WARNING -DON'T DO THIS TO YOUR WASHER RESERVOIR!!!

Not Right

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Well, it's story time again kids. I know some of you may have already heard this story before, but I thought I would orate it once more. You see, in researching plastic septic tanks and septic chambers the other day, I learned something very important about plastics.., specifically HDPE Plastics. (High Density PolyEthylene).-Besides offering the septic components made of black HDPE, this one particular company also offered "Fresh Water" storage tanks and paraphernalia. So, of course, I wander out into the weeds, so to speak, to go read about and look at that stuff. DID YOU KNOW?:The frosted, milky white plastic used in these Fresh Water Storage Tanks is the same HDPE used to make our Washer Reservoirs. It's been around for a long, long time. I learned that HDPE Plastics come in different colors...each color denotes certain tolerances of that particularly colored plastic. Well, the Frosted, Milky White HDPE has a heat tolerance of 120*F, above which, it will begin to turn clearish, then distort, then begin to slightly shrink, and then develop tiny little check marks which turn into gaping cracks. After going through all of that process, the plastic then brittles out.-Last spring I found the Holy Grail...a beautiful, supple, succulent 3431154 Reservoir at Newton's Garage in Cloverdale, Virginia. (3431154='70-'73 C Bodies). Even the metal bracket on it was still wrapped in the factory black paint. Needless to say, I got it home and set it on a red velvet draped pedestal in the front foyer, complete with accent lighting. About a month later, I decided to wash it real good and make it as pretty as it deserved to be. SOooo, I filled the kitchen sink with hot water and some Dawn detergent. I immersed the Reservoir in the hot, soapy water. After a couple of minutes, I began to notice that my bottle-brushing was really making a difference.., heck, I could see right through the plastic now! "Is that Right?", I thought to myself. NO, it was NOT RIGHT. It self destructed right before my eyes. THEE END. Pass it on.
 
Can't overcome the age factor. You can keep HDPE in an airtight sealed container but after 40 years their crystalline structure still breaks down.

Everytime I put place something on a pedestal, they fall off.

Sorry to hear about this expensive tragedy.
 
Not right.gif
 
Another question, along these same lines . . .

Has anybody tried mildly "aging" a reproduction washer bottle? I have a nice one ready to slip into my Dodge, but really hate that really bright white look in my clean, but vintage engine compartment.

Have pondered a few options . . . fill it w/ some strong coffee or tea and let it sit a few days? Maybe a little Rit dye? A little orange-brown food coloring? Any suggestions out there?

Whatever I do . . . I'll make sure I use COLD water!:D
 
Another question, along these same lines . . .

Has anybody tried mildly "aging" a reproduction washer bottle? I have a nice one ready to slip into my Dodge, but really hate that really bright white look in my clean, but vintage engine compartment.

Have pondered a few options . . . fill it w/ some strong coffee or tea and let it sit a few days? Maybe a little Rit dye? A little orange-brown food coloring? Any suggestions out there?

Whatever I do . . . I'll make sure I use COLD water!:D
Not that I would try it, but tea would stain better than coffee. At least in ceramic mugs it does.
 
I would just naturally let it age in the engine compartent over the years and fill it up with the proper mix of water/cleanser.
 
Can't overcome the age factor. You can keep HDPE in an airtight sealed container but after 40 years their crystalline structure still breaks down.

Everytime I put place something on a pedestal, they fall off.

Sorry to hear about this expensive tragedy.
I guess there's just no way around it. Dooh! :BangHead:
 
The sad part, I acquired a mint washer bottle in 2000 and attached it to the front fender to ensure it didn't get lost or broken. In 2013 revisited it only to discover it was totally brittle and completely useless. So all those guys flogging NOS bottles for $600 are a joke. i'm either going for a new reproduction, or a large pop bottle.
 
The plasticizers in plastic will naturally dry out, there's nothing you can do to stop it, this is fact! Heat and sun will accelerate the process even faster. It's a part of life that you have to deal with! To bad straws can't breakdown that quick!
 
I've bed experimenting with a way to protect a good original.

My thoughts are dipping or spraying it with some type of clear epoxy resin. This giving it a protective outside coating.

It's still only in its infancy
 
I'm wondering if keeping washer fluid in them has any effect. Both of mine in the cars seem fine and have been sitting empty since I've had the cars. They are there just there just for appearance purposes. The only time the wipers get any use is the once in a blue moon if I get caught in the rain.
 
It seems like washer bottles would really be in the sweet spot for 3D printing style reproduction. I wonder if anyone has went that route.
 
Back in the later '80s, several guys in our Mopar club were searching for useable/not crazed Challenger door panels. Seems that every white ones they round were all chalky and ready to crack apart. The black ones were in much better condition, for the same model year of car.

One our the guys researched the plastics and discovered that the black plastic has all of the UV-fighting characteristics to stay in good condition longer, but those protecting chemicals are not there in the white plastics. Hence, the deterioration of white plastic far quicker than similar items in black.

Admittedly, the washer reservoirs were molded thinner in some years than others. But the coolant reservoirs were thicker, still "white", but obviously could tolerate 200 degree coolant hitting it. Then now we have pressurized coolant reservoirs with a radiator pressure cap on top of them. Obviously thicker material, but also more "clear" than "milky".

Just some thoughts,
CBODY67
 

Some things are inevitable, BUT the ticking clock can be slowed down with stress relief. Keep your MOPAR HAPPY and you'll be happier, too. And, of course . . . . decrease carbos, watch salt, and MOVE (which Mopars enjoy doing, too!). Just like Mopars, you'll move better with less weight to carry around!

Happy NEW Year!

CBOdY67
 
Well I don't know, mine sat bolted to the feder, empty. In fact the whole engine was removed so there were no strange chemical vapours etc. The garage was heated to 55F. After 14 years in this storage heaven, my pristine nice and flexible bottle became hard and brittle. So brittle that even a light touch damaged it.
Maybe I should have kept it filled with bug juice. I don't really have any suggestions.
 
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