by 
The Curious Bag
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<h4 class="dechead">On One Hand: Frequently Used
Many vehicle owners, including some owners of antique cars, regularly use dish soap to wash their cars. It is effective in removing dirt, and its grease-cutting magic certainly leaves the car looking shiny, too. Furthermore, dish soap is commonly used to wash cars in the car detailing business.
On the Other: Not Recommended
Dish soap is not usually recommended for cars because it can often remove the wax and leave the car's paint exposed and unprotected. In fact, dish soap's wax-removing quality is exactly why it is used by detailers--because removing the wax is the first step to detailing a car. However, regular use of dish soap can cause the paint to dry out and crack.
Bottom Line
In a statement on the Dawn dish soap website, the makers of Dawn state the following: Dawn is not recommended for window cleaning, car washing, body wash or washing hair. Although it may be all right to use dish soap on your car occasionally, you should avoid using it to wash your car unless you plan to wax it shortly afterward.
Source:
Car Care Tips, Car Wash Myths and Truths
Dish-Washing Soap - Good or Bad - Viper Club of America Discussion Forums
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