Leather Help?

Is the heat playing a role on it? Left side being window side? Just a thought.
 
irvsmith said:
Is the heat playing a role on it? Left side being window side? Just a thought.
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I don't think so, my windows are tinted and I park under covered parking during the day at work. I thought about this also, but I figured I'd see this elsewhere and not just on 1/4 of the steering wheel.

Thanks for all the help guys. Maybe the cleaner&conditioner was a bad choice and I should go with a cleaner and then a conditioner... 2 products instead of 1?

Disappointing to hear that since I've barely used the cleaner&conditioner and it was pretty pricey. I'll try it one more time and then if no dice, then I'll try a dedicated leather cleaner. Feel free to keep the ideas coming, I REALLY appreciate all the advice!

-Matt
 
Your car's like brand new.. I think the Pinnacle should be able to clean it. If the cleaner & conditioner can't handle that then what's it good for?
It's not like you dropped chili fries on the leather seat. Lol.
 
Eldorado2k said:
Your car's like brand new.. I think the Pinnacle should be able to clean it. If the cleaner & conditioner can't handle that then what's it good for?
It's not like you dropped chili fries on the leather seat. Lol.
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That's exactly what I was thinking. I never drive while eating either, I'm very OCD about keeping my leather clean, which is why this one part of my steering wheel baffles me. Especially because I don't that side.

I'll let you guys know how it goes tonight with the cleaner&conditioner from Pinnacle. If that doesn't work then I'll consider other options.
 
There is a recent you tube video out comparing a couple of leather cleaners and 4 or 5 APCs. The gist of the video was both the leather cleaners did a poor job of cleaning leather that was actually dirty. He got his best results with Meguiars APC and 3D Citrus Degreaser. May be a case of needing something a little stronger to remove whatever is causing the stickiness.
 
FocusSTguy said:
There is a recent you tube video out comparing a couple of leather cleaners and 4 or 5 APCs. The gist of the video was both the leather cleaners did a poor job of cleaning leather that was actually dirty. He got his best results with Meguiars APC and 3D Citrus Degreaser. May be a case of needing something a little stronger to remove whatever is causing the stickiness.
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You mean this guy?😁

View attachment 39703
 
Once you get it cleaned real good and conditioned, you can go back to using the combo chemical.
 
jcaustin87 said:
Once you get it cleaned real good and conditioned, you can go back to using the combo chemical.
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Hopefully dirt or grime is the issue. I'm thinking it's not, but hoping it is. If this doesn't work, I'm going to contact the dealership because there's NO way the leather should wear this quickly and have a different texture/feel from one side of the wheel to the other.
 
Matt92 said:
Hopefully dirt or grime is the issue. I'm thinking it's not, but hoping it is. If this doesn't work, I'm going to contact the dealership because there's NO way the leather should wear this quickly and have a different texture/feel from one side of the wheel to the other.
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You might want to contact them now. Prior to attacking it on your own. The worst thing that can happen is they let their hack mess up your steering wheel for sure.. Which you never know, could be a good possibility. Lol.

But seriously, they should be able to figure it out.
 
Matt92 said:
Hopefully dirt or grime is the issue. I'm thinking it's not, but hoping it is. If this doesn't work, I'm going to contact the dealership because there's NO way the leather should wear this quickly and have a different texture/feel from one side of the wheel to the other.
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Have you just noticed this? Was it like it when you got the car? Has it got worse? Did anyone work on the car between the time it was new and the time you first noticed it?

I'm with GSKR on using APC on leather, Pure APC (i.e. Pinnacle or DP High Density) will not only etch leather but glass as well. Pinnacle Leather Cleaner is PH Balanced, I use the Pinnacle Vinyl Leather Cleaner but also own the Pinnacle Leather Cleaner & Conditioner (haven't tried it yet). I love the PVLC. From what I've read, the formula for the leather cleaner is touted as being the same for both products.

With that said, if it's grease due to a mechanic prepping or driving the car, APC diluted 10:1 would be ok. As long as it's diluted...
 
@paul_g. When did anyone mention using pure undiluted APC?
 
paul_g said:
Have you just noticed this? Was it like it when you got the car? Has it got worse? Did anyone work on the car between the time it was new and the time you first noticed it?

I'm with GSKR on using APC on leather, Pure APC (i.e. Pinnacle or DP High Density) will not only etch leather but glass as well. Pinnacle Leather Cleaner is PH Balanced, I use the Pinnacle Vinyl Leather Cleaner but also own the Pinnacle Leather Cleaner & Conditioner (haven't tried it yet). I love the PVLC. From what I've read, the formula for the leather cleaner is touted as being the same for both products.

With that said, if it's grease due to a mechanic prepping or driving the car, APC diluted 10:1 would be ok. As long as it's diluted...
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Hey Paul, thanks for your response, although I don't think you read all the replies before yours as what I'm about to say has been said before. I noticed this a few months ago and bought Pinnacle Leather Cleaner and Conditioner (the AIO). After applying it and wiping down it seemed to even out the texture, but then it started to get more tacky on that side. At that point I thought maybe it was just the difference in leather from one side to the other (different pieces stitched together), but figured I'd come on here to ask.

I don't use lotion on my hands, nor has anyone else driven the car except for me. I don't remember it being like that when I bought it. And what's even weirder is that I normally don't place my hand on the side that this is happening to (which to me rules out the idea of it wearing down).

So now I'm thinking maybe adding the cleaner/conditioner did not clean it and only topped the leather, which is why I'm experiencing the problem again. I'm going to wipe the wheel down with a damp mf cloth and re-apply the cleaner/conditioner (only a little bit this time). I'll see if that helps at all in the interim before I get the megs apc delivered (ordered it today). I would never apply it with anything other than a 10:1 dilution or greater.
 
Eldorado2k said:
You mean this guy?😁

View attachment 39703
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Matt92 said:
Yeah I've seen that video, Darren right? That very well could be it. Maybe someone test drove it before I bought it and it's just gotten worked in over time. I'll try the Meg's APC if the Pinnacle doesn't work. Dilution ratio of 1:10?
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Yep, Good old Darren :xyxthumbs:.

If there is any chance it's a factory defect and covered under warranty it might be worth a trip to the dealer before going aggressive.
 
Is the leather on steering wheels known to be quite different from the leather seats of a perticular vehicle? I'm asking because the comments in this thread strongly suggest extra care be taken with the steering wheels leather.

If so, I've never known of that. I've always cleaned leather wrapped steering wheels the same way the seats get cleaned and I've never encountered an odd situation where the leather got etched.
 
DasBurninator said:
I'd personally try a gentle leather cleaner and spray it directly on a MF towel and wrap it around the wheel and gently twist. Follow up with a leather conditioner that dries to the touch and then wipe down with a dry towel. See if that fixes it.

Texture/pore size could be different for multiple reasons. Could be how the leather was stretched, etc.
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I would do the same. I would even try a soft bristled tooth brush to gently agitate that area. Spray the brush so product is not sprayed all over the dash. I doubt APC would etch if diluted properly.

Just as an FYI Meguiar's QID and Pinnacle have light cleaning abilities. Judging from what you wrote, it sounds like you need something a little stronger.

Meguiar's has a leather & vinyl cleaner in their gold class line that is available at most local stores. It does a decent job cleaning.
 
Eldorado2k said:
Is the leather on steering wheels known to be quite different from the leather seats of a perticular vehicle? I'm asking because the comments in this thread strongly suggest extra care be taken with the steering wheels leather.

If so, I've never known of that. I've always cleaned leather wrapped steering wheels the same way the seats get cleaned and I've never encountered an odd situation where the leather got etched.
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It all depends, could be a composite of materials, all of which is coated. In Matt's case it could be the coating that is the problem.

As far as etching goes, it can happen... Even on glass. I poured 100% DP High Density APC into a glass pyrex measuring cup. Left these little spots all around and wouldn't come out. The only way to take them out was with CarPro CeriGlass. Tested this on my own POV (small spot on rear side window, and sure enough it looked like little drips spots that would not come out. CeriGlass polished them out. That's why I offered my caution above.

APC has a high alkaline level (high PH Balance) and can attack oily, fatty soils and break them down into components which are easy to clean. If not diluted can etch the coating of the leather, dry the leather and over time cause it to crack. You may not notice the effects right away. (bleach, oven cleaners, laundry detergents, apc - high PH bal).

Pinnacle Leather & Vinyl Cleaner has a pH-neutral rating of 7 to match the pH range of leather itself. Used properly, this VOC compliant cleaner will not gray or stain light color leathers or cause excessive drying which could lead to premature cracking.

APC in 10:1 is generally fine on leather, even Darren has stated that. I've used it and had to in a recent job where I did a 10 Year old Acura TL with 140K plus miles used as a parts hauler for an auto mechanic. To boot, it had a cream colored leather interior. There was grease everywhere! Caked in the cracks and perforated leather, all over the wheel, door panels, head liner. I used my Tornador with 10:1 DP APC. But followed up with Pinnacle Vinyl Leather cleaner & conditioner. Car came out great.

The Pinnacle cleaner would have worked, it just would have taken longer and required a bit more agitation. I have got some of the worst looking leather seats clean with Pinnacle Vinyl Leather Cleaner. I love the stuff.

Given the car is still under warranty, it could be a coating issue, in which case going to the dealer would be really the best option.
 
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