What to Do When Windshield Washer Fluid Freezes and Won't Spray?
2 Answers
If the windshield washer fluid is frozen, you can warm it up by opening the reservoir cap and placing it in sunlight. If only a thin layer is frozen, it will thaw quickly. If it remains frozen, adding some warm water can help melt the fluid. Here are some precautions when adding windshield washer fluid: 1. In winter, if you previously added tap water to the reservoir, make sure to drain it completely before adding washer fluid. Mixing tap water with washer fluid can easily cause freezing. To drain the water, continuously spray the windshield for a while until no more water comes out, then refill with washer fluid. 2. To prevent freezing, choose the right type of washer fluid. In winter, use an antifreeze windshield washer fluid, which ensures it won’t freeze or damage car components even at temperatures below -18°C.
Last winter when I was driving to the outskirts, the windshield washer fluid suddenly wouldn't spray. Upon checking, I found it was frozen—the low temperature caused the water to freeze and block the nozzle. Don't rush to spray it. Park in a warm place, like a garage or under sunlight, start the engine to let the interior heat up and slowly melt the ice. Wait for about an hour. If the nozzle is still cold, gently pour warm water (not too hot) over the nozzle to speed up thawing. Never use boiling water or flame, as it can crack plastic parts. After thawing, test the spray. If it works normally, you're good to go. This incident also reminded me that prevention is better than fixing. Before winter, switch to antifreeze windshield washer fluid, which can withstand sub-zero temperatures—don't use tap water to save money. Regularly check the fluid level in the reservoir and top it up with antifreeze when empty, otherwise the pump may burn out from dry running. Poor visibility while driving is dangerous. If the fluid is frozen, don't spray it on the road—first wipe the windshield manually to ensure safety. Simple maintenance can save you from big troubles.
