As I'm sure all of you know, after a car gets a couple years on its body the black on the rubber begins to smear off onto the paint. What have you guys found to help with this problem?

 

Are you talking the rubber and road tar that get thrown up behind the wheel wells? I have used bug/tar remover but find that WD-40 does just as good a job as a solvent. Then wash well and wax.

 

Nah, im talking about the rubber that goes around your windows and stuff. It always streaks black onto your cars.

 

I use the Meguiars product for this.

 

Something like this?
MeguiarsDirect.com: Mirror Glaze Vinyl & Rubber Cleaner

 

The problem is the rubber is degrading. To protect the rubber I apply a very thin coat of silicone grease.

 

Exactly what I use. Notice how that bottle has a "40" on it... you also want to get the same looking bottle with "39" on it. Then use in numerical order... the "39" is the deep cleaner and the "40" is the UV protector/shine.

I've been using it for years and all my rubber looks and feels like new.

 

I've tried a lot of different products. I now only use Adam's In & Out Spray Dressing

 

The person that writes these product desriptions must be having a chuckle :

Adam's In & Out Spray


Get 's into Tight Areas with Ease

Go from Boring to Brilliant FAST

 

Tell your new girlfriends parents you use it all the time.

 

Thanks for the help fellas

 

If you are looking for something to re-condition door and window seals, this is ideal;

Einszett Gummi Pflege / Rubber Care Stick - 100ml | eBay

I'm not sure that I would use it on external rubber, such as bump strips along the doors, etc. I use AutoGlym Bumper Care for that;

Autoglym Bumper Care (325ml) | eBay

Hope that helps!!!

 

Any suggestions for the black plastic bordering the bottom exterior of the windshield? The area where the wipers are mounted. Although I keep my car covered, this is the only area that shows fading or uv damage.

 

I bought some Mothers Back-to-Black which looks like it can be used on just about anything black. It worked great on my rubber sills.

http://www.mothers.com/02_products/06108.html

I would of went with the meguires for this job but this is all autozone carried and im an impatient kind of guy.

Edit: I put it on the plastic front corner as i was doing the rubber, and it seemed to work well.

 

For rubber weather seals go with Meguiar's M40 (we've had long time users of Gummi Pflege say they prefer M40) and for the plastic cowling at the base of the windshield go with Meguiar's Ultimate Protectant or Ultimate Black (same basic product, but one's in a trigger spray one's in lotion form).

Application process is different for the two, though. For M40 you want to put it on fairly heavy, let it dwell for a while and then wipe off the excess. For the Ultimate Protectant/Black you want to apply a very small amount with a foam wax applicator pad, working it in very thoroughly. It will deep clean and restore the faded plastic. If you have to come back and wipe off any excess, you used way too much. It will dry totally dry to the touch if you apply it right.

Both of these are water based products, but the Ultimate product has polymers in it that allow it to bond to plastic and vinyl trim much the same way a sealant bonds to your paint.

 

Thanks guys.