Post by 4wardthinking on Oct 11, 2016 11:24:22 GMT 11
I decided to create a thread to sound out other owners, and what, if any safe guards were taken to allay damage to the LEAF by our climate.
One thing I have been 'toying' with is the clear outer shell of the lights, both front and rear, and how to prevent premature ageing of them.
We have probably all noticed the cloudy headlights on vehicles. The obvious cause(main) is UV radiation. So, given I'd had this manifest itself on our vehicles in the past, I decided to catch the LEAF's lighting covers before they began to show signs of damage. If one is to keep the vehicle for quite a while, then it is, as well as cosmetic, something to be aware of, and addressed immediately.
Now I've seen all the ways to repair the cloudy headlights I think, and most are reasonably effective, but, it's a repair, not prevention. The polymers can never be repaired once damaged, and that's a point to remember.
I got serious when I decided to keep our 2001 Prius. The one thing that separated the car from 'newer' cars was the glaucoma the front exhibited. Now knowing better than to even attempt to grind down the 'lens' surface, I set about figuring out what actually was happening to cause the Glaucoma!.
I discovered that the Prius headlamps all had an exterior coating on top of the ABS firstly. Secondly I noticed 'micro-crazing'in the ABS layer. Thirdly I noted a coating of very fine dust in the inside of the Lens.
So, I concluded there are three contributors to the vehicles Glaucoma.
Now the micro-crazing secondly is in all probability never going to be addressable once it has taken hold, so I left this point as is. The first point about a coating is interesting. This is akin to a clear paint coat, albeit very close to transparent. This coating develops what I can only describe here as an oxide layer. I bought myself a test bed headlamp, and set about examining its properties. Now I've probably witnessed all the shade-tree tricks to restore this comparitively thin layer, of what is best described as atmospheric protection. They range from very fine abrasives, "special" waxes etc. Quite a list, and there are some goops! Commercially available too.
The abrasives all take a thin layer from the outside surface, but quite often leave an obvious surface imperfection. Most are five minute wonders, and last for limited time, and many that use them after the inner layer damage has been permanently done, try again, until they reach the ABS cover material. Close inspection via magnification shows the micro-crazing, or material damage, often seen as a shadow across the surface in the light as it passes through the lens.
So what caused the glaucoma on the outer protection coating. Well, after sectioning the donor headlamp, I had to ascertain good solvents from bad. A useful note is that almost all the commercial 'fixers' rely upon removing a layer from the surface, which ever version it is. I decided that removing a layer by abrasion is a means to an end, so what is actually on the surface?. My findings and causes are as follows. Static coating of air-borne particles, baked on over time seem to be the cause. This layer attracts the suns heat, and increases the surface temperature, and bakes it on even more. UV. Yes, this is also part of the lamp destroyer. The layer begins to fail in reflecting this high energy from the lights, and it penetrates the cover more readily, and breaks down the polymers it's made from.
Seems to be a downward spiral.
So, I dissolved the 'brown' surface on the surface coating, and the light transmission became more clear!. Critical to me. The more light shines forward, the more visible hazards etc will be in the valuable milli-seconds required by the human mind to process and respond. I was making progress.
Saying little to the wife, she took the car on the repetitive work haul. She commented how white and how much clearer the night vision had become. Another reason for the test had been confirmed by a lay-man(no offence inferred by the way).
Now, on to prove a number of things.
If the 'oxide' layer is removed, how viable is it in the future when compared with a test subject.
Easy. Near-side simply cleaned in a normal fashion, and a protective coating to the other, and note results.
So, now I get to the point. What to use?.
Given that 2 years of coating one, and not the other proved that coatings can and do delay headlamp glaucoma. I used a few 'jollops', and shopped the world to explore the options.
Now here's a very important note. Be careful what you apply. Some light covers are a delicate balance of chemicals, and chemicals can slowly damage plastics. Not immediately, but will slowly become evident.
The next thing is headlamp cover construction.
Some have no protective outer layer, and rely on the misterious UV stabilised label, some have a 'extra' coating to rebuff UV, but miss atmospheric contaminants.
Throw a protectant over the cover, and the indication of success is measured in time, nothing else. The manuals utter words like hydrocarbons, organically etc, but not one says 100% it will, or not work, with the usual caveat of 'try on a small area first, before applying".
It's a night-mare. Leave the covers to time & nature, and those incredible works of art & technology will fall victim to headlamp glaucoma. They are not cheap to replace if they look horrid, and function less effectively. Coat them, and you may start the inner ABS to slowly break-down, or worse still, they rapidly look bad.
The choice is the owners quandary. Leave or try to stem the inevitable. The 26volt, 19watt LED headlamp is expensive, and at a simple guess, possibly(finger in the air), $2000, or close to each.
So, I decided to apply discoveries and knowledge to the LEAF, and slow down the onset of headlamp glaucoma. Last night I applied a layer of protection to the headlamps having applied a layer to the rear light cluster a week ago. I want to retain that hallmark front vista the LEAF has, if the covers are very likely to fail, I'd like to try and slow it, or halt it temporarily.
I will put the headlamps back in the car in around five to seven days once the coating has cured. I discovered I could remove the coating if I wanted, so if it fails me, I'm relatively safe. The same coating is working beyond expectations on our Prius, which sits in direct sun every week-day, so time to make the decision.
Questions. Has anyone else addressed the issue?. Does anyone have further & better particulars on this subject.
I'm retaining the product identity, as I don't wish to be associated with any brands, nor culpability if anyone tries the mentioned above, and problems arise.
One thing I have been 'toying' with is the clear outer shell of the lights, both front and rear, and how to prevent premature ageing of them.
We have probably all noticed the cloudy headlights on vehicles. The obvious cause(main) is UV radiation. So, given I'd had this manifest itself on our vehicles in the past, I decided to catch the LEAF's lighting covers before they began to show signs of damage. If one is to keep the vehicle for quite a while, then it is, as well as cosmetic, something to be aware of, and addressed immediately.
Now I've seen all the ways to repair the cloudy headlights I think, and most are reasonably effective, but, it's a repair, not prevention. The polymers can never be repaired once damaged, and that's a point to remember.
I got serious when I decided to keep our 2001 Prius. The one thing that separated the car from 'newer' cars was the glaucoma the front exhibited. Now knowing better than to even attempt to grind down the 'lens' surface, I set about figuring out what actually was happening to cause the Glaucoma!.
I discovered that the Prius headlamps all had an exterior coating on top of the ABS firstly. Secondly I noticed 'micro-crazing'in the ABS layer. Thirdly I noted a coating of very fine dust in the inside of the Lens.
So, I concluded there are three contributors to the vehicles Glaucoma.
Now the micro-crazing secondly is in all probability never going to be addressable once it has taken hold, so I left this point as is. The first point about a coating is interesting. This is akin to a clear paint coat, albeit very close to transparent. This coating develops what I can only describe here as an oxide layer. I bought myself a test bed headlamp, and set about examining its properties. Now I've probably witnessed all the shade-tree tricks to restore this comparitively thin layer, of what is best described as atmospheric protection. They range from very fine abrasives, "special" waxes etc. Quite a list, and there are some goops! Commercially available too.
The abrasives all take a thin layer from the outside surface, but quite often leave an obvious surface imperfection. Most are five minute wonders, and last for limited time, and many that use them after the inner layer damage has been permanently done, try again, until they reach the ABS cover material. Close inspection via magnification shows the micro-crazing, or material damage, often seen as a shadow across the surface in the light as it passes through the lens.
So what caused the glaucoma on the outer protection coating. Well, after sectioning the donor headlamp, I had to ascertain good solvents from bad. A useful note is that almost all the commercial 'fixers' rely upon removing a layer from the surface, which ever version it is. I decided that removing a layer by abrasion is a means to an end, so what is actually on the surface?. My findings and causes are as follows. Static coating of air-borne particles, baked on over time seem to be the cause. This layer attracts the suns heat, and increases the surface temperature, and bakes it on even more. UV. Yes, this is also part of the lamp destroyer. The layer begins to fail in reflecting this high energy from the lights, and it penetrates the cover more readily, and breaks down the polymers it's made from.
Seems to be a downward spiral.
So, I dissolved the 'brown' surface on the surface coating, and the light transmission became more clear!. Critical to me. The more light shines forward, the more visible hazards etc will be in the valuable milli-seconds required by the human mind to process and respond. I was making progress.
Saying little to the wife, she took the car on the repetitive work haul. She commented how white and how much clearer the night vision had become. Another reason for the test had been confirmed by a lay-man(no offence inferred by the way).
Now, on to prove a number of things.
If the 'oxide' layer is removed, how viable is it in the future when compared with a test subject.
Easy. Near-side simply cleaned in a normal fashion, and a protective coating to the other, and note results.
So, now I get to the point. What to use?.
Given that 2 years of coating one, and not the other proved that coatings can and do delay headlamp glaucoma. I used a few 'jollops', and shopped the world to explore the options.
Now here's a very important note. Be careful what you apply. Some light covers are a delicate balance of chemicals, and chemicals can slowly damage plastics. Not immediately, but will slowly become evident.
The next thing is headlamp cover construction.
Some have no protective outer layer, and rely on the misterious UV stabilised label, some have a 'extra' coating to rebuff UV, but miss atmospheric contaminants.
Throw a protectant over the cover, and the indication of success is measured in time, nothing else. The manuals utter words like hydrocarbons, organically etc, but not one says 100% it will, or not work, with the usual caveat of 'try on a small area first, before applying".
It's a night-mare. Leave the covers to time & nature, and those incredible works of art & technology will fall victim to headlamp glaucoma. They are not cheap to replace if they look horrid, and function less effectively. Coat them, and you may start the inner ABS to slowly break-down, or worse still, they rapidly look bad.
The choice is the owners quandary. Leave or try to stem the inevitable. The 26volt, 19watt LED headlamp is expensive, and at a simple guess, possibly(finger in the air), $2000, or close to each.
So, I decided to apply discoveries and knowledge to the LEAF, and slow down the onset of headlamp glaucoma. Last night I applied a layer of protection to the headlamps having applied a layer to the rear light cluster a week ago. I want to retain that hallmark front vista the LEAF has, if the covers are very likely to fail, I'd like to try and slow it, or halt it temporarily.
I will put the headlamps back in the car in around five to seven days once the coating has cured. I discovered I could remove the coating if I wanted, so if it fails me, I'm relatively safe. The same coating is working beyond expectations on our Prius, which sits in direct sun every week-day, so time to make the decision.
Questions. Has anyone else addressed the issue?. Does anyone have further & better particulars on this subject.
I'm retaining the product identity, as I don't wish to be associated with any brands, nor culpability if anyone tries the mentioned above, and problems arise.
