Weird dark smoke-like stain on the side of my new Cybertruck

[JLMart]

I just got my new CT yesterday; it was raining at the dealer, and I didn't notice it.
Has anybody seen anything like this? I tried to wash it with Dawn, but it didn't do anything.

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[Killlbox]

I think other people have said that’s from whatever adhesive they use to hold the stainless steel for installation.
There was another thread on it recently.

 

[JCERRN]

I just got my new CT yesterday; it was raining at the dealer, and I didn't notice it.
Has anybody seen anything like this? I tried to wash it with Dawn, but it didn't do anything.

Dawn is a detergent soap. Be careful using this as detergent soaps are not recommended per the manual.

 

[CYBERUN]

I just got my new CT yesterday; it was raining at the dealer, and I didn't notice it.
Has anybody seen anything like this? I tried to wash it with Dawn, but it didn't do anything.

That’s normal, I had on the tail gate bigger and darker than yours. Wash, you can use ironX after and clean / polish with Bar Keepers Friend Bar Keepers Friend
Soft Cleanser….

 

[declan]

How much did you pay for your truck? Take it back and make them put it right or give you compensation. I've got a Tesla (not the truck) and if mine wasn't pristine I'd have been livid.

 

[Ray in montana]

How much did you pay for your truck? Take it back and make them put it right or give you compensation. I've got a Tesla (not the truck) and if mine wasn't pristine I'd have been livid.

Like you said. You have got a Tesla and i have a truck. Best if you did not get a truck.

 

[JLMart]

Dawn is a detergent soap. Be careful using this as detergent soaps are not recommended per the manual.

Thanks, I just read it in the manual not to use detergents

 

[Woodrick]

How much did you pay for your truck? Take it back and make them put it right or give you compensation. I've got a Tesla (not the truck) and if mine wasn't pristine I'd have been livid.

FYI, Tesla does not deliver vehicles that have been detailed as traditional dealers do. Dependent on the delivery center, they can be relatively good shape to just a simple wash to get the grime off.

 

[Woodrick]

I just got my new CT yesterday; it was raining at the dealer, and I didn't notice it.
Has anybody seen anything like this? I tried to wash it with Dawn, but it didn't do anything.

I'd recommend stopping by a manual car wash with scrubbing brush type place. At least on mine, there seems to be a layer of something like machining oil that warm water and soap can do wonders at getting off.

 

[JLMart]

will do thanks

 

[AZCYBER]

From Tesla owner's manual:
Cleaning the Exterior
To prevent damage to the exterior, immediately remove corrosive substances (such as grease, oil, bird droppings, tree resin, dead insects, tar spots, road salt, industrial fallout, etc.). Do not wait until Cybertruck is due for a complete wash. If necessary, use denatured alcohol to remove tar spots and stubborn grease stains, then immediately wash the area with water and a mild, non-detergent soap to remove the alcohol.

My comments: As a chemical engineer that worked in the cleaning industry for 40 years, I can assure all readers that Tesla doesn't know WTF they are talking about. Grease, oil and tar are not corrosive. Remove these substances with charcoal lighter (aliphatic hydrocarbon) because "like dissolves like." Alcohol (ethanol, or isopropanol) is pretty worthless for tar/oil/grease. There is no rush. Bird poop is another story. It is acidic with a pH of 3-4.5. Wipe with water and a rag whenever you see it. Insects have a pH from 6.5-7.5, quite neutral. Use water and car detergent. Industrial fallout. All depends. Road salt. Use water and car detergent. Tree sap. Again, it depends. Isopropanol or charcoal lighter. Do it before it polymerizes from UV light. "Mild non-detergent soap" is a totally ignorant statement. Car shampoos that say they are "soap" don't know the difference between soap and detergent. As a Tesla/TSLA owner I would say Tesla should be embarrassed for this nonsense. As far as that shadowing I don't know unless I see it, feel it. All in all, 300 series stainless steel is better than any clear coat. Hey Tesla, hire me for a consulting gig. I'm retired.

 

[getsometom]

I’m surprised no one said to try Barkeepers friend and Windex yet. Perhaps you can give those a go if you’re not having luck removing it

 

[OMFG]

I’m surprised no one said to try Barkeepers friend and Windex yet. Perhaps you can give those a go if you’re not having luck removing it

Agreed. I start to notice the same after a while around the door edges where oil from hands/skin touch. Barkeepers friend (paste, not spray) and cloth will take it off easy. Make sure to rinse the BKF off good, then windex with clean cloth.

 

[CarMan ElecTruck]

Shameful…

 

[mstatkus]

I've had to do barkeepers friend soft a couple times just due to oils and marks I wasn't fond of that were not coming off with spray way glass cleaner.

Also did a pass with a metal ceramic coat and it puts a yellow/orange like tarnish back on the metal I didn't super care for but did resist finger prints great. I later ran a pass with bar keepers friend and it still seems to have the finger resistence without the tarnish look.

I'd just be careful with it, doesn't take much of the product or the polishing to get off marks from sprinklers, oils, bugs, humans etc.

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