Black Ooze

[GeorgeLeonard]

Can anyone tell me what that black ooze that comes out from the edges of the dashboard instruments on Plymouth cars? Both my '49 and '50 show evidence of this but when I saw this picture on Ebay I began to feel a lot better about my cars. Im guessing that this is a common problem with our cars. What is the best way to deal with it? Im certain that it can be removed but what is the best way to make sure it doesnt come back?

[Plymouthy Adams]

that be the rubber gaskets as they deteroiate....

[Frank Elder]

Just don't let all the smoke out! Gages no good after that.

[Frank Elder]

Shel, it means don't let your gages burnout, have seen several joking references to this on this site.

Bad gaskets mean condensation or foriegn matter can drop in causing a short .Thus causing smoke.

[Norm's Coupe]

Actually, I've never seen a gage cluster look like that. Have seen them dirty, but never black like that. If that's from the rubber, something under there got real hot to melt it down like that.

On second thought, there is no rubber in my P15 cluster, or anywhere under the dash. Just paper gaskets.

[Plymouthy Adams]

no heat..some rubber tends to just turn goo when it gets old..then after that stage it get brittle again..it is almost like an element that keeps it pliable causes it to melt, then go hard and crack..

that is like the modern car today..it gets a film on the inner glass that takes forever to try to clean off..that is from the plastics as they age and deteroiate..chemicals are evaporating out of the material..

[Reg Evans]

I think that black stuff is actually some old type of caulk used to seal between the bezel and the glass. I've seen it on lots of old cars and trucks. The stuff is very dry and brittle now and is easily removed with a razor blade and then a Brillo pad with the gauge or speedo left in place.

[Frank Elder]

Smokings bad for you Shel, It being a compression gasket instead of a seal makes my comments way off base. Learn it,don't assume it. Sorry guys.