[Tasmanian]

Car is a 2012 528Xi. On warm days, I could fill the washer tank up to the top and within 40 miles, I am down 13 ounces.

I must commend my local dealer as they twice took the system apart to try to find the leak, including the typical leaky pump, leaky headlight tubes, etc. No problem was found.

Theory: the location of the turbo is superheating the blue washer fluid, causing it to evaporate.

Evidence: I find washer fluid dripping off of the inside of the top of the hood and then, cooling off and lying on the strut tower and lower control arms.
By opening up the tank, you can actually feel some of the condensation by the top of the cap.

So…is there insufficient heat shielding around the turbo? Is the turbo too close to the washer tank?

Anyone have any thoughts?

Thanks
Tasmanian

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by Tasmanian

Car is a 2012 528Xi. On warm days, I could fill the washer tank up to the top and within 40 miles, I am down 13 ounces.

I must commend my local dealer as they twice took the system apart to try to find the leak, including the typical leaky pump, leaky headlight tubes, etc. No problem was found.

Theory: the location of the turbo is superheating the blue washer fluid, causing it to evaporate.

Evidence: I find washer fluid dripping off of the inside of the top of the hood and then, cooling off and lying on the strut tower and lower control arms.
By opening up the tank, you can actually feel some of the condensation by the top of the cap.

So…is there insufficient heat shielding around the turbo? Is the turbo too close to the washer tank?

Anyone have any thoughts?

Thanks
Tasmanian

That much heat generation would cause other problems..

[Gilgorm]

It's hard to believe the turbo would be hot enough to virtually boil off the fluid. Every car in a hot climate would be out of fluid in a few days.
It is commendable that the dealer has put some time in but something must be leaking.
1) Have you filled up the tank and let the car sit for a few days? Or 2) driven it without using the washers?
If fluid is gone from question 1) then the turbo and driving has nothing to do with it. The system is not pressurized unless the pump is activated. I would drain the expensive?? fluid and put in water and try the system with the hood open. You may find a pinhole in one of the nozzles or tubing. If that reveals nothing then turn the headlights on and try the headlight washers and watch for tell-tale leaks (again with the hood open). A small hole under pump pressure should be obvious in either location.

On a retired MB, I had a problem with a heated nozzle with a tiny pinhole that only showed up under pressure. With the system off nothing ever appeared.
Also, is the tank cap tight and seated properly?
Good luck.

[snowmuch]

I'm having the extract same problem and it's very annoying. Is this common with f10s?

[HighlandPete]

There must be something wrong for fluid to be lost, certainly not a normal issue for an F10/11.

If, and to me it is a big if, it has something to do with the heat from the turbo; my first question is, are all the heat shields in place? Second must be, how does it get rid of all the fluid?

I'd be looking for a split in the tank, may open up when warm and fluid spills/leaks, blown around by the airflow.

Has anyone put a low pressure test on the fluid reservoir, to eliminate a leak from the system itself?

HighlandPete

[lsturbointeg]

how funny is that...mine just came on today but i know mine is because i'm always cleaning my windows from all the bugs hitting the windshield earlier this summer and fall.

[Chili Palmer]

I had my tank, then pump, then lines replaced and finally it stopped leaking - there were never any drips or puddles on the garage floor. Who knows what happens in the far reaches of the service department.

[Tasmanian]

Since the washer fluid is condensing on the underside of the hood, my next step is to replace the flip lid of the tank. I have not found any pinholes near the top. When it gets warm outside again, I can study the problem more carefully.

As far as I can tell, all the shielding is in place (if not, hopefully the dealer would let me know while checking the problem).

thanks

Tasmanian

[Tasmanian]

Two visits...no resolution! Finally...I studied where condensation was forming after a really hot trip.

And since I could not find a crack or flawl and where...I bit the bullet and bought a new cap for the windshield washer fluid. ..$9 from from the friendly parts man. Wow! No more windshield washer fluid loss!

I couldn't believe it was that simple! Others are having the same problem...so buy a Cap and try it out.

Thanks

Tasmanian

Originally Posted by Tasmanian

Since the washer fluid is condensing on the underside of the hood, my next step is to replace the flip lid of the tank. I have not found any pinholes near the top. When it gets warm outside again, I can study the problem more carefully.

As far as I can tell, all the shielding is in place (if not, hopefully the dealer would let me know while checking the problem).

thanks

Tasmanian

[krautmeister]

Can I jump in here for a small tangent?

My old BMW dealer in my E60 used to use a fluid that smelled like mangos (or something pleasant) in the washer fluid. Is that not a standard thing? I don't have it in my F10.

[Perfectus]

Originally Posted by Tasmanian

Two visits...no resolution! Finally...I studied where condensation was forming after a really hot trip.

And since I could not find a crack or flawl and where...I bit the bullet and bought a new cap for the windshield washer fluid. ..$9 from from the friendly parts man. Wow! No more windshield washer fluid loss!

I couldn't believe it was that simple! Others are having the same problem...so buy a Cap and try it out.

Thanks

Tasmanian

I'm having the same issue. Thanks for sharing the "fix"

Do you happen to have a part number?

[EL Jeffe 5]

Originally Posted by lsturbointeg

how funny is that...mine just came on today but i know mine is because i'm always cleaning my windows from all the bugs hitting the windshield earlier this summer and fall.

Welcome to midwest

[RSBro]

My car is doing this and it's really annoying... I filled it up with a full jug of fluid on Saturday and by Sunday afternoon I was getting Warnings that it was all gone. Does it seriously evaporate if you drive hard? I was at the track all day Sat and Sun so would that have done it? I've never heard of an issue like this, much less in a $70k+ car. It's a little ridiculous. Also I used actual wiper fluid and not water, so how could that evaporate so fast?

I called my S.A. to get me in so it can get looked at because I'm tired of the damn bing going on 24/7 with that Warning.

[Bmw doubles]

Common on all turbo BMWs. I think the turbo evaporates the liquid. On my e90 I eventually developed a leak

[RSBro]

Originally Posted by Bmw doubles

Common on all turbo BMWs. I think the turbo evaporates the liquid. On my e90 I eventually developed a leak

For me it's only started happening recently though, and from what I can tell no leaks which makes it all the more frustrating.

[Infamouscrew02]

I get the same thing, dried washer fluid all around the bottle. Do you have a picture or a part number of the cap you bought? What store did you go to? AutoZone? BMW? Advance?

[RSBro]

Originally Posted by krautmeister

Can I jump in here for a small tangent?

My old BMW dealer in my E60 used to use a fluid that smelled like mangos (or something pleasant) in the washer fluid. Is that not a standard thing? I don't have it in my F10.

This is the BMW-branded washer fluid. You can buy it from a dealer or if you can find it online, get it there. I have to buy it in concentrate in TX for some reason.
But I agree- it's a dumb thing kinda, but it is pretty cool to have scented washer fluid. And then tell other people about it lol.

[Tasmanian]

Hello

sorry I took so long to respond. I forgot to log in.

All I did was go to the BMW dealer, and asked for the new cap for my windshield reservoir. Popped it on the next day when it arrived...and haven't lost an ounce of fluid ever since.

Best $9 I ever spent...especially after 2 trips to the dealer proved worthless.

Tasmanian

Originally Posted by Infamouscrew02

I get the same thing, dried washer fluid all around the bottle. Do you have a picture or a part number of the cap you bought? What store did you go to? AutoZone? BMW? Advance?

[krautmeister]

Good deal... even if it cost 100 dollars... probably feels great to have closure....heee heee pun intended!

[Bmw doubles]

So are you saying that a cap that doesn't seal properly causes evaporation?

[Tasmanian]

We had evaporation through the old cap. The condensation actually snowed on the inside of the hood.

Tasmanian

[Breach]

Interesting topic. I guess it would be quite had to catch a leak given how fast the fluid evaporates...