mysterious dust

911Brian · 911Brian's Garage

I have noticed that my car collects mysterious black dust on the sides and the rear. It isn't really noticable until you run your finger through it. It is not oily. I am guessing it is brake dust, but I have never seen brake dust get onto the sides of cars as well.

Any ideas?

Thanks

Brian

masraum · 03-14-2003, 07:37 AM

do you drive on well populated interstate or highway much. I can clean the inside of my windows and drive for a week with my windows down and the end of the week the inside of my windows will turn a rag black.

911Brian · 911Brian's Garage

I drive on main roads but no highways. It looks like brake dust. I was just curious if anybody else had any ideas on what it could be.

Thanks

island911 · 03-14-2003, 09:21 AM

Rubber (off your tires) . . .not implying you would ever come close to spinning your tires.

911Brian · 911Brian's Garage

I have only had the car for a week. I really haven't "gotten into it" yet. Still getting used to her!

masraum · 03-14-2003, 10:59 AM

Do your wheel collect brake dust quickly?? I would think that if you have enough brake dust to collect it on the side of your car that the wheels would collect lots.

911Brian · 911Brian's Garage

Well, they are turbo twists and don't seem to have dust on them, however, if I run my finger across them, there is dust there. I was just hoping it isn't something more serious. If it is brake dust then who cares, I can deal with that.

Brian

Jim Sims · 03-14-2003, 11:18 AM

It is dried Swartzengel sweat; these are the entities that push on the rear of the 911 and keep it on the road. Some 911's need a whole squad of Swartzengels.

Jim

911Brian · 911Brian's Garage

LOL @ Jim

MotoSook · 03-14-2003, 11:28 AM

I have a white car and after a drive (always spirited) I get that mysterious black dust too. I though it might just be the combination of carbon from my exhaust, brake dust, road dust and tire dust. I get it in the rear quarter of the car. Anyone really know?

island911 · 03-14-2003, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jim Sims
It is dried Swartzengel sweat; these are the entities that push on the rear of the 911 and keep it on the road. Some 911's need a whole squad of Swartzengels. Jim

Which is why there will be the soon to be released product. . .e-Swartzengel; electric Swartzengel sweat drier.

I know, I know. . .you're all thinking that an electric Swartzengel sweat drier really won't really do much.
But, we're just talking about drying an extra 1 psi (1 pound per stupid idiot)

jbripps · jbripps's Garage

Hi there,

My guess is that if you are treating your tires with an armor-all type product, it could be drifting to the back when rolling fast and collecting any dust that hits it. I've had that happen to me before.

regards and welcome.

masraum · 03-14-2003, 07:37 PM

Eeewww, Armour All?

Blech!!

LeeH · 03-14-2003, 07:53 PM

Same thing here. My guess would be tiny bits of tire. Think of all the tires wearing away.... where does the rubber go?

TimT · 03-14-2003, 08:29 PM

Are you guys serious?.....mysterious dust?

911Brian · 911Brian's Garage

I have never seen this on any of my other cars. I was just making sure it wasn't anything to worry about.

Mrdi · Mrdi's Garage

I have it as well on my 88 coupe.
Ruined a few pair of slacks by turning the corner in the garage too tightly and bumping the panel with my leg.
I thought perhaps it was oil residue from the exhaust and brake dust.
My coupe doesn't burn oil.though, 45 k orig mi.
Tire rubber?
That could be.... the way the SO3's go out the door, that might be it.
The AC compressors spit a little oil

power · 03-14-2003, 09:34 PM

Darn that ozone depletion, my local Government's new energy policy in this part of the world, has fingered coal as a new and viable energy source. Perhaps you are driving through the fallout?

Emission · Emission's Garage

Brake dust and atmospheric dust. The rubber on your tires wears much to slowly to cover your car in a layer of dust.

LeeH · 03-14-2003, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Emission
Brake dust and atmospheric dust. The rubber on your tires wears much to slowly to cover your car in a layer of dust.

I don't think it's the dust from your own tires, but the dust from ALL the cars that pass over the road. Here in AZ we get so little rain the stuff doesn't get washed off the road. Just a short trip at highway speeds results in my (white) car being covered in very fine black particles.