windshield washer and radiator fluid

**wewoy_romero** · April 16th, 2006 02:52 PM

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** · April 16th, 2006 03:15 PM

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** · April 16th, 2006 04:14 PM

Originally Posted by 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.

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** · April 16th, 2006 04:18 PM

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** · April 16th, 2006 04:18 PM

Originally Posted by 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

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'** · April 16th, 2006 04:22 PM

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

**niky** · April 16th, 2006 05:30 PM

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** · April 16th, 2006 06:06 PM

Originally Posted by 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.

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** · April 16th, 2006 06:13 PM

Originally Posted by number001

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** · April 16th, 2006 06:23 PM

Originally Posted by Psylocke

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.