Vinyl Scum

[Caryc]

Seeing the thread on dissolving screw driver handles made me think of something. I had a couple old Toyotas that used to develope a greasy type stuff on the windshields. I was told it was vinyl scum coming from a gas escaping from the vinyl seat coverings in the heat.

That got me to wondering, is this still going on with any cars? Do they still use vinyl for seats in cars?

 

[RESLLS]

Vinyl from seats, dash, ductwork, anything
plastic or Vinyl. It all gases off and
leaves a cloud on the glass.

 

[Johnhof]

Is there a solvent to remove the vinyl deposit??

 

[riverbend]

It isn't actually vinyl, usually something in the plastic to make it soft. You probably need something a little more than plain water. Washer solvent, glass cleaner, or vinegar and a clean rag will do it.

 

[Steve@Advance]

Ever vehicle I ever had did it.

Nothing I hate worse than trying to clean the inside of a windshield! Work
and work, looks clean till the sun hits it, then looks like something the
dog licked clean!

 

[Johnhof]

Thanks all my vehicles have something like described.

 

[BonaparteSouth]

oldest daughter worked at dodge dealership, she told me years ago its in the dash and is caused by the heat from sunlight thru windshield and
defroster heat. my semi doesn't seem to have much but also less dash!!!

 

[Steve in VA]

What a great name for a rock band.

 

[Charles in Aus.]

Caryc the 'scum ' is most likely a deposit of
Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) .
It's toxic , nasty stuff and there's no real way of avoiding it in a closed car cabin . It is more prevalent in new cars as there is more plasticiser in new plastic .
Its one reason new born children ; or any child for that matter shouldn't have pvc or soft plastic matress protection sheets on their beds .

 

[showcrop]

This is verging on a conspiracy theory, LOL!! sure there is vinyl gassing off inside a new vehicle for the first few months. That is the new car smell. BUT there is a whole lot more stuff in the air around us everyday. Has your windshield ever fogged up? When it does the condensate on the glass acts as a glue to grab onto whatever particles are sitting there or get pushed onto it by the defroster. It is the same as on the exterior of your car/truck. you can blow plain dust that has landed on it away with a slight breeze or a slight blast of air. But how about when you drive it on a wet road and then it dries on?? There it is. Bonded. It takes a flood of cleaning solution right? It takes some agitation right? Just take a rag, get it sopping wet in cleaning solution, and swipe back and forth a few times on the inside of the windshield the same as on the exterior. Then use a squeegee to swipe it off and touch up along the bottom and the edges with a parer towel or dry cloth. No big deal. Not a conspiracy, LOL.

 

[Michael Soldan]

I've been told that rubbing alcohol on a cloth can clean the inside glass of a vehicle and get rid of the debris from vinyl . I haven't tried it but I'm going to.

 

[Steve@Advance]

Charles, it's also been found in the PVC they make dolls from. It's what softens the plastic.

Ever pulled one from the back of the closet that felt sticky? That's the stuff oozing out of the PVC! Highly toxic to kids when they put it in their mouth or get it on their hands!

 

[KF]

I worked in a automotive test lab. The phenomenon is called fogging and there are limits
that some manufacturers have on the extent of fogging. In one test, the film accumulation is
measured by weight on a standard specimen.

 

[M-MAN]

Same here. Some are worse than others. My old Taurus is terrible. Glass cleaner doesn't work. Vinegar doesn't work. Diswashing detergent doesn't work. Adding a little bleach or ammonia doesn't work either. It's always half clean at best.

 

[dhermesc]

looks clean till the sun hits it, then looks like something the dog licked clean!


Agreed. Even worse is late night with a slight fog on the window in a rain.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

(quoted from post at 20:05:24 11/20/22) Ever vehicle I ever had did it.

Nothing I hate worse than trying to clean the inside of a windshield! Work
and work, looks clean till the sun hits it, then looks like something the
dog licked clean!

Newspaper is the only thing I've found that will let you get a streak free windshield.

Any old newspaper will do, just change it out frequently, and give it a good once-over after you think you're done with one more fresh newspaper.

 

[Hobo,NC]

Toyota did have a problem with sticky dash boards I have sent a few to the dealer they were a recall campaign.

 

[Caryc]

Who gets a newspaper delivered anymore?

 

[Steve in VA]

I do.

 

[Caryc]

(quoted from post at 13:47:03 11/21/22) I do.

I kind of figured that you did. I was speaking in general terms.

 

[Steve in VA]

Your post asked who gets a newspaper. My
reply was that I get a newspaper. I'm not
sure how they got disconnected.

 

[riverbend]

Works for cleaning the glass in the door of your wood stove too. I'll have to try it on the windshield.

 

[Logan in S.E. Texas]

Wow! I have been wondering what was messing up the inside of my 2015 Chevy truck's windshield. I've had to clean it twice here recently. The second time I took my time and cleaned every square inch of it and a
week or two later I am seeing a haze returning. Learn stuff here that I wouldn't get anywhere else. Thanks!!!

 

[showcrop]

All professional window washing companies use the same procedure. Maybe there is a reason.

 

[led]

Try a clay bar.


Led

 

[Caryc]

(quoted from post at 21:22:08 11/22/22) Try a clay bar.


Led

Where does one get a clay bar? Never heard of such a thing.

 

[showcrop]

(quoted from post at 00:36:55 11/23/22)

(quoted from post at 21:22:08 11/22/22) Try a clay bar.


Led

Where does one get a clay bar? Never heard of such a thing.

A clay bar is for cleaning and polishing you car's painted surfaces.

 

[Caryc]

(quoted from post at 04:40:30 11/23/22)

(quoted from post at 00:36:55 11/23/22)

(quoted from post at 21:22:08 11/22/22) Try a clay bar.


Led

Where does one get a clay bar? Never heard of such a thing.

A clay bar is for cleaning and polishing you car's painted surfaces.

OK, I thought it was some kind of fighting knife the Marines carried.