Got this happening in two places on my '86 Country Squire - around the gas filler and near the tailgate. Ideas?
After much consideration and debate, from my long experience with wood grain my answer is....................................... And I'm happier than you are!
I believe they used a clear outer film on the woodgrain vinyl. Given that it is appearing around the fuel door, I'd say the gasoline has something to do with the milkiness. Either some solvent has been absorbed or some plasticizer has been leached out. You might try warming a test area with a hair drier to drive off any volatiles, BUT NOT IF THERE ARE ANY GAS FUMES! No point in burning down your wagon and garage.
I am seeing something like this, much worse on my wagon. It appears to be oxidation from the trim strip above the woodgrain running down across the surface.
That's most likely one of the problems. Also the sun in many areas, the fuel, age, and global warming.
Just curious, is this original vinyl woodgrain, or reproduction/replacement? If replacement, how long has it been on there?
Once it gets to that point, it's too late. When paint oxidizes, you can wet sand it and buff it because it has film thickness and the film is consistent throughout. Vinyl outgasses its volatiles and starts to deteriorate. The sun and elements start to act on it. While your paint has numerous coats, your vinyl is only 1 coat thick. Probably the best you can do is to buff it with a lamb's wool buffer and fine polishing compound and then protect it with Amour All or one of those coatings they advertise on TV that brings back the color to oxidized plastics.
