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SAE J2111-2020: Headlamp Cleaner Testing and Performance Standards
The SAE J2111-2020 standard provides comprehensive test procedures, performance requirements, and guidelines for headlamp cleaning systems used on motor vehicles. It defines key terms, establishes test methods, and specifies the materials and conditions needed to evaluate cleaning efficiency and photometric performance. This standard is essential for engineers designing, testing, or certifying headlamp cleaners, ensuring they meet consistent safety and visibility criteria.
Scope and Purpose
The standard covers two common types of headlamp cleaners: those using brushes or wipers to spread cleaning fluid and those using nozzles alone. It also specifies the identification code HC as defined in SAE J759, which must appear on the fluid container or another easily accessible location. The primary purpose is to ensure that headlamp cleaners do not degrade the photometric output of the lamp when in the parked/off position and that they effectively restore lamp performance after cleaning.
🔍 Key definitions include cleaning period, the time required to meet performance criteria; cleaning fluid, the washer liquid recommended by the manufacturer; and cleaning efficiency, the percentage of luminous intensity recovered after cleaning relative to the original clean lamp values.
Test Procedures and Mixture Specifications
Testing must be conducted in still air at 23 ± 5°C. Electrically operated cleaners are tested at the manufacturer-specified voltage ±0.2 V, while pneumatic systems use the specified air pressure. The headlamp and cleaner must be mounted on a fixture that replicates the vehicle’s mounting attitude, including the relative position of components and normal operating conditions.
Test Mixture Composition
The dirt mixture varies by lens material—plastic or glass—to simulate real-world soiling. The mixture must be used within 24 hours of preparation, and if sprayed, loaded into the gun within one hour before application. The particle size distribution of the silica sand (0–100 µm) must conform to the following table:
| Particle Size (µm) | Distribution (%) |
|---|---|
| 0 – 5 | 12 ± 2 |
| 5 – 10 | 12 ± 3 |
| 10 – 20 | 14 ± 3 |
| 20 – 40 | 23 ± 3 |
| 40 – 80 | 30 ± 3 |
| 80 – 100 | 9 ± 3 |
Plastic Lenses: Mix 9 parts silica sand, 1 part vegetable carbon dust, 0.2 parts Na CMC, 5 parts sodium chloride, 13 parts distilled water, and 2 ± 1 parts surfactant (detergent).
Glass Lenses: Mix the same sand, carbon, and Na CMC with an appropriate quantity of distilled water (no salt or surfactant required).
🛠️ Engineering Design Insight: The distinct mixtures for plastic and glass lenses reflect real-world differences in dirt adhesion and cleaning complexity. Using the wrong mixture can invalidate test results. Also, the Na CMC must have a degree of substitution between 0.6 and 0.7 and a viscosity of 200–300 cP to ensure proper dirt suspension and application.
Performance Requirements
Cleaning Efficiency Test
After initial photometric measurement, the lens is coated with the dirt mixture until luminous intensity drops to 20–10% of the clean values (measured at points specified in Table 2 of the standard). The cleaner is then activated for a period not exceeding 10 seconds, using water at 20 ± 3 °C. After drying, the luminous intensity is measured again and expressed as a percentage of the original—this is the cleaning efficiency.
If the cleaner is designed for automatic operation with the low beam, it must engage for at least one cleaning cycle whenever the windscreen washers are activated while the low beams are on. The test also records fluid consumption and cleaning period duration.
Photometric Performance
The photometer must be placed at least 18.3 m (for headlamps) or 3 m (for DRLs) from the lens. The H‑V axis is defined through either the light source center or the geometric centroid of the effective light‑emitting surface. For OEM applications, measurements are taken both without and with the cleaner installed in its parked position. A lamp re‑aim of ±0.25° is permitted after environmental tests.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the purpose of SAE J2111-2020?
It provides standardized test methods and performance criteria for headlamp cleaners to ensure they restore lamp output to safe levels after soiling, without affecting photometric performance in the off position.
2. How is cleaning efficiency measured?
Cleaning efficiency is the percentage of luminous intensity measured after cleaning divided by the intensity of the clean lamp, along specified test directions. The test uses a standardized dirt mixture and a defined cleaning period.
3. Can I use the same test mixture for plastic and glass lenses?
No. Plastic lenses require a mixture containing sodium chloride and surfactant, while glass lenses use only sand, carbon dust, Na CMC, and water. Using the incorrect mixture will not represent actual in‑field performance.
4. What are common mistakes when testing headlamp cleaners?
Common errors include using mixture older than 24 hours, improper mounting that does not simulate vehicle attitude, not maintaining voltage/air pressure tolerances, and failing to re‑aim the lamp after environmental tests.
⚠️ Common Mistake: Storing the test mixture after application or over 24 hours after preparation can cause changes in viscosity and particle suspension, leading to inconsistent dirt application and invalid results.
