How many of us believe weather forecasts? Probably only those who can consider themselves superstitious at all. Winter, for example, always comes unexpectedly, and drivers begin to scratch their heads and feverishly figure out where to get winter tires, how to revive a dead battery and what to do to defrost the washer reservoir, which was frozen by shameless ice.
Epiphany frosts are crackling outside, winter, like a well-drunk lady, allows herself almost everything, fur coats begin to walk their mistresses, and in the refrigerators of Russians it becomes warmer than outside the window. This weather is made for warm blankets, mugs of hot tea and melodramatic comedies with the family. But, alas, winter is tricky and sometimes forces you to solve quite complex puzzles.
Numb Washer
Even experienced driver may wake up in the morning and find that the thermometer has blatantly dropped below zero. The car owner begins to mentally go through in his head whether he has done everything to prevent the frosts from affecting the well-being of his “steel horse”. And then disappointment sets in - there is still water in the washer reservoir, and the recently purchased “anti-freeze” is still standing on the shelf in the garage. And if it’s minus outside, it means the washer fluid in the washer reservoir has frozen. No options.
The image of a trickle of liquid on the lid of the tank in cold weather looks like a mockery
Photo wiki.blamper.ru
They say that the problems that befall a person are an opportunity to take the path of self-development. Nonsense. But one thing is clear: sometimes it is better not to solve problems, but to negotiate with him. So we suggest you “negotiate” with the cold-blooded washer reservoir of your car. There are only two options: either you become part of the solution, or you remain part of the problem.
What not to do
There is a lot of advice on the Internet about what to do if the water in the washer freezes. And the first one is to use hot water. Option. But it is worth considering that this method will only work if the tank is no more than a third full. Otherwise, you can only make the situation worse. In addition, under no circumstances should you use boiling water, which can easily deform the liquid container. So don’t cut the Gordian knot rashly, because there may be more knots underneath it.
Stock up on antifreeze in advance
Photo ru-auto.livejournal.com
It also won’t help to simply start the engine and warm it up, because in most cars the windshield washer reservoir is located not under the hood, but under the fender. In order to defrost the ice in this case, you will need an engine with a devilish fuse.
What to do if the water in the washer reservoir is frozen
If you are the lucky owner of a miracle domestic auto industry, then your VAZ will not let you down, because it is very easy to solve this problem with it. It is enough to remove the tank and warm it in a warm place. With foreign cars things are completely different. So our guide primarily concerns owners of foreign-made cars.
There are no problems with VAZ washer reservoirs
Photo vaz-2106.ru
So, first you should buy a good one antifreeze liquid, which would have an extreme temperature threshold. Then we warm up the car so that it seems as if you have not a stove, but a fireplace.
Antifreeze liquid should be heated
Photo autocentre.ua
The “anti-freeze” should be heated and then added to the washer fluid reservoir, which is occupied by ice. As the ice melts, the water will change from solid to liquid and decrease in volume. This means that we need to add antifreeze liquid. After the operation to rescue the glass cleaning system, all liquid should be drained from the tank and anti-freeze should be added.
Many drivers face this problem - as soon as the frost drops below -25 degrees, the fluid in the washer reservoir freezes, the wipers only smear dirt, and visibility tends to zero. And even the antifreeze liquid purchased and poured the day before did not help. Driving instructors will tell us why this happens.
Why did the anti-freeze freeze?
First of all, it is worth remembering that the freezing point stated on the label is indicated for pure liquid, and when diluted, the freezing point increases (that is, approaches zero).
The more water you add, the more high temperature the antifreeze crystallizes.
Information about the freezing threshold when diluted with water is usually indicated on the label.
Cause of the problem
The price of non-freezing liquid is such that it just begs to be diluted, the more urgent the need for it is felt mainly during thaws, when dirty snow flies from under the wheels. A lot of liquid is wasted, and the temperature outside the window is not that low, how can you not dilute it?
But as soon as frost hits, the liquid crystallizes, even if the owner prudently increased the concentration. The whole point is that when you poured anti-freeze into the tank, it didn’t flush it through the system, so there was something splashing in the tank, and ice in the pipes and nozzles.
If you have a long journey ahead, the problem may resolve itself, the temperature under the hood will rise and the system will go away.
In some cars, the washer fluid reservoir is located in a ventilated place, so even the concentrate can freeze on the road. In this case, you just need to choose the liquid in such a way that there is a margin at the critical temperature. And don’t forget to run it through the entire system after refilling with anti-freeze.
Video material with anti-freeze test:
How to deal with this?
What should you do if the liquid in the tank has set firmly and is unlikely to come away on its own, and the thaw will not come soon? There are several ways that can help you with similar situation.
The easiest way is to put the car in a warm garage and wait until the fluid drains away on its own.
Everything is extremely simple, but, firstly, it takes a lot of time, and secondly, not everyone has a warm box at hand.
If the design of the car allows, you can remove the tank and take it home to defrost. It is most effective to pour it hot water from all sides.
You can do without removing the tank by simply pouring hot water into it. But there are two problems: firstly, the water will cool very quickly, so the efficiency of the method is quite low, and secondly, the cooled water must be pumped out, which is sometimes very difficult.
Whatever method you manage to defrost the ice, after that you need to pour concentrate or boiling water into the tank and run it through the system in order to melt the ice in the periphery.
After this, you need to fill in the concentrate (!) and again drive it through the entire system.
If you are trying to save money by diluting anti-freeze, follow simple rule which can save your time. Try to fill the tank no more than halfway, this will allow you to add concentrate if necessary, and the defrosting process will be somewhat simplified.
Good luck with your machine operation and be careful!
The article uses an image from the site www.drive2.ru
The temperature does not have to drop to the extreme minus thirty for the anti-freeze fluid in the washer to turn into a block of ice. An unscrupulous seller is enough for this, and now the driver is already forced to regularly stop to powder Windshield clean snow from the side of the road. It is clear how to prevent such a situation, but what to do if it has already happened?
What to do if washer fluid freezes
The situation, in fact, is quite typical for winter: we press the washer lever, and we don’t see a stream or a drop of the vaunted anti-freeze. Meanwhile, the brushes crawl across the dry windshield. The simplest and most painless way to correct the situation is to drive the car into warm garage, underground parking is also suitable. After which all that remains is to wait until the non-freezing liquid melts throughout the entire system. Of course, the method works if you have a lot of time, but it’s not at all suitable for quick defrosting.
Partial freezing
It is worth noting that often the liquid freezes only partially, in the line and injectors, while quite a liquid anti-freeze sloshes around in the tank. This happens because the amount of liquid in the hoses is small, and the alcohol, which prevents the composition from freezing, quickly evaporates. In any case, during the night there is no water left in the hoses, and the remaining water turns into ice, blocking the access of liquid from the tank. If this is your case, then you can quickly defrost it using any lock defroster; in winter, every driver should have one in his car. We take a syringe, inject the defroster through the nozzles into the hoses, and in a couple of minutes you have a working washer.
How to defrost an antifreeze
Everything is frozen
The situation gets worse if the entire washer reservoir has turned into ice, because not all cars have the ability to quickly dismantle it in order to take it to the nearest tap with warm water. As a rule, the tank is hidden deep in the bowels of the muzzle, bumper, under the wing or in another similar place. If you do not have the habit of adding liquid to the tank at night, then the nearest pharmacy can save the situation, where you can purchase any cheapest product containing alcohol (alcohol). Five bottles of calendula or the infamous hawthorn will be enough. Just keep in mind that in some cases you can easily be refused the sale of this product, on suspicion of misuse. In this case, a hardware store where you can buy denatured 96% alcohol can be an excellent alternative. After the purchase, it’s a small task: pour alcohol into the tank and wait until it turns the ice into a real anti-freeze.
Defrosting the fluid in the washer fluid reservoir
It’s another matter if the tank is full and frozen up to the neck, and there are no pharmacies nearby. In this case, go to the nearest car wash, where we ask the employee to install the hose directly on the neck. It is not necessary to have hot water; even cold water will wash away the ice quite quickly. Next, we make sure to spray all the water that remains in the tank onto the front windshield, and then fill it with really anti-freezing, high-quality washer fluid purchased from a reliable seller.
Do you think this problem can only affect inexperienced drivers? Not only that, frosts come unexpectedly. But there are a number of ways to solve the problem.
What should you not do if your washer fluid freezes?
There are a lot of articles on automotive topics on the Internet, but when you get to know them more closely, you realize that they were written by people unfamiliar with the topic.
So, for example, you may come across advice - pour boiling water into the tank. Why you can't do this:
- from hot water the plastic tank may be deformed;
- water can overflow and flow directly onto the fuse box or any other important component;
- In cold weather, boiling water quickly cools and freezes.
Boiling water can only be added when the tank is less than a third full. Add water to the very top, but carefully, then it will need to be drained.
At the same time, you will also drain the antifreeze liquid itself, which is not always cheap.
Sometimes warming up the engine helps, but only in cases where the washer fluid container is mounted not closer to the car's fender, but directly next to the engine.
The first method is also the simplest. If the tank is frozen, it means it’s frosty outside, the roads are relatively clean, and windshield washer is not required. Think maybe you need something in mall with covered (warm) parking? Drive your car there, and in a couple of hours, while you are shopping, the ice in the reservoir and windshield washer tubes will melt, all that remains is to pour the liquid onto the glass and pour in the frost-resistant anti-freeze agent purchased at the shopping center.
You can also take the car to a warm wash. To let it sit longer, not only wash the body mats, but also vacuum the interior and clean out the trunk. Of course, you will have to spend money, but for a good cause - cleanliness. At car washes, as a rule, you can buy anti-freeze and immediately pour it into the washer reservoir.
Current Auto News
If the frost is not severe, and the liquid in the tank is less than half, you can try to deal with the ice with a high-quality anti-freeze agent, heated to be sure in a water bath. Frozen jets must be cleaned with a needle, and the tubes leading to them must be stretched with your hands.
Does not help? IN domestic cars, some old and budget foreign cars(for example, on the B0 platform) the windshield washer reservoirs are visible, and not hidden in the fenders or bumpers. You can remove the reservoir by removing the pump and unscrewing a couple of nuts, and take it home to warm it up. Then put it in place and fill it with normal anti-freeze.
Frozen windshield washer fluid represents serious problem. This makes it impossible to clean the glass properly, resulting in reduced visibility and an increased likelihood of misjudgment. traffic situation. In addition, frozen liquid poses a threat to the windshield washer pump. After reading the article, you will find out why “” freezes and what to do if this happens.
Why does the non-freeze freeze?
High-quality windshield washer fluid freezes if the air temperature drops significantly below the threshold indicated on the label. This usually happens if the frost has exceeded 30 degrees and the car has been standing outside for at least 20 hours. If the liquid contains ethylene glycol, then freezing does not pose any danger.
After 10-15 minutes of engine operation, the temperature inside the engine compartment will increase so much that the fluid will thaw. If the antifreeze does not contain ethylene glycol, then there is a high probability of damage to the pump impeller. Water, which is the main component of windshield washer fluid, increases in size by 9% when frozen. As a result, the water inside the impeller also increases by 9% and can destroy the casing or blades. If you persistently try to turn on the windshield washer in such a situation, then there is a high probability that the pump will burn out and short circuit electrical wiring.
How to Safely Determine If Windshield Washer Fluid is Frozen
First of all, start and warm up the engine to a temperature of 70-80 degrees. After this, pull the windshield washer control lever towards you. If liquid from the nozzles does not splash onto the glass within 1 second, wait 10-15 minutes. During this time engine compartment It will warm up and you can try again. If the liquid does not splash onto the glass again, it means that the anti-freeze agent has frozen not only, but also in the tank and pump. In this case, the liquid will thaw no earlier than after 2-3 hours. In this case, the engine temperature should not fall below 80 degrees. If the car has standard system heating of the windshield washer, then the warm-up time even with completely frozen liquid is 30-60 minutes depending on the air temperature. If after defrosting the windshield washer operates normally, then the pump has not been damaged. If after defrosting there are extraneous sounds When the pump operates, it begins to work intermittently or the pressure of liquids from the nozzles decreases, then the impeller and/or pump motor are damaged. In this case, the pump must be replaced.
How to prevent windshield washer fluid from freezing
To prevent windshield washer fluid from freezing, you must:
- (standard installed on most modern cars Russian and foreign production);
- use a suitable anti-freeze product;
- do not leave the car on the street, but put it in an insulated garage.
The heating system consists of:
Such a system can be purchased at auto stores or assembled yourself. If you are well versed in the structure and operation of a car, including its electrical part, you can install such a system without any problems or difficulties. If you are not so qualified, then do not try to install the system yourself. After all, as a result of even a small mistake you can violate temperature regime motor or short circuit on-board network car.
What to do if the antifreeze is frozen
If you find in the morning that the anti-freeze has frozen, and you cannot wait 3-4 hours, do the following:
- Warm up the engine to a temperature of 80 degrees and leave it running.
- Buy a bottle of the cheapest vodka or moonshine. Turn off the engine, remove the filler cap from the windshield washer reservoir and pour vodka or moonshine into it. The alcohol in their composition will dissolve the antifreeze without impairing its properties.
- If you can’t get vodka or moonshine, take 1-2 liters of good low-temperature anti-freeze and heat it to 40-60 degrees. To do this, you can place a canister/bottle of liquid in boiling water. Then the heated antifreeze is poured into the windshield washer reservoir, after turning off the engine.
- Close the hood and start the engine.
- Heat the water to a temperature of 30-40 degrees and pour it over the windshield washer nozzles.
- After 1-2 minutes, press the windshield washer control lever. If the pump is not damaged, a jet of anti-freeze will spray from the nozzles onto the windshield.
What not to do when windshield wiper fluid freezes
On the Internet you often find advice like “pour boiling water into the windshield wiper reservoir.” Those who give such advice do not understand cars at all. If there is not enough boiling water, it will not be able to dissolve the ice even in the tank. If there is a lot of boiling water, the windshield washer reservoir may be damaged. After all, it is made of low-temperature plastic. Even if you manage to dissolve the liquid in the tank, the tubes and nozzles will still be filled with ice. After 30-40 minutes, the water in the tank will cool down so much that it will begin to become covered with ice. As a result, the problem will become even more serious. Therefore, under no circumstances pour boiling water into the windshield washer reservoir.
