This may be a silly observation, but there isn't a place to fill the rear washer fluid. It just keeps on coming! Obviously from the large resivoir in front.

Yep, front and rear draw from the same tank. Never known a vehicle that had a separate tank for the rear. The wonderful thing about fluids is that pushing at one end of a tube has the same result at the other end no matter the distance...

Brent

My prior Chrysler mini vans had a separate tank in the rear.

My old Ford Exploder had one also.

Chevy Sprint had one.

"Rack" up another post.

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2001 Silver Ice
SE V6 4X4

Damn, those two reservoirs probably took up more space than the engine.

I find myself filling the washer fluid reservoir a lot. I don't use the wipers all that often. There is no leak, but it seems to go quickly, especially since it holds a whole gallon of fluid. Anyone else have this happen, or is it just me?
Omni

Yea, I've noticed that too, during our wonderful summer without any rain, I hardly ever used the wipers, but the fluid tank could almost always use some fluid. Seems a little strange since it has a lid, way too much to be losing to evaporation. But never enough to seem like it was leaking.

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Robert Reuscher
SouthWest Xterra Club Member #3
Denim Blue SE 4x2
www.geocities.com/swxterraclub/SouthwesternXterraClub.html

Add the Mitsubishi Montero to the list of "rear tankers." I'm not sure where the tank is, but the filler hole is in the back, on the right side rail. You can only get access to it when the tailgate is swung upward.

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Thanks,

kjw & the
"PNUT-MNM"

Isuzu Trooper had a rear tank too. Practically had to hook it up to a dialysis machine to refill the sucker.

My dad's old Renault 12 had a rear washer fluid tank, but I doubt you'll find many over here.

Add Saturn Wagons to the list, it had this really cool swing out filler......that leaked if you poured too fast.

All the Chrysler/Plymouth/Dodge min-vans have the rear tanks. Having 1 is a lot easier!

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2001 SE 4X4
Alpine Green

The list grows longer.
My VW Quantom wagon had a rear washer tank.
I changed the little motor as much as the fluid.

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Lance
Silver XE 3 packages

IMO, it makes more sense to have one tank, for ease of use - and to have it in the engine compartment. At least there it will warm up somewhat with the engine and do a better job in the winter (you should use the anti-freezing kind).

I believe my old VW Scirocco had a rear one too. Wow that was a long time ago!!

Has anyone used Windex in place of washer fluid? At work they use Windex in all of the fleet cars and works very well. I havent tried it on my car. Thats the diff. between State and Personal. Pros-Cons ??
thanks

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Allen Powell
Gator Saver

So what do the majority of you throw in the washer reservoir? What brand of fluid works well in cold climates, preferably something that doesnt cause buildup or is potentially paint damaging.

I use Rain X washer fluid. It works good, but I don't now about the freezing part. It doesn't get that cold here.

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Gary T.
2001 Silver Ice
4x4 SE Auto

10 posts. I'm not a lurker anymore.

I am in south east PA and am using Rain X winter blend, works good and it don't freeze the temp. has been inhte 20's F. the past few days.

How much does a bottle of Rain X cost? Does it come in the traditional washer fluid bottle size (5 liters, I think)?

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known as 2xterras on Edmunds Bulletin Board

Rain-X treatment is a few bucks a bottle, for about 6 or 8 ounces. This is the stuff you apply to the glass by hand. The washer fluid in the 1-gallon bottle pre-mix is 2 or 3 bucks as I recall, and pink in color. You can also get a 10 oz (or so) bottle of the washer fluid additive, also pink, that you mix with conventional $1/gal blue fluid.

Brent

Ic....but on my last vehicle the rain-x washer fluid left some residue (blackened residue) on the hood. I was interested in maybe the prestone de-ice stuff only I dont know how well it works.

I have used Prestone de-icing windshield washer fluid in the past and just put some in the X. It's the yellow stuff. You can also get it in concentrate form and add to whatever you're using now. It has worked well for me. We regularly get temps from 0 to 20 degrees F in winter. When its really bad, -10.

I just filled up today with some of the pink Rain-X stuff. Don't know if/how well it works yet...

I've used the Prestone before (last winter) and it works.

Not only do they not freeze (I don't think normal windhsield washer fluid does either) it helps to de-ice your windshield upon application. What I have seen is the normal fluid hit your windshield and freeze up... But not in the tank, AFAIK.

What is this "De-icing windshield fluid" i don't think i have seen that stuff 'round here!! Ha Ha

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Allen Powell
Gator Saver

Gator Saver, I believe in your area, your windshield washer tanks have to be specially pressurized and take anti-boil fluid.

The compromises we all have to make...

'84 Subaru wagons had rear reservoirs.

Now how about those VW's? Using your spare tire for air pressure, or in the vans, using a pressure cylinder behind the front wall.

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Join the Xterra Offroad Webring

2000 Aztec Red 4x4 V-6 XE-3Pak
www.xterra4x4.com

Yep, as a long-time aficianado of Volkswagens, I'm well aware of their little "innovations."

The heater(s) take the cake. Hot air exchangers or gasoline heaters. Neither worked all that well and the latter just gave me the shivers (pun intended).

My '72 and '73 Beetles would cook you right out of the car if you let 'em, the heaters worked very well, and yes, I'm talking about below-freezing temps too!

Brent

Yup.

Feet on fire. Hands, an icecube. I remember it well.

The basic formulation for summer grade windshield washer fluid is water and a few drops of surfactant - car wash soap will do. Oh yes, a drop of coloring - you select the color. I'd rather skip color, it has been known to stain paint.
For winter use, add some alcohol to prevent freezing. About one part alcohol to 2 to 3 parts of the summer mix. Methanol, ethanol or 2-propanol(iso) will work. I usually use a mix of whatever I've got around the lab.

dave and Xtoy - ya can't go if ya can't see

yeah, we had a old Toyota Supra with two res, can't remember if the 240SX did or not though.

Kinda just wish my rear wiper would just work properly though!

I used to add isopro to the blue fluid with my old vehicle in AK and it worked when it was way cold. However, I'm kind of reluctant to do the same now as I don't want to screw up the paint. Do you think the isopro would cause any problems?

P.S. The old Monteros had a two tank system.

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'01 Black SE 4x4

anybody know about environmental impact of using prestone (or other brand) de-icing fluid vs. regular windsheild washer fluid? way up here in Kanada we saw the stuff a few years back but now i don't see it anywhere (maybe it is still sold but it must be on the back/bottom shelf). just wondered if it is not around because of environmental impact or just that no one was buying it.

Should be fine, environmentally AFAIK. Not all places carry it, but if they do - it's usually brought out and displayed when winter arrives. Strange...

IPA isopropal alcohal is considered dangerous to the environment. That is what the EPA said to us while i was in the Air Force. We had to bag up the used cotton balls or rags that had IPA on them and turn them into HAZMAT for proper disposal. I have only had my X for about 6 months and i havent had problems with the fluid running out to fast. I just get it filled while i am getting the oil changed and i am good until the next oil change.
Lata

We've had the opposite experience. Even though we use the washers the reservoir won't take much fluid.

Russell

My 1988 Bronco II had a resevoir in the back.

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I stopped using the Rain-X that you apply to your windshield because as it wore off, it would leave streaks and give oncoming headlights a halo. The only fix was to either strip it or re-apply often.

Does the Rain-X windshield washer fluid have this same problem?

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2001 Silver Ice 4x4 SE V6 Auto ... coming soon!

I hate washer fluid. Every car I have ever driven has run out when I needed it most. Conserve Conserve Conserve.

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Eric Miller
University of Chicago
Also from southwest MO.

Here's something not to do...

Don't fill you your reservior the night before you plan to go 4-wheeling in sloppy terrain and forget to close the cap again. You may well end up splashing mud into your reservior and jam the hoses and/or pump.

Ask me how I know...

Now to figure out how to clear it.

D'oh!
Brent

[This message has been edited by OffroadX (edited 02-19-2001).]

So offroadX how did you clean it out?

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Haven't tried yet. I'm thinking it's probably not in the pump or lines, more likely it's just backed up behind the nozzles which are the narrowest part of the path. The metal balls with the holes in 'em in the nozzle can be removed with a little wiggling on the end of a pin, they're just a royal pain to align for any reason. Why Nissan doesn't use the fixed one-piece nozzles like on our Honda that actually vibrate at a high rate to spray a decent area of the window as the fluid flows through is beyond me. The ball-style nozzles suck, same as I had on my Toyota.

Brent

[This message has been edited by OffroadX (edited 02-20-2001).]

Do what I've done with my VW Golf "commuter car" that always has "issues" like this.

Get an air compressor and an air gun with a soft rubber tip. Disconnect the hose to the resevoir and blow the air backwards through the system to blow out any particles. Don't go nuts and push 125psi through there - just a little at a time to push the crud out.

While the hose is off, you can flush out the resevoir...

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2001 Solar Yellow SE 4x4 V6 5spd

Update:
I have been using Windex 100% as washer fluid for 3 months now and it works great. It is the only thing that I have found that will take off Love Bugs without using a 10 gallons of water.

For the owners in Canada I think you have a Washer Low light on your trucks? Does anyone know if that is something that can be added to the US trucks??

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Gator Saver
2000 Blue SE 4x2
Florida Xtreme Xterras
------------
Real Men Wear Kilts

anyone??

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Gator Saver
2000 Blue SE 4x2
Florida Xtreme Xterras
------------
Real Men Wear Kilts

Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

You are quite patient. I really don't know, but good luck finding out!

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UTILIZE THE RACK!

next time i am at the dealership i will ask them. i would assume that it would mean a whole new reservoir with the sensor built in but it probably would be easy to wire up.

I had to try it out. Went out and bought Armor All's Auto Glass Cleaner and mixed it in with the reg. window wash. Did this before our vac. to Daytona this past week.

IT WORKED GREAT ! ! !

Thanks Gator Saver!!!

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`01 Cloud White
XE 4x2 Auto
3 Pk