2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Streaks from windshield wipers - oil?

[ntillm01]

I am wondering if my windshield wiper problem is a characteristic of running a diesel engine. When it rains, I use my windshield wipers. As they wipe, I see a smearing, streaking effect going on in the path of the blade. It's very annoying at night because it leaves areas "hazy" and causes glare from on-coming headlights. It's almost like an oily film get on there. After a while (like an hour on the highway) the wiping action wears it off and the wiping gets clearer.



The blades are new OEM Mopar. They seemed to have Armorall or somehting on them out of the package. I was suspicious of this and wiped them down with alcohol. I don't hink it's this because I installed them last October.



Other thoughts: If someone had put Rain-X or something like that on there, would that cause the streaking? Could there be something in my washer fluid? It seems to help wash the oil off, but doesn't take care of the problem. And lastly, because of the blowby and/or the nature of diesel fuel, could that blow-by be slowly coating my windshield inbetween rain storms?



I have no leaks, fuel or otherwise, and the crankcase bottle gets cleaned out every oil change.



Thanks for any input,

Nohr

 

[DaveN]

personally I've used rainx and it seems to work well, as long as it's applied correctly. But you may have some road grime or something on the windshield - do you work or live near a factory that may be discharging something onto your truck? It doesn't take a whole lot of oil mist to streak a windshield. There are some trees that lightly drop sap -both pines and deciduous - and that can be a problem too.



And I suppose that you may have some blowby blowing up there, but I would suspect that you would see that in your engine compartment as well.

 

[ntillm01]

Well... I do live and work in metro Detroit. I'm not a believer that the air is that great anyway. I didn't notice this with my other two cars though (Saturn and Neon) and any tree sap (big Maples around the house) got cleaned right off with washer fluid.

That's what puzzles me too, if it was enough to smear on the windshield, I would expect to see something on the engine. My valve cover and everything up top is as clean as ever.

 

[Rattlin_Ram]

I had rainX do that to me a couple times after it starts to wear off... . I stopped using it. I took a few good cleanings to get it all straightned out...

 

[I-6DZL]

Must be a Michigan problem!!!!

Sure as heck must... . i have the same darn problem and it is very annoying. I was hoping to find an answer while reading. If you find something out, let us know.



Curtis

 

[DaveN]

rainx works good if you use it, and keep using it. I found that if you stop using it - then it seems to act up. Also if you let your 10 year old nephew put it on, and he doesn't put it on right (buffing it out after putting it on) then it will streak too.....



Something to keep in mind - depending on where you park (i. e. at work) we've had problems at the plant where things weren't going quite right, and everyone got a little misting. No big problems until you get rain + road grime +oil +half worn off rainx... .

 

[datablitz]

could have also been something as simple as driving behind someone shortly after it started raining, when the oil and grease is getting washed off the road, and it kicked some on your window... i have that problem occassionally as well, but thats the only explanation i can come up with

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

Oil breather bottle will still do that even tho you empty it. (I ditched mine and ran the breather to the tailshaft area) I noticed after I got rid of it that same scenereo went away.

 

[Dane]

The windows pick up oil thrown up in spray by cars in front of you.



I use a clean rag and lacquer thinner once in a while to clean the windows. Amazing how much gook comes off on the rag.

 

[ntillm01]

Thanks for the ideas folks! It looks like the oil breather bottle could definitely be contributing to the problem. I do notice oil from the road thrown up, but the washer fluid takes care of it pretty well. It just that the streaks hang in there because of something that hangs on. I'm thinking someone did have Rain-X on there before (I bought it after 2 years in another owner's hands).

I'll try laquer thinner or the grease/wax/silicone remover I've got to clean it up for now.



Nohr

 

[rholcom2]

A guy I used to work with used Coke to clean his windshield... ... ... . NO, THE KIND IN A CAN!!!! He just poured it on the windshield, wiped it around to make sure it was covering the whole glass surface, let sit for a few minutes and wiped it off. Then he would wash the truck off. He swore by it, I have never tried it. Just a suggestion. Good luck!!!!

 

[Bandit2]

Have the streaks on all the trucks AND cars I have owned. Don't see how the diesel could cause any problem with your windshield, maybe the one BEHIND you. Clean it up as suggested, keep it clean with Invisible Glass. No more problem.

 

[RHebert]

I've been using RainX windshield washer/bug remover in the fluid reservoir for the last year now and it works great! You don't have to go through the hasle of applying the other type of RainX. The only time I use my wipers now is to remove a bug whenever it splatters on the windshield. When it's raining, as long as you are going over 45-50 MPH, you don't even need the wipers and at night you can hardly tell it's even raining.