Windshield squirters don't work below 30 degrees F

D

Deb

2002 OBW LLBean.

For the entire time I've owned this car, the windshield fluid just will
not flow when it's in the 20s. When the temp goes above freezing,
we're back in business. Anyone else have this problem?

It's dangerous, as the windshield tends to get white coated from road
spray, which freezes immediately as it hits the windshield. Trying to
use the washer fluid just makes it worse, as the wipers are
automatically activated every time, and they just spread it around
worse.

I wish there was a way to try to squirt the fluid without the wipers
activiating automatically!
 
For the entire time I've owned this car, the windshield fluid just will
not flow when it's in the 20s. When the temp goes above freezing,
we're back in business. Anyone else have this problem?

It's dangerous, as the windshield tends to get white coated from road
spray, which freezes immediately as it hits the windshield. Trying to
use the washer fluid just makes it worse, as the wipers are
automatically activated every time, and they just spread it around
worse.

I wish there was a way to try to squirt the fluid without the wipers
activiating automatically!

Why not use an antifreeze based screenwash, I worked in Bosnia and our
Landrovers were filled with an antifreeze screenwash, it got lover
than -23C (-9F) at night and never got above -17 (1F) in the day time, we
never had any problems with the screenwash freezing.

Ross
 
Deb said:
2002 OBW LLBean.

For the entire time I've owned this car, the windshield fluid just will
not flow when it's in the 20s. When the temp goes above freezing,
we're back in business. Anyone else have this problem?

Might be a dumb question, but are you using anti-freeze windshield
washer fluid or just water? And if you are using anti-freeze fluid,
does it state the temperature range that it is effective at?

I do have some problems with the washer getting clogged up, but it's
usually after some freezing rain has hit the car and coated it, or
occasionally it might occur because of temperature, but that
temperature is well below -10C I might find that the jet doesn't spread
the fluid around as evenly as it does at higher temperatures. I usually
use the anti-freeze that's rated for -40 or lower.

Yousuf Khan
 
Deb said:
2002 OBW LLBean.

For the entire time I've owned this car, the windshield fluid just will
not flow when it's in the 20s. When the temp goes above freezing,
we're back in business. Anyone else have this problem?

I live in Chicago where it's currently 9F. :)

If I use Prestone's premium windshield washer fluid (it's yellow), I
don't have a problem. Any the blue stuff, typically I have problem at
some point in the season, regardless of what they claim as the
freezing point on the bottle.

I typically run the head split between defrost vents and the low vents
to keep the windshield hotter than the outside temp to reduce the
freeze on contact possibilities.

Yes, it's dangerous to not have windshield washer available in salty
roads, esp at night.
 
Todd H. wrote:>
If I use Prestone's premium windshield washer fluid (it's yellow), I
don't have a problem. Any the blue stuff, typically I have problem at
some point in the season, regardless of what they claim as the
freezing point on the bottle.

Thanks, Todd. Whatever I'm using, it's the blue stuff. I'll try
refilling with the good yellow stuff. And here I was, thinking this
was a Subaru defect!
 
Deb said:
Todd H. wrote:>

Thanks, Todd. Whatever I'm using, it's the blue stuff. I'll try
refilling with the good yellow stuff. And here I was, thinking this
was a Subaru defect!

Nah, can't blame subaru for physics. :)

It would be interesting if manufacturers would look at heating those
nozzles and tube runs, but perhaps high quality fluid makes this
expense and failure point unnecessary.

Best Regards,
 
Todd H. wrote:>
Thanks, Todd. Whatever I'm using, it's the blue stuff. I'll try
refilling with the good yellow stuff. And here I was, thinking this
was a Subaru defect!

Well, I'm sure "Dr." Rusty Farfoofnick will pop
in here and say that Subaru's actually cause
washer fluid to freeze earlier, and stay frozen,
longer, than any other make vehicle!
 
Deb said:
Todd H. wrote:>

Thanks, Todd. Whatever I'm using, it's the blue stuff. I'll try
refilling with the good yellow stuff. And here I was, thinking this
was a Subaru defect!
I did see a post here (I think) recently about an aftermarket washer fluid
heating systems... if I can find the link, I'll post it later.
C
 
Here in Minnesota, the blue stuff works fine down to very low temps, but
who knows what they sell other places. Where are you Deb?

Also, do you use plain water in summer and blue stuff in winter?
Probably not a good idea.

But, if you use blue stuff years round, and the blue stuff is good to a
low temp (leave a bottle outside...) then it sounds to me like a
mechanical problem. Still, my money is on the simplest answer: the fluid
is freezing.
 

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