Windscreen washer fluid

Is it just me or is there now indicator for low windscreen washer fluid in the Alfa 166 ?

I don't know how many times I have been driving around without windscreen washer fluid.

/Morten

I don't think there is a warning light. Is it really that common on cars?

Anyway, I gather from this message board that headlamp washers really use up the fluid. Assuming you check the oil every few weeks, why not put a drop of water into the washer tank at the same time? If the weather is not freezing, a very dilute solution is fine. Just make sure not to mix washing solutions - you may gunk up the system completely and utterly. If you are not sure what solution was in there before, clean out with a hose!

You could also keep an unopened bottle of water in the boot. Not good for coolant (mineral water), but probably OK as a stop gap for the washer fluid!

the bottle on a 166 is massive though! I don't think i've ever run out - even in winter.....

It may be that the fluid resevoir is super-sized, but when you trigger the auto wash for the windscreen it splashes a ton of the stuff on the windscreen.

Besides the missing light in the dashboard, which I had on Peugeot 605, Mercedes and VW Golf IV R32, the most problematic thing is the small opening into the resevoir for the washer fluid.

I am very carefull not to hit those component beneath it, since I had problem with my old Pug 605, where the centra locking shorted, due to some water that splashes next to it.

Anybody got a good device for filling this resevoir ?

Originally Posted by bravo605

Anybody got a good device for filling this resevoir ?

How 'bout a funnel?

Originally Posted by alfa_mad

Is it really that common on cars?

Just make sure not to mix washing solutions - you may gunk up the system completely and utterly. If you are not sure what solution was in there before, clean out with a hose!

hi alfa_mad,

i had one on my 95 merc, and have seen this warning light on several others too, my sons small pug had one a few years back too. "common" might be pushing it, but quite a few for sure

now, the part that really got my attention not to mix washer fluids?
freely admit i have never heard of this before, and i'm a long time driving (too long maybe ) can you give a little more background on why so? not that i disbelieve you, i'm just keen to understand why is all

cheers,

Have never used a "device" to fill the resevoir just done it slowly

Mine has emptied 3 times now and if you let it go empty it can mess the system up for awhile. As soon as the pressure seems a bit low fill her up

Originally Posted by ZUUL

now, the part that really got my attention not to mix washer fluids?
freely admit i have never heard of this before, and i'm a long time driving (too long maybe ) can you give a little more background on why so?

I've heard that from two mechanics (one local, one TI Autos). I think the reasoning is that all sorts of stuff gets put into the washer bottle: distilled water, mineral water, washing up liquid, hand soap, ethanol, methanol (e.g., very low temp rated fluid), ammonia, chicken broth, leg of newt etc. and some may interact in bad ways. For instance, the pump/lines might clog up. I'm not sure how common this is - certainly couldn't find anything with a quick google search. Maybe it is not a problem anymore.

Originally Posted by alfa_mad

chicken broth, leg of newt etc. and some may interact in bad ways. .

chicken broth

nice on alfa_mad, clearly, part of your nick is well deserved

Never tried leg of newt, is it better than eye of toad?
The reservoir is big, bu you just need to get into the habit of topping it up weekly when checking your oil. A bind I know but its just part of looking after your bella. My "device"? I use a watering can. You have to let it gurgle when its near full

watering can with a piece of hosepipe stuck on end easy and no spillage.

Originally Posted by ZUUL

now, the part that really got my attention not to mix washer fluids?
freely admit i have never heard of this before, and i'm a long time driving (too long maybe ) can you give a little more background on why so? not that i disbelieve you, i'm just keen to understand why is all

cheers,

I don't understand why either Zuul, but it happens. There was a combination i can think of, Clearalex with someone elses normal blue stuff, that I ended up using. The washer motor packed up fairly quickly afterwards, and I stripped it down to have a look. The mixture had created a white "gunk" that clogged the motors intakes. When I cleared them and replaced the part the washer worked normally again. I thought nothing of it the first time, but it happened again periodically until I twigged it was the combination of the different fluids that was causing the gunk....