I don't know what you use to clean your yellowish headlights.

I know there are a few tricks around. But in my country we use brake fluid.

Yes just plain brake fluid. I used it on my headlights and it do wonders.

They are not new of course but they are shinny and all the burn plastic is gone Just be careful with your paint.

have fun!

Soapy water....

Brake fluid?! :eek: - are you having a laugh?

Use the same stuff you'd use to clean car windows with - car shampoo or some glass cleaner. Or some bug remover spray if they're particularly splattered with debris.

Shouldn't this be in the 'Car Care' section instead?

Steve

:eek: Brake fluid, I thought it was a very dangerous substance - and can strip paint:O

I just use either a smidge of AG fast glass or like DonkeyOaty, soapy water.

I'll strip pretty much anything - incredibly aggressive stuff

Steve

I'll strip pretty much anything

Oh aye

Not recommended on people Mike!

Steve

I've laid a wet towel over the bonnet and headlights for 20mins or so in the past to make removing heavy soiling with ease.

Brake fluid? You are simply mental!!!

It has just occurred to me as well - how did you ever think up the idea to try brake fluid on headlights?

Whatever you're smoking, can we all have some? (just not near the brake fluid, it's flammable you know)

Steve

In "misael78"'s defence, I have just tried this method on my headlights. And I must say when I lit the brake fluid on the lights, it did infact get rid of all the dirt - together with the light, bumper, front wing, engine...

Next we will be cleaning our seats with urine

In "misael78"'s defence, I have just tried this method on my headlights. And I must say when I lit the brake fluid on the lights, it did infact get rid of all the dirt - together with the light, bumper, front wing, engine...

Next we will be cleaning our seats with urine

Oops must admit nearly pee'd myself at thought of putting brake fluid anywhere near the car other than in the brake system:rofl:

Here's a cynical view....

Visit a few car forums.

Post a few random posts

Wait a week or so

Post a "I clean my car with brake fluid"

Sit back and watch people try it for themselves....

Of course, it could just be "tip of the week" but I'm not about to try it....

Here's a cynical view....

Visit a few car forums.

Post a few random posts

Wait a week or so

Post a "I clean my car with brake fluid"

Sit back and watch people try it for themselves....

Of course, it could just be "tip of the week" but I'm not about to try it....

*Rushes to scoobynet & other forums to post it in eager anticipation of the numptys that actually do try it*

Here's a cynical view....

Visit a few car forums.

Post a few random posts

Wait a week or so

Post a "I clean my car with brake fluid"

Sit back and watch people try it for themselves....

Of course, it could just be "tip of the week" but I'm not about to try it....

Yep, was thinking that. Does have more posts than I expected for that though. Haven't actually bothered to see what the other posts are though!

:feedtrol: :rubchin:

Steve

*Rushes to scoobynet & other forums to post it in eager anticipation of the numptys that actually do try it*

Well you see that's the failing in posting it on Briskoda, cos everyone here is clever

If your lights are not shinny aymore. I meant they have this yellow

burn plastic stuff you can use a cloth with brake fluid and you will

qet your shine back. I use this method once every six month or so.

Because the tropical sun burn those plastics.

I'm not kidding! I'll try to post pics. It's a shame I dont have pictures

before the process. I know it's sound weird, stupid or whatever you'll

like it But it works!

Bye bye

Perhaps a less aggressive solvent would be better & safer though such as WD40? Even then I would be careful about cracking the plastic of the lights with any cleaners.

Do post some pics though as Im sure we are all just being health and safety fanatics

Because the tropical sun burn those plastics.

Where do you live that the sun burns plastic yellow in 6 months? :eek:

Steve

Dominican republic, Caribbean. The sun burns here!

I did the cleaning every six months just to keep the shine.

But all car with plastic headlights at most in two years become yellow over here.

This is because of the sun.

Makes sense to me. Polycarbonate degrades in ultra violet light. A solvent is likely to cloud the lenses, so oil is more likely to attack only the oxidised layer and wipe off before it can penetrate the plastic. It may even be absorbed by the yellowed layer displacing the oxidation and returning the lights to clear.

Brake fluid is bad on paint because it interferes with the oxygen that originally reacted with the polymers causing them all to join together (a process called cross linking). These oxygen atoms literally hold the paint together and the mechanism of attack of paint strippers is usually to attack the bonds. The headlights yellow because the UV catalyses oxidation of the polycarbonate, IIRC a polymer not held together by oxygen. Could it be that the brake fluid removes the oxygen from the plastic clearing the lens?

Chris

There is quite a good thread under "DIY guide on cleaning the headlights " on the Vortex forum.

VWvortex Forums: DIY: Polishing PLASTIC...like headlights and tailights!

The results on the Golf on page 2 of the thread look very good

Dougal

That guide sounds interesting, as my front lenses are a little scratched. But there's something wrong with that link?

EDIT: Just went to the Vortex forums direct, "forums.vwvortex.com is down for a database upgrade."

Steve

Hello Wardy

I have just tried the link and it is working ok for me(17.25 13/01/06).

Please post again if you are still having problems.

Dougal

Yep, can get on now. As I added above, they were obviously doing some DB work earlier in the day.

Cheers,

Steve

nice tip, will remember that. Though in the UK even 6 year old ones look crystal clear...