Should Water Be Added When Refilling Windshield Washer Fluid?
3 Answers
Whether water should be added when refilling windshield washer fluid depends on the situation. Solid windshield washer fluid needs to be dissolved with water, while for liquid windshield washer fluid, the concentration should be considered. High-concentrate windshield washer fluid has highly corrosive properties and must be diluted with water according to the specified ratio before use. Non-concentrated liquid windshield washer fluid can be used directly. The method for adding solid windshield washer fluid is as follows: First, open the hood (the hood release is usually located near the driver's left foot). After opening, locate the windshield washer fluid reservoir, which is marked with a blue plastic cap. Place the solid windshield washer fluid inside and add water. It's important to note that the typical capacity of a car's windshield washer fluid reservoir is about 3 liters, so avoid overfilling.
I've been driving for twenty years, and the matter of adding windshield washer fluid really needs to be clarified. For regular windshield washer fluid, you can pour it directly into the reservoir without adding water. However, if you buy the concentrated type, the instructions will specify that it needs to be diluted with purified water in a certain ratio. Never use tap water. Last year, the nozzles on my old car got clogged and couldn't spray water because I had previously used tap water for convenience, and the impurities in it caused scaling that blocked the nozzles. Especially in winter, you must use antifreeze windshield washer fluid. The freezing point depends on the coldest temperature in your area. Adding tap water in sub-zero regions can freeze and crack the reservoir. For bottled windshield washer fluid sold in supermarkets, just pour it directly—don’t dilute it or mix different brands.
When I first bought a car, I was also confused about whether to add water to the windshield washer fluid. Now I understand. Ready-to-use washer fluid is like cola—just open the cap and use it. Concentrates are more like powdered juice—you must mix them with purified or distilled water, following the ratio indicated on the bottle. The worst option is tap water. Once, I was lazy and used tap water, and within two weeks, the wipers started leaving water stains. The mechanic said minerals can corrode the system. You can save some money by using regular fluid in summer, but in winter, you must switch to antifreeze type. I’ve seen a neighbor’s windshield washer reservoir crack from freezing. Oh, and when there’s oil film on the windshield, don’t just rely on washer fluid—you need to buy a dedicated oil film remover.
