Washer fluid empties quickly

[edogg]

I just had to put in another jug of windshield washer fluid after getting a warning message pop up saying "Washer fluid low". It's the 2nd jug I've put in this winter - maybe in the last 3-4 months.

I've never had a car where I've had to pour windshield washer fluid in like this. I'm not aware of any leaks but haven't sprayed the fluid and looked for any. There's no drips or anything under my car.

Does the X5 just go through washer fluid quickly? Maybe the cold weather package increases consumption? I don't use my squirters any more than I have on any car in the past.

Any idea how much fluid might be left after the warning pops up? Both times I've seen the warning, it takes a whole gallon of fluid and still doesn't quite fill it up all the way. It looks like there's room for another quart or two in the tank.

[jdstrickland]

If it is not leaking onto the ground, then you are using it. There is no place for it to go except onto the ground or onto your windshield.

[jsoto]

The Seal on your pump-tank is probably shot

[jdstrickland]

The bottle holds 7.8L. There are 3.785L to a gallon, so dividing 7.8 by 3.785, we see that the bottle holds 2.06 gallons.

[edogg]

Originally Posted by jdstrickland

The bottle holds 7.8L. There are 3.785L to a gallon, so dividing 7.8 by 3.785, we see that the bottle holds 2.06 gallons.

Didn't think about it that way...so when I see the "washer fluid low" message, I must still have about a gallon of fluid left.

I'm pretty certain there isn't any leaking unless it only leaks while it's pumping. Since the tank holds about 2 gallons and adding 1 gallon nearly fills it up, that tells me that there's probably not a leak.

[e30cabrio]

Mine leaked from both pumps. Pump gasket kit is cheap.

[GunnyGlow]

Check all the carpet in the foot wells front and back. I've read that a broken rear washer line that runs along the center console can come loose and will create a syphon as it leaks in your interior.

S4.tapatalk

[jdstrickland]

Originally Posted by GunnyGlow

Check all the carpet in the foot wells front and back. I've read that a broken rear washer line that runs along the center console can come loose and will create a syphon as it leaks in your interior.

S4.tapatalk

That might be a problem... My last car with a rear window washer also had a rear washer fluid reservoir.

[srmmmm]

The cold weather package does increase consumption if you are using the automatic cycle feature by pushing the slide button in on the end of the washer stalk. Every fifth time the headlamp washers run too, and they use quite a bit of fluid. During the winter, I usually go through a gallon every 5-6 weeks.

2002 X5 3.0 272,700 miles
2004 325i 118,000 miles

[edogg]

Originally Posted by GunnyGlow

Check all the carpet in the foot wells front and back. I've read that a broken rear washer line that runs along the center console can come loose and will create a syphon as it leaks in your interior.

I'll take a look around the floor. I'm doubtful that there's any leak inside the car, though.

Originally Posted by jdstrickland

You can see the fluid in the tank, and the tank has huge numbers molded into the top that tell you the capacity. I'm missing the question.

If there is no washer fluid leaking, then you are using it.

My OP had 2 questions:

1) Does the X5 tend to use a lot of fluid? The answer sounds like it might be "yes".

And 2) How much fluid is left when the gong goes off and tells me the fluid is low? From the total capacity being ~2 gallons and adding ~1 gallon fills it up, I'm guessing that the gong goes off when the tank is about halfway full. Seems early, but whatever...

I'm not terribly concerned about leaks at this point. And really, my question was more of a "hmm, I wonder what the interwebz has to say about this."

Originally Posted by srmmmm

The cold weather package does increase consumption if you are using the automatic cycle feature by pushing the slide button in on the end of the washer stalk. Every fifth time the headlamp washers run too, and they use quite a bit of fluid. During the winter, I usually go through a gallon every 5-6 weeks.

This is a helpful comparison - thank you. Sounds like these things just use a lot of fluid. Granted, this is the first car I've owned with a sensor for washer fluid so it's hard for me to compare.

I don't use the "special clean" button unless I bump it by accident. I always pull the stalk toward me for a quick spritz during the Seattle drizzle. And I sometimes notice the headlamp washers splashing up over the hood.