JB Weld for the windshield reservoir?

[Rustedtruck]

Howdy. I'm trying to clean the windshield reservoir inside because it is gruesome. I don't see how I can do it because it's got a very long neck and it's chambered. After trying a few solutions the only thing I see as th easiest method is to cut it in half and glue it back on. I do see JB weld water seal but does anyone have any personal experience with something similar. The tank is exposed to th engine bay which has vibrations and hight heat so I would like something that can withstand those conditions. Thanks!

 

[bwringer]

Windshield washer reservoirs are typically made of HDPE, the same plastic as milk jugs, and there really isn't ANYTHING that will stick that stuff back together, aside from using heat and filler to weld the plastic back together (which is pretty error-prone process when you need a watertight seal). JB Weld or any epoxy or adhesive won't do much of anything.

What's the vehicle? Replacements are often surprisingly cheap on RockAuto.

You could also put something like a length of sign chain in there and shake it around; the chain will act as an abrasive, and you should be able to fish it out pretty easily. Or something like aquarium gravel, if the pieces might not get trapped. Depends on the internal geometry. Add some sort of detergent and shake shake shake, rinse rinse rinse...

Honestly, much discoloration is just part of the plastic, so replacement is the only option.

 

[inphx]

You need more issues in your life...

 

[dchawk81]

Howdy. I'm trying to clean the windshield reservoir inside because it is gruesome. I don't see how I can do it because it's got a very long neck and it's chambered. After trying a few solutions the only thing I see as th easiest method is to cut it in half and glue it back on. I do see JB weld water seal but does anyone have any personal experience with something similar. The tank is exposed to th engine bay which has vibrations and hight heat so I would like something that can withstand those conditions. Thanks!

I guess it depends why it's gruesome.

Personally, if I can find the reservoir anywhere online for a decent enough price I'm just replacing it. If it's gross inside it's probably also old enough to be brittle.

 

[The Cobbler]

wondering how a washer fluid bottle got gruesome in the first place , and unless it's a show car, I wouldn't worry too much , or buy anoter one and forget trying to cut it open & re glue it.

 

[Old Man Roger]

wondering how a washer fluid bottle got gruesome in the first place , and unless it's a show car, I wouldn't worry too much , or buy anoter one and forget trying to cut it open & re glue it.

People using water. They grow some serious funk that can clog everything up.

 

[Meursault74]

bottle brush. I have some in the lab. Flexible and moldable metal "wand" to get into anything.

Found this on Amazon for you. I'd imagine you could get it cleaned up with this.

https://www.amazon.com/Holikme-Cleaning-Set%EF%BC%8CLong-cup%EF%BC%8CPipes-cover%EF%BC%8CWhite/dp/B086D7SX8K/?tag=atomicindus08-20

can't believe the price, it's a deal for sure.

 

[four.cycle]

typically made of HDPE, the same plastic as milk jugs, and there really isn't ANYTHING that will stick that stuff back together, aside from using heat and filler to weld the plastic back together

^this.

but.. IF I was going to attempt a repair on that, I would try Seal-All rather than an epoxy compound.
The challenge is getting the adhesive to bond to the plastic, which isn't possible unless you can get the plastic squeaky clean.
I use it for all sorts of plastic repairs, but generally in situations that are not vibrating, and have had fairly good results.
YMMV

 

[dchawk81]

^this.

but.. IF I was going to attempt a repair on that, I would try Seal-All rather than an epoxy compound.
The challenge is getting the adhesive to bond to the plastic, which isn't possible unless you can get the plastic squeaky clean.
I use it for all sorts of plastic repairs, but generally in situations that are not vibrating, and have had fairly good results.
YMMV

Yeah new reservoir.

 

[niget2002]

Is the container out of the vehicle? If so, I'd try a bleach/water solution to clean it out. Maybe one of the 'drano' type products that will eat through organics. Be sure you have a good way of neutralizing the acids afterwards. Then you'll want to flush it quite a bit before using it again.

 

[PCustoms]

Small steam cleaner?

 

[BillK]

aside from using heat and filler to weld the plastic back together

Thats how I fixed the one for my Wife's 84 Riviera. Worked fine.

 

[Nick Rivers]

Bottle brush as mentioned, but a long one. You could even use one of the long brushes designed to clean out lint from clothes dryers.

50/50 bleach and water mix. 10 minute dwell time after the brushing.

Garden hose to flush for a few minutes to remove the scrubbed material and bleach.

In the future, add a shot of white vinegar to the washer fluid to lower the pH.

 

[PCustoms]

Did the OP ever say what he was trying to clean out of it?

I need to clean my "low" sensor once the bottle goes dry. Evidently rain X brand cleaners are known for leaving a residue. Guess what I bought a case of in clearance a few years ago?

 

[CJM8515]

just buy a new one?

 

[Rustedtruck]

People using water. They grow some serious funk that can clog everything up.

Yeah, it seemed like it had water. There's what seems to be algae and brown stains inside.

 

[Rustedtruck]

Windshield washer reservoirs are typically made of HDPE, the same plastic as milk jugs, and there really isn't ANYTHING that will stick that stuff back together, aside from using heat and filler to weld the plastic back together (which is pretty error-prone process when you need a watertight seal). JB Weld or any epoxy or adhesive won't do much of anything.

What's the vehicle? Replacements are often surprisingly cheap on RockAuto.

You could also put something like a length of sign chain in there and shake it around; the chain will act as an abrasive, and you should be able to fish it out pretty easily. Or something like aquarium gravel, if the pieces might not get trapped. Depends on the internal geometry. Add some sort of detergent and shake shake shake, rinse rinse rinse...

Honestly, much discoloration is just part of the plastic, so replacement is the only option.

This is a picture I found on ebay, it is not my item. The compartments inside are extremely hard to get to.

 

[Rustedtruck]

bottle brush. I have some in the lab. Flexible and moldable metal "wand" to get into anything.

Found this on Amazon for you. I'd imagine you could get it cleaned up with this.

https://www.amazon.com/Holikme-Cleaning-Set%EF%BC%8CLong-cup%EF%BC%8CPipes-cover%EF%BC%8CWhite/dp/B086D7SX8K/?tag=atomicindus08-20

can't believe the price, it's a deal for sure.

I don't think that would be rigid enough once bent to hold the force I put on it.

 

[Junkdrawer Dog]

Get a replacement from Dorman.

 

[dante2]

I drilled the bottle when I was installing new fender flares, yeah oops check behind what you're drilling into. Tried repairing it but never could get anything to stick to it. Flex Seal hadn't been invented yet so I bought a new one.

 

[LeeG]

Fill it about 1/2 full with ice chips or small ice cubes and enough water to allow it to churn. Shake it up.

 

[bwringer]

... buy anoter one and forget trying to cut it open & re glue it.

just buy a new one?

Get a replacement from Dorman.

Yup. What's the vehicle? Is this some sort of irreplaceable exotic Lamborghini part, or something from a Ford? (Then again, Lamborghini very often uses off the shelf VW and other brand parts for stuff like this...)

I once pissed around for months trying to patch a damaged reservoir before I discovered a replacement was less than $30. I had spent far more than that on various adhesives and elixirs that promised to bond plastic, but none could get a toehold on HDPE.

For some damfool reason I had it in my head that a reservoir for a common Toyota would be an extremely expensive dealer-only part. When I finally gave up and looked for a replacement, the headslap was thunderous...

In the OP's case, where he's proposing to cut the entire thing in two then try and bond it back together after cleaning, there's nothing that would work except perhaps finding a way to make a very clean cut, and a few hours of very skilled plastic welding.

 

[Viper98912]

As all have stated, definitely do not cut it, you will never get anything to stick to it. Only thing you can really do is plastic weld it back together, which still might not be a "hard" joint.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I patch a coolant overflow tank with cheap 5 minute epoxy and some cheap fiberglass cloth. First, make sure it is a clean as possible. Second, sand to a slightly rough finish, so that the epoxy has something to grip.

Still holding strong a couple years later when I sold the car.

 

[Danno1]

I drilled the bottle when I was installing new fender flares, yeah oops check behind what you're drilling into. Tried repairing it but never could get anything to stick to it. Flex Seal hadn't been invented yet so I bought a new one.

I did this once. I used a tire plug. Worked perfect!!!


.

 

[lolaetype]

Iy you are considering cutting it in half and gluing it back together I assume It is out of the car.

If so do this: Put a hand full of washers in it, add half a cup of laundry detergent and a quart of so of hot water and agitate it, i.e. shake the heck out of it.

 

[scooby074]

Why?

 

[Firebrick43]

Yup. What's the vehicle? Is this some sort of irreplaceable exotic Lamborghini part, or something from a Ford? (Then again, Lamborghini very often uses off the shelf VW and other brand parts for stuff like this...)

I once pissed around for months trying to patch a damaged reservoir before I discovered a replacement was less than $30. I had spent far more than that on various adhesives and elixirs that promised to bond plastic, but none could get a toehold on HDPE.

For some damfool reason I had it in my head that a reservoir for a common Toyota would be an extremely expensive dealer-only part. When I finally gave up and looked for a replacement, the headslap was thunderous...

In the OP's case, where he's proposing to cut the entire thing in two then try and bond it back together after cleaning, there's nothing that would work except perhaps finding a way to make a very clean cut, and a few hours of very skilled plastic welding.

I never understood why so many ask for help with thier vehicle then never list what vehicle/year it is

 

[PCustoms]

I never understood why so many ask for help with thier vehicle then never list what vehicle/year it is

Because he didn't ask for vehicle help, he asked for glue help.

I'm guessing it's his 2010 matrix

Thread 'Rust between welded car panels.' https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/rust-between-welded-car-panels.546083/

 

[MileHighRover]

...I'm guessing it's his 2010 matrix...

That's correct.

$31 plus shipping on Carparts.com.

 

[welder4956]

Overnight soak with 50/50 bleach/water solution, longer time if needed. If that doesn't work 50/50 vinegar/water solution.

 

[Rustedtruck]

I could replace it but where is the gained knowlwdge on that? Maybe the knowledge of spending money..? If I do cut it won't the plastic be able to be melted seal back together with a soldering iron or similar?

 

[PCustoms]

I could replace it but where is the gained knowlwdge on that? Maybe the knowledge of spending money..? If I do cut it won't the plastic be able to be melted seal back together with a soldering iron or similar?

What's the actual issue with the way it currently is?

 

[The Cobbler]

I could replace it but where is the gained knowlwdge on that? Maybe the knowledge of spending money..? If I do cut it won't the plastic be able to be melted seal back together with a soldering iron or similar?

as frugal and as dedicated as I am to trying to fix stuff, sometimes you just have to realize it aint worth the struggle.

 

[dcg9381]

Howdy. I'm trying to clean the windshield reservoir inside because it is gruesome.

What "chemicals" have you tried to use? I've got some particularly nasty stuff in the shop.

I've tried to "weld" plastic, I'm not very good at it..

 

[4xdog]

SuperClean (the purple stuff) and a bottle brush.

And don't ever count on repairs to polyolefins (polypropylene, polyethylene, etc.). The polymer is too wax-like for almost anything to stick to it, and welding/filling is difficult to get right (and never as good as original).

Cutting it in half simply to clean it sounds nuts. Put chemistry to work first.

 

[Firebrick43]

Because he didn't ask for vehicle help, he asked for glue help.

I'm guessing it's his 2010 matrix

Thread 'Rust between welded car panels.' https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/rust-between-welded-car-panels.546083/

lol

I could replace it but where is the gained knowlwdge on that? Maybe the knowledge of spending money..? If I do cut it won't the plastic be able to be melted seal back together with a soldering iron or similar?

The knowledge it was repaired right AND economically.

A soldering iron with the right tip and some staples will work to weld back together a non water tight HDPE plastic piece but a hot air welder is required for a proper water tight job.

The crappiest harbor fright welder is 70$. A basic seelye is 250$ plus.

I own a seelye and wouldn’t do what you are wanting to do. I just replaced my suburbans windshield tank for 45$ a few weeks ago because it needed a new pump. It was only a few dollars more than a pump by itself, it too was gross, and time makes plastics brittle even if you did repair them correctly

 

[Stuart in MN]

If the reason for cleaning is cosmetic, I'd think a reservoir that was cut in half and then glued back together is going to look worse. I'm with the guys who recommended a long bottle brush and bleach. I've also heard of people using hydrogen peroxide (available at any drug store) to whiten up old under hood parts that have yellowed.

 

[Rustedtruck]

What's the actual issue with the way it currently is?

There's stuck on sediment everywhere green and brown. It was halfway full with water when i took it out. If I use it as it is all that sediment will come off with time and most likely clog the lines.

 

[Rustedtruck]

Iy you are considering cutting it in half and gluing it back together I assume It is out of the car.

If so do this: Put a hand full of washers in it, add half a cup of laundry detergent and a quart of so of hot water and agitate it, i.e. shake the heck out of it.

I tried doing that with pebbles but there seems to be like 2 chambers inside and it's not a small tank either so it is quite the ******** work out. And the neck makes it so awkward to shake. I'm gonna try sand and water later. I'm not sure that laundry detergent will do anything to brown and green stuck on stains but i can try.