Cosmoline question
09-01-2003, 11:53 PM
#1
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Cosmoline question
do most of u guys have Cosmoline under ur car?
i found there is a lot under my TT. do i need to remove it or it doesn't matter on the car?
i found there is a lot under my TT. do i need to remove it or it doesn't matter on the car?
09-02-2003, 04:22 PM
#5
Burning Brakes
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Sloth,
I just spent most of the weekend doing my GT3. What I don't understand is that all the parts they spray it on are aluminum or alloy steel. What is there to rust?
Anyway, here's what I did. Get the car up on a lift or at least jack stands, it much easier to do if you can get the car up high. Warm up the engine, the cosmoline comes off easier when hot. Then I sprayed an area with the Eimann Fabrik Engine Degreaser (your garage will smell like oranges for a while). Then I used a power washer with a 15 degree tip and the pressure set fairly low to wash it off. Some thicker areas I had to hit twice or scrub with a detailing brush. If you're really ****, remove the rear plastic tray so you can get to the transmission case.
This will get 90% of it off with minimal work but it is messy. That crap is really sticky when it comes off, so use latex gloves and some kind of eye protection. And be prepared to toss out whatever clothes you have on when you start the job, because they will never come clean again. The rest I did by hand with a rag, some brushes and more Eimann. It's good stuff.
It took me about 4 hours to do the rear of the car. The front suspension parts only took about 1.5 hours. Make sure to remove the wheels for easier access to the suspension parts, which are coated with the stuff. Also do the inside of your wheels, since they get some overspray and cosmoline attracts brake dust as if it was a magnet.
Karl
I just spent most of the weekend doing my GT3. What I don't understand is that all the parts they spray it on are aluminum or alloy steel. What is there to rust?
Anyway, here's what I did. Get the car up on a lift or at least jack stands, it much easier to do if you can get the car up high. Warm up the engine, the cosmoline comes off easier when hot. Then I sprayed an area with the Eimann Fabrik Engine Degreaser (your garage will smell like oranges for a while). Then I used a power washer with a 15 degree tip and the pressure set fairly low to wash it off. Some thicker areas I had to hit twice or scrub with a detailing brush. If you're really ****, remove the rear plastic tray so you can get to the transmission case.
This will get 90% of it off with minimal work but it is messy. That crap is really sticky when it comes off, so use latex gloves and some kind of eye protection. And be prepared to toss out whatever clothes you have on when you start the job, because they will never come clean again. The rest I did by hand with a rag, some brushes and more Eimann. It's good stuff.
It took me about 4 hours to do the rear of the car. The front suspension parts only took about 1.5 hours. Make sure to remove the wheels for easier access to the suspension parts, which are coated with the stuff. Also do the inside of your wheels, since they get some overspray and cosmoline attracts brake dust as if it was a magnet.
Karl
09-02-2003, 04:54 PM
#7
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Yes... it is leaving a mess on my garage floor as it drips off the hot engine. But it is a good mess and I am pleased to have it along with a new Porsche. 
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09-02-2003, 05:34 PM
#8
Nordschleife Master
You are just not driving it enough!!! It also gives off a sweetish smell that is the engine counterpart of the new interior car smell. Smells good to me.
Give it to me and I'll have it burned off pretty quick
.
Give it to me and I'll have it burned off pretty quick
.
09-02-2003, 06:42 PM
#9
Burning Brakes
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Originally posted by brh986
Is there any reason to get it off other than cosmetics?
Is there any reason to get it off other than cosmetics?
It may eventually burn off the engine and transmission but it will stay on the wheels and suspension parts forever.
Karl
09-02-2003, 09:15 PM
#10
Originally posted by Viken
Cosmoline is used as a rust inhibitor on all cars brought by ship. It is perfectly OK to leave it alone. It will eventually burn-off.
Cosmoline is used as a rust inhibitor on all cars brought by ship. It is perfectly OK to leave it alone. It will eventually burn-off.
Not really Viken. Unless you mean it will burn off AFTER 14 years. My 89S4 has it all over the lower part of the car, and it has 75k on it. I am pulling the motor so I will get all of that off, as well as do the actual body as well.
Its on the cross member, the steering rack, side rails, a-arms - everywhere.
09-02-2003, 11:12 PM
#11
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Originally posted by BrendanCampion
Not really Viken. Unless you mean it will burn off AFTER 14 years. My 89S4 has it all over the lower part of the car, and it has 75k on it. I am pulling the motor so I will get all of that off, as well as do the actual body as well.
Not really Viken. Unless you mean it will burn off AFTER 14 years. My 89S4 has it all over the lower part of the car, and it has 75k on it. I am pulling the motor so I will get all of that off, as well as do the actual body as well.
09-03-2003, 09:19 AM
#12
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Viken & Brendan:
Cosmoline application was sold to automakers as an "overall" inhibitor. Thru the early 1990's, it (cosmoline) was liberally applied over the entire vehicle prior to shipping, and then removed at the dealer (VW/Audi) or at the ports (Honda/Toyota/BMW/MB). Over time, the application points of Cosmoline have shrunk dramatically (mostly due to the use of 3M's "wrap").
Cosmoline is still a remarkably effective barrier/inhibitor against corrosion/etching/fluid damage - thus it's continued use. There is a remover for Cosmoline, sold under the trade name "KATZ".
J
Cosmoline application was sold to automakers as an "overall" inhibitor. Thru the early 1990's, it (cosmoline) was liberally applied over the entire vehicle prior to shipping, and then removed at the dealer (VW/Audi) or at the ports (Honda/Toyota/BMW/MB). Over time, the application points of Cosmoline have shrunk dramatically (mostly due to the use of 3M's "wrap").
Cosmoline is still a remarkably effective barrier/inhibitor against corrosion/etching/fluid damage - thus it's continued use. There is a remover for Cosmoline, sold under the trade name "KATZ".
J
09-03-2003, 06:20 PM
#15
Burning Brakes
In my experience the cosmoline does not burn off at all when it's applied heavily, especially on suspension parts. Porsche seems to be really gooping this stuff on the newer cars. It looks like they get it up on a lift after the car is all assembled and a guy shoots the bottom with a wand. The application varies from car to car. Sometimes it is waxy, other times it is hard. It can even get on brake calipers. I question the value of it aside from making a big mess.