how to remove the scratches on the rocker cover?

[chris0147]

Hi All,

I need your advice, I have been used green scotch brite pad to remove the sticky stuff on my rocker cover. I have applied C4 Permanent Trim Restorer on the rocker cover to try to restore to the original colour as I have left it for 4 minutes before wipe it off. When I used the microfibre cloth to wipe it down on the plastic, the colour got faded and it went back to where it was as before where I got scratches. And I have also tried with solution finish to try to restore to the original colour but I still get the same results so I don't know what to do with it.

Can you please help me with what I have to do??

I am thinking to get a heat gun, would that help??

 

[AnilAli]

Hi, if the rocker cover is plastic as it looks in the pics, you can use Meguiars Plastx, this will remove the oxidaton from the plastic. Also try using a machine to do the polishing with a cutting pad so you can get the max cut. Plastic isn't paint so dont be worried of burning thorugh. However if the damage is too "deep" may not be much you can do other than sand it off and re paint. But it does'nt seem that way to me in the pics. So again a heavy cut plastic polish and a machine, if "white" afterwards, dress with Meguiars hyper dressing 4:1...

 

[Crispy]

See if you can get the decal for the ECOTEC.

If you can repaint it with a plastic paint and put the overlay back on.

AG sells the Wurth Trim Coat which is what I use.

 

[JKDesign]

Hello chris0147,

You previously asked for advice on your rocker cover in this thread here: https://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/auto-detailing-101/106869-how-restore-black-faded-plastic.html and you were given very thorough answers.

As previously stated- your rocker cover is not made of plastic like the rest of your car's trim and therefore a product like C4 trim restorer was not going to make a difference. Your rocker cover is made of a structural composite material and will not react to trim restoring products. To restore a like new look it must either be replaced or painted.

Please refer to the answers in the link to your previous thread that I provided above and here: https://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/auto-detailing-101/106869-how-restore-black-faded-plastic.html

 

[chris0147]

Hi, if the rocker cover is plastic as it looks in the pics, you can use Meguiars Plastx, this will remove the oxidaton from the plastic. Also try using a machine to do the polishing with a cutting pad so you can get the max cut. Plastic isn't paint so dont be worried of burning thorugh. However if the damage is too "deep" may not be much you can do other than sand it off and re paint. But it does'nt seem that way to me in the pics. So again a heavy cut plastic polish and a machine, if "white" afterwards, dress with Meguiars hyper dressing 4:1...

I am not sure if the rocker cover is plastic or not. How would I know if Meguiars Plastx would work??

Would they help with faded plastic to restore to the original colour??

 

[chris0147]

See if you can get the decal for the ECOTEC.

If you can repaint it with a plastic paint and put the overlay back on.

AG sells the Wurth Trim Coat which is what I use.

How I can find the right colour to use for my rocker cover to match it before I could respray??

 

[chris0147]

Hello chris0147,

You previously asked for advice on your rocker cover in this thread here: https://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/auto-detailing-101/106869-how-restore-black-faded-plastic.html and you were given very thorough answers.

As previously stated- your rocker cover is not made of plastic like the rest of your car's trim and therefore a product like C4 trim restorer was not going to make a difference. Your rocker cover is made of a structural composite material and will not react to trim restoring products. To restore a like new look it must either be replaced or painted.

Please refer to the answers in the link to your previous thread that I provided above and here: https://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/auto-detailing-101/106869-how-restore-black-faded-plastic.html

Thank you for your advice. How do you know that my rocker cover is made of structural composite material??

 

[AZpolisher15]

That type of plastic isn't a good candidate for PlastX in my opinion. Or any other "polish" for that matter.

 

[chris0147]

That type of plastic isn't a good candidate for PlastX in my opinion. Or any other "polish" for that matter.

what about the heat gun? would that help to restore to the original factory colour?

 

[custmsprty]

A heat gun wouldn't do anything. IMHO your only choice is to replace them.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Hi All,


I have applied C4 Permanent Trim Restorer on the rocker cover to try to restore to the original colour as I have left it for 4 minutes before wipe it off.

When I used the microfibre cloth to wipe it down on the plastic, the colour got faded and it went back to where it was as before where I got scratches.

And I have also tried with solution finish to try to restore to the original colour but I still get the same results so I don't know what to do with it.

Can you please help me with what I have to do??

Hi Chris,

I received your PM with the same message above and I prefer to invest my limited typing time on the forum , not in PM's so I'll do my best to answer you here.

I think it's admirable the time, energy and investment you've made to restore the rocker covers to factory new. That said, I think you've hit a wall. That is, everything you've tried has failed to meet your expectations for the appearance of this engine component.

Outside of paint, (if you can find a paint that will stick to the material the rocker/cam covers are made out of), I don't think you're going to find anything you can pour out off a bottle or scoop out of a can that is gong to legitimately RESTORE the material back to how it looked when it rolled out of the assembly plant.

If it's possible to purchase a OEM replacement part that would be your best bet. Of course, if the current rocker/cam cover didn't hold up and look good over time my guess is the appearance of the replacement rocker/cam cover also won't hold up over time.

This would be a design problem and if you haven't already, perhaps contact the manufacturer and let them know your story with their product and see if they have a solution.


Have you joined a forum for your specific make and model of car and asked the forum gurus for their help? Or checked to see if there's a sticky thread with this same issue where a fellow car owner has already been down the road your travelling and discovered the solution?

I am thinking to get a heat gun, would that help??

There's a saying that goes like this,


You don't know what you can do until you try


So you won't know if a heat gun will work until you try but my guess is "no" it won't work either. A better investment into your time and energy would be to locate and purchase OEM replacement part.

A heat gun wouldn't do anything. IMHO your only choice is to replace them.

I agree.

I think Chris has done a great job of "trying" to undo the damage and make the component look good again but at this point... it's time to stick a fork in it and call it done.


:dunno: