Original owner of 73 camaro. The interior was black vinyl including the steering wheel. Have noticed lately that the steering wheel seems to be extremely shinny and almost feels to the touch like someone rubbed it down with vaseline. I wipe it down with a towel and there is no apparent residue transferred to the towel. The result is somewhat better, but the rub down seems to last for just a day or two before I must repeat the aforementioned process.
Is this the normal process of aging vinyl material and is there anything I can coat the steering wheel with that might stop this annoying process?

Thanks, have a safe holiday season and may Santa bring you that camaro restoration part that you need.
Bandito

 

Not really sure what causes it,but this is very common with the old factory steering wheels.I have heard of alot of people taking the wheel off the car,and putting it in the dishwasher,and running it through a cleaning cycle.They say that cleans it up pretty good and seems to last a while.

 

Yes, it's caused by the contact of your hands constantly over the years polishing the surface, and smoothing it out. Also skin oils that seem to shine the surface up. I've seen people knock the glossiness off with a Scotchbrite pad, and that works, but it wont ever look like new once it gets polished surface.

 

I know my factory wheel was a gummy sticky mess when I bought my car. I tried cleaning it up with a rag and windex a couple times but it wouldnt touch it. It was so thick I could scrape it off with a fingernail. I finally took the wheel off one evening and washed it in a heavy duty degreaser from Sams club called ProForce. It cut through the crud quite easily. It is concentrated so be sure to dillute it.

 

Common old age vinyl/plastic symptom called 'outgassing'.
The solvents from the recipe/manufacture are finally drying out.

 

Ding ding ding Winner! There isnt a cure really. Clean it and it will come back. Everett, you work in injection molding? I dont know if I would call it outgassing more than just deterioration of the plastic. I have heard people doing the dishwasher trick and sealing it with SEM Low Luster Clear.

 

One can clean the residue off the surface, and then apply a sealer, it will return.
Only fix is replacement.
'I'm just a 'Jack Of All Trades, Master Of None.'

 

Your forum provided us with valuable information to work with. Each & every tips of your post are awesome.

 

Thank you, Jason.
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