I have a problem on 2 of my cars.The steering wheel and dash pad of my 74 Camaro and the steering wheel of my 73 Firebird have turned sticky.I have seen this on other cars too.It seems that over years of sitting in adverse enviornments the rubbery parts get a sap like coating on them.I cleaned the heck out of my firebird steering wheel using everything from carb cleaner and prepsol to purle stuff,and nothing kept it away for that long.If I drive the car on a regualr basis the oils in my hands make the rim of the wheel feel normal,but the spokes are still nasty.I have a mint dash pad in my 74 that I am looking to use in one of my other cars,and it is super sticky.what causes this,and how can I make it go away.

Thanks.

The process you see/feel is called 'outgassing.'
The solvents of the older synthetic material is evaporating and nothing you can do to stop it except replace the part with better technical ingredients.

You can use an upholstery lube/conditioner, for lack of a better term, to prolong the life, ArmorAll is one, but you must keep doing it forever; once applied, it becomes a ritual, even on today's materials.

The process you see/feel is called 'outgassing.'
The solvents of the older synthetic material is evaporating and nothing you can do to stop it except replace the part with better technical ingredients.

You can use an upholstery lube/conditioner, for lack of a better term, to prolong the life, ArmorAll is one, but you must keep doing it forever; once applied, it becomes a ritual, even on today's materials.I JUST LEARNED SOMETHING TODAY!! THANKS EVERETT!!:thumbsup:

You're welcome.

You're not alone on this I have just put the steering column back in my car after four or more years. I put the original plastic wheel back on it as I couldn't clean the sticky off the other one.

Jeff