winshield smear

Have had this problem for some time, and can't seem to come up with a solution. I've replaced my quality wipers with more quality wipers, used a number of different solutions to clean the windows and am stopping short of using some sort of fine polishing compound. I also use good quality winshield wash.

Any suggestions?

Have you cleaned the inside of your windows too? I use this stuff called " Invisable glass" by stoner. Best stuff i have ever used. It comes in an aerosal can and use black printed newpaper to wipe it off with. When you look at your wipers do it look like there is pressure being put down on them? Does this only happen when your driving? My wipers have a little wing on the front of them that sticks out about 1/3 of an inch and puts down force on the wipers while driving on the highway so the air dosn't get between the window and wiper. Pepboys for 9 bucks a wiper and if you like rice they are available in colors. The seem to do a great job.!

Have you cleaned the inside of your windows too? I use this stuff called " Invisable glass" by stoner. Best stuff i have ever used. It comes in an aerosal can and use black printed newpaper to wipe it off with. When you look at your wipers do it look like there is pressure being put down on them? Does this only happen when your driving? My wipers have a little wing on the front of them that sticks out about 1/3 of an inch and puts down force on the wipers while driving on the highway so the air dosn't get between the window and wiper. Pepboys for 9 bucks a wiper and if you like rice they are available in colors. The seem to do a great job.!

Wal Mart sell the lovely double blade TUNER blades! Hmmm Nice!

I've tried most everything, from using different cleaners, to "agents" that leave a coating on the outer surface, and removed that too. The problem resembles what you might see in a radar sweep screen. It fades shortly after the wiper crosses the window. I'm thinking some sort of microparticle polishing type product. Toothpaste maybe? Thats a lotta paste! Note, Ive searched the web on this one to no avail. The mechanical parts work fine, lots of wiper pressure, no wind lift, just that damn radar screen...lol maybe an integrated HUD might work here..lol
Who's got a tip or two? Home remedies maybe?

Tookie

I've tried most everything, from using different cleaners, to "agents" that leave a coating on the outer surface, and removed that too. The problem resembles what you might see in a radar sweep screen. It fades shortly after the wiper crosses the window. I'm thinking some sort of microparticle polishing type product. Toothpaste maybe? Thats a lotta paste! Note, Ive searched the web on this one to no avail. The mechanical parts work fine, lots of wiper pressure, no wind lift, just that damn radar screen...lol maybe an integrated HUD might work here..lol
Who's got a tip or two? Home remedies maybe?

Tookie
it sounds to me like you have some small spots on your windshiled. This could be paint overspray that you can't see of tar from the road, even tree sap. Get a stanley knife blade or razor blade and run it accross the windshield. It wont scratch it, just keep the balde flat to the glass. this should take car of it. if you go too long without doing this you will affect you blades and they will need replacing again.

Wal Mart sell the lovely double blade TUNER blades! Hmmm Nice!


ah yes but if you only knew my friend... twas not what i reffering to. If you look at the ones on my car.. same style but i got them in black now do it dosn't look ghey. I waited 6 mos before i told the G/F her present was nice but i needed new ones.

I was just saying that they were available not that those were the one to which you were referring!

aye comrade..

Yep tried them twin blades too, and the problem lessened somewhat. The blade idea is something i haven't tried though. I thought using straight up methyl hydrate might do; but it didn't. You can imagine what kind of solutions I'd had in mind, having access to all kinds of chems, from acetone to z-tone. I'm going to try this razor thing come Saturday. I'll post results.

Tookie

I don't know how to fix your problem, but those RainX blades work pretty good. They are about $9 at Wal-Mart, but my wife gets them at cost where she works, about $4 per piece.

I have used the Rain-X solution with some temporary success; but you can imagine how the longevity is affected when you drive on roads treated to an almost daily dose of ice control salt mixed with medium and fine sand. I am thinking my windshield is slowly becoming sandblasted from following traffic; though the glass doesn't show much damage under close inspection. This past Saturday i was to attempt a scraping of the glass; but ended up scraping ice and snow throughout the day...lol
Funny how I made time to replace a serpentine belt, and do a walkabout to adjust pressures and check fluids; even took the op to mixup some fresh WSwash solution! Window scraping is a tedious affair thats best left for a sunny day with no precip,(and a day off).
And ya know I never tried them Rain-X blades! If they fail I can add them to my window squeegie collection...lol

Tookie

Well I've finally solved the smear problem. Close inspection of the windshield glass indicated it was indeed suffering from pitting, the most likely result being age, and environmental influences.(eg: fine roadsand impacting the window while driving etc) This condition of course did not allow the wipers to work effectively. Imagine squeeging xtra-xtra fine sandpaper!
My solution: Mix approx 60ml (yah yah metric 8^) of Jet Dry with a 4L jug of winter winshield wash and add to the wash holding tank. For those who wonder what Jet Dry is, you'll find it; or something like it in the aisle that includes automatic dishwasher chems. It's used to promote spot free drying on things you put in the dishwasher. (It does not work on Dalmations)
The Kicker: Now I'm sure some of you detailers knew this already; but for the record, using this stuff as a rinse after a good carwashing will do wonders at preventing water spots from remaining on that wickedly pristine shine. Just be careful not to use too much. Only the water should be "sheeting" as the car is drying.;^)
My experiments have shown no detrimental use over the time since my last post on this matter, and there appears to be no volatile reaction resulting from the mixing of both components. Just be careful with exotic finishes and test a small part of the body, (car) before you decide to try it.
So thats it. Case closed.
Book em Dano!

Tookie (the tinkerer)
Semper ubi sub ubi

Wow, great tip that I've never heard of before. I'll keep that in mind if I have problems.