Anyone have issues with their rubber?

[MyLittlePony2022]

I have had my car for over a year and noticed the rubber turning white Not sure what it is. Its not mold or a film but the rubber itself. I remember seeing this on the old 1980's cars with the chrome bummpers and the rubber trim. The pictures below are from the rubber stoppers in the trunk and the rubber passthrough from the door to the car. They are not the sun so this should not be UV damage

Any input or suggestions. I need to take my car into the dealer from another issue and will have them look at this, but I don't expect much from them.

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[RickMachE]

Wow, that's personal and inappropriate.

 

[markboris]

From what I have seen in the past on rubber parts like that and not only in cars but appliances, etc. is they call that blooming. It is made that way to prevent the rubber from dry rot/cracking. Some parts bloom more than others. If the balance of the material (sometimes a talcum powder type) is too much when the part is made, after a period of time it oozes out. There is nothing wrong with those parts at all. The rubber will stay soft and pliable. You can usually wash it off but it will most likely come back again. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[AhardFSU]

I normally don’t discuss my troubles with rubbers in a community setting.

 

[MachEMaster]

I have had my car for over a year and noticed the rubber turning white Not sure what it is. Its not mold or a film but the rubber itself. I remember seeing this on the old 1980's cars with the chrome bummpers and the rubber trim. The pictures below are from the rubber stoppers in the trunk and the rubber passthrough from the door to the car. They are not the sun so this should not be UV damage

Any input or suggestions. I need to take my car into the dealer from another issue and will have them look at this, but I don't expect much from them.

Wash your door jams and rubber with a soft mitt and car soap. Rinse it off. Dry everything well with a towel or chamois. Get some rubber trim dressing, and spray it on the rubber components, and work it in with another cloth. It should get rid of the white, and bring it back to shiny black. Good luck!

 

[MyLittlePony2022]

@markboris Thanks Mark. As usually, you are a wealth of knowledge and I appreciate your assistance. I would have never know about blooming in rubber components. I want to be you when I grow up.

@MachEMaster Will, thanks for your tip. I wanted to determine if this was normal or something that I need to take to the dealer. Now that I know that my rubber is blooming, I will clean it off and put on some trim dressing.

 

[markboris]

Yes Will is correct in that you can make it look "normal" by washing and applying a rubber dressing. Many times the rubber will continue blooming and will settle down. Mine is doing that on one out of four of the door connectors, you never know.

 

[azerik]

Yeah VRP. I used Gummi Pflege Stift. It's a rubber care stick. Used it on my Porsche's with great success.

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