According to the Science Museum, plastic was created in 1862 by British inventor and chemist Alexander Parkes to address growing concerns about animal extinction, while Belgian chemist Leo Baker Leo Baekeland patented the world’s first synthetic plastic in 1907, a day ahead of his Scottish rival. James Winburn. The first shock-absorbing pneumatic automobile bumper was patented in 1905 by the British industrialist and inventor Jonathan Simms. However, General Motors was the first company to install plastic bumpers on American-made cars, one of which was the 1968 Pontiac GTO.
Plastic is ubiquitous in modern cars, and it’s not hard to see why. Plastic is lighter than steel, cheaper to manufacture, easier to form and resistant to impact and impact, making it ideal for vehicle components such as headlights, bumpers, grilles, interior trim materials and more. Without plastic, modern cars would be boxier, heavier (bad for fuel economy and handling), and more expensive (bad for the wallet).
Plastic looks nice, but is not without flaws. First, composite headlights can lose transparency and turn yellow after years of exposure to the sun. In contrast, black plastic bumpers and exterior trim can grey, crack, fade or deteriorate when exposed to strong sunlight and unpredictable weather. Worst of all, faded plastic trim can make your car look old or dated, and if neglected, early aging can start rearing its ugly head.
The easiest way to fix a faded plastic bumper is to buy a can or bottle of plastic trim repair solution from your favorite auto parts store or online. Most of them are easy to apply with little effort, but most are also quite expensive, ranging from $15 to $40 per bottle. Typical instructions are to wash plastic parts in soapy water, wipe dry, apply product, and buff lightly. In most cases, repeated or regular treatments are required to maintain the desired fresh look.
If your plastic bumpers are badly worn and show signs of folding, shrinkage, large cracks, or deep scratches, it’s best to replace them entirely. But if you don’t want to go broke, there are some do-it-yourself solutions worth trying, but it’s important to curb your expectations from the start. The repair methods listed below are ideal for lightly damaged surfaces. These steps only take a few minutes and most of them only require the essentials.
We’ve used this tried and tested trick before and it worked, although it didn’t live up to the expected lifespan. This method is ideal for almost new surfaces or slightly weathered or faded surfaces. The best part is that the application is very simple.
However, the shiny black finish will fade with repeated washes or exposure to harsh weather, so be sure to reapply the oil at least once a week to keep your bumpers and trim looking like new while also receiving much-needed protection from harsh UV rays.
Car Throttle has a more direct but more extreme approach to restoring the black plastic trim, and they even shared a video from popular YouTuber Chris Fix on how to do it right. Car Throttle says heating the plastic will draw the lubricant out of the material, but the plastic can warp easily if you’re not careful. The only tool you will need is a heat gun. Be sure to always start with a clean or freshly washed surface to avoid burning contaminants in the plastic, and heat the surface one area at a time to prevent damage.
The heat gun method is not a permanent solution. As an additional step, it’s best to treat the surface with olive oil, WD-40, or a heat finish restorer to darken the finish and provide some sun and rain protection. Get in the habit of cleaning and restoring your black plastic body before every season, or at least once a month if you often park your car in the sun.
Post time: Jul-20-2023