Treating the fender flares

joniki

joniki

TJ Enthusiast
Joined
Aug 7, 2022
Messages
175
Location
NE Indiana
I treated the flares last July. I did them again today, this takes about 15 minutes for the flares and the step boards. The hard top takes half and hour. I use a wax pads applicator.

Bumper Kote 1.jpg


Bumper Kote 2.jpg
 
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if you are looking for a more permanent solution you could mask them off and spray them with kyrlon fusion or rustoleum bumper and trim in about 2 hours and it will last for many years.
 
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We tried the peanut butter trick and it blackened them up for about 24 hours. Considered trying a 2nd coat but ended up trading them to a dude who wanted to go more stock. I guess turbo-faded flares is a pretty stock look, lol.
 
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Let us know how it holds up thru 4 seasons with updated pics

I tried the whole resealer , rejuvenate gimmicks
Short life spans for vast majority

Fender flare replacements are cheap and simple
$60 for all 4 and done
 
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Believe it or not I think I've solved that problem after 20 plus years. All my black plastic is shiny, never bleaches and looks great. It kind of works like fluid film and stays unless there is a heavy rain. Then, I just wash and re-apply. First, I cleaned my black with soilove and a nylon brush. Soilove contains ammonia so it is very strong. Tons of dirt came off my black plastic. I mean nasty black dirt poured off my plastic. It went all over my paint so, I had to rinse and wipe all that ammonia so that it wouldn't ruin my paint. Then, I tried Armor-all in the sun and it all just evaporated, leaving my black plastic bleached again. Then, I tried applying it out of the sun and still the Armor-all just evaporated. I had some Mequires Super shine, so I sprayed that on my fenders out of the sun at night. The next morning my fenders were still shiny black. All day, the Mequires didn't evaporate and my black stayed well conditioned. It stayed until I next washed my Jeep. One heavy rain, and the Mequires did wash off and my fenders were bleached again. So, I just washed my Jeep and applied the Mequires out of the sun, so that it doesn't immediately evaporate. I used the same practice on all my black plastic and it works. During a light recent rain, it didn't bleach them and they stayed black. They just look normal and not super shiny. This trick works. I tried spraying them with paint and it eventually just peels and looks worse and you can't repaint them, because you would have to remove them and strip them again, which doesn't bode well for plastic because it will soften and melt. If you mask and leave them, then the paint gets on your car. I masked well and it still got on myvwhite paint. I found that out on my last set. The new set of fenders claimed UV protection, but that didn't last. But now, all my black looks perfect. Here's a picture of my fenders. I don't wipe off the Mequires and I apply it out of the sun after deep cleaning my black plastic. Then, the Mequires stays and conditions my black plastic. If I don't want the super wet shiny, I can use Mequires super shine wipes out of the sun. But the spray seems to condition them better.

20230708_065716.jpg
 
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I’m about to penetrol most of my F250 ‘s black trim.

Got a buddy right now using it on his LJ console-

There are a number of ways to get there for sure-

One thing I am confident in saying is Armor All is just not the product it was 30 years ago- 303 Protectant is about what Armor All was in 1985 if you ask me. Basically I think its watered down now. Won’t waste my money on it.

Seen my dad use mop n glo. He also would wash his hair with Dawn.

Dad, why is that gallon of paint by yall’s bed?

“Condoms have latex son. Paint has latex. “
 
ChasUGC said:
Believe it or not I think I've solved that problem after 20 plus years. All my black plastic is shiny, never bleaches and looks great. It kind of works like fluid film and stays unless there is a heavy rain. Then, I just wash and re-apply. First, I cleaned my black with soilove and a nylon brush. Soilove contains ammonia so it is very strong. Tons of dirt came off my black plastic. I mean nasty black dirt poured off my plastic. It went all over my paint so, I had to rinse and wipe all that ammonia so that it wouldn't ruin my paint. Then, I tried Armor-all in the sun and it all just evaporated, leaving my black plastic bleached again. Then, I tried applying it out of the sun and still the Armor-all just evaporated. I had some Mequires Super shine, so I sprayed that on my fenders out of the sun at night. The next morning my fenders were still shiny black. All day, the Mequires didn't evaporate and my black stayed well conditioned. It stayed until I next washed my Jeep. One heavy rain, and the Mequires did wash off and my fenders were bleached again. So, I just washed my Jeep and applied the Mequires out of the sun, so that it doesn't immediately evaporate. I used the same practice on all my black plastic and it works. During a light recent rain, it didn't bleach them and they stayed black. They just look normal and not super shiny. This trick works. I tried spraying them with paint and it eventually just peels and looks worse and you can't repaint them, because you would have to remove them and strip them again, which doesn't bode well for plastic because it will soften and melt. If you mask and leave them, then the paint gets on your car. I masked well and it still got on myvwhite paint. I found that out on my last set. The new set of fenders claimed UV protection, but that didn't last. But now, all my black looks perfect. Here's a picture of my fenders. I don't wipe off the Mequires and I apply it out of the sun after deep cleaning my black plastic. Then, the Mequires stays and conditions my black plastic. If I don't want the super wet shiny, I can use Mequires super shine wipes out of the sun. But the spray seems to condition them better.

View attachment 509533
Click to expand...

He makes a good point in this thread about how even plastics can absorb dirt especially when carried with water- Which leads me to say if after cleaning you will apply your product, let it soak in then remove the excess you will usually have better results short and longterm.

Here is an example- 303 allowed to soak- then buffed. One application.

1E2BE2B3-765B-4D95-8F89-F339A70F6F75.jpeg
 
AndyG said:
He makes a good point in this thread about how even plastics can absorb dirt especially when carried with water- Which leads me to say if after cleaning you will apply your product, let it soak in then remove the excess you will usually have better results short and longterm.

Here is an example- 303 allowed to soak- then buffed. One application.

View attachment 509545
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's probably true with something like floor mats, because you don't want them too slippery. You can see how the floor mat looks better black and conditioned in the grooves where there is a little excess and bleached where you wiped it. It might be best to spray them at night and give them the rest of the night to condition, and then wipe them a little in the morning, so they aren't too slippery to step on them. This way the conditioner has time to deep condition. I found that wiping the Mequires just makes it evaporate quickly, especially in the elements, like sun, dew and wind. I can apply the Mequires Super Shine wipes at night, and the greasy shine is gone, and they stay black. But, I never wipe away the conditioner because the sun will just bleach them again.
 
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I've been using this for decades. It lasts about six months. Clean well, apply with a foam tire swipe, let it cure and you're good to go. I give it second wipe down a few minutes after it has started to dry, to knock down the shine a bit.
71gRuHWZuJL._AC_SL1500_.jpg


te.jpg
 
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AndyG said:
I’m about to penetrol most of my F250 ‘s black trim.
Click to expand...
I didn't think Penetrol worked on plastic. I searched for it for weeks, thinking it was the Holy Grail. Finally found it and bought three cans only to find it did nothing when I tested it on the flares. Am I wrong?
 
MikekiM said:
I didn't think Penetrol worked on plastic. I searched for it for weeks, thinking it was the Holy Grail. Finally found it and bought three cans only to find it did nothing when I tested it on the flares. Am I wrong?
Click to expand...

Well- I don’t know how to answer- I guess the question is “will it stick”- Otherwise it’s going to do the job because it’s just a penetrating film finish -

The hard tops we use it on are fiber reinforced plastic that are painted.
 
ChasUGC said:
Yeah, that's probably true with something like floor mats, because you don't want them too slippery. You can see how the floor mat looks better black and conditioned in the grooves where there is a little excess and bleached where you wiped it. It might be best to spray them at night and give them the rest of the night to condition, and then wipe them a little in the morning, so they aren't too slippery to step on them. This way the conditioner has time to deep condition. I found that wiping the Mequires just makes it evaporate quickly, especially in the elements, like sun, dew and wind. I can apply the Mequires Super Shine wipes at night, and the greasy shine is gone, and they stay black. But, I never wipe away the conditioner because the sun will just bleach them again.
Click to expand...

Cool. Either way some set time can give a richer look.
 
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ChasUGC said:
Believe it or not I think I've solved that problem after 20 plus years. All my black plastic is shiny, never bleaches and looks great. It kind of works like fluid film and stays unless there is a heavy rain. Then, I just wash and re-apply. First, I cleaned my black with soilove and a nylon brush. Soilove contains ammonia so it is very strong. Tons of dirt came off my black plastic. I mean nasty black dirt poured off my plastic. It went all over my paint so, I had to rinse and wipe all that ammonia so that it wouldn't ruin my paint. Then, I tried Armor-all in the sun and it all just evaporated, leaving my black plastic bleached again. Then, I tried applying it out of the sun and still the Armor-all just evaporated. I had some Mequires Super shine, so I sprayed that on my fenders out of the sun at night. The next morning my fenders were still shiny black. All day, the Mequires didn't evaporate and my black stayed well conditioned. It stayed until I next washed my Jeep. One heavy rain, and the Mequires did wash off and my fenders were bleached again. So, I just washed my Jeep and applied the Mequires out of the sun, so that it doesn't immediately evaporate. I used the same practice on all my black plastic and it works. During a light recent rain, it didn't bleach them and they stayed black. They just look normal and not super shiny. This trick works. I tried spraying them with paint and it eventually just peels and looks worse and you can't repaint them, because you would have to remove them and strip them again, which doesn't bode well for plastic because it will soften and melt. If you mask and leave them, then the paint gets on your car. I masked well and it still got on myvwhite paint. I found that out on my last set. The new set of fenders claimed UV protection, but that didn't last. But now, all my black looks perfect. Here's a picture of my fenders. I don't wipe off the Mequires and I apply it out of the sun after deep cleaning my black plastic. Then, the Mequires stays and conditions my black plastic. If I don't want the super wet shiny, I can use Mequires super shine wipes out of the sun. But the spray seems to condition them better.
Click to expand...
You mention 20 years of good results but you still have to reapply it several times a year or after heavy rains. Way too much trouble for me lol.
 
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I am still in the testing stages so I didn't want to mention this yet. I am about 3 months in and just waiting for the hot summer sun.

I dipped into my wife's calligraphy supplies and coated mine with permanent waterproof black India ink. So far, its great.
 
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AndyG said:
Well- I don’t know how to answer- I guess the question is “will it stick”- Otherwise it’s going to do the job because it’s just a penetrating film finish -

The hard tops we use it on are fiber reinforced plastic that are painted.
Click to expand...

Standing by. Let's see how it works for you. Can't remember if I tried it on the OE flares or on the same Bushwacker flares I posted above, but I recall the disappointment with the results.
 
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MikekiM said:
Standing by. Let's see how it works for you. Can't remember if I tried it on the OE flares or on the same Bushwacker flares I posted above, but I recall the disappointment with the results.
Click to expand...

I’m mainly think on my 250 the bumper accents, etc- mirrors maybe-

Here is a console my buddy just did- catch is I don’t know the limits with penetrol- But at the end of the day is just leaving a slight film of urethane and that is a pretty common manufacturing finish for things like vinyl tile, etc.

ACDC55A9-A89C-4459-A7D4-60C351800088.jpeg
 
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