Operating range of heated was he jets
 

Another cold weather use question. I' 've been driving my X5 in extremely cold mountain conditions and parking it overnight in heavy snowfall for the last several days. Each morning when I've dug the car out and started it, I have not been able to get the windshield washers to function. The temperature at the time I have done this is between 14 to 16° f (-10 to - 9° c), which seems to me should be within their operating range.

Each time I have had this happen, I have cleared accumulated snow from the cowl, and even tried rinsing the nozzles once directly with anti-freeze washer fluid. I' m allowing 10 minutes or more of warm-up time, which seems to be enough to get the defrosted working well,and the interior warm. I can hear the pump motor running, and the reservoir is full.

Am I reasonable to expect the washers to heat up Brighton be useful at this temperature? Any ideas on what I can check to correct this? Any insights would be appreciated before I revert to my dealer.

Thanks

It could be freezing somewhere before the nozzles if you dilute washer fluid with water too much... you do use washer fluid, right?

Yes, I'm using an antifreeze type of washer solvent that I buy full strength (premixed). I' m not sure what temp it' s warranted to, but should be well below 0° f. Any ideas where else I should check the lines for being frozen?

Hey neighbor.

If you are buying that fluid where you live, it is good to 0C/ 32F. In other words it is NOT 'antifreeze type'.

Interestingly the state of CA restricts this by county. As I recall, you cannot buy it in Folsom. Not sure about Cameron Park. But YES at the Napa in Shingle Springs and elevations above that point (Placerville, etc).

So look at your bottle- the 0/32 stuff is real misleading- it SOUNDS like it is antifreeze type, with text like: "Good to 32F". But it really isnt.

Just buy a jug of the good stuff, dump it in, let it mix- flush the lines and you should be good.

A

Hi Ard.

Your right about the county restrictions, but I am definitely using an anti-freeze solvent. I learned a long time ago that you can't buy the below zero solvent anywhere in Sacramento or Placer County.

I have a place in South Lake Tahoe, which is where I am this week. When I come up here, I usually pick up a gallon at the Shell station in Pollock Pines off of Hwy 50 on my way up the hill. Then if I run low when I'm up here, it's easy to find locally since this is part of Placer county on the CA side. Of course on the NV side, you can buy the stuff anywhere. I seem to refill a lot but between the windshield, hatch window, and headlights, I do use a lot of solvent when I'm driving around up here.

Anyway, I think your idea about dilution is right, and I have an idea how this might have happened. I had to make a Home Depot run down to Carson City yesterday. I did my usual routine of clearing snow from the cowl, and warming up. When I left my pace (el 7600 ft.) it was +14 f at about 2:00 PM. When I got to Carson (el 4200 ft.), it was +26 f at about 3:30 when I came out of the store. Miraculously, the washers worked fine after a very short warm up. I ran them for several minutes to flush out the lines, and they have been working fine ever since. I had another cold start cycle today and one more this evening, and so far, so good.

So, here is my theory. I've never run anything but anti-freeze solvent in this vechicle since new. BUT, I did have it in for service about 2 months ago, and my SA did his usual diligent job of having everything checked and topped off. I'm willing to bet the washer fluid was low enough that when they refilled it, they used standard fluid which had the effect of raising the freeze point when it mixed in with what was already in the reservoir. If I'm right, the current mix with more anti-freeze fluid in it has solved the probem. If I'm wrong, I'll take it in for service. I hope I'm right....

Anyway, thanks for the reply.

Bingo.

Do you use Neillo? Best service. Worst sales. IMO

Enjoy the pow pow

A

Let's put it this way, the last Sales experience I had with Neillo was so bad, I stopped using their service department. Believe it or not, I have had great service for several years with Roseville. Even though I did not buy my last two cars there, they have always taken great care of me.

Snow is awesome up here, so I'm staying one more day. Good news is that the washers continue to work fine. Life is good...