Interior protectants leave film on glass?

TheSopranos16

New member
I put some 303 on my dash board and all the vinyl about 2 weeks ago and now there is a white cloudy film on the inside of my windshield. This happens everytime I put it on but I've also noticed this effect with other interior protectants. I assume that the product is evaporating over time and it leaves a film on the glass. Anyone else have this problem? Can this be prevented or do I just have to live with it? I like to reapply 303 from time to time to renew its UV blocking properties but having to constantly clean the glass is a PAIN! :beat Any suggestions?
 
It might be the vinyls or plastics themselves that are producing the oily film rather than the protectants. Some materials release chemicals into the air during normal real world driving conditions. If I'm not mistaken, the proper term for this effect is "offgassing" or "outgassing".
 
Sometimes it is your actual vinyl dash 'breathing'. It releases gases depending on the nature of its material.

I 'sometimes' have this problem. A quick wipe with a dry MF takes it all away. Don't see it as much of a problem.
 
Somewhat of a related problem but not exactly:

A problem I've had on any vehicle, which I believe is due partly to the outgassing phenomenon :dunno is if a side window is lowered part of the way, every time, inevitably, you will see a line on the glass formed by the window seal, absolutely no dressing of any kind was on the seal, has happened with older and brand new cars. In my experience, often it doesn't easily wipe off with a good mf and glass cleaner :mad: Since many new cars' rear windows do not lower all the way down, if you want to lower them you get the lines. It bothers me so I only lower my front side windows all the way down or not at all now. I'm thankful for the sunroof which doesn't make the marks. He he, I got my new car last year and I don't think I ever lowered the rear windows at all because of this.
 
I hear what you guys are saying about it being outgassing and from the plastic, but I'm confident that the protectant has something to do with it. Here is why. On one occasion, I only reapplied 303 to 1 side of my dash board and in about a week, there was a film but it was considerably heavier on that side of the winshield. Here is one more. I have a subwoofer box in the hatch that is upholstered in vinyl so I recently applied 303 to it and now the back windshield is hazy as well. Its not that bad to clean off, just normal glass cleaner and a MF does the trick but I didn't know if anyone else had noticed the same thing and perhaps some products have this effect less than others...
 
TheSopranos16 said:
I put some 303 on my dash board and all the vinyl about 2 weeks ago and now there is a white cloudy film on the inside of my windshield. This happens everytime I put it on but I've also noticed this effect with other interior protectants.
Are you wiping it right off after applying it? If not, I would try that as that's what the instructions say to do. Otherwise I'm at a loss.
 
Beemerboy said:
How new is the car?

The term for this is called out-gassing

The car is almost 2 years old.

sgo said:
Are you wiping it right off after applying it? If not, I would try that as that's what the instructions say to do. Otherwise I'm at a loss.

Well, yes and no. I do wipe it off, but all things considered, I apply it pretty heavy.

I'm shocked that no one else has this problem. Its so bad for me. If you guys never cleaned the inside of your glass, would it stay perfectly clean and clear? I never touch mine or put fingerprints on it but every week or two it gets a cloudy film on it. Maybe thats just normal and thats how it goes?
 
i do have the problem, i never related it to the dressings tho, i will have to watch this more closely, i always wondered why sometimes the windsheild was all filmy very soon after it was cleaned and sometimes not, i always thought in my case it had to do with the heat here in texas, i think i get more window filming when its real hot and sunny here,it is a pia for me as well i hate washing the windows inside when the rest of the car is still spotless
 
scottlee said:
i do have the problem, i never related it to the dressings tho, i will have to watch this more closely, i always wondered why sometimes the windsheild was all filmy very soon after it was cleaned and sometimes not, i always thought in my case it had to do with the heat here in texas, i think i get more window filming when its real hot and sunny here,it is a pia for me as well i hate washing the windows inside when the rest of the car is still spotless
Thank God! I thought I was going crazy for a second there. Maybe its related to both heat and dressing. I would think that if dressings are the problem (evaporating and then creating a haze) then heat would probably spead up the process...
 
I think you guys are just applying it too thick. I spray one of those cheap/thin terry covered sponges. I wipe that over one half the dash and then wipe it off immediately with a micro-fiber towel. So it goes on thin and right off.

Try it this way and see if it makes a difference. If it doesn't I'll shut up. :)
 
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