HD494

I am in the market for a used F-150 and today while at a dealership, I was looking at a 2006 Lariat with 18,000 miles. The problem is that it's been sun baked and the door handle pockets and rear view mirrors, bed rails and the skirt below the wipers look pretty faded.
I talked to the salesman about it, then an older sales guy walked out and said the old school method of restoring the plastic is to apply automatic transmission fluid!
He grabbed a quart of ATX fluid and a rag and proceeded to wipe down all the plastic parts. He said you need to do this every so often, but that's how they did it back in the 60's.

How much of a crock is this?
What damage could result from using automatic tranny fluid on the exterior of the vehicle, plastic, paint etc?

I put money down on the truck, but and having second thoughts.
Any advice would be appreciated.

Follow up: After doing further Google searches, I found the following post on a Mercedes forum...
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/deta...129-107-a.html

kankles

Im pretty sure Mothers makes some called Back to Black or something like that. Correct me if im wrong, but my buddy uses it and it looks pretty good. So far i dont have that problem, but im pretty sure that stuff works. Just my .02

tcoop48

there are several different products out there to restore the trim. its not hard to apply you just have to do it ever so often just like polishing or window cleaning or any other detailing maintance.

techrep

Back to black is correct...I have a bottle of it ...and it works gr8...but you have to keep using it.

__________________
08 FX4... Flowmaster Exhaust, line-X, Sky Jacker leveling kit. 305/55/20 BFG M/T KM2 mounted on 20 X 9 Carol Shelby wheels. AIRAID CAI & Throttle Body Spacer. Projector/Halo headlamps and LED Tails & 3rd brake lights,custom upper and lower Grill.

Darth Bama

It seems the tranny fluid will cause more trouble then good in the end. There's several products that work well including Back to Black. The plastic trim isn't enough to not buy the truck by any means though...

Not to mention, that crap sounds like some old school used car trick to me!

__________________
LIFE'S A BITCH, IF IT WERE EASY IT'D BE A SLUT

rplatt56

Back to black works good. I found another product that also works great but does not turn white over time. Its Turtle wax Black Box. Its a 3 step cleaner/wax for black vehicles. I was using it on my wifes black xlt and decided to try it on the black trim. I applied just the black wax, let it set from a minute, then buffed it off. Looked great and left a slight shine to the trim. Also after it rained, it allowed the water to bead on it. Hence protecting it. Dont know how long it will last but it looks great right now.

__________________
U.S. ARMY RETIRED

HD494

Darth:

I agree on both points...I'll just wait for the tranny fluid fix to wear off, which it should do after a wash or two, then follow up with Mother's B2B or similar. The truck will be in the driveway 2 morrow...first Ford F-150 for me. All I can say is that with all the paint problems I've had with GM (chevy) that I'll never buy another GM product...the way the company stand, perhaps nobody will ever have to.

kankles

HD494:

yeah let me tell you Government Motors and all that are associated are garbage. i will never sit in one again. i honestly dislike them because all gm reps that ive gone to do horrible service.

5.4FX4

another option is painting them with Krylon Fusion...some of the members have done this with great results!

__________________


Mods:
Pioneer AVIC Z-2 Head unit, Saleen Subwoofer, OPTIMA(red top), Harley headlights, Red LED 3rd Brake Light, Saleen aluminum radiator, AS 2.5" leveling kit, '09 Badges

tcoop48

is there any special steps or prep work to do before painting?