Setec Astronomy
Well-known member
How would you have gotten hydraulic fluid on the top? Is the mechanism hydraulic? Usually hydraulic fluid isn't clear, and it isn't thick.
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Tree Sap on Cloth Convertible Top
- Thread starter PoisonTheWell
- Start date
PoisonTheWell
Member
Then I'm stumped lol. So there's a sticky on each side of the plastic window in the same spot. I think whatever the top is coming in contact with when it's down is leaking some sort of fluid on it.How would you have gotten hydraulic fluid on the top? Is the mechanism hydraulic? Usually hydraulic fluid isn't clear, and it isn't thick.
Setec Astronomy
Well-known member
Is it what you have in the picture in post #8? There's all kinds of adhesives and lubes used in vehicles that could certainly be creeping out of something.
Have you tried acetone? You can go to Walmart and buy a small bottle of nail polish remover for about $2.00.
Now will acetone remove the dye from the fabric??? It's one of those "try in a hidden area first" to see if there is any removal of the dye.
Since hydraulic fluid is a petroleum -based product, I would think a good degreaser, like OPT Power Clean, may work well.
As far as correctly identifying the gooey material, unless you are a forensic criminal investigator lab technician with a plethora of chemical spectrometer equipment at your disposal, it may be impossible to do so. The look, feel, smell test is about as far as I can go. That said, did you take a close-up picture of it with your smart phone and let Google -AI try to identify whatever it is? It's worth a try.
Anyway, let us know with what and how you removed the hydraulic fluid from your fabric top material.
Now will acetone remove the dye from the fabric??? It's one of those "try in a hidden area first" to see if there is any removal of the dye.
Since hydraulic fluid is a petroleum -based product, I would think a good degreaser, like OPT Power Clean, may work well.
As far as correctly identifying the gooey material, unless you are a forensic criminal investigator lab technician with a plethora of chemical spectrometer equipment at your disposal, it may be impossible to do so. The look, feel, smell test is about as far as I can go. That said, did you take a close-up picture of it with your smart phone and let Google -AI try to identify whatever it is? It's worth a try.
Anyway, let us know with what and how you removed the hydraulic fluid from your fabric top material.
Last edited:
PoisonTheWell
Member
Correct. Same, just both sides and more now.Is it what you have in the picture in post #8? There's all kinds of adhesives and lubes used in vehicles that could certainly be creeping out of something.
PoisonTheWell
Member
Haven't tried that, but I'll see if that'll work on the goop without touching the fabric.Have you tried acetone?
Setec Astronomy
Well-known member
Have you looked (if you can) under the top in that area to see if there is some hinge or other in that area that has grease on it that's migrating through the top? It could be some silicone grease that is drying out on that black surface in the sun. Silicones are pretty stable but I recently pulled out an old tube of Dow Corning #7 to use for something and the top had split and the grease in the end was pretty dried out.Correct. Same, just both sides and more now.
PoisonTheWell
Member
Car's in with the mechanic, I showed him the spots and asked if he could figure out what or where it's coming from. His guess is hydraulic fluid, but not sure where it's coming from. I've essentially replaced the entire hydraulic system for the roof.
Setec Astronomy
Well-known member
Oh, so it is hydraulic. Typical industrial hydraulic fluid is kind of like power steering or transmission fluid, but I guess if the mechanism is inside the car perhaps it uses some more human-friendly stuff which could look like your mystery spots.