Rear Diffuser Faded - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

J666 · 07-07-2012, 07:27 AM

I washed my car today, and the rear was facing the sun. At first, I thought I didn't properly clean the diffuser, so I washed it again. After it dried up, it still looked like crap. I'm guessing the cheap plastic faded.

Would this be covered under warranty? Anyone else experience the same problem?

John Deere Boy · 07-07-2012, 07:45 AM

Black plastic always fades in the sun. Look at older Avalanches, Saturns, etc and you'll start noticing faded plastic everywhere. Armor-All will make it look better but of course it washes off and attracts dust. Mothers makes a product called "back to black" but it's not a permanent solution either. I doubt the dealer will warranty it since it's not a defect, but you can always try. I'm going to be upgrading to the 1LE quad diffuser as soon as i can get my hands on one.

Cody6.2 · 07-07-2012, 08:05 AM

The biggest problem isn't actual fading but cleaners, waxes and so on ruining them. Obviously some people don't know better and wax plastic causing issues. But what most don't know is that even the wax stage at your local car wash will ruin plastic too.

edgehead2000 · 07-07-2012, 10:26 AM

Use Adam's Super VRT on the diffuser. I use it on black grills upfront, door trim, wheels, tires, the gutter under the windshield... the list goes on and on

Non-sticky and protects against UV and water; even hides water spots

White Shark · 07-07-2012, 10:32 AM

And mothers makes back to black, also is a cream that restores old plastic and works well on our diffuser. I might have to try Adam's, keep hearing good things about their products.

mikeinmobile · 07-07-2012, 11:03 AM

This sounds crazy but it works wonders on all plastic or vinyl. Get a hand lotion with Lanolin and douse it down so that the lotion is still visibly white, let it soak 'till it's not immediately visible. Wipe down with clean towel. I discovered this helping a friend restore a 69 Chevelle. I was using hand cleaner (with Lanolin) to gently try and clean the vinyl arm rests and they looked pretty good (they looked trashed so I was experimenting). I took it a step further and doused 'em with hand lotion and a couple hours later they looked Year One new! They went from ready to crack to soft and supple. I used the same technique on several plastic pieces and got the same results. Now I use lotion on all my plastic/vinyl/rubber surfaces about once a year. Use unscented for interior. If you try it I'd be interested to hear your results.

Turbosaurus · 07-07-2012, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cody6.2

The biggest problem isn't actual fading but cleaners, waxes and so on ruining them. Obviously some people don't know better and wax plastic causing issues. But what most don't know is that even the wax stage at your local car wash will ruin plastic too.

Yes, it it actual fading. I have an Avalanche and have never used cleaners, wax, or anything else on my plastic parts, and yet they are heavily oxidized. I have tried using mild abrasive pastes in very small spots to notice the effects, and while it removes some or most of the oxidation, it always returns.

Spoke to a well-respected body shop owner, and he said I should paint it, and gave me product numbers for Du-Pont primer and paint to use. If I find where I stashed the info, I will post it.

MrGood · 07-07-2012, 11:09 AM

Mothers back to black. Doesn't bend you over and works great.

PQ · 07-07-2012, 11:12 AM

I"ve heard of guys taking a heat gun or torch to the black plastics.

Personally I am not gonna try it but I've seen it done on YouTube.

It works really well. How it holds up after that I do not know.

PQ · 07-07-2012, 11:15 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=2ue-1_Jk2Y0

KARBON · 07-07-2012, 11:19 AM

Dealer can warranty it.. They can spray a special protective coating on it. talk to your dealer. I use Back to Black..

menendez1293 · 07-07-2012, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrGood

Mothers back to black. Doesn't bend you over and works great.

back to black works great

PQ · 07-07-2012, 11:22 AM

Or you can die it yourself. I've seen this done and, thought I wouldn't do it on interior that you see up close regularly, I'd do it on my rear diffuser.

Grant · 07-07-2012, 11:28 AM

Bobby Bolivia: "What with the semi-classic nature of the vehicle, slick wheels and custom paint job—"
Sam: "The paint's faded!"
Bobby: "Y-yeah, but it's custom."
Sam: "It's custom faded?"

07-07-2012, 07:27 AM	#1
J666 Drives: Camaro Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Lower Mainland Posts: 328	Rear Diffuser Faded I washed my car today, and the rear was facing the sun. At first, I thought I didn't properly clean the diffuser, so I washed it again. After it dried up, it still looked like crap. I'm guessing the cheap plastic faded. Would this be covered under warranty? Anyone else experience the same problem?

07-07-2012, 07:45 AM	#2
John Deere Boy I bleed green Drives: '11 2SS/RS LS3 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Centerville, Indiana Posts: 462 View My Garage	Black plastic always fades in the sun. Look at older Avalanches, Saturns, etc and you'll start noticing faded plastic everywhere. Armor-All will make it look better but of course it washes off and attracts dust. Mothers makes a product called "back to black" but it's not a permanent solution either. I doubt the dealer will warranty it since it's not a defect, but you can always try. I'm going to be upgrading to the 1LE quad diffuser as soon as i can get my hands on one. __________________ 2011 2SS/RS LS3. Delivered 4/18/11. Solo Axle-back with J-pipes and quads, 35% tint, Yellow trim kit, Showstopper sidemarkers, babied garage queen. 2006 Silverado 3500 6.0, 1993 Pontiac Bonneville SSE

07-07-2012, 11:03 AM	#6
mikeinmobile Drives: 2011 2ss/rs Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Mobile, Alabama Posts: 493 View My Garage	This sounds crazy but it works wonders on all plastic or vinyl. Get a hand lotion with Lanolin and douse it down so that the lotion is still visibly white, let it soak 'till it's not immediately visible. Wipe down with clean towel. I discovered this helping a friend restore a 69 Chevelle. I was using hand cleaner (with Lanolin) to gently try and clean the vinyl arm rests and they looked pretty good (they looked trashed so I was experimenting). I took it a step further and doused 'em with hand lotion and a couple hours later they looked Year One new! They went from ready to crack to soft and supple. I used the same technique on several plastic pieces and got the same results. Now I use lotion on all my plastic/vinyl/rubber surfaces about once a year. Use unscented for interior. If you try it I'd be interested to hear your results. __________________

07-07-2012, 11:12 AM	#9
PQ Booooosted. Drives: 2010 Supercharged SS Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 36,716 View My Garage	I"ve heard of guys taking a heat gun or torch to the black plastics. Personally I am not gonna try it but I've seen it done on YouTube. It works really well. How it holds up after that I do not know. __________________

07-07-2012, 11:15 AM	#10
PQ Booooosted. Drives: 2010 Supercharged SS Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 36,716 View My Garage	http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=2ue-1_Jk2Y0 __________________

07-07-2012, 08:05 AM	#3
Cody6.2 Drives: 2012 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Nebraska Posts: 605	The biggest problem isn't actual fading but cleaners, waxes and so on ruining them. Obviously some people don't know better and wax plastic causing issues. But what most don't know is that even the wax stage at your local car wash will ruin plastic too.

07-07-2012, 10:26 AM	#4
edgehead2000 2016 Camaro 1LT 2.0T Drives: Nemesis Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 844	Use Adam's Super VRT on the diffuser. I use it on black grills upfront, door trim, wheels, tires, the gutter under the windshield... the list goes on and on Non-sticky and protects against UV and water; even hides water spots

07-07-2012, 10:32 AM	#5
White Shark Drives: 2013 SS LS3 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Littleton, CO Posts: 475	And mothers makes back to black, also is a cream that restores old plastic and works well on our diffuser. I might have to try Adam's, keep hearing good things about their products.

07-07-2012, 11:09 AM	#8
MrGood Drives: Broken palmghetto test car Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Balm, FL Posts: 1,033	Mothers back to black. Doesn't bend you over and works great.

07-07-2012, 11:19 AM	#11
KARBON Drives: 2010 CAMARO 850 RWHP/733 RWTQ Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Lafayette,LA Posts: 300 View My Garage	Dealer can warranty it.. They can spray a special protective coating on it. talk to your dealer. I use Back to Black.. __________________ Night Fury Vortec YSI Alky Meth RPM TH400 with Brake Precision 3600 Converter 850 RWHP/733 RWTQ

07-07-2012, 11:28 AM	#14
Grant Emerald Coast Camaros Drives: 2013 2SS/RS AGM A6 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Navarre, FL Posts: 194	Bobby Bolivia: "What with the semi-classic nature of the vehicle, slick wheels and custom paint job—" Sam: "The paint's faded!" Bobby: "Y-yeah, but it's custom." Sam: "It's custom faded?"