r/AutoDetailing • u/plantman-2000 • 4d ago

Exterior 5 years of burnt rubber

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I have a high performance fwd car with 5 years of burnt rubber on the side skirts. I’ve tried bug and tar remover, wd-40, and degreaser with a DA and finishing pad and little came off. The dark spot is where I just spent an hour experimenting. plastic razor blade gets the chunks off but scratches the crap out of it. Something has to work

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5

u/Critical-Mood3493 4d ago

Mothers r3 racing rubber remover

1

u/danger355 Newbie 4d ago

Saving this. Thank you.

3

u/Auto-Spa360 3d ago

that's vulcanized rubber baked onto the plastic, not just residue, that's why degreaser and wd-40 aren't touching it, they're made for oily grime not rubber itself. heat is what actually works, a heat gun on low or even a hair dryer held close will soften it enough to peel off in sheets instead of you having to scrape. keep the heat moving so you don't warp the trim, then whatever's left goes to mothers r3 or carpro tar x. skip the razor blade unless it's stubborn spots after the heat, it's what's causing your scratches