windshield washer (also called windshield wipe , eraser liquor , screen wash (in the UK) or wash liquor ) is a liquid for motor vehicles used to clean the windshield with a windshield wiper while the vehicle is being driven.
Video Windshield washer fluid
Delivery system
Controls in the car can be operated to spray the washing liquid onto the windshield, usually using an electric pump through jets mounted under the windshield or under the wiper blade (s). Windshield wipers are automatically turned on, removing dirt and dirt from the windshield. Some vehicles use the same method to clean the rear window or headlights. The first windscreen cleaning unit offered for cars was in 1936, as an aftermarket option to be installed on the car after it was purchased.
The wash liquid can sometimes be heated before it is sent to the windshield. This is especially desirable in cold climates when a thin layer of ice or frost accumulates on the surface of the windshield, as it eliminates the need to scrape the windshield manually or pour warm water into the glass. While there are some preheating equipment available on the market, many car makers that offer this feature factory are installed on at least some of their vehicles. For example, General Motors has started equipping vehicles with a heated washing liquid system from a factory that began in 2006 with a Buick Lucerne sedan. This system emits a fine mist of hot water that cleans the frost without damaging the glass of the car itself. GM also claims that heated washing liquids help remove insect plugs and other road accumulations. The company stopped the production of this mechanism after they found that it was prone to start the engine fire. Another patented system by BMW first sprayed "intensive" washers and then standard washers onto the windshield.
Citroen C4 Cactus is the first car to have a washing liquid jet built into the wiper arm itself. Citroen claims this is to reduce the amount of water used.
Maps Windshield washer fluid
Variety
The windshield washer liquids are sold in many formulations, and some may require dilutions before they are applied, although most of the solutions available in North America come with mixtures without dilution. The most common wash liquid solutions are labeled as "All-Season", "Bug Remover", or "De-icer", and are usually a combination of solvent with detergent. Dilution factors will vary depending on the season, for example in winter the dilution factor may be 1: 1, whereas during the summer the dilution factor may be 1:10. It is sometimes sold as a crystalline sachet, which is also diluted with water. Distilled water is the preferred diluent, as it will not leave traces of mineral deposits on glass.
Anti-freeze, or alcoholic alcohol, may be added to the mixture to give the product a lower freezing temperature. But methanol vapor is dangerous when inhaled, so more popular now is winter ethanol blend, eg. PAV, water, ethanol (or isopropanol), and ethylene glycol.
Many cars display warnings when fluid levels are low, and some automakers have replaced float sensors that generate this signal with a simple two-pin probe inside the tank. It requires a (slightly) conductive fluid, but the most common windshield washer blend will work. Mercedes sells a special liquid for their car.
Concern has been raised about the overall environmental aspect of the washing liquid. The widespread use of wiper fluid (amounting to billions of liters per year) can cause air pollution and cumulative water pollution.
Consumer advocacy groups and automotive enthusiasts believe that alcohol and solvents exist in some, but not all, windscreen washing liquids can damage the vehicle. This criticism shows the corrosive effects of ethanol, methanol, and other components on paint, rubber, car candles, and plastics, and the group proposes alternatives and homemade recipes to protect the end and motor vehicle mechanics.
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