HID bulb cleaning

**jackyaudi** · 11-01-2008 12:33 PM

I want to clean my HID bulb, but should I use rubbing alcohol to clean the colored "bar" where the red arrow is pointing to:

**dirtybrd** · 11-01-2008 12:40 PM

Why?

**Old No.7** · 11-01-2008 12:43 PM

I wouldn't even take a chance touching those bulbs.

**jackyaudi** · 11-01-2008 12:46 PM

One of the bulbs has some dirt (brownish) on that blue line.

**B6driver** · 11-01-2008 12:55 PM

HIDs are so dispensable now. if you look on ebay, you can get a whole kit for about $70 (even D1s/D2s for about $50 more) or just bulbs for even cheaper. don't bother cleaning it, it'll probably screw it up.

**Silverstreak98** · 11-01-2008 01:58 PM

No, don't clean it.....doesn't matter if there is a little brown spot on it, those are just insulating tubes.

BTW mine are all brown, and are brown on OEM Philips and Osram bulbs.

**Undisputed** · 11-01-2008 02:09 PM

Are you seeing diminished light output? If you are, your bulb may be going out, although I think HID's just start to change color as opposed to getting dim.

**jackyaudi** · 11-01-2008 02:42 PM

Nope the bulbs and everything else are working just fine. I just saw some dirt and thought to clean it. If halogen are more sensitive to finger oil and are cleaned with 90% alcohool, I dont see how cleaning the HIDs can be more damaging.

**Undisputed** · 11-01-2008 03:00 PM

FWIW I don't recall ever seeing anything that said halogen was more sensitive to oil than HID's, but I don't think that cleaning it is going to make any type of difference so I just wouldn't bother.

**pOrKcHoP07** · 11-01-2008 03:04 PM

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

**jackyaudi** · 11-01-2008 03:16 PM

Originally Posted by pOrKcHoP07

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

I guess that makes sense. I will put it back as is and if I have problems with it, I will clean it as a last shot b4 getting another bulb.

**diagnosticator** · 11-01-2008 05:53 PM

Originally Posted by jackyaudi

Nope the bulbs and everything else are working just fine. I just saw some dirt and thought to clean it. If halogen are more sensitive to finger oil and are cleaned with 90% alcohool, I dont see how cleaning the HIDs can be more damaging.

If it makes you feel better, it's OK to use denatured alcohol and a cotton ball to clean the quarts capsule and the insulator tube.