windshield washer and radiator fluid

[wewoy_romero]

question lang po.

i notice that many drivers use only water for the windshield wiper and sa radiator instead of using wiper fluid or coolant talaga. is this ok?

pasensiya na po. newbie lang sa pagdidrive

[carlos]

it's obvious, they're just drivers and don't own the car. May mga owners din who don't really know how to maintain their cars as long as it's running. I have a friend who doesn't know that the radiator has to filled with water.

[number001]

it's obvious, they're just drivers and don't own the car. May mga owners din who don't really know how to maintain their cars as long as it's running. I have a friend who doesn't know that the radiator has to filled with water.

Actually new/modern vehicles dont need topping-ups of the radiator and the reservoir. When the vehicle is serviced, that is the time they will add (when necessary) the proper type of fluid (not just water but rather a mixture of coolant + water).

[aceshark]

coolant is there to prevent water on your radiator from boiling. and windshield washer fluids actually contain materials that could help remove dirt and grime from the windshield better than water. and besides, water may contain trace elements and deposits that could clog up your nozzle line...

[number001]

question lang po.

i notice that many drivers use only water for the windshield wiper and sa radiator instead of using wiper fluid or coolant talaga. is this ok?

pasensiya na po. newbie lang sa pagdidrive

Consult the owner's manual bec. each manufacturer differ in recommending which type of fluid to use. For the radiator, it is a mixture of coolant + water which is best filled up at an authorized service center during the vehicle's periodic maintenance. As for the windshield washer, Imo, the use of water is sufficient already unless you live in place with winter weather which require anti-freeze in the windshield washer.

[nestordreamin']

ang coolant para sa radiator; ang windshield washer ay para sa windshield. Pag wala pakialam ang driver sa sasakyan, hindi sya driver.

[niky]

Actually, it's best to use distilled water with a little wiper fluid mixed in for the wiper fluid reservoir.

Using plain tap water introduces scale into hoses and can lead to clogged windshield washers.

And a 50/50 mix of distilled water and coolant in the radiateor (dependent on manufacturer's specs)... but don't mix different types of coolant in the radiator at the same time, as there are certain coolants that react with each other.

Plain water causes quicker corrosion, and like aceshark said, lowers the boiling point of your system, making it less effective.

Some Redline water wetter added to your coolant reservoir is a pretty good idea, by the way.

[number001]

Actually, it's best to use distilled water with a little wiper fluid mixed in for the wiper fluid reservoir.

Using plain tap water introduces scale into hoses and can lead to clogged windshield washers.

And a 50/50 mix of distilled water and coolant in the radiateor (dependent on manufacturer's specs)... but don't mix different types of coolant in the radiator at the same time, as there are certain coolants that react with each other.

Plain water causes quicker corrosion, and like aceshark said, lowers the boiling point of your system, making it less effective.

Some Redline water wetter added to your coolant reservoir is a pretty good idea, by the way.

Is filtered drinking water or "inonized" water also ok? What does the wiper fluid have that make it special to use in lieu of 100% water? thanks

[Psylocke]

Is filtered drinking water or "inonized" water also ok? What does the wiper fluid have that make it special to use in lieu of 100% water? thanks

Filtration won't filter out dissolved minerals so will still clog your nozzles.

[number001]

Filtration won't filter out dissolved minerals so will still clog your nozzles.

So the distilled water that should be used is like the one for the battery?

Funny, all the cars/vehicles we had before all used garden-hose water and they all worked fine till the day they got sold.

[OTEP]

"Topping up" is yesterday's tech. Newer vehicles don't require topping up. BMW's and other Euro vehicles have a sticker on the filler cap that prevents you from filling the cooling system and also for the dealer to know if you have tampered with the cover.

Cooling systems are now serviced in intervals as noted in the owner's manual. Losing a bit of coolant is normal so long as it does not go below minimum especially when the engine is already cold. Top ups are done during prescribed service intervals.

For most cooling systems, any ethelyne glycol based coolant blended in equal amounts with distilled water (minimal solids) works best. Check your particular vehicle's service intervals and coolant type.

As for the windshield washer, there are pre-mixed and concentrate forms available. Check what you are buying. Make sure they contain no materials that may harm your specific vehicle's finish.

YES. Tap water will work though it is not the ideal fluid for both cooling system and windshield washer applications. I've seen water pumps get ruined by running on pure tap [esp. the 'hard' variety] water.

As distilled water sold for battery applications are sometimes of questionable quality, the most ideal is still distilled drinking water.

[niky]

Yup. I always use *shudder* Absolut or Wilkins for my older cars mixed with coolant.

Tap water may seem okay, but lik OTEP says, people have had stuff fail because of dissolved minerals in the water. It's not usually a problem if you're the first owner of an old vehicle, but not good if you're pushing over 100,000 km already.

[rsnald]

"Topping up" is yesterday's tech. Newer vehicles don't require topping up. BMW's and other Euro vehicles have a sticker on the filler cap that prevents you from filling the cooling system and also for the dealer to know if you have tampered with the cover.

Cooling systems are now serviced in intervals as noted in the owner's manual. Losing a bit of coolant is normal so long as it does not go below minimum especially when the engine is already cold. Top ups are done during prescribed service intervals.

For most cooling systems, any ethelyne glycol based coolant blended in equal amounts with distilled water (minimal solids) works best. Check your particular vehicle's service intervals and coolant type.

As for the windshield washer, there are pre-mixed and concentrate forms available. Check what you are buying. Make sure they contain no materials that may harm your specific vehicle's finish.

YES. Tap water will work though it is not the ideal fluid for both cooling system and windshield washer applications. I've seen water pumps get ruined by running on pure tap [esp. the 'hard' variety] water.

As distilled water sold for battery applications are sometimes of questionable quality, the most ideal is still distilled drinking water.

the doctor has spoken!

agree ako sa kanya... use wilkins or any brand distilled drinking water...both for radiator or windshield washer...although personally, sa radiator lang ako gumagamit ng distilled water. for windshield, pwede na tap water..wag lang deepwell water, leaves residues on the windshield when the water droplets dry (dissolved minerals). I don't think tap water will clog the windshield washer pipings unless super dumi nung tubig na kinarga mo. di naman naiinitan or kumukulo yung tubig sa windshield washer reservoir unlike yung sa radiator. just my 2 sentimos

[typhoon]

Matagal ko na binabalak bilin ung windshield washer na nasa maliit na bote. "Windshield Washer" lang ata ung name nya, kulay blue sya. Concentrated ata. Try ko siguro pag umuulan na.

[jarx]

ako hindi ko na tinitignan yung sa radiator at reservior. Bahala na casa dun...

sa windshield washer naman, distilled water lang. kasi nung bagong bili kotse ko nag marka sa paint yung nilagay ng casa.

[finchy18]

Yeah... Same lng yan sila windshield and rad water.. distilled yan dba? u can buy that any sa gasoline stations..