How to flush out the Windscreen washer reservoir?

[lkt]

Hi, My euro's windscreen washer reservoir has got fungus in it - and the 'water' is all slimy and smelly.... (as I dont change it often)!

Can someone please tell me how to flush out the whole reservoir which will hopefully get rid of the fungus?

I guess I should only fill it up with distilled water?

Thanks!

[tron07]

Not sure about euro, my previous car, took out the whole reservoir and clean it... maybe can see if anyway to remove it...

[terryansimon]

my friend's car was flushed back home by a car detailer who blasted the reservoir box with a high pressure host. cleared out everything.

[aaronng]

Take off your bumper, then there is a drain valve at the bottom of the resevoir tank. Next time, just add a little sonax or rainX windscreen spray additive before adding water as that helps prevent mould growth. Or use your spray more often.

[pxrnm]

Take off your bumper, then there is a drain valve at the bottom of the resevoir tank. Next time, just add a little sonax or rainX windscreen spray additive before adding water as that helps prevent mould growth. Or use your spray more often.

hi aaronng,

how much RainX do you usually put in there?

how much water does the washer tank can hold?

do you put in the water to the brink?

[Jegi#5]

I put Rainx in there, about 5 drops or so (maybe a little more, I don't count exactly, just drop some in and shake) per bottle of water ( I use an old powerade bottle). I must say that coming from my dad's 2001 Mitsubishi Verada, the reservoir in the Euro for washer fluid is tiny, get empty really quick

[aaronng]

hi aaronng,

how much RainX do you usually put in there?

how much water does the washer tank can hold?

do you put in the water to the brink?

I use Sonax. I put 1/2 of the predetermined dosage per full tank. That way when it dries on the windscreen (where the wipers don't reach), it doesn't stain that badly.

[rambohung]

I've tried to get all water out by spraying (bcos I don't know how do get it out), took a bloody long time lol
Anyway, after I got all water out, I refill with water, and found it hold abt 4.5L.
I want to find out the exact volume to measure the right amount of Rain X washer liquid. Works out abt 1/2 bottle of soultion per tank. The Rain X washer solution cost abt $10 from Supercheap Auto.
Hope this help

[mastcell]

I don't think high pressure blasting of the water reservoir is a good idea. Why not try a biological way? Put some bleach in there for about 15mins (say 1 part bleach to 9 parts water), it will kill and dissolve the fungus. Then you can drain it out/siphon it out. You can also use hydrogen peroxide or other oxygen bleach if you prefer.

If you keep getting recontamination, then you may have to flush the water line as well with bleach/oxygen bleach. This is what we do for medical water line.

I don't know if bleach will damage the paint, so thoroughly rinse/wash the affected area immediately. Bleach will cause exposed steel and aluminium to corrode, but it is readily dissolved in water and easily removed.

[aaronng]

I don't think high pressure blasting of the water reservoir is a good idea. Why not try a biological way? Put some bleach in there for about 15mins (say 1 part bleach to 9 parts water), it will kill and dissolve the fungus. Then you can drain it out/siphon it out. You can also use hydrogen peroxide or other oxygen bleach if you prefer.

If you keep getting recontamination, then you may have to flush the water line as well with bleach/oxygen bleach. This is what we do for medical water line.

I don't know if bleach will damage the paint, so thoroughly rinse/wash the affected area immediately. Bleach will cause exposed steel and aluminium to corrode, but it is readily dissolved in water and easily removed.

No, bleach will damage rubber and clear tubings. Peroxide is better but no point. Just use rainX additive first.

BTW rambohung, don't put in 1/2 a bottle of RainX solution. Start with 1/8 and then see if it is enough to get oily films off the windscreen. If it is not enough, spray out some water and then add more RainX and water again to mix.

[mastcell]

I agree that you ought to try aaronng's method first. If it does not solve your problem, consider mine suggestion, but I admit it is untested in automotive industry.

Household bleach contain high proportion of sodium chloride and sodium hydroxide, in addition to the sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl - the bleach). The NaCl and NaOH are by-products of hypochlorite production. The NaOCl is a strong oxidiser (kills fungus), the NaOH is strongly alkaline and undergoes saponification process with fatty acids in organic structures (break down the fungus cell wall), and NaCl can combine with the iron (Fe) in steel to cause rust. All three components can react with metals in the car. However, with minimal contact time like 15mins, there is little risk of damage.

I have not heard of NaOCl/NaOH/NaCl damaging rubber and clear tubing (as in medical tubing). If the risk is present, it is probably not significant because it is only used for a short duration, such as a flush.

[pxrnm]

No, bleach will damage rubber and clear tubings. Peroxide is better but no point. Just use rainX additive first.

BTW rambohung, don't put in 1/2 a bottle of RainX solution. Start with 1/8 and then see if it is enough to get oily films off the windscreen. If it is not enough, spray out some water and then add more RainX and water again to mix.

actually I've done what rambohung did , that's because the rec. dosage is 1 Ltr = 30 ml of rainX. pretty much half the bottle was used (296ml for whole bottle)

should i spray it out and add in water instead?

will it damage anything if I don't do anything?