• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

ATF - bringing dry, faded vinyl back to life

  • Thread starter Thread starter AJ
  • Start date Start date
A

AJ

Guest
Sorry, no pics.

The seat on my 1100 is mostly intact (only one tear at a sewn seam at the front - very common), but the vinyl on the seating area is very dried out and gray, compared to the sides which are pretty nice.

I tried a product from Turtle Wax (like Armor All) and it helped a little, but also made the seat slippery as h@ll.

Some web research indicated that automatic transmission fluid (ATF) might help to replace the plasticizers in the old vinyl. ATF is just a mineral oil with special additives as "seal conditioners" because it's never really expected to come out of transmission.

My seat just drank this stuff up. I put it on thick and let it sit overnight. After wiping down well, the seat is blacker and the vinyl is a little softer, but still not like the sides. I used leather care wipes to clean it off and it doesn't seem to be coming out and staining my pants. :) Best of all, it's not the least bit slippery, maybe it's even a little grippy.

I'm calling this experiment a success. ATF is also very good for wiping down brake hoses and any other exposed rubber (except tires!). YMMV.
 
Something that has worked pretty well is a product called Tonneau Tonic. I bought for use on my truck's cover, then tried it on an old seat. I let it sit all day long then wiped it off.
 
If this isn't an April Fools Joke, it sure could be a good start of one!!
 
Mother Back To Black. Scrub rubber and seats with a scrubby and some good cleaner then apply.
 
Vmass said:
If this isn't an April Fools Joke, it sure could be a good start of one!!
Click to expand...
LOL! Nope, I'm completely serious. I only tried it because I was on the verge of buying a new seat cover, but I'm sticking with the old one for now.
chuck hahn said:
Mother Back To Black. Scrub rubber and seats with a scrubby and some good cleaner then apply.
Click to expand...
Not familiar, but will look for it. The ATF really did not turn the seat top as black as the sides, but it is *much* darker than before. I am thinking of another coat with mink oil like you use on leather.
 
Lemon pledge is also good.

If you can liguify paraffin it is also good.
 
Petroleum jelly is an excellent vinyl preservative/restorer. Rub it in well, let it sit overnight, then buff out with clean shop rages until dry.

The really nice part is it doesn't make your seat slick once it's all wipped off.
 
Good old fashioned Dubbin for leather, works bloody well on vinyl seats too, keeps them soft and supple for years.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

S
WD40 uses (If been posted before sorry)
2 3
Replies
43
Views
5K
barnbiketom
B
K
WD-40: History and Uses For
Replies
10
Views
2K
boris
B
Back
Top