Headlight Restoration Experiment

[protojason]

First a disclamer, I'm not sure how long results last, nor if anything harmful is being done...just tried this on a whim tonight.



A quick search here did not reveal this to be some common autopian knowlege that I was missing out on...



A paintless dent repair guy mentioned to me that automatic transmission fluid cleans up plastic headlights easily. Not having any ATF on hand, I tried what I did have on hand, power steering fluid.



Nothing more than dabbing it on a rag, then rubbing. See the pics.



Being a skeptic, I then just used a wet rag and water. There were similar results on a 'half and half' while wet, but when I dried up the water with the rag it was foggy again.



Maybe the powersteering fluid is just coating it making it appear clear...., but the results were near instantaneous...would not be hard to do even if it only lasts a month.



Who knows how long it will last, but it's a definite improvement that took no time at all.



On to the pics.



--Jason



pic 1 - first car, original state

pic 2 - first car, half and half

pic 3 - first car, finished.



pic 4 - second car, original state

pic 5 - second car, half and half (did the inside half this time...poor choice on my part i think)

pic 6 - second car, finished.



Whatcha folks think?

 

[SpoiledMan]

For the same reason that I don't use glazes I don't subscribe to this. For *me* it's either done and done right or it's wrong.

 

[stiffdogg06]

Agreed. I prefer it be done right first. I like to wetsand 1500-2000-3000 and then buff out. :woot:



- Andrew

 

[protojason]

For the same reason that I don't use glazes I don't subscribe to this. For *me* it's either done and done right or it's wrong.

I've definitly seen the how to on the 'right' way, and the results definitly speak for themselves. This was more of a curiosity-sake sort of thing performed on my Dad and girlfriends headlights.



So....what are we seeing? How is the powersteering fluid making the plastic appear clearer? Is it filling in minor scratches rather than correcting them? (is that the glaze reference?)



Obviously you guys have heard/tried this before eh?



Regards,



Jason

 

[SpoiledMan]

Filling the uneven areas with "oil" to make them temporarily appear much better than they are. It *may* discolor the plastic over time but *will* attract all kinds of dust/dirt while the oil is present.



I've never tried anything like it but do understand the principals that are involved.

 

[protojason]

Filling the uneven areas with "oil" to make them temporarily appear much better than they are. It *may* discolor the plastic over time but *will* attract all kinds of dust/dirt while the oil is present.



I've never tried anything like it but do understand the principals that are involved.

Thanks for the reply SpoiledMan, I reckon this is more of a bandaid than anything approaching a correction. Makes sense.

 

[Junebug]

I think ya'll are half baked. If ATF or PS fluid works, hells bells - use it, you state it "will" attract dust -dirt but at the same time - say you've never tried it. Sorry, but that's the same logic as saying Product X doesn't work on my paint but I have not used it. I'm going to buy some ATF and try it on some lenses that need serious help.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

That's just a used-car lot trick. It will work until it wears/washes off. The oil has a different/better refractive index than the hazed plastic.

 

[SpoiledMan]

I think ya'll are half baked. If ATF or PS fluid works, hells bells - use it, you state it "will" attract dust -dirt but at the same time - say you've never tried it. Sorry, but that's the same logic as saying Product X doesn't work on my paint but I have not used it. I'm going to buy some ATF and try it on some lenses that need serious help.

It's actually just simple logic that *oil* will attract dirt. Since *nothing* has been done to *remove* the old layer of plastic, it's a *temporary* fix until the oil wears off.

 

[Junebug]

It's not "oil" in the sense of 10w40, I don't know how ATF reacts on plastic, never tried it - yet, I do know that brake fluid will take paint off - at least it did with some single stage I got tired of sanding by in the day. I didn't get the idea that the OP left a film of ATF - PS on the lense, my understanding was he used it to clean the lense and wiped it dry, if I got that part wrong, I apologise. I'm still interested in trying this - what the hey, if it does work, then I'll let you know.

 

[protojason]

It's not "oil" in the sense of 10w40, I don't know how ATF reacts on plastic, never tried it - yet, I do know that brake fluid will take paint off - at least it did with some single stage I got tired of sanding by in the day. I didn't get the idea that the OP left a film of ATF - PS on the lense, my understanding was he used it to clean the lense and wiped it dry, if I got that part wrong, I apologise. I'm still interested in trying this - what the hey, if it does work, then I'll let you know.

Your correct in your impression, I did wipe the excess ATF-PS from the lens.

 

[purplenurple]

girlfriends headlights.



So....what are we seeing?

Lol...

If you wanna do it 100% right check out the WolfGang headlight resotration kit. I am pretty sure that you can use a mild paint polish + Plexus as well.

 

[imported_Larry A]

Ive tried Megs. PlasticX. It works until you use the headlights, then they become cloudy again. Could trans fluid be any worst. If it worked for protojason Ill give it a try.

 

[imported_weekendwarrior]

Why don't you take a water hose, and full blast the left headlight for 10 minutes, dry it off, then see if the "fillers" were in fact washed away, and how it compares to the right headlight?

 

[imageautodetail]

Filling the uneven areas with "oil" to make them temporarily appear much better than they are. It *may* discolor the plastic over time but *will* attract all kinds of dust/dirt while the oil is present.



I've never tried anything like it but do understand the principals that are involved.

It will discolor, I did a 2006 Jeep GC last week, the owner had spilt transmission fluid in one of the little netted cubby holes in the cargo area and tried to clean it 6-8 hours later with simple green and it turned the khaki plastic, violet. I would say 99% for sure that they will yellow quickly after they heat up

 

[mr.ikon]

i think i might just take some wetsanding paper and have at it. then follow with some polish.

 

[SpoiledMan]

It will discolor, I did a 2006 Jeep GC last week, the owner had spilt transmission fluid in one of the little netted cubby holes in the cargo area and tried to clean it 6-8 hours later with simple green and it turned the khaki plastic, violet. I would say 99% for sure that they will yellow quickly after they heat up

I figured it would but wasn't sure. Thinking about it, it *does* make sense that it would stain as the lens cover is porous and the fluid is likely to migrate into those pores. That would probably ruin the lens beyond repair making the temporary fix more expensive than just doing it right the first time.:xyxthumbs

 

[SpoiledMan]

It's not "oil" in the sense of 10w40, I don't know how ATF reacts on plastic, never tried it - yet, I do know that brake fluid will take paint off - at least it did with some single stage I got tired of sanding by in the day. I didn't get the idea that the OP left a film of ATF - PS on the lense, my understanding was he used it to clean the lense and wiped it dry, if I got that part wrong, I apologise. I'm still interested in trying this - what the hey, if it does work, then I'll let you know.

Wiping away the ATF/PS fluid will still leave an oily film unless something is used to remove said oily film. Get some on your hands and see if you can remove it by just wiping it off. You'll need some kind of detergent to get it completely off. Same thing with the lens covers.

 

[the new guy]

hi i was wondering if anyone can help me out? I wet sanded my headlights and fallowed up with some 3m polish compound. After that the headlights look amazing not a single scratch! But at night when i turn the headlights on theres a light film of hazy over them. I try using 3m plastic polish,nu finish plastic polish, and plastx but none seem to work! any suggestions on how to get them clear?