So last night in a mishap, I spilled a decent amount of Stabil all over the paint I tried washing it away with car soap, sponge, and water.... What's the worse that could happen? Should I try using some dish soap on it? That stuff is hard to wash away because I think it has some lubricants in it

 

Yes you can use dish soap only thing it will do is take the wax off your paint

 

I would NOT recommend dish soap as it is pretty harsh (and it will strip all the wax).
You are probably fine as you wiped it off. Remaining chemicals will likely evaporate.


I would use some cleaner wax or something labeled "finish restorer" (check the label for "clearcoat safe". Those will typically clean the surface (some have very mild solvents in them).

 

I use zaino wax and they recommend dish soap to strip the car before applying their 3 step wax treatment. Using it once is not going to harm a thing.

 

After washing it with car soap, I went out there the next day and couldnt feel any residue on the paint, and couldn't really smell it either. I cleaned it again and sprayed some quick detailer on there and it looks ok. I was worried something might happen to the clearcoat. Scared the hell out of me

 

Unscented dawn dish soap is the bomb.

 

It won't do anything, you are fine. Just petroleum distillates (same as gas), not like #3 brake fluid or anything like that. I've spilled it myself, don't think I've done anymore than wipe with a clean dry cloth whatever was still wet, never thought about it again, my cars still have paint

 

Agreed. I was not trying to imply that dish soap was or would be harmful. I used to work at a custom paint shop while in college, and they used to tell me never to do that, as it really was not necessary - it removes ALL protection from the paint.

 

Factory finishes are MUCH better than they used to be. The paints are chemically tougher, and the factory bakes the finish on, which generally makes the finish really durable. Re-wax (at least that area) soon, as the stabil probably removed the wax.

 

Good to hear, at least it wasn't brake fluid!

Last summer some DOT4 leaked out of the reservoir and ate away the paint in the engine bay. I had to clean it up and use touch up pain just to protect the metal. Interesting note though, the brake fluid ate the paint but not the primer. A white sheen remained on the metal.

 

Thanks for sharing this one...