuals who have the equipment, tools, safety instruction, and know-how to do a job properly and safely. NOTE: If you believe that
a described condition may apply to a particular vehicle, DO NOT assume that it does. See your Infiniti retailer to determine if this
applies to your vehicle.
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Examples of Damage Caused by Harsh Cleaners
Painted surfaces and glass
Exterior trim
Cleaning Product pH Information

Exterior surfaces are susceptible to damage from alkaline cleaners with a high pH value.

Cleaners should have a pH that is close to neutral (pH of 7). Cleaners with a neutral pH include mild
soaps and general purpose dishwashing liquids.
The pH scale is from 0 to 14:
0
1
2
3
 Acidic
4
5
6
7
Neutral
8
9
10
11
12
13
Alkaline 
14

The more a cleaning product deviates from a pH of 7 (or neutral) the harsher the cleaner is, and the
more likely it is to cause exterior surface damage.

The pH of a product can usually be found on the MSDS (Materials Safety Data Sheet) for a given
product.

See examples of pH information from the MSDS on the next page.
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ITB19-008
Examples of pH Information From MSDS
Example 1
pH of 1-2:
This is acidic
(harsh cleaner)
Example2
pH of 7-8:
This is neutral
(mild cleaner – recommended)
Example 3
pH of 10-11:
This is alkaline
(harsh cleaner)
AMENDMENT HISTORY
PUBLISHED DATE
April 2, 2019
REFERENCE
ITB19-008
DESCRIPTION
Original bulletin published
3/3
ITB19-008