How to add washer fluid to your vehicle is one of the costly mistakes that can be made.
It's not a good time to run out of washer fluid when the sun is low and the truck is filthy.It is challenging to drive in these conditions.
Can I put water in my car?In an emergency, you can use water in your washer, but long-term use is not a good idea.There are a number of problems that can be caused by using water in your wipers.
It is a bad idea to use water as a substitute for washer fluid.When we are stuck, we all do it, but using just water can be an expensive mistake.
If you live in a cold climate, you already know that plain water in the windshield washer can freeze.If you use your washer on the car in the cold, it will cause it to ice over.
This is dangerous at highway speeds.The water quickly turns to ice and the wipers can't shift it.Adding a low sun and spraying more water makes things worse.
Special anti-freezing washer fluids were developed.Make sure the washer fluid says it is anti-freezing.
washer fluid can be mixed at 200 to 1 or as a pre-mixed solution that you put straight into the reservoir.
Summer washer fluid won't have an anti-freezing agent added, instead a good quality summer fluid will have a cleaning agentIt might have a lubricating agent added to prevent the blade from skipping.
Bug removal fluid is a fluid that is used to remove bugs from the car during the summer months.The fluid is very strong.The fluid won't have an anti-freezing agent.
You can use all-weather fluid during the winter and summer.It has anti-freezing protection and is streak free.
Extreme cold weather conditions are what winter Di-Icer fluid is designed for.This fluid will protect from freezing and will clear ice much quicker than regular all weather fluid.The Di-Icer has a higher ratio of anti-freezing agents.
When plain water freezes in the washer system, it can do a lot of damage.As the water expands, the frozen water will crack and break plastic components.
It can be expensive to repair this kind of damage, pumps and reservoirs are not hugely expensive, but labour is.Modern cars need the front bumper and wheel liner removed in order to gain access.
The water in the washer bottle will be heated by the engine.The perfect breeding ground forbacteria and mould is this constant cycle.
If you spray the washer bottle it will cause a cloud ofbacteria at the window and the cabin's fresh air intake.
How do you kill it?A good quality washer fluid can be used.Most of them have an alcohol content that prevents mould andbacteria.
All the time in your washer system, use just plain tap water.The fine washer spray nozzles can be damaged by chemicals in the water.
The concentrate has been engineered to work with plain tap water, so mixing water with the washer fluid is fine.
As the water gets hard, it leaves a skum on the car.The rubber of the blades is harder to work on.If you want to fit your own blades, this post will show you how to buy the correct type and fit them.
The washer fluid cleans the windshield but also polishes and lubricates it.This allows the blades to glide across the surface, which means less wear.
The scummy windshield causes the wipers to fail.If you have been doing this for a while, your wipers are worn out.
If you clean your windshield and use a top quality washer fluid, your new wipers will last longer.
Is soap in the washer?It is not advisable to use soap in the windshield washer as it will strip the protective wax coating from the car.It can damage the paint work and plastic trim.
John Cunningham is a writer.I use my knowledge and experience as a mechanic to write articles that help fellow gear-heads with all aspects of classic car ownership, from tires to roof aerials and everything in between.