Originally Posted by
Oregon Jaybird
WAY new reply here (2 years down the pike). Anyhoo. I have a driver's side headlamp with some moldy looking garbage in it. I see below the Methanol cure, and I'm down with giving that a try. That said, I have two questions not addressed here:
1.) If I put methanol in my headlamp, will it in any way affect anything other than the lens? Meaning, the lamp isn't just the lens, it's the whole unit. Should I try desperately not to let the methanol get on anything else? Also, WHERE EXACTLY do I pour it in?
2.) The diagram and photos of the seals included in the linked thread show what appear to be white pvc "elbows" indicated as being a common problem. Why, then, are these "elbows" not a part of the kit shown in the photo. Are they replaced by the smaller button-type seals shown?
Mahalo in advance for your replies!
It's really cute 2c how everyone is tripping over methanol. I am a chemist and we treat methanol like water in the lab. If you want to know what it will damage, just take some rubbing alcohol and dab it on something. Methanol is a drying agent (notice how dry your skin gets when you put alcohol on it. Notice how alcoholic drinks dehydrate the body). It will remove H2O and evaporate quickly. Methanol is, however, strong enough to remove certain nonpolar paints, films, coverings, & adhesives that rubbing alcohol will not remove. It will not destroy the integrity of a material, however (unless u add it everyday so it severely dries the material making it brittle). Just take a q-tip and dab it on a paitned surface within the lens if your curious of its safety. Most of those parts are ABS, PP or similar plastic and I can tell you that in the lab, we use methanol on these surfaces everyday to clean/sanitize them. Just think of it as a really efficient Windex.
If you're afraid MeOH is 2strong, use rubbing alcohol -same thing just more diluted.
As far as toxicity, wear gloves. The most it will do is dry out your skin (removes water) if you don't. Don't worry about MeOH vapors, you do more damage to your liver by drinking alcohol. Just think, which creates the bigger effect: smelling beer or drinking it? The exhaust from your car is more dangerous.
Acetone, on the other hand will destroy the clarity of plastic and many other things. It can remove adhesive, break down plastic, etc. That's the one to watch out for.