How to Clean Yellowed Containers in Engine Bay

[rscheiring]

Anyone know how/if the yellowed plastic containers/resevours in my engine bay, for things like coolant, ww fluid, etc, can be brought back to white?

TIA, Rob

[Sean]

If you could, you'd have to clean the inside. I think the only way to get those pretty again are to just buy new ones.

Those coolant resoviors in Pre88 E30's are REALLY ugly! :x

;)

[Chris E30 Cab]

buy new ones...they are pretty cheap and if you paint them they will only chip and not look too good ;)

[LikeCDoos]

but if you paint them you can't check your coolant levels as easily

[bimmerphile]

but if you paint them you can't check your coolant levels as easily

yeah there is a reason they are translucent like that.

[BingM3]

If you buy new ones, they will be in white color as I had replaced mine a year ago.

[AdamF 88iS]

The yellowing is due to some solvents and chemicals in the plastics evaporating out over time. It's not a matter of cleaning. Get new ones.

[rscheiring]

Thanks all. I be buyin!

[AndrewBird]

You can always dye them. That type of plastic dyes quite well with Rit die. I dye my go-ped fuel tank all the time with Rit die. Works great and you have a full range of colors to choose from. Don't worry about it flaking off or anything too because it doesn't leave any residue behind. It just colors the plastic. I would suggest letting it sit in a bleach solution for a day or so before though to get it as light as possible.

Andrew

[Fred]

If you buy it new, it'll turn light yellow in about a year or so.