I have just gotten the necessary parts and put my glove box door back on. Unfortunately, while the hinges were broken, the previous owner taped it shut, so there is an area of old dried tape goo on the glove box door and the top of the dash. Any suggestions on how to remove it? I have already tried lighter fluid, brake cleaner and even carburetor cleaner, none of which seem to have any effect whatsoever. The only thing that does is scraping, which is not practical due to the embossed texture of the parts in question. I plan to replace the dash eventually, as it is badly cracked, but if there is anything relatively easy I can do to improve its appearance until then, it would be nice.

There was a related thread not too long ago, on the subject of removing tape residue from exterior paint, but, if I remember correctly, that one was inconclusive.

Like dissolves like.. so, some adhesives will dissolve better in isopropyl alcohol (91% rubbing alcohol is a good thing to try), others in the "citrus stuff" (terpenes), others in the oil or mineral based solvents suggested. Most adhesive tapes are acrylic-based and are easy to get off. 3M adhesive remover is good for harder to get off silicone based tape residues. But your problem is you no longer have an adhesive.

Since it is baked on adhesive it has been chemically converted to something more like engine carbon deposits. I have found Gunk (solvent + surfactants) or Xylene to be the best for such residue. Test them first, of course, to make sure they don't discolor your dash.

All about tape (pressure sensitive adhesives):
http://aic.stanford.edu/sg/bpg/annual/v02/bp02-13.html

I visited the 3M plant adhesive plant in St Paul once. They had 20,000 adhesive products - their #1 money maker is still post-its.

I finally got it off. It was 91% isopropyl alcohol that did it. I started a new thread to announce the success, and neglected to post a follow-up on this one.

Yesterday I went to Lowe's, to look for Goo-be-gone, as recommended by one of the replies below. I couldn't find it. All they had was Goof Off latex paint remover, and a product called Original Motsenbocker's Lift Off, which said, among other things, in big letters on the label "Tape Remover" Also supposed to remove bumper stickers, pitch and sap (and just about anything else) Could this be what I've been looking for?? I bought some, and was disappointed when I tried it this morning, and it did absolutely nothing.

As I have gotten several replies recommending oil of various kinds (olive, vegetable, peanut, WD40) I must emphasize that the substance I'm trying to remove is hard, crusty and not sticky at all. It has been baking in the sun for (probably) years. If it were still somewhat fresh, and sticky, the oil would have taken it right off, as would have the lighter fluid, the brake cleaner, the carburetor cleaner etc.....

Have you tried 3M Adhesive Remover?
Charles

Any of the oils should work well, including peanut butter which may stick around on more vertical surfaces. One thing that I often do before trying to get any dried substance off is try to soften it with moist Viva towel, maybe covered with plastic wrap, taped in place for a while before attacking it.

Mineral spirits worked ok - I had the same problem, a dumbass had taped their glove box shut with duct tape. I actually used a cheap brass brush from Harbor Freight to get in the cracks - their brass brushes are so soft they didn't hurt the vinyl.

Good luck, I never did get all the goo off. Maybe freeze it and chip the goo off?
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'93 244: 'A' cam 4 deg. advanced, 25/22 sways, custom heim endlinks, poly bushings, and a lot more styling customization than I care to recount.

Naptha

Naptha is lighter fluid.

And nothing suggested worked. Not WD40, acetone or turpentine. Never tried the Evercoat, cause I've never removed it all. Whomever suggested mayonaise, well ...I hear they use that in Amsterdam on french fries.

The only thing that works on the exterior metal was a razor blade, and too many times I've dug into the finish. Too risky.

I had great luck on removing old tape residue on the dash using Goof Off, which is essentially Xylene.
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89 245 'loaded' with a Great Pyrenees

I use a citrus based product I found at Lowe's called "Goo-be-Gone"...great stuff! Leaves no residue...

All those solutions are ineffective!

The only solution that will work is olive oil.


Good Luck!!!

I generally use vegetable cooking oil (Wesson or equivalent), which in effect is probably about the same thing.

find in the grocery store any cleaner who main ingredients are citrus extracts.
there are a number of different makers of the stuff.

it is amazingly effective in removing old dried adhesives.

it will normally remove without a trace any residue that you would normally have to use a petroleum solvent to clean and the citrus is harmless to your skin and lungs and naturally smells good.

Long ago I was told that WD40 is a good solvent for sticky stuff, from bubblegum in a child's hair to the glue residue you're speaking off, and I've found it works on some things (I just can't stand the lingering smell, though).

But I've also found that brake cleaner works even better -- but as you've already tried it and it hasn't worked, so this must be a really tough problem.

Good luck.

Try wd-40. The other thing that works well for that kind of stuff is real butter, followed by dish soap and water. Both of these approaches are also remarkably efficient for cleaning hands.

Good luck!