Refreshing your windshield washer bottle!

[JLPurcell]

Can't justify $500.00 for a NOS washer bottle? I was reading post on the site on refreshing a washer bottle and decided to give it a try. First you have to start with a viable washer bottle.

[JLPurcell]

I first cleaned the bottle using a strong soap and bleach solution. My wife loves these projects in our bathroom sink!



After a good cleaning I let it soak in the soap and bleach for a couple of hours.

[JLPurcell]

I made a solution, as mentioned in a thread on this site. The solution is made up of hydrogen Peroxide, Oxi-clean, Glycerin and a little Xanthan Gum to make the solution sticky.



After mixing the solution I put a cap on the bottom water outlet, and poured it into the bottle. I shook it around and poured it back out. I them brushed the solution onto the exterior of the bottle. The process is reportedly activated by UV light so I put the bottle in the sun. I reapplied the mixture to the exterior from time to time and left it in the sun all day. After cleaning the bottle I made a mixture of the same products with the exception of the xanthan gum and poured it into the bottle about an inch deep when laying on it's side. I put the bottle on it's side in the sun and rotated it every half hour for about 4 hours. Then Cleaned the bottle with soap and water.

[psdenno]

Looks like it removed quite a few years of crud & corruption from the bottle - a nice DIY project.
Dennis

[JLPurcell]

I gathered my parts for assembly. I had already removed the old washer motor from the rubber housing and cleaned and dressed the black rubber housing. I then installed the new washer motor into the old rubber housing. The other parts were a new piece of clear 1/4" washer hose and a reproduction sticker.



I assembled the bottle and although not NOS it did turn out very presentable and is a vast improvement on the 40 year old washer bottle.



The finished bottle is not as yellow as it looks in the photos. I will try and get some better photos tomorrow in better light.

[Blue]

Wow that looks great!

[AZ-240z]

Jerry,
Nice job on the refresh! Just thought I would mention, for those whose bottles and motors are too far gone, Banzai Motorworks now sell very nice repros
for, I think, $195.

I have no interest in this product, just passing along info to those who aren't farmiliar with the current market of products available from various sources.

Dan

[JLPurcell]

Jerry,
Nice job on the refresh! Just thought I would mention, for those whose bottles and motors are too far gone, Banzai Motorworks now sell very nice repros
for, I think, $195.

I have no interest in this product, just passing along info to those who aren't farmiliar with the current market of products available from various sources.

Dan

Dan, you are correct Banzai Motorworks is selling reproductions for $195.00. That is where the reproduction label and new washer motor came from for my refresh project. I have one of his reproduction washer bottles as well. I have to say that it is nice to have the reproduction available, and I was one of the first to buy one, but I prefer the refreshed bottle. The reason being that with all the effort of an accurate reproduction the plastic in the reproduction is of a different appearance. It is less translucent and has a rough texture. In the spirit of full disclosure, I refreshed a bottle, I purchased a reproduction, and being on the quest for the best my car can be I have just purchased a NOS bottle and forked out the big bucks in the end. But the refresh or the reproduction are viable options. JLP

[JLPurcell]

I am disappointed with the evening photos of the completed bottle. It looks much cleaner and better than the photos reflect.I will take some photos tomorrow in better light and although not NOS you will be impressed with the results.

[Lazeum]

It looks already great, even with the "not so ok" pictures. Good job. I need to tackle such job as well. I know how now, thanks!

[Webmanic70]

Thanks for the instructions and pictures. This is something on my 'hit list' of things to do on the zed.

[JLPurcell]

As promised I took some new photos of the project bottle in better light.



I also took one with the bottle in place.

[moonpup]

Jerry, I used basically the same formula ( minus the Glycerin and Xanthan Gum ) on an oil tank for a motorcycle I'm currently restoring. I did a total immersion set-up on my project and I'm very happy with the results, especially since there are no repo tanks available for these bikes and nos one are like bigfoot..... you hear about them but rarely are they seen!

[rcb280z]

Jerry, that looks fantastic. Guess I will try that trick now.

[AZ-240z]

Dan, you are correct Banzai Motorworks is selling reproductions for $195.00. That is where the reproduction label and new washer motor came from for my refresh project. I have one of his reproduction washer bottles as well. I have to say that it is nice to have the reproduction available, and I was one of the first to buy one, but I prefer the refreshed bottle. The reason being that with all the effort of an accurate reproduction the plastic in the reproduction is of a different appearance. It is less translucent and has a rough texture. In the spirit of full disclosure, I refreshed a bottle, I purchased a reproduction, and being on the quest for the best my car can be I have just purchased a NOS bottle and forked out the big bucks in the end. But the refresh or the reproduction are viable options. JLP

Jerry, I fully understand, and that is good information about the reproduction bottles. I just bought a set of the very early NOS door weatherstrip WELTING (big bucks) on ebay. Although my welting was Nissan, and correct, (same as kats has on his blue 240z) it was the later welting. The early welting (first time I have ever seen the early welting anywhere) has a little smaller cross-section profile and a slightly bolder texture.
Each door also uses two separate pieces of welting, an A and a B section with the ends cut on a 45 degree bia for a perfect fit. Now, every morning I just sit in the car admiring my new, more correct, welting.

So, I totally agree, Jerry. There is really nothing better than NOS when you can find it.

Dan

[Webmanic70]

Ok I see you are using a solution developed by the computer forums commonly referred to as Retr0bright to reverse the yellowing of plastic in old computer consoles. The breakdown and explanation of this concoction can be found at Retr0bright - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia for those looking for the recipe.

[JLPurcell]

Ok I see you are using a solution developed by the computer forums commonly referred to as Retr0bright to reverse the yellowing of plastic in old computer consoles. The breakdown and explanation of this concoction can be found at Retr0bright - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia for those looking for the recipe.

Yes, the formula was originally from LifeHacker and posted on this site in an earlier thread on "cleaning water bottle".

Retr0Bright Restores Yellowed Vintage Plastic to Factory Fresh

[JLPurcell]

I have attached photos for comparison of my reproduction water bottle purchased from Banzai Motorworks. I will also post photo's of my NOS bottle when it arrives. That should give a visual of the options out there.

[Montezuma]

Awesome job; looks great. I have 3 in the garage I must now fix up.