Possible black plastics restorer... Thoughts?

[BER-LINGO]

So there I am, 2 weeks ago, just concluding a service on my 11 year old  Multispace, and you know how it is, bonnet goes down and the feeling of having a whole new car again is so enriching. Until when closing your bonnet your eye is captured by the tired and weather beaten bumper plastics. So thinking to myself, Ive tried lots of products out there that dont really work or are really expensive. So I look next to the car and see the used oil Id drained from my car. HMMM! I thought lol.

   

I pondered the idea for some time thinking well pretty much everything originates from oil in some form or process and its shiney, black and resistant to water, infact all weather. (this was confirmed by the oil stain on my driveway from 5 years ago haha!). 

So I went for it. A little at first on a patch as an experiment. Waited for it to dry then done it again. 2 weeks later its still there and unfaded. I wouldnt say its as I want it but with repeat applications Im sure it would restore the colour back in time. And usually any quick treatment never lasts anyway. But for a first attempt its promising... What you think...??

   

Disclaimer: This is not an endorsement of any kind, product or make. No responsibility/liability accepted if anyone uses this method and has adverse effect or causes damage. It was an experiment on my car only, and readers should seek to satisfy themselves with expert advice from a qualified, competent auto professional.

[geoff]

Looks good thanks for sharing ....

[Multispacer]

So there I am, 2 weeks ago, just concluding a service on my 11 year old  Multispace, and you know how it is, bonnet goes down and the feeling of having a whole new car again is so enriching. Until when closing your bonnet your eye is captured by the tired and weather beaten bumper plastics. So thinking to myself, Ive tried lots of products out there that dont really work or are really expensive. So I look next to the car and see the used oil Id drained from my car. HMMM! I thought lol.



I pondered the idea for some time thinking well pretty much everything originates from oil in some form or process and its shiny, black and resistant to water, in fact all weather. (this was confirmed by the oil stain on my driveway from 5 years ago haha!). 

So I went for it. A little at first on a patch as an experiment. Waited for it to dry then done it again. 2 weeks later its still there and unfaded. I wouldn't say its as I want it but with repeat applications I'm sure it would restore the colour back in time. And usually any quick treatment never lasts anyway. But for a first attempt its promising... What you think...??

I had very much the same kind of greying plastics on my 2008 Berlingo Multispace XTR. During my eight years of ownership until earlier this year, when it was sold on, as I no longer required a diesel vehicle. During my ownership time, I tried a number of the various products out there that were for returning the plastics to their original black. All quite expensive and most only last a short period of time. Watched a number of videos about the situation and like you, from your post, realised that it is mainly from the drying out of the oils in the plastic.

I ended up going down a similar 'DIY' type route, the only difference in my case I used black boot polish, not the liquid stuff but the old style wax type in tins, having spotted they now tend to sell it in the 'Poundland' type cheapie shops. I armed myself with about four tins and applied it onto all the affected areas. On the first application, I used up two tins applying about four applications during the course of a day with a soft cloth and rubbing it into the plastic  [letting each application dry out before applying the next] After that I reckon the plastic stayed black [and very water repellent   ] for the best part of a year and then it only needed about one tin or less applied to keep the plastic black.

[BER-LINGO]

So there I am, 2 weeks ago, just concluding a service on my 11 year old  Multispace, and you know how it is, bonnet goes down and the feeling of having a whole new car again is so enriching. Until when closing your bonnet your eye is captured by the tired and weather beaten bumper plastics. So thinking to myself, Ive tried lots of products out there that dont really work or are really expensive. So I look next to the car and see the used oil Id drained from my car. HMMM! I thought lol.



I pondered the idea for some time thinking well pretty much everything originates from oil in some form or process and its shiny, black and resistant to water, in fact all weather. (this was confirmed by the oil stain on my driveway from 5 years ago haha!). 

So I went for it. A little at first on a patch as an experiment. Waited for it to dry then done it again. 2 weeks later its still there and unfaded. I wouldn't say its as I want it but with repeat applications I'm sure it would restore the colour back in time. And usually any quick treatment never lasts anyway. But for a first attempt its promising... What you think...??

I had very much the same kind of greying plastics on my 2008 Berlingo Multispace XTR. During my eight years of ownership until earlier this year, when it was sold on, as I no longer required a diesel vehicle. During my ownership time, I tried a number of the various products out there that were for returning the plastics to their original black. All quite expensive and most only last a short period of time. Watched a number of videos about the situation and like you, from your post, realised that it is mainly from the drying out of the oils in the plastic.

I ended up going down a similar 'DIY' type route, the only difference in my case I used black boot polish, not the liquid stuff but the old style wax type in tins, having spotted they now tend to sell it in the 'Poundland' type cheapie shops. I armed myself with about four tins and applied it onto all the affected areas. On the first application, I used up two tins applying about four applications during the course of a day with a soft cloth and rubbing it into the plastic  [letting each application dry out before applying the next] After that I reckon the plastic stayed black [and very water repellent   ] for the best part of a year and then it only needed about one tin or less applied to keep the plastic black.

Multispacer, thanks for post. 

I too have usually used old style boot polish as probably many on here have. It is good and quick n easy too. But as you say you have to keep up the regime for best results. If id not done my service I wouldn't have even thought of it, its just that I looked at it, and considered the oil stain my driveway and put 2 + 2 together. 

Infact if you look at the bumper pic where the patch is, largest dark patch is the used oil, then at the top of area of the bumper is dark, but not as dark as the oil, with a faint grey separating the two. Well that dark patch above the really dark patch is a bit black cherry blossom boot polish. I done this to compare between the two lol.

Its a good reason to do an oil change on your oil burner now and cheap also. Plus the environmental benefits..... Infact, anyone want to purchase some great quality used oil....??? 

[BER-LINGO]

So there I am, 2 weeks ago, just concluding a service on my 11 year old  Multispace, and you know how it is, bonnet goes down and the feeling of having a whole new car again is so enriching. Until when closing your bonnet your eye is captured by the tired and weather beaten bumper plastics. So thinking to myself, Ive tried lots of products out there that dont really work or are really expensive. So I look next to the car and see the used oil Id drained from my car. HMMM! I thought lol.



I pondered the idea for some time thinking well pretty much everything originates from oil in some form or process and its shiny, black and resistant to water, in fact all weather. (this was confirmed by the oil stain on my driveway from 5 years ago haha!). 

So I went for it. A little at first on a patch as an experiment. Waited for it to dry then done it again. 2 weeks later its still there and unfaded. I wouldn't say its as I want it but with repeat applications I'm sure it would restore the colour back in time. And usually any quick treatment never lasts anyway. But for a first attempt its promising... What you think...??

I had very much the same kind of greying plastics on my 2008 Berlingo Multispace XTR. During my eight years of ownership until earlier this year, when it was sold on, as I no longer required a diesel vehicle. During my ownership time, I tried a number of the various products out there that were for returning the plastics to their original black. All quite expensive and most only last a short period of time. Watched a number of videos about the situation and like you, from your post, realised that it is mainly from the drying out of the oils in the plastic.

I ended up going down a similar 'DIY' type route, the only difference in my case I used black boot polish, not the liquid stuff but the old style wax type in tins, having spotted they now tend to sell it in the 'Poundland' type cheapie shops. I armed myself with about four tins and applied it onto all the affected areas. On the first application, I used up two tins applying about four applications during the course of a day with a soft cloth and rubbing it into the plastic  [letting each application dry out before applying the next] After that I reckon the plastic stayed black [and very water repellent   ] for the best part of a year and then it only needed about one tin or less applied to keep the plastic black.

Multispacer, thanks for post. 

I too have usually used old style boot polish as probably many on here have. It is good and quick n easy too. But as you say you have to keep up the regime for best results. If id not done my service I wouldn't have even thought of it, its just that I looked at it, and considered the oil stain my driveway and put 2 + 2 together. 

Infact if you look at the bumper pic where the patch is, largest dark patch is the used oil, then at the top of area of the bumper is dark, but not as dark as the oil, with a faint grey separating the two. Well that dark patch above the really dark patch is a bit black cherry blossom boot polish. I done this to compare between the two lol.

Its a good reason to do an oil change on your oil burner now and cheap also. Plus the environmental benefits..... Infact, anyone want to purchase some great quality used oil....??? 

To clarify...

[Multispacer]

So there I am, 2 weeks ago, just concluding a service on my 11 year old  Multispace, and you know how it is, bonnet goes down and the feeling of having a whole new car again is so enriching. Until when closing your bonnet your eye is captured by the tired and weather beaten bumper plastics. So thinking to myself, Ive tried lots of products out there that dont really work or are really expensive. So I look next to the car and see the used oil Id drained from my car. HMMM! I thought lol.



I pondered the idea for some time thinking well pretty much everything originates from oil in some form or process and its shiny, black and resistant to water, in fact all weather. (this was confirmed by the oil stain on my driveway from 5 years ago haha!). 

So I went for it. A little at first on a patch as an experiment. Waited for it to dry then done it again. 2 weeks later its still there and unfaded. I wouldn't say its as I want it but with repeat applications I'm sure it would restore the colour back in time. And usually any quick treatment never lasts anyway. But for a first attempt its promising... What you think...??

I had very much the same kind of greying plastics on my 2008 Berlingo Multispace XTR. During my eight years of ownership until earlier this year, when it was sold on, as I no longer required a diesel vehicle. During my ownership time, I tried a number of the various products out there that were for returning the plastics to their original black. All quite expensive and most only last a short period of time. Watched a number of videos about the situation and like you, from your post, realised that it is mainly from the drying out of the oils in the plastic.

I ended up going down a similar 'DIY' type route, the only difference in my case I used black boot polish, not the liquid stuff but the old style wax type in tins, having spotted they now tend to sell it in the 'Poundland' type cheapie shops. I armed myself with about four tins and applied it onto all the affected areas. On the first application, I used up two tins applying about four applications during the course of a day with a soft cloth and rubbing it into the plastic  [letting each application dry out before applying the next] After that I reckon the plastic stayed black [and very water repellent   ] for the best part of a year and then it only needed about one tin or less applied to keep the plastic black.

Multispacer, thanks for post. 

I too have usually used old style boot polish as probably many on here have. It is good and quick n easy too. But as you say you have to keep up the regime for best results. If id not done my service I wouldn't have even thought of it, its just that I looked at it, and considered the oil stain my driveway and put 2 + 2 together. 

Infact if you look at the bumper pic where the patch is, largest dark patch is the used oil, then at the top of area of the bumper is dark, but not as dark as the oil, with a faint grey separating the two. Well that dark patch above the really dark patch is a bit black cherry blossom boot polish. I done this to compare between the two lol.

Its a good reason to do an oil change on your oil burner now and cheap also. Plus the environmental benefits..... Infact, anyone want to purchase some great quality used oil....??? 

To clarify...

This was the condition of my 2008 XTR plastics when sold in mid-2024 [with the black boot polish treatment]

[BER-LINGO]

So there I am, 2 weeks ago, just concluding a service on my 11 year old  Multispace, and you know how it is, bonnet goes down and the feeling of having a whole new car again is so enriching. Until when closing your bonnet your eye is captured by the tired and weather beaten bumper plastics. So thinking to myself, Ive tried lots of products out there that dont really work or are really expensive. So I look next to the car and see the used oil Id drained from my car. HMMM! I thought lol.



I pondered the idea for some time thinking well pretty much everything originates from oil in some form or process and its shiny, black and resistant to water, in fact all weather. (this was confirmed by the oil stain on my driveway from 5 years ago haha!). 

So I went for it. A little at first on a patch as an experiment. Waited for it to dry then done it again. 2 weeks later its still there and unfaded. I wouldn't say its as I want it but with repeat applications I'm sure it would restore the colour back in time. And usually any quick treatment never lasts anyway. But for a first attempt its promising... What you think...??

I had very much the same kind of greying plastics on my 2008 Berlingo Multispace XTR. During my eight years of ownership until earlier this year, when it was sold on, as I no longer required a diesel vehicle. During my ownership time, I tried a number of the various products out there that were for returning the plastics to their original black. All quite expensive and most only last a short period of time. Watched a number of videos about the situation and like you, from your post, realised that it is mainly from the drying out of the oils in the plastic.

I ended up going down a similar 'DIY' type route, the only difference in my case I used black boot polish, not the liquid stuff but the old style wax type in tins, having spotted they now tend to sell it in the 'Poundland' type cheapie shops. I armed myself with about four tins and applied it onto all the affected areas. On the first application, I used up two tins applying about four applications during the course of a day with a soft cloth and rubbing it into the plastic  [letting each application dry out before applying the next] After that I reckon the plastic stayed black [and very water repellent   ] for the best part of a year and then it only needed about one tin or less applied to keep the plastic black.

Multispacer, thanks for post. 

I too have usually used old style boot polish as probably many on here have. It is good and quick n easy too. But as you say you have to keep up the regime for best results. If id not done my service I wouldn't have even thought of it, its just that I looked at it, and considered the oil stain my driveway and put 2 + 2 together. 

Infact if you look at the bumper pic where the patch is, largest dark patch is the used oil, then at the top of area of the bumper is dark, but not as dark as the oil, with a faint grey separating the two. Well that dark patch above the really dark patch is a bit black cherry blossom boot polish. I done this to compare between the two lol.

Its a good reason to do an oil change on your oil burner now and cheap also. Plus the environmental benefits..... Infact, anyone want to purchase some great quality used oil....??? 

To clarify...

This was the condition of my 2008 XTR plastics when sold in mid-2024 [with the black boot polish treatment]

Sweet that dude. Looks brand spanking... Did you get what you wanted for it?? Theyre going for mad prices right now, unless you trade in or WBAC, who rip you off by offering you 3rd of what its worth. Im thinking of going for a low mileage nearly new K.

[evdama]

I had very much the same kind of greying plastics on my 2008 Berlingo Multispace XTR. During my eight years of ownership until earlier this year, when it was sold on, as I no longer required a diesel vehicle. During my ownership time, I tried a number of the various products out there that were for returning the plastics to their original black. All quite expensive and most only last a short period of time. Watched a number of videos about the situation and like you, from your post, realised that it is mainly from the drying out of the oils in the plastic.

I ended up going down a similar 'DIY' type route, the only difference in my case I used black boot polish, not the liquid stuff but the old style wax type in tins, having spotted they now tend to sell it in the 'Poundland' type cheapie shops. I armed myself with about four tins and applied it onto all the affected areas. On the first application, I used up two tins applying about four applications during the course of a day with a soft cloth and rubbing it into the plastic  [letting each application dry out before applying the next] After that I reckon the plastic stayed black [and very water repellent   ] for the best part of a year and then it only needed about one tin or less applied to keep the plastic black.

Multispacer, thanks for post. 

I too have usually used old style boot polish as probably many on here have. It is good and quick n easy too. But as you say you have to keep up the regime for best results. If id not done my service I wouldn't have even thought of it, its just that I looked at it, and considered the oil stain my driveway and put 2 + 2 together. 

Infact if you look at the bumper pic where the patch is, largest dark patch is the used oil, then at the top of area of the bumper is dark, but not as dark as the oil, with a faint grey separating the two. Well that dark patch above the really dark patch is a bit black cherry blossom boot polish. I done this to compare between the two lol.

Its a good reason to do an oil change on your oil burner now and cheap also. Plus the environmental benefits..... Infact, anyone want to purchase some great quality used oil....??? 

To clarify...

This was the condition of my 2008 XTR plastics when sold in mid-2024 [with the black boot polish treatment]

Sweet that dude. Looks brand spanking... Did you get what you wanted for it?? Theyre going for mad prices right now, unless you trade in or WBAC, who rip you off by offering you 3rd of what its worth. Im thinking of going for a low mileage nearly new K.

Tempted to have a go on my patchy grey plastic  but Im down to my last 30 litres of used engine oil...

I use it in the chainbar tank of the chainsaws and mixed with diesel it makes a quite good exterior timber preservative.
Environmentalists would tend not to agree of course.

[evdama]

Gave it a trial this morning.
First coat.
I'll leave it a few days to soak in/ dry up/whatever then put a second coat 
A little goes a very long way.Not convinced it will last long and used oil is nasty toxic stuff that should really be recycled straight away but the offset is that I didn't have to use a new bottle of chemicals to do the job.

[jj9]

If you heat the greyed plastic with a heat gun or a flick the flame from a blowlamp over it it turns back to Black.

There's a bit of skill involved to get it right, too much heat and the plastic will show signs of starting to melt so you need to tread carefully! 

YouTube has videos showing the process.


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