Cleaning white plastic tanks?

[cygnusx1]

Has anyone found a way, or a way not to, to clean the old washer tanks and other white plastic parts in the Z that have discolored with age? Is it even possible to get them nearly white again?

[Oiluj]

The tanks are HDPE, so you can safely try bleach, (but take off the pump first !!!), and rinse well later. That said, my guess is that the discoloration is aging / exposure to hydrocarbons and will probably not go away.

The throttle linkage ends are some other plastic, probably a nylon, so bleaching is probably not a good idea.

[oldhemi]

I dont think you will be able to.... but if you do, I would like to know! I never had in success and I would worry a liile about bleach. You could try different methods including an abrasive method - wire brush, sandpaper etc - on the bottom of the washer tank where a screwup dont show.

[cygnusx1]

I suppose I could paint them...but that's cheesy. If I did paint them, I would put a vertical tape strip on it as a mask, then spray it semi-gloss black (to make it look like modern black plastic). Once the tape was peeled, it would leave a window to view the fluid level....just a thought...not original but probably better looking than a stained tank.

Edited March 9, 2010 by cygnusx1

[leftover z]

Maybe some toothpaste and a lot of those teeth whitening strips

[oldhemi]

Loz - lmao !

[Zs-ondabrain]

On my washer fluid bottle, I tested on an inconspicuas spot (bottom) but ended up cleaning the whole thing with brake cleaner spray. I sprayed it on a clean towel and was able to make it much cleaner. I didn't appeer to soften or hurt the plastic at all.

Your results may differ but it worked on mine.

If you're gonna paint it, I would suggest that Krylon Plastic Infusion paint. Less likely to peel later on. Tape off a veiwing strip and paint the rest in white or eggshell white.

Dave

The Resevoirs cleaned up nicely with brake cleaner and I tested the side of my bottle for the picture.

[cygnusx1]

LOLz on the toothpaste BUT you weren't too far off! I found something that worked well. I used some Gojo hand cleaner with mild abrasive in it and it worked wonders on the outside. Put some on a cloth and work the surface. The inside was already acceptably clean.

[JohnnyO]

I used some Gojo hand cleaner with mild abrasive in it and it worked wonders on the outside. Put some on a cloth and work the surface.

Makes me wonder weather plain old Ajax with bleach or some of that soft abrasive bathroom cleaner with bleach would work just as effectively and give you the benefit of whitening from bleach. I think it was called SoftScrub.

[leftover z]

Makes me wonder weather plain old Ajax with bleach or some of that soft abrasive bathroom cleaner with bleach would work just as effectively and give you the benefit of whitening from bleach. I think it was called SoftScrub.

OR... maybe a few tablets of Efferdent denture cleaner in a bucket of warm water. If it is suppose to clean tobacco & coffee stains without harm to false teeth, it might work LOLLOLLOL

[joker72z]

I cleaned my washer bottle with Simple Green and a white scrub pad used for cleaning glassware. It did a fantastic job and didn't damage the plastic....but you need to try and clean both the inside and the outside...just used a diluted amount inside and a small brush like a pot brush.

I don't have any pics but I was amazed at the outcome.

Chris

[Z train]

Vinegar