[dbs600]

How many gallons do our windshield washer fluid tanks hold? Should I put in more than one gallon at a time? I don’t use the fluid any more than in my other cars, but my car guzzles it! Wish there was a way to control whether or not it’s wasted on the headlamps...

[LastFrontierBimmer]

When the warning light comes on, I dump in a gallon and she takes it. Not sure how much it'll take beyond that. In looking at the manual (hard copy), it sure isn't very technical - no fluid capacities, etc.

[dbs600]

Same (when light comes on it takes an entire gallon), which is why I wanted to know capacity.

Checked manual and found it takes 1.325 gallons.

Thanks!

[LastFrontierBimmer]

Ack! Guess I didn't look hard enough. Cheers

[vdubturbo]

I always wondered what the "OEM" washer fluid was. It seems to have a higher alcohol content than what you buy in the stores... which seems to make it evaporate faster and leave less spots/streaks.

What is everyone using in their cars and how do you like it?

[dbs600]

Originally Posted by vdubturbo

I always wondered what the "OEM" washer fluid was. It seems to have a higher alcohol content than what you buy in the stores... which seems to make it evaporate faster and leave less spots/streaks.

What is everyone using in their cars and how do you like it?

Don't use anything in particular; whatever's at the gas station; an absurd $4.00 for 1 gallon now (of what is essentially water)!

You've noticed a difference after the dealer tops you off(?); I never realized they used anything different... Good to know!

[BigKutta]

Originally Posted by vdubturbo

I always wondered what the "OEM" washer fluid was. It seems to have a higher alcohol content than what you buy in the stores... which seems to make it evaporate faster and leave less spots/streaks.

What is everyone using in their cars and how do you like it?

Yes, I have always loved the factory fill in the BMWs. Its clear and smells very nice as you can smell it through the cabin. The usual stuff is blue and stains the car until you wash it. I think that at least here in the US, you can only buy the blue fluid, because some people may mistake the clear fluid to be water and drink it. Hence only the factory fill is clear.

I try to make my factory fill last as long as possible...I just hit over a year on the car and the low light came on for the first time. Time to get the blue crap

[Gilgorm]

Last July, as I was picking up my car, my salesman gave me two jugs of "BMW All Season Windshield Wash" good to -45C. It is purple. It contains methyl alcohol. It seems to work very well.

My favourite is Rain-X Windshield Washer fluid De-Icer good to -40C. It also contains methyl alcohol, is yellow in colour and contains a 'bittering' agent so no one will drink it. It adds a water repellent that greatly improves the wiper's ability to remove water. It will not ice-up on your windshield down to -40C.
It costs more than the blue stuff and less than BMW brand above but I use less and can genuinely see better. I get mine on sale or at Costco.

[Alpine300zhp]

I buy the washer fluid concentrate from the dealer and mix with distilled water. Cost is 2.50 a jug. Does not stain paint or windshield.

[dbs600]

Do our windshield washer fluid tanks heat the fluid, and if not, why?

GM vehicles are advertised as having same!

[mryakanisachoad]

Originally Posted by BigKutta

Yes, I have always loved the factory fill in the BMWs. Its clear and smells very nice as you can smell it through the cabin. The usual stuff is blue and stains the car until you wash it. I think that at least here in the US, you can only buy the blue fluid, because some people may mistake the clear fluid to be water and drink it. Hence only the factory fill is clear.

I try to make my factory fill last as long as possible...I just hit over a year on the car and the low light came on for the first time. Time to get the blue crap

You can always make your own washer fluid. Save money too!

It is funny that washer fluid went from a buck to 4 bucks almost overnight.

But, the government keeps telling me there's no inflation so I believe them. Why would they lie?

[mryakanisachoad]

Originally Posted by dbs600

Do our windshield washer fluid tanks heat the fluid, and if not, why?

GM vehicles are advertised as having same!

The fluid in my 1 series freezes all the time. Same for an old 3 series :-)

[LastFrontierBimmer]

Originally Posted by dbs600

Do our windshield washer fluid tanks heat the fluid, and if not, why?

No need.

Originally Posted by mryakanisachoad

The fluid in my 1 series freezes all the time. Same for an old 3 series :-)

Decent washer fluid comes good to -25 and -40 degrees Fahrenheit. You wouldn't want to heat it all night if you live in a cold climate. Battery would die and car wouldn't start.

[Gilgorm]

Proper windshield washer antifreeze should never freeze in the tank. If it does you must be mixing it with water. It should be used full strength unless it states otherwise.
Some poor quality antifreeze may feeze on a cold windshield but never in the tank.

[dbs600]

The reason why I'd like the tank, not only the nozzles, to be heated is not because of potential for the fluid to freeze in the tank (if anyone's putting water in their tank, it be bad all around, as the tanks would then crack!), but so the fluid cuts through to snow / ice on the windshield better! Simply having heated nozzles can only do so much, and really just ensure the nozzles are clear...

[Luigi524TD]

A good quality windshield washer fluid is necessary not only to help clean a dirty windshield and prevent icing in freezing temperatures but to reduce the possibility that mold or fungus will grow in the tank and slime up the pump filters. If you decide to mix your own, I recommend using distilled water to reduce the possibility that chemicals in municipal water supplies will also add their own gunk to the system. A few $$'s of fluid should last the average driver several months. I too like the smell of the BMW fluid and my dealer tops off my car at any service. It also cleans great and handles temps below "0".

That's my story and I'm stickin to it!