Stagnant water in your windscreen washer bottle - Solution

[Roberto]

In all my time driving, I'd only ever (thankfully) suffered from having stagnant water in my windscreen washer bottle once before, on my old FIAT Tipo. Every time I washed my screen, a foul smell entered the cabin and lingered for ages. On that occasion, in the days before the internet, I had to resort to taking the wing off the car to access the tank and then flush it through. Not an easy or quick job.

Anyway, it happened to me again with my Mondy and I found a really simple and cheap solution so I thought I'd share. Usually it's down to tainted water being added to the tank, or when the washers don't get used much in summer. Bacteria form and build up not only in the tank, but in the pipes, so simply emptying and cleaning the tank may not be enough. You need to "flush the pipes" so to speak!

So, after a bit of research, here's what I did.

First of all, pop the bonnet and unplug the washer fluid hose from the nozzle. Get a bucket and then pump whatever fluid remains out into it. You may want to lower the bonnet so that you can lift the wiper blades off the screen whilst you do this. I just propped mine open a few inches otherwise you squash the fluid hose.

Once emptied, dispose of the foul smelling liquid appropriately and rinse the bucket out.

Now, for the cheap and effective solution.

Baby sterilising fluid!! Yup, Milton , or other, cheaper supermarket brands , is what you need. It's sodium hypochlorite but if it's safe enough for babies stuff, it's safe enough for the car

Just mix about 2-3 capfuls into a full tanks worth of water and then pour into the tank. Now you can pump it through in the same way as you did before.

The next step is to boil some water in a kettle, and pour that in and then pump out straight away. Be careful not to get scalded when doing this.

If you want to flush through again, use some cold, clean water to do so but it's not essential.

Now, just refill the tank with fresh water and your washer fluid of choice and reconnect the hose and test.

You should now have a much fresher smelling windscreen washing experience!

Hope that helps!

Regards,

Rob.

Rob
BOO Member since 2002
FIAT History: Tipo DS, Punto TDSX, Punto Sporting, Cinquecento Sporting, Seicento Sporting, Bravo HGT, Marea Weekend ELX
Now residing in the land of Ford.

 

[bigbravo]

Nice one rob. See the boiling water could it melt the tank or hoses just wondered?

 

[Mike]

dont think ive neva had a bad smell from the washer fluid in the cabin..i always get a nice smell from the washer fluid i always use

and accordin 2 msn last week,these motor boffins actually tryin 2 persuade motorists to use windscreen washer fluid as it has got a detergent in it that kills bacteria and also has perfum in it

I bought 2x 5 litre tubs from helfrauds few week ago for £5

A Fiat Marea in a Bravo Shell..its good to be different

 

[M G]

Or even better, fit water/meth injection and use the washer bottle as the tank. It won't have chance to go stagnant and you'll have more power.

 

[Roberto]

The boiled water will be cooling off from 100 Deg. C before you pour it in anyway and given the heats found in the engine bay, I wouldn't think the water would pose too much of a problem. Certainly worked ok for me.

To be honest, the only reason I used recently boiled water was to a) flush the system through after the sterilisation and b) to ensure that the water I was pouring in was free from any other nasties. I'm sure good, clean warm or cold water would've sufficed. I guess I was just being thorough

But above all, prevention is far better than cure, so always ensure you have a good screen wash and that you have a good mix too. And don't let your washers stand, especially in the summer. Like your A/C, give them a blast once a week to keep things moving

Rob
BOO Member since 2002
FIAT History: Tipo DS, Punto TDSX, Punto Sporting, Cinquecento Sporting, Seicento Sporting, Bravo HGT, Marea Weekend ELX
Now residing in the land of Ford.