HELP!!! How do I get Endurance tire gel off my plastic trim?

[mike_c70]

Did some detaling this past weekend, put on some NXT (great product btw!) and some endurance tire gel. Well, stupid me, I completely forgot to wipe off the excess and drove the car. Today I noticed splatter all over the side of the car, including the plastic trim. I just finished washing the car and got it off the paint but now I have blotches everywhere on the plastic trim. How do I get it off? I'm hoping to get it off before it permanently stains it. Or should I way until May 5th for Meguiar's Day?

[Mike Phillips]

Hi mike_c70,

I'm going to forward this to Mike Pennington, the Director of Training, because I know this has come up before.

Mike

[mike_c70]

Thanks Mike! I feel like an idiot because I've always been so anal about my car.

[doubleL]

As a fellow Volvo trim owner (2003 XC90 and 2004 S60), I have begun to use the NXT Tech Protectant on the trim. I spray it on a foam applicator pad and a little goes a long way. It gives the trim a gloss at first, but after a few hours it settles into a slightly sheened matte finish if that makes sense. I like that look. I would describe the application of it being on the greasy side, but the smell is appealing to me, and actually don't dread dressing the trim like I used to. I have used Sonax trim protectant, 303 Aerospace, #38, Black Again, Stoners Trim Shine, and Lexol Vinlyx in the past. In addition to having a look I like, I believe the NXT protectant holds up a little better to the elements, and is now my preferred Volvo trim dressing. The one thing I don't understand is when applying the NXT you can sometimes get static electricity sounds, but the dust attraction is not very bad at all. I know dust very well working at a cement factory (our product is dust).

But to answer your question I would beleive if you wash/scrub the areas several times the endurance will be removed, I have yet to find any "dressings" that won't eventually wash off that trim.

Thankfully Volvo will finally have painted trim as an option in 2005.

[mike_c70]

Thanks doubleL! I'll give Tech protectant a shot.

[Mike Phillips]

Hi mike_c70,

I knew we had run into this before and Mike Pennington gave me the answer...

Here's what's happening, the Endurance is acting like a carrying-agent for the depleted antiozonants that are on the surface of your tires, (the brown stuff), thus transferring this to the finish and trim on your car when it slings off if you don’t remove the excess before driving.

It's actually these antiozonants that have turned brown that have stained your trim, and not the Endurance. This staining effect could take place with anybody's tire dressing. The dressing is just acting to transfer the depleted brown antiozonant to your vehicle’s finish and trim.

Does that make sense?

Also, exposure to sunlight over the course of a few weeks will hopefully make the stain disappear.

(I hope I got that all right?)

Here's some more information on this in the new Meguiar's FAQ,


1. Which Meguiar's products should I use on my tires?

Hope this helps...

Mike

[mike_c70]

Hi Mike,

Thanks for the reply. Oh ok, so it's not the gel but the brown crud. Gotcha. But how do I take it off? I tried going at it twice with gold wash but I think that's not strong enough. I'm having a hard time finding tech protectant anywhere.

[2000]

would #39 help in this case? it's on the body armor, right?

[2000]

Originally posted by 2000
would #39 help in this case? it's on the body armor, right?

sorry thought you had a avlancne.
I ment to say its on the plastic trim that you want to try to fix, right?

[mike_c70]

yeah, i have blotches on the plastic trim (ala avalanche though not to that extreme).

[2000]

do you have any #39 plactic and vinyle cleaner?

[mike_c70]

I found a bottle of armor all low gloss protectant or something. With a little buffing, the blotches came off. Thanks for all your advice. Now, I gotta figure out to get the gloss of the trim.

[M5police]

Can also try warm water. Its relatively cheap and readily availiable. I know of this problem you are talking about and have used just a sponge and warm water and it came off quite easily. Lesson learned........wipe off excess Endurance off the tires so no slinging!

[jfelbab]

A friend who had this happen to his pearl white Caddy told me he used WD40 and it came right off. I haven't tried this myself but I have used WD40 to remove permanent magic marker from a white dryer surface. (don't ask)

Might be worth a try in an inconspicuous area first.

[Tim Lingor]

Originally posted by jfelbab
I haven't tried this myself but I have used WD40 to remove permanent magic marker from a white dryer surface. (don't ask)

LOL!! I know what you were doing!!! I bet Maytag is making a fortune right now for all those that could not remove the marker!! LOL!!!


Tim