Faded plastics?

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Faded plastics?
Topic Started: Sun Jun 28, 2009 1:07 am (387 Views)
stwat	Sun Jun 28, 2009 1:07 am Post #1
Moderator Posts: 12,412 Group: Moderator Member #28 Joined: November 11, 2005	I was reading a thread on retro rides earlier about faded bumpers/plastics. Very interesting read. It seems smooth peanut butter works very well, as does sunflower and olive oil. Im sure any oil will do. But it seems the best cheap as chips produced to use is boiled linseed oil. The heat gun method also gets rave reviews. But you can only do it a few times as it dries the plastic out and makes it brittle if you do it to many times. So probably best to only do it once then keep the plastic fed with linseed oil thereafter. The thread can be found Here I think you have to be registered to view it though. I'm a bit annoyed that i just forked out a tenner on some AG bumper care!!



Big Ben	Sun Jun 28, 2009 11:42 am Post #2
Member Posts: 4,905 Group: Members Member #155 Joined: January 26, 2006	Only problem is that your car would smell like putty!



Stempies	Sun Jun 28, 2009 1:05 pm Post #3
Hot Lips Posts: 3,305 Group: Members Member #2,380 Joined: March 6, 2008	stwat Sun Jun 28, 2009 1:07 am It seems smooth peanut butter works very well, Do you rub it in or leave it an inch thick so you can't see the faded plastic??? You'd find your car covered in birds & hungry kids every morning!



alogaparaloga	Sun Jun 28, 2009 1:42 pm Post #4
crazy mind Posts: 606 Group: Members Member #2,419 Joined: March 14, 2008	I just did put some sunflower oil on the plastic moulds of the bumper. It revives the colour, but I don't know if it is going to stay there for long time. Another thing that will do the job too is engine oil. Fresh unused oil The only thing is that the remaining oil has to be washed off afterwards, otherwise dust will stick there.



NEIL	Sun Jun 28, 2009 2:08 pm Post #5
Fewer Posts than Kenny Posts: 16,160 Group: Members Member #63 Joined: November 18, 2005	Stu, Linseed Oil is the only other thing I'd bother with apart from Bumper Care (which lasts ages and can be used very sparingly by the way). All vehicle plastics are not created equal, think yourself damn lucky you don't have to keep the trim on an '80s Peugeot or VW



MICHAEL	Sun Jun 28, 2009 2:16 pm Post #6
Member Posts: 5,632 Group: Members Member #555 Joined: September 28, 2006	Using a vinyl ink, Sericol or Appollo, with the appropriate reducer, might be the eternal solution. If you know a screen printer, he'll have it.



Rich27	Sun Jun 28, 2009 2:35 pm Post #7
If it has tits or an engine it will be trouble Posts: 13,262 Group: Members Member #348 Joined: June 15, 2006	I used Teak oil on the plastics of my old XR3i and my Cavalier SRi I havent got any left but it does work. Apply using a rag and rub, Baby oil works as well,



stwat	Sun Jun 28, 2009 3:31 pm Post #8
Moderator Posts: 12,412 Group: Moderator Member #28 Joined: November 11, 2005	NEIL Sun Jun 28, 2009 2:08 pm Stu, Linseed Oil is the only other thing I'd bother with apart from Bumper Care (which lasts ages and can be used very sparingly by the way). All vehicle plastics are not created equal, think yourself damn lucky you don't have to keep the trim on an '80s Peugeot or VW I have had to look after a number of 80's VW's Neil. Not fun at all Also a vauxhall cav which was equaly a nightmare. The plastics were a mare as well



Snake	Sun Jun 28, 2009 9:08 pm Post #9
Old free and tattooed Posts: 6,541 Group: Members Member #5 Joined: November 2, 2005	I usually use either silicon sprayed onto a cloth or WD40 again sprayed onto a cloth rather than on the bumper ,it works well and stays black for weeks...



nullogik	Mon Jun 29, 2009 7:22 am Post #10
190LE Owner Posts: 628 Group: Members Member #2,274 Joined: February 14, 2008	I've read on another forum that Johnsons Baby Oil is quite effective - I haven't tried it though. Neil's recommendation of A-G Vinyl and Rubber Care works very well. A little goes along way and I've found it produces a nice finish which isn't too glossy - I don't want a finish like you see on an old used car site, looks like the plastics have been dipped in "cockpit shine".



RobertE	Mon Jun 29, 2009 8:20 am Post #11
Serial victim... Posts: 6,875 Group: Members Member #1,403 Joined: June 13, 2007	Marcus posted about this ages ago - given that the plastics and vinyls used are oil-based, they discolour and fade/dry out over time because of evaporation. Replacing the lost oils is the key, I think. So a light mineral oil works well - 3-in-one, for example. But most oils will work. The way to restore the sheen on tortoiseshell, for example, is to rub olive oil into it, as both the tortoiseshell and the olive oil are organic. But by the same token, so is plastic.



Enthusiast	Mon Jun 29, 2009 11:22 am Post #12
Member Posts: 572 Group: Members Member #517 Joined: September 7, 2006	I'll get the baby oil out the bedroom and into the garage then!



howard35	Fri Jul 10, 2009 7:17 pm Post #13
Member Posts: 140 Group: Members Member #760 Joined: December 24, 2006	I just used Car Plan Black Trim Wax - did a good job of 'blacking-up' the corners of the bumpers on my new 1.8 that had been used as, well, bumpers ... Not sure how long they'll stay black, but it'd quick to use, and wasn't too expensive Worked well on other black trim, too - mirror housings, door handles Howard Bath '93 1.8 5-speed manual, 157757 miles



Karlos28	Tue Oct 27, 2009 6:45 pm Post #14
Member Posts: 67 Group: Members Member #4,748 Joined: October 14, 2009	might be an odd one, but what about your dash?? same stuff?



alogaparaloga	Tue Oct 27, 2009 7:17 pm Post #15
crazy mind Posts: 606 Group: Members Member #2,419 Joined: March 14, 2008	NO!!! Never use oil byproducts on the dash as it will crack



NEIL	Tue Oct 27, 2009 8:02 pm Post #16
Fewer Posts than Kenny Posts: 16,160 Group: Members Member #63 Joined: November 18, 2005	I've never used any dressings at all on the dash, it simply doesn't need it. Just keep it clean, and use a little warm water on a cloth now and then.



Will	Tue Oct 27, 2009 8:12 pm Post #17
Member Posts: 2,080 Group: Members Member #458 Joined: August 15, 2006	As above. Damp microfibre cloth - it's all you need If you've got some specific marks/residue/old dash shine you want to remove, a touch of AG interior shampoo or similar in the water will help. Will



Rich27	Tue Oct 27, 2009 8:22 pm Post #18
If it has tits or an engine it will be trouble Posts: 13,262 Group: Members Member #348 Joined: June 15, 2006	nullogik Mon Jun 29, 2009 7:22 am I've read on another forum that Johnsons Baby Oil is quite effective - I haven't tried it though. I tryed it ages ago: Before After Not a great improvment Though a tin of spray black plasticote works wonders Before After I even masked up the back rubbing strip and sprayed that on the streed, still looks quite good too.



OneNineTee	Wed Oct 28, 2009 11:32 am Post #19
Newbie Posts: 7 Group: Members Member #4,746 Joined: October 14, 2009	Personally I think its all about bumper care by Autoglym! Used it on my doorcards and interior plastics one time to get the shine back, then just dust as required. Works wonders on Outside plastics and rubbers! I'll save the Baby oil for me thank you very much!



Russell	Wed Oct 28, 2009 8:51 pm Post #20
Can now officially play at being Victor Maitland at the weekends :) Posts: 5,079 Group: Members Member #3,320 Joined: September 30, 2008	AG BC for me everytime, even on metal - if its black, bc brings it up!



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