can you use oil to remove dirt from car

[Tiffany]

No, you should not use engine oil or other petroleum-based oils to remove dirt from your car's paint. While the oil might temporarily dissolve grime, it will cause significant and costly damage to your vehicle's finish. The primary risk is that petroleum-based products are not formulated for automotive paint and can break down the clear coat, leading to permanent staining, hazing, and attracting more dirt.

Using motor oil as a cleaner creates a sticky, greasy film that is extremely difficult to remove completely. This residue acts as a magnet for dust, pollen, and other airborne contaminants, forcing you into a cycle of aggressive cleaning that further degrades the paint. Proper automotive shampoos are specifically designed with a neutral pH to lift dirt without stripping protective waxes or sealants.

For stubborn contaminants like bug splatter, tree sap, or tar, use products intended for the job. Here’s a comparison of safe methods versus using oil:

Contaminant	Using Motor Oil	Recommended Safe Method
Bug Splatter	Smears into a greasy mess; damages clear coat.	Pre-soak with dedicated bug remover or diluted car shampoo; gently wipe.
Tree Sap	May dissolve sap but leaves an oily stain that attracts more dirt.	Use isopropyl alcohol or a specialized tar and sap remover on a microfiber cloth.
Road Tar	Can thin the tar but creates a harmful, messy slurry.	Apply a commercial tar remover; it emulsifies tar for safe wiping.
General Dirt/Dust	Spreads abrasive particles, causing scratches and swirl marks.	Use a two-bucket wash method with a grit guard and high-lubricity car shampoo.
Bird Droppings	Ineffective and adds a harmful layer of oil on top of acidic waste.	Spray with detailer spray or quick wax to lubricate, then gently lift off.

Stick to professional automotive cleaning products. They are engineered to be effective and safe, preserving your car's value and appearance. If you encounter something stubborn, a clay bar kit is a far superior solution for decontaminating paint without causing harm.

[Wilson]

Absolutely not, that's a surefire way to ruin your paint. I learned this the hard way years ago on an old truck. I used a bit of oil to get some sap off, and it left a nasty, cloudy stain that never came out. It just smears the dirt around and makes everything worse. Just spend a few bucks on the right spray from the auto parts store. It saves you a huge headache and a potential repaint bill down the line.

[VanEthan]

It's a bad idea from a chemical perspective. Automotive paint and clear coat have a specific chemical composition. Petroleum-based oils can act as a solvent, breaking down the polymers in the clear coat over time. This leads to oxidation and permanent dullness. Proper car wash soap uses lubricating agents to suspend dirt particles so they rinse away without scratching. Using oil bypasses this safety mechanism and risks both immediate and long-term damage to your investment.