Smelly Wiper Fluid

[Tedtalker]

When I spray my windshield, I smell a moldy stinky smell coming inside the cabin through the air vents. Anyone else have this happen? I have been using regular generic blue wiper fluid from Walmart. Obviously it has allowed bacteria
to grow in my wiper tank. Any recommendation on a good name brand fluid to use to prevent this in the future after I flush my wiper fluid tank?

How would you drain the tank after putting a water hose left running to force out the stinky fluid ?

[bronsin]

Have someone spray the fluid on your windshield while you observe from outside the car.

If it doesnt smell the problem is elsewhere!

[CTScott]

To drain the tank you would have to pop the front bumper to get to the tank. Once in there you can pull the washer motor assembly out (which is mounted to the bottom of the tank) to drain it.

[Tedtalker]

Originally Posted by bronsin

Have someone spray the fluid on your windshield while you observe from outside the car.

If it doesnt smell the problem is elsewhere!

I know for sure it's the wiper fluid. It smells every time I use it. This has me worried.

Legionnaires' disease link to windscreen wiper water.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10306411

[CTScott]

The other thing you could do is to simply add about 1/4 cup of bleach to the reservoir.

[bronsin]

bleach yeah!

I add 1/2 cup of bleach to the toilet bowl once a week. works wonders!

[bairjo]

Originally Posted by CTScott

The other thing you could do is to simply add about 1/4 cup of bleach to the reservoir.

Easy does it with the bleach in the reservoir. Bleach is an oxidizer and it will pit metal and discolor paint. I would go with removing the tank first and then douching it out with bleach.

[bairjo]

Originally Posted by bronsin

bleach yeah!

I add 1/2 cup of bleach to the toilet bowl once a week. works wonders!

My Yaris doesn't have a toilet. But imagine it won't be long, if he chooses, till CTScott has a DIY on a Yaris Toilet install...LOL! Can you say Yaris RV?

[Mittelklasse]

Originally Posted by bairjo

My Yaris doesn't have a toilet. But imagine it won't be long, if he chooses, till CTScott has a DIY on a Yaris Toilet install...LOL! Can you say Yaris RV?

[bairjo]

wow man..i hope that dude never has a "wipe out"

[Geoff Peace]

Originally Posted by CTScott

To drain the tank you would have to pop the front bumper to get to the tank. Once in there you can pull the washer motor assembly out (which is mounted to the bottom of the tank) to drain it.

I have drained my washer tank in the past by inserting a length of 6mm. plastic tube into the tank with a weight attached to make it sink, then simply syphon the fluid out.
Regards Geoff Peace.

[bairjo]

Cleaning the tank is good, but if you got something growing in there chances are it is in the tubing as well. I have not looked to see on the Yaris, but windshield wiper hose is usually easy and cheap to replace and may want to be considered....just a thought.

[andulong]

I had a similar issue with a non-Yaris in the past. I just opened the top to the wash tank and inserted the garden hose, ran it for a while with a good flow and let it rinse the tank out. Spray the washer a few times during this to clear out the tubing as well, don't forget to do the rear window if it is a hatch. Then maybe fill it with something nice smelling, or water and vinegar to help keep it fresh. Good luck.

[Tedtalker]

Great ideas and thanks guys. I put about a eighth of a cup of hydrogen peroxide in the tank and gave it a few shots of water with a jet nozzle to agitate and mix it up a bit. I will
run some of it through the hoses after it sits for a day or two then flood the tank with the garden hose. Run the clean water through and then refill with a wiper fluid that hopefully doesn't become a bio-hazard if it sits too long in the tank. Any suggestions on a good wiper fluid?

[IllusionX]

maybe it's just the way walmart bluid smells? I don't think we've ever had issues with walmart fluids.

I had used rain-x fluid for a long time, but it's paying premium for it too. like more than double the price. LOL

[Tedtalker]

Originally Posted by IllusionX

maybe it's just the way walmart bluid smells? I don't think we've ever had issues with walmart fluids.

I had used rain-x fluid for a long time, but it's paying premium for it too. like more than double the price. LOL

No it's definitely a mold, mildew and bacterial soup in there. I guess I just didn't use it in a timely fashion. I just bought some Rain-X -25 deg with bug remover made with deionized water. Hope this does better in the long run.