Results 1 to 9 of 9

Thread: "Oil" leaking out of PS2 controllers?

  1. #1
    Super Moderator Moderator
    Custom rank graphic
    Aussie2B's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    9,277
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    35
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    133
    Thanked in
    111 Posts

    Default "Oil" leaking out of PS2 controllers?

    Has anybody had an issue like this with official Sony Dual Shock 2 controllers? I have two controllers, both acquired new with their systems, and after a year or so of owning the first, some oily residue would come out of the base of the right analog stick when played, and it continued to do that for a very long time (it might still do it for all I know, but we rarely use that one now). I have another that I got with my slim silver PS2, which I opened up a month or so ago to clean. It appeared fine then, but now it's producing a slight bit of the "oil" from its right stick as well (it wiped away as black, but that could be the plastic of the stick wearing down and mixing with it for all I know). I don't believe it's related to the cleaning since everything went well with that and I never even opened my first controller. It doesn't seem to affect functionality, but it is strange and annoying. Is this some kind of lubrication breaking down or what? Mainly I'm just curious if anyone else has encountered this.

    On a semi-related note, I found a lot of small black hairs inside the silver controller when I opened it, I assume from the guy that assembled it in China. I thought the original PlayStation's Dual Shock was pretty shoddy, but these are even worse.

  2. #2
    Insert Coin (Level 0) james42519's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    kentucky
    Posts
    64
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    i had this happen too and i have no idea what is wrong. i just kept cleaning it. here is the post i made on it.
    http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=134086

    i seen a ps2 controller in plastic bag at a used game store that was doing that said mine was doing that too and asked what could it be and said didn't know and acted like could care less about what i was saying. i took mine apart and cleaned them in water and stuff too and let them dry and put back together. i used alcohol too to clean them and seems like ti is doing it less now then it used too. usually did it when it sat for like a week or something.
    my games. don't have xbox just games for it. game gear is messed up.
    http://backloggery.com/main.php?user=james42519

  3. #3
    Don't do it...or,do. (shrugs) Custom rank graphic
    Frankie_Says_Relax's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    On permanent vacation from this bullshit.
    Posts
    7,824
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts
    Xbox LIVE
    FlyingBurrito76
    PSN
    FlyingBurrito76

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Aussie2B View Post
    On a semi-related note, I found a lot of small black hairs inside the silver controller when I opened it, I assume from the guy that assembled it in China. I thought the original PlayStation's Dual Shock was pretty shoddy, but these are even worse.
    Kaz Hirai's secret pubic hair stash!
    "And the book says: 'We may be through with the past, but the past ain't through with us.'"


  4. #4
    Super Moderator Moderator
    Custom rank graphic
    Aussie2B's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    9,277
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    35
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    133
    Thanked in
    111 Posts

    Default

    I'm glad I'm not the only one with this issue. I can at least confirm that it's not any particular run of the controllers. My original controller is from a Japanese fat PS2 from 2003, while my other is a slim US PS2 from a few years past that, so they can't get much more separated than that. Perhaps it could be an environmental factor contributing to it. I don't think it's care since I believe I take good care of my stuff and I trust other DP members do too. I don't think it's even amount of use either since my silver controller really hasn't seen that much use. It could involve age, though, since even my silver is a few years old now. My black one didn't do it right from the beginning either. I don't think it could be hand oil/sweat. I'm a woman and would like to think my hands don't get terribly oily or sweaty when I play (and if they did feel gross, I would wipe them, not keep playing). And I try to train my boyfriend to not handle our controllers with dirty hands. :P Besides, it's way too perfectly oily and artificial appearing to seem like something produced by the body.

  5. #5
    Insert Coin (Level 0) SeberHusky's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Location
    Alaska
    Posts
    2
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    That oil is likely the chemical breakdown of the rubber on the analog stick. I am not a scientist, but after usually 10 years that rubber starts becoming oily and greasy, and then left long enough, it will become putty.

    I collect cell phones, and every phone from 2005 and prior has done this. The T-Mobile SideKick II's and the SideKick iD are the worst. Audiovox phones, the rubber turns to putty.

    How do you fix this? You don't. There is no way to fix it. It is the rubber breaking down from age, planned obsolescence. What you can do to stop it though, is foot powder! Dump a generous amount of foot powder all over the rubber and then rub it in. Wipe the excess off and there you go. The powder bonds to the rubber and takes away the oiliness. How this will do with sweaty hands for hours, I do not know. Worth a shot though.

  6. #6
    ServeBot (Lɘvel 11) RP2A03's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    59 6F 75 72 20 48 44 44 20 61 64 64 69 6E 67 20 65 6D 62 61 72 72 61 73 73 69 6E 67 20 64 61 74 61
    Posts
    3,548
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    I have a GameCube controller that does that too. I have found that smothering the rubber in silicone grease seems to slow the degradation down.
    Mario says "... if you do drugs, you go to hell before you die."

  7. #7
    Strawberry (Level 2) nildem's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2003
    Location
    Raytown, MO, USA
    Posts
    498
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    5
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    1
    Thanked in
    1 Post
    Xbox LIVE
    nildem
    PSN
    nildem
    Steam
    nildem

    Default

    Are you talking about this?

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	goo.jpg 
Views:	38 
Size:	39.6 KB 
ID:	8125

    I've been told that it's caused by the rubber reacting to a specific chemical used in several household cleaners, hand soaps and sanitizers. Supposedly that type of rubber was also widely used in toys during the 60's and 70's, and it's become an issue among those collecting communities as well.

    I've been giving my DS3 sticks a periodic scrubbing with warm water and a paper towel. Seems to solve the issue for me. Probably not the ideal solution for those who play daily, though.

  8. #8
    Strawberry (Level 2) CRTGAMER's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Southern CA
    Posts
    402
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by nildem View Post
    Are you talking about this?

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	goo.jpg 
Views:	38 
Size:	39.6 KB 
ID:	8125

    I've been told that it's caused by the rubber reacting to a specific chemical used in several household cleaners, hand soaps and sanitizers. Supposedly that type of rubber was also widely used in toys during the 60's and 70's, and it's become an issue among those collecting communities as well.

    I've been giving my DS3 sticks a periodic scrubbing with warm water and a paper towel. Seems to solve the issue for me. Probably not the ideal solution for those who play daily, though.
    I had a couple of controllers do that just from sitting on the shelf, the gummy crap all over the plastic housing.

    Quote Originally Posted by CRTGAMER
    Game Controller storage Guide - http://www.racketboy.com/forum/viewt...625519#p625519

    Quote Originally Posted by RevEng
    Quote Originally Posted by Uzumaki
    http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic...d-on-psx-case/

    While I was digging out my PSX stuff to play games, I found the controller extension (some 3rd party brand) had fused into the case for Final Fantasy IX game. I was able to separate it and the cord looked OK but the plastic around the melted indention on the case feels very soft, almost rubbery. The indention goes almost completely through the case.



    Was it due to weird chemical reaction from 2 different plastics or something? The case and the cord both looks clean otherwise and no funny smell. I don't store chemical in my room where the game stuff were stored, the strongest stuff is probably a glue stick or rubbing alcohol.
    My guess here is the extension cord had some out-gassing of softeners (used to keep the cord pliable) that reacted with the case, instead of the plastics themselves actually reacting together.

    Wiki Outgassing - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outgassing
    This makes sense. I had some controllers such as the Game Elements pictured at the very top that would get a sticky coating buildup just sitting on the shelf which I suspected was from the controller plastic reaction itself. After a very difficult cleaning with Alcohol, LiftOff and even Ajax, I finally managed to scrub the controller shell free of the gunk. The stickiness has not returned, maybe the same effect described in Wiki; the new car smell of the plastic reaction settling down.
    CRTGAMER Guides and Reviews
    Apple II+, APF MP1000, Atari 5200 7800, Vic20, TI994A, SX64, Educ64, 128D, Vectrex, N64, PS1, iMac CRT, Dreamcast, PS2, Gameboy Advance, Gamecube, GBA Player, PSP, Wii, PS3 Emotion chip, Samsung Impression, VHS, CED, Video 8, Pioneer Laser, DVD, Sony WEGA HDCRT

  9. #9
    ServeBot (Lɘvel 11) RP2A03's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    59 6F 75 72 20 48 44 44 20 61 64 64 69 6E 67 20 65 6D 62 61 72 72 61 73 73 69 6E 67 20 64 61 74 61
    Posts
    3,548
    Thanks Thanks Given 
    0
    Thanks Thanks Received 
    0
    Thanked in
    0 Posts

    Default

    I'm pretty sure this is just the normal deterioration of rubber here. If you ever open an old tape deck, VCR, belt driven turntable, etc; you stand a good chance of finding that at least one of the belts has turned into a black, sticky substance. Silicone grease (not the spray stuff) is your friend.
    Mario says "... if you do drugs, you go to hell before you die."

Similar Threads

  1. Replies: 128
    Last Post: 05-24-2019, 01:06 PM
  2. Replies: 8
    Last Post: 01-26-2013, 11:25 PM
  3. Super Nintendo "original" controllers: How many kinds?
    By Anotherfluke in forum Classic Gaming
    Replies: 34
    Last Post: 02-06-2010, 02:05 PM
  4. "brand new" SNES controllers- bootleg or not?
    By Diosoth in forum Classic Gaming
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 02-23-2009, 01:13 PM
  5. Cool Find - Atari "Arcade style" controllers!
    By ste in forum Collector Guides and Rarity Database
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 09-25-2003, 07:51 AM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •