What to Do If Windshield Washer Fluid is Added to Brake Fluid?
2 Answers
Methods to handle windshield washer fluid added to brake fluid: In this case, you must not continue to use it and should go to a professional repair shop to replace the brake fluid. Once windshield washer fluid is added to the brake fluid, even if no chemical reaction occurs, it will dilute the brake fluid, lowering its boiling point. There is also the possibility of a chemical reaction causing the brake fluid to completely deteriorate. Below are relevant introductions to both: 1. Windshield washer fluid is a cleaning solution used to clean the car's windshield. When adding it, you need to open the hood, locate the washer fluid reservoir, and add it to the reservoir. 2. The function of brake fluid is to transmit the pressure from the master cylinder to the wheel cylinders. Since the wheel cylinders are directly connected to the brake pads, the high temperatures generated during braking are also transferred to the brake fluid. Once the temperature of the brake fluid rises to its boiling point, the bubbles produced by boiling can affect the transmission of braking force, causing the brakes to feel soft, and in the worst case, the brakes may completely fail. Therefore, brake fluid has very high requirements for boiling point.
I encountered this situation just last week, and it was really frightening. Adding windshield washer fluid to the brake fluid reservoir is no small matter. Brake fluid is highly sensitive to water and impurities, and mixing in washer fluid can severely compromise its performance. I immediately turned off the engine and stopped the car, not daring to drive even a single meter. I called for a tow truck right away and had it sent to the repair shop. The mechanic said the entire brake system had to be thoroughly cleaned: disassembling the brake lines, master cylinder, and wheel cylinders, repeatedly flushing them with a specialized cleaning agent, and then replacing all the brake fluid with new fluid. It cost me several hundred dollars, but that’s still better than risking brake failure. Remember to always check the label on the reservoir cap before adding any fluid—the brake fluid cap usually has a yellow triangular warning symbol.
