Let's Clear Some Things Up (Headlight Restoration)
November 6, 2022
You know how exposing your skin to sunlight can cause sunburn and other unhealthy things. Sunlight can also create major problems for your headlights. After they've been exposed to ultraviolet light, acrylic headlights can yellow and fog due to oxidation. And when that happens, less light can pass through the plastic, reducing the effectiveness—and safety—of your headlights.
It's not just the UV light that causes headlights to turn cloudy. Road grime and debris gets kicked up and can scratch the plastic, diffusing the light that should pass through them when they're clear. Plus, when your vehicle was new from the factory, the headlights had watertight seals all around to prevent moisture from getting into them and fogging them up with water vapor. Just like clouds can hide the sun, tiny water molecules can diffuse the light from your headlight bulbs.
Sure, you could buy replacement parts and start fresh. But the good news is many vehicle repair facilities can restore your original headlights to perform like they did when you first bought your vehicle. Here's how it works:
- A technician will protect your vehicle's paint by either taking the headlights out or by taping off the paint near the headlights and leaving them in place.
- Residue is removed from the headlight surfaces by wet sanding to remove the oxidized plastic.
- Using special compounds, the technician will buff and polish the surface of the lens so it looks as smooth as glass.
- The newly-polished plastic is then sealed with wax or a special sealant designed to keep them operating like new.
- If the seals that keep the moisture out of the inside of your headlights have dried out or cracked, they will be restored or replaced to keep condensation from forming again.
Visibility at night is vital for safe driving, and if your headlights aren't performing up to their potential, the less you'll be able to see ahead of you.
There are many advantages of having your headlights restored rather than buying new or aftermarket replacements. It's friendlier to the planet since plastics are made of oil, so it's reducing the amount of plastic that is manufactured. And it's usually cheaper to have your headlights restored rather than replaced.
Consider headlight restoration a way to literally recycle those parts of your vehicle. That seems to be perfectly clear!
Mr. Lube
903 NW Second St
Bentonville, Arkansas 72712
479-271-2323
https://www.mrlubebentonville.msprotemp.com/
More articles from Mr. Lube & Wash

Got it Covered! (Timing Cover Maintenance)
March 2, 2025
You may have heard at one time or another about something called a timing belt or timing chain in your engine. And you may know that if they fail well, let's just say that there can be some major engine damage. So obviously, we want our timing belts and chains to be in tip-top shape. One part t... More

Giving CV Joints the Boot! (CV Joint and Boot Replacement)
February 23, 2025
Ever wonder how your vehicles transmission is connected to your wheels? After all, when you hit a pothole or some other uneven part of a roads surface, there has to be something that can maintain the connection between the transmission and the wheel yet keep everything moving at the same speed. ... More

Braking Good (Brake Drum Replacement)
February 16, 2025
Maybe your vehicle feels like Breaking Bad. In other words, when you brake, things are bad. You may find it takes you a longer distance to stop, you feel a vibration, or its pulsating when you depress the brake pedal, or perhaps your vehicle pulls to one side. Those can be symptoms of failing b... More