Best exterior rubber protector and renewer?

'91 Miata.

The exterior rubber around the windshield, around the door windows and
window wiper blades and door jams.

Getting hard and not very supple over the years.

I want to renew them, perk them up, and protect against upcoming
winter.

I have found nothing at AUTO ZONE and another auto chain. They have
vinyl protectors but nothing specifically for rubber. I'm not
interested in the tire specific products that are aimed at shiny
tires.

Any tips?

Thanks

Pat

In article
>,
Pat > wrote:

> I want to renew them, perk them up, and protect against upcoming
> winter.
>
> I have found nothing at AUTO ZONE and another auto chain. They have
> vinyl protectors but nothing specifically for rubber.

The safe ones, like Meguiar's #40 Vinyl & Rubber Cleaner/Conditioner,
are water-based and therefore not weatherproof. They'll still help
restore rubber parts. However, you may not care for the shiny result.

You could use a silicone spray, but keep it off your paint.

You don't want to treat wiper blades. When the rubber oxidizes, it's
time to replace them.

--
Lanny Chambers
St. Louis, MO
'94C

On Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:30:53 -0800 (PST), Pat >
wrote:

>'91 Miata.
>
>The exterior rubber around the windshield, around the door windows and
>window wiper blades and door jams.
>
>Getting hard and not very supple over the years.
>
>I want to renew them, perk them up, and protect against upcoming
>winter.
>
>I have found nothing at AUTO ZONE and another auto chain. They have
>vinyl protectors but nothing specifically for rubber. I'm not
>interested in the tire specific products that are aimed at shiny
>tires.
>
>Any tips?
>
>Thanks
>
>Pat

I have had excellent results with STP Son of a Gun and 303 Vinyl
protectent. They work fine with rubber.

You might go to a camping/RV supply dealer (like Camping World) and look for
a product called "Slide out Rubber Seal Conditioner" made by Camco. This is
a foam that is intended for the rubber seals on the slide outs on motor
homes and trailers, but is a good all-around rubber conditioner and
protector. If you follow the directions, after thoroughly cleaning the
rubber surface, I think you would be satisfied with the results. I have used
it on several vehicles seals and it seems to work great. Maybe others on
this site have more info on it.

Good luck,

TRCSr

"Pat" > wrote in message
...
> '91 Miata.
>
> The exterior rubber around the windshield, around the door windows and
> window wiper blades and door jams.
>
> Getting hard and not very supple over the years.
>
> I want to renew them, perk them up, and protect against upcoming
> winter.
>
> I have found nothing at AUTO ZONE and another auto chain. They have
> vinyl protectors but nothing specifically for rubber. I'm not
> interested in the tire specific products that are aimed at shiny
> tires.
>
> Any tips?
>
> Thanks
>
> Pat

Porsche used to recommend wiping down all door seals and other rubber
with glycerine at least once a year. I remember doing this on my '75
911S years ago and being impressed with how new it made the rubber feel
& look. German rubber quality was a big issue back then. Might still
be. Now surely there's some jokes to follow THAT remark!

--Geary

> "Pat" > wrote in message
> ...
> > '91 Miata.
> >
> > The exterior rubber around the windshield, around the door windows and
> > window wiper blades and door jams.
> >
> > Getting hard and not very supple over the years.
> >
> > I want to renew them, perk them up, and protect against upcoming
> > winter.
> >
> > I have found nothing at AUTO ZONE and another auto chain. They have
> > vinyl protectors but nothing specifically for rubber. I'm not
> > interested in the tire specific products that are aimed at shiny
> > tires.
> >
> > Any tips?
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> > Pat

Now that you mention about the glycerine, I do remember hearing about doing
that many years ago. I think my father did that to his/my Austin Healey many
back in the 70's. I have contacts with a few chemists and I will see if any
of them have a comment on that.

TRCSr

"Geary Morton" > wrote in message
...
> Porsche used to recommend wiping down all door seals and other rubber
> with glycerine at least once a year. I remember doing this on my '75
> 911S years ago and being impressed with how new it made the rubber feel
> & look. German rubber quality was a big issue back then. Might still
> be. Now surely there's some jokes to follow THAT remark!
>
> --Geary
>
>> "Pat" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> > '91 Miata.
>> >
>> > The exterior rubber around the windshield, around the door windows and
>> > window wiper blades and door jams.
>> >
>> > Getting hard and not very supple over the years.
>> >
>> > I want to renew them, perk them up, and protect against upcoming
>> > winter.
>> >
>> > I have found nothing at AUTO ZONE and another auto chain. They have
>> > vinyl protectors but nothing specifically for rubber. I'm not
>> > interested in the tire specific products that are aimed at shiny
>> > tires.
>> >
>> > Any tips?
>> >
>> > Thanks
>> >
>> > Pat

"TRCSr" > wrote in message
...
> Now that you mention about the glycerine, I do remember hearing about
> doing that many years ago. I think my father did that to his/my Austin
> Healey many back in the 70's. I have contacts with a few chemists and I
> will see if any of them have a comment on that.
>
> TRCSr
>
> "Geary Morton" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Porsche used to recommend wiping down all door seals and other rubber
>> with glycerine at least once a year. I remember doing this on my '75
>> 911S years ago and being impressed with how new it made the rubber feel
>> & look. German rubber quality was a big issue back then. Might still
>> be. Now surely there's some jokes to follow THAT remark!
>>
>> --Geary
>>
>>> "Pat" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>> > '91 Miata.
>>> >
>>> > The exterior rubber around the windshield, around the door windows and
>>> > window wiper blades and door jams.
>>> >
>>> > Getting hard and not very supple over the years.
>>> >
>>> > I want to renew them, perk them up, and protect against upcoming
>>> > winter.
>>> >
>>> > I have found nothing at AUTO ZONE and another auto chain. They have
>>> > vinyl protectors but nothing specifically for rubber. I'm not
>>> > interested in the tire specific products that are aimed at shiny
>>> > tires.
>>> >
>>> > Any tips?
>>> >
>>> > Thanks
I cannot help with a product name BUT I do know the stuff VW sell for the
rubber bits and bobs for the Eos CC works very well - protects things and
keep them supple

Many years ago a mechanic at a VW dealer where I bought my first RV
(Westfalia van) told me that plain ole vinegar was good for rejuvenating
rubber by replacing the rubber oils, but I don't think it would add any
amount of protection.

TRCSr

"TRCSr" > wrote in message
...
> You might go to a camping/RV supply dealer (like Camping World) and look
> for a product called "Slide out Rubber Seal Conditioner" made by Camco.
> This is a foam that is intended for the rubber seals on the slide outs on
> motor homes and trailers, but is a good all-around rubber conditioner and
> protector. If you follow the directions, after thoroughly cleaning the
> rubber surface, I think you would be satisfied with the results. I have
> used it on several vehicles seals and it seems to work great. Maybe others
> on this site have more info on it.
>
> Good luck,
>
> TRCSr
>
> "Pat" > wrote in message
> ...
>> '91 Miata.
>>
>> The exterior rubber around the windshield, around the door windows and
>> window wiper blades and door jams.
>>
>> Getting hard and not very supple over the years.
>>
>> I want to renew them, perk them up, and protect against upcoming
>> winter.
>>
>> I have found nothing at AUTO ZONE and another auto chain. They have
>> vinyl protectors but nothing specifically for rubber. I'm not
>> interested in the tire specific products that are aimed at shiny
>> tires.
>>
>> Any tips?
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>> Pat
>

TRCSr > wrote:

> Many years ago a mechanic at a VW dealer where I bought my first RV
> (Westfalia van) told me that plain ole vinegar was good for rejuvenating
> rubber by replacing the rubber oils, but I don't think it would add any
> amount of protection.

I use vegetable oil (cooking oil) to clean polish residue from the
rubber stuff, such as the windscreen surround and window seals, after a
good clean-up. I have no idea whether this may rejuvenate the seals, but
it's gotta be worth a try. It will also remove polish residue from black
plastic bumpers and trim and clean them up very nicely.
--
Rob - Shropshire
So many cats,
So few recipes...

Vinegar? Surely you jest!? Vinegar is a mild acid iirc. It sure wouldn't
replace any oils in the rubber. Might dry them out but ...... Now my wife
might come up with something like that if someone had once told her
'vegetable oil will do the trick, ya, the same stuff you use in vinegar and
oil salad dressing' . Could that be it, a mix up?

Chris
99BBB

"TRCSr" > wrote in message
...
> Many years ago a mechanic at a VW dealer where I bought my first RV
> (Westfalia van) told me that plain ole vinegar was good for rejuvenating
> rubber by replacing the rubber oils, but I don't think it would add any
> amount of protection.
>
> TRCSr
>
> "TRCSr" > wrote in message
> ...
>> You might go to a camping/RV supply dealer (like Camping World) and look
>> for a product called "Slide out Rubber Seal Conditioner" made by Camco.
>> This is a foam that is intended for the rubber seals on the slide outs on
>> motor homes and trailers, but is a good all-around rubber conditioner and
>> protector. If you follow the directions, after thoroughly cleaning the
>> rubber surface, I think you would be satisfied with the results. I have
>> used it on several vehicles seals and it seems to work great. Maybe
>> others on this site have more info on it.
>>
>> Good luck,
>>
>> TRCSr
>>
>> "Pat" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> '91 Miata.
>>>
>>> The exterior rubber around the windshield, around the door windows and
>>> window wiper blades and door jams.
>>>
>>> Getting hard and not very supple over the years.
>>>
>>> I want to renew them, perk them up, and protect against upcoming
>>> winter.
>>>
>>> I have found nothing at AUTO ZONE and another auto chain. They have
>>> vinyl protectors but nothing specifically for rubber. I'm not
>>> interested in the tire specific products that are aimed at shiny
>>> tires.
>>>
>>> Any tips?
>>>
>>> Thanks
>>>
>>> Pat
>>