Jescar Ultra Lock+ made trim white (I applied it wrong) :/ and rubber trim suggestions please :)

IcarusLSC

IcarusLSC

Member
I applied Jescar Ultra Lock+ to my car back in May and read it would be fine (non-whitening/staining) for trim etc so I applied it to that too. Well, I was wrong!

It started out looking good, no white but has slowly started doing this now. It has been getting whiter and whiter around any rubber and the windshield wiper cowl areas etc. I'm about to give the car a polish again and try to fix a couple scratches I got recently so wanted to try to get rid of the white residue.

I've tried a white eraser which kinda worked, but will take a month and many of them to do the whole car ;) I tried my old electric toothbrush and it didn't do anything, though I was trying it dry without any APC/cleaner etc.

Should I try again the an APC and electric toothbrush, get a better electric brush, or try something else?
Pic below is the plastic wiper cowl, rubber around windows is the same now.

Thanks :)

PS: any suggestions for getting the rubber looking a little bit better/not so dry, its really starting to dry out and crack now on my 12yr old 2014 Chrysler 300 and I want to hopefully slow it down :/

PPS: I can't attach files, it just says they are to big even if I reduce them 50% :(

https://imgur.com/a/7ks3FH7
 
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In the past I had good luck using the Black Wow Pre-Wow cleanser product. It seems to be a little harder to get nowadays but it used to be available at most online detailing stores. I would guess there are lots of APC type products that would also work to clean the trim.

Chances are now you will want or need to use a trim restorer / dye product to get back to nice looking trim after cleaning it up as good as possible.
 
I use Optimum Polymer Technology's Power Clean (OPT-PC) diluted 1:3 for cleaning badly faded trim or exterior rubber seals. You may want to use a cheaper microfiber towel to do so, as the rubber seals will turn any media you use black and it never seems to come out. I use blue paper shop towel on rubber seals as they are pretty tough and a throw-away cleaning media.
I assume ANY good All-Purpose Cleaner will work, though. I also have used Illinois Tool Work's Spray Nine undiluted, available over-the-counter at Walmart in the RV section. This cleaner is a "sleeper product" because it is not well-known and can be used in for variety of cleaning chores on vehicles and around the house. I like it because it has disinfectant chemicals added to its formula and it cleans very well.

I now use Griot's Garage's Ceramic Trim Restorer on vinyl trim and exterior rubber seals. Works great for me. Just make sure it has ample time (12 hours) to cure before subjecting it to water or rain per manufacturer's label directions.

Many pro's, however, use Finish Solutions Trim Restorer for the ultimate trim protectant. Yes, I have some, but have yet to try it out (just too lazy to put on the required protective nitrile gloves to apply it! Don't ask.....)

Another option is ClearKote's Vinyl Protectant Wipes available over-the-counter at Walmart or most auto parts stores. Never tried this either, so whatever I say is conjecture and taken from the advice of others.

One suggestion I will make about polishing your vehicle is to tape off the seals and trim with some type of automotive painters tape (I use 3M's Blue Painter's Tape) Yes, it is a hassle and time-consuming, but it prevents whitening of trim with polish or scratching rubber seals and getting your foam pads all black as you polish. Don't overlook this step! I tape BEFORE I clean and protect trim or seals because the tape sticks better and if (when!) tape adhesive residue sticks to the trim or seals, it can be cleaned off with 3M's No. 08984 General-Purpose Adhesive Remover OR Krud Kutter's Ultra-Power Specialty Adhesive Remover, again on a blue paper shop towel/sheet. (yes, I know, more hassle and more work....) The Krud-Kutters UPSAR is really good at getting tar or asphalt sealant out of footwell or floor mat carpet fabric. (Another little-know product)
 
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Wow, Lonnie, that was a lot of good information! I nominate you for member of the week!

Spray Nine--I first heard about that product, um...a long time ago. And thanks for cluing me in on UPSAR, I'd never heard of that one. You piqued my interest by mentioning a ClearKote product, but googling that I only came up with Cerakote--is that what you meant?
 
Yes, it is indeed CeraKote (the much beloved As-Seen-On-TV ads), not ClearKote. Thanks for the correction, Setec.
Who is the detailer in these TV ads who is promoting/endorsing these products? (Not some former "well-known & respected" Autopian, I hope!)

And, yes, I was going to start a new thread about Spray Nine Cleaner. Seems to me it was kind of "promoted" during the COVID years because of its disinfecting properties. I like it because it OTC at Walmart and it cleans very well for an "affordable" RTU product.
One of the best uses of this product is on microwave ovens (don't laugh!) because it really breaks up the yellow film that forms on all the surfaces over time, while disinfecting the surfaces. White paper toweling will prove how really disgusting this film can build up inside a microwave or where the air exhaust it!
I also think I endorsed it for use for cleaning up moldy interiors that were flood damage, then realized how health-dangerous it is for anyone who does not have the proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), like a full-fledged hospital-grade HEPA respirator or bio-hazard suite to undertake such a task.
 
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Thanks for the direction all. I've always tried to use products that don't stain trim, so it doesn't matter if I apply it to the trim (I figured it would do well to protect these parts as well?!) but I obviously was wrong about Jescar Ultra Lock+. It was fine for most of the year since I applied it, just started going white over the end of the summer :/

I have some 3D APC I will try it out. Its been sitting in my cabinet doing nothing anyways lol... I was eyeing a cordless little cleaning brush as well on Amazon, might try that too?

Black Wow and Pre-wow doesn't seem to be available up here anymore that I can find.

I also have a jug of Spray Nine but only use it in the house for gooey messes that need disinfecting as I really don't like the smell of it, and it can be harsh/bleaching/bad on some plastics and aluminum I've found...

As for protecting it after cleaning I was thinking Turtle Wax Hybrid Solutions Graphene Acrylic Trim Restorer. I have heard/read a few issues with Cerakote going spotty and being very hard to fix after a while, especially on smoother plastics!?!

PS: Does CanCoat turn trim white?! ;) I'm thinking of trying this as I wasn't impressed with Jescar Ultra Lock+
 
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OK, did not know that Spray Nine can discolor or bleach some plastics or aluminum. That seems to be a repeating occurrence on some materials by strong cleaners. Super Clean (the purple stuff) falls into that category. There are some novice detailers who have whitened or bleached aluminum engine parts trying degrease and clean engine compartments or after-market aluminum rims with the "wrong" cleaner.

Personally, I like the "clean" smell of Spray Nine, but to each their own.
 
I've had great success with Mothers Back-to-Black Trim & Plastic Restorer, when all else failed.

It's a gel and comes with its own 'toothbrush'. It's not a dressing but a proper cleaner.

MO_06112_B2B_Restorer_12oz_840x1068_Shopify_062524_600x.png
 
bad penny said:

Garry Dean's Trim Hydrate is the one you want. These other recommendations are straight up garbage.
Trust me 😇
Click to expand...
I can only find one place selling it up here and they want $110+ shipped for 16oz, ouch. :(

What makes it so much better then anything else?
 
Well, I polished the car again last week and still not liking this white haze I've been chicken to try much on. So will try some IPA again or stronger APC and then pull out the Mr. Eraser :/ Wish me luck, lol...
 
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I bought a cordless heavy duty 'toothbrush' style scrubber and tried some IPA and APC and it worked so-so for the windshield cowl but didn't do much for the side lower rubber window trim. I tried some grease and wax remover and it was so-so as well. This wasn't going to good so I then got out the Mr. Eraser as The Guz suggested and tried a little spot on the side trim with water and it came right off! I finally did the windshield cowl and front grille support and it all turned out pretty good for a neglected 12+yrs old car (original owner only washed it in a brush car wash!)

I forgot to take a pic of it untreated but I then treated it with Turtle Wax Hybrid Solutions Graphene Acrylic Trim Restorer and wasn't super impressed with it. I found it hard to apply so it didn't streak and I had to tape off anything as its black :/ I put 2 thin coats on everything and though its a bit glossy for my liking I think it turned out quite good vs what it was! Hopefully it will last a while, but it goes a long way it looks like if I need to reapply. Hopefully the shine will fade a lil...

Thanks everyone for the help! I'll read the directions better and take Lonnies advice and tape stuff up from now on :)
 
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Well, I'm gonna burn this car to the ground. Yet another product that sucks (Turtle Wax Hybrid Solutions Graphene Acrylic Trim Restorer.) I went outside this afternoon to finally see how it looked and at first glance it seemed good until I touched it. This TW crap is still sticky AF and was dry last night but now is super tacky in the sun. I only put two thin coats on like the bottle suggested. 3-5min drying time my a$$ :(
 
IscarusLSC:
Sorry to hear about the TW Graphene Acrylic Trim Restorer (GATR) experience on your 2014 Chrysler 300.
I do not believe "bad penny's" comment about all the other trim restorers are garbage compared to Garry Dean's Trim Hydrate. While Mr. Dean's car care products are, indeed, exemplary and very good, they command a hefty price to buy and use them. Not to imply you-get-what-you-pay-for, but rather are they cost-effective for what they do. You can make your own judgement and evaluation with your pocketbook purchase and experience using it, should you so choose.
I would still suggest you look into Solution Finishes Trim Restorer for black and their trim cleaner.
That said, since you live in Canada geographically, your choices are economically limited. One important aspect to older vehicle trim care is that once the environmental damage is physically done to it, it is not easy to restore it, much like clear coat failure. While it appears I am berating you for lack of previous and proper care for your vehicles trim, I do not know when you acquired the vehicle and if it was so maintained (or not maintained) by a/the previous owner/owners and you are the inheritor of the associated rubber seal and trim failure degradation.
It will, however, reinforced the concept of proper and timely vehicle appearance maintenance; something most vehicle owners neglect for the time and monetary effort it takes to make such an investment. I think you can agree with that assessment.
 
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All I read about the Turtle Wax Trim Restorer seemed good. it was like a lite version of Cerakotes wipes. I was going to get Solution Finishes Trim Restorer but have read at a handful of places it doesn't last long. The TW seemed like a happy medium as I didn't want the shine the Cerakote stuff has (though the TW is shiner than I like I found out!) and I didn't read any real issues with it staying tacky, though I did know it was going to be hard to apply.

Lonnie, this car was heavily neglected by its old owner (they bought it new.) It only saw brush tunnel washes its whole life. I think there are some pics of how bad it was in my history here or the other forums. The paint was vandalized when they had it, and it was poorly blown in on some spots so I've needed to be careful with how I polish it etc. The trim seemed in ok shape till I got Jescar Sealant on it last year which made it blotchy. Trim was dry and the rubber quite dry in a few spots, hence why I decided to restore and protect the rubber and trim better this past year. I've used 303 on it a handful of times when I got it over the first couple years I had it, but it didn't do much for it so its been a while since I actually focused on the trim and rubber. I've had the car for about six years now, though it did sit a lot during the pandemic. It looks amazing now overall vs when I got it. I wasn't trying to make it perfect, I just wanted to get rid of the sealant mistake I made and freshen it up a bit, as I did know it was old and neglected and would never look perfect...

I went out and looked at it just now (midday) in the sun and its still super tacky, even the spots I dry buffed yesterday. Its weird as its mainly the stuff in the sun, not near as bad in the shade, but if I turn my car around the tacky goes to the other side that is in the sun. I really hope this TW Trim restorer doesn't damage the trim or rubber :(
 
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IcarusLSC:
Thanks for the info on the Chrysler 300 history and how it was cared for.
As far as the Solution Finish not lasting long, I think now-deceased car-care guru Ron Ketcham (AKA, Grumpy) suggested applying Solution Finish first, let it cure for a day, and then covering it with CeraKotes Trim Restorer wipes as a protective sealant/coating for a long(er)-lasting process in trim restoration. Do not know if this actually works as I personally have never tried it.
Your using Gold Eagle's Aerospace 303 Protectant on rubber seals is what I use as well. Most Autopians would suggest Nextzett's Gummi Pflege as THE product for rubber seal protection and conditioning. I think Aerospace came out with their own version of a rubber seal product similar to Gummi Pflege, as does Sonex. Reminds me of a sponged-top applicator for putting on liquid shoe polish!
OR, you could go to a RV/Camper store and see what products they have for rubber seals, like Campco, or 3-in-1.
For what it is worth, the vinyl trim piece used as a protective scuff cover on the rear bumper of SUVs and vans are THE worst for fading and looking grey because of their angle to the sun. Restoring those back to black takes a miracle product or process.
The worst rubber seals are those around moon/sun roof glass panels for the same reason, as are roof seals/edging on roof gutters.I use cotton swabs (Q-Tips) to clean them at the bottom with an APC and then apply 303 (or trim restorer)to them. No, it does not last very long, but it works for me upon an initial full detail of a vehicle appearance-wise.
Come to think of it, I am surprised no one has suggested a tire gel for rubber seals....huuuuummm...some of them are like 303. Just sayin'...
 
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While we're talking Solution Finish longevity, they did come out with their own clear protection product for it, I believe it's called Over The Top.

Another interesting product is the Armour Detail Supply Trim+ coating, which also is black pigmented. I don't think there are any long-term results yet as it's only been out for a year.
 
I do use Gummi Pflege on the rubber door and trunk seals actually! Sonax has a black tinted similar version of this my neighbour showed me. I might pick some up for next time. I discounted it for this as I thought it wasn't appropriate for hard plastic trim like the cowls. I had thought of trying different tire coatings for the rubber trim but most are short lived and was in panic mode trying to sort this TW crap out, lol...

All these tinted products seem very similar to me. I thought this TW stuff was going to be different then Cerakote but it seems the same, just not as long lived...
 
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I think the Solution Finish is pretty tried-and-true. Just go over the top with something to lock in the longevity, I'm pretty sure people have gone over it with regular paint coating.
 
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