Foam Lance Dilution & PIR (Panel Impact Ratio) Guide
The dilution on a snow-foam label and the strength that actually lands on your paint are two different numbers. A foam cannon mixes product with water inside its bottle, then that foam is diluted again as it hits the panel — so a "1:10" label does not mean 1:10 on the car. The Panel Impact Ratio (PIR) is the real on-panel concentration. As a rule of thumb the cannon bottle (e.g. 1 L) drawing from a bucket adds roughly a 10× further dilution, so a label 1:10 lands closer to 1:100 on the paint. Use the catalogue ratios below as a starting point and our PIR calculator to convert a label ratio to your actual foam-cannon mix.
Last updated: 2026-06-19 · 10 products · Data: manufacturer documentation & SDS, via the Find Your Detail catalogue.
| Product | Brand | pH | Dilution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fastfoam | angelwax | 7 | 1:9 |
| Hard Wash | detail co | 11 | 1:10 |
| Hi-Foam Wash | car gods | — | 1:9 |
| Froth | squid ink | 7 | 1:10~1:20 |
| AlkaFroth | squid ink | alkali | 1:10~1:20 |
| Car Wash | armor all | 7 | 1:5 |
| Arctic Storm Snow Foam | car gods | — | 1:9 |
| Ceramic Infused Shampoo | shelby | — | 1:9~1:19 |
| Snow Foam Orange | good stuff | neutral | 1:5~1:9 |
| Snow Foam Car Wash | armor all | neutral | 1:5 |
FAQ
What is PIR (Panel Impact Ratio)?
PIR is the real product concentration that reaches the paint after a foam cannon dilutes the mix a second time. Find Your Detail's PIR calculator (in My Page) converts a label ratio into your on-panel ratio using your cannon bottle size.
Why does my snow foam look thick but barely clean?
Thick clinging foam is mostly surfactant show — cleaning comes from the active concentration (PIR) and dwell time. If the PIR is too weak, increase the in-bottle ratio rather than chasing thicker foam.
Sources
The pH and dilution figures in this guide are each product's own manufacturer documentation and Safety Data Sheet (SDS) as recorded in the Find Your Detail catalogue — click any product above to open its source page and full details. Values are maker-stated/best-case; real-world results vary with technique, water hardness and conditions.