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What to do about stinking washer fluid

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Old 03-07-2013, 07:42 PM
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What to do about stinking washer fluid

I noticed last week that my washer fluid has a stinking, rancid sort of smell to it. I put a couple drops of bleach in with some fresh fluid. That helped, but it still smells pretty bad. It's not all that strong but the smell is pretty rank.
Has anyone else had this issuse and how did you remedy it?
Old 03-08-2013, 01:36 AM
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I reckon your on the right track with the bleach. You may have to flush it out a few times & repeat the bleach treatment. Maybe using a proprietry windscreen washer fluid may help as they contain ammonia which is a cleaning agent.

I would go lightly on the bleach as your paintwork /hose/rubbers may not like it.

For it to smell it must have bacteria growing there. Make sure you use very clean water .

Let us know how you go.
Old 03-08-2013, 01:12 PM
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Originally Posted by Carsy
I reckon your on the right track with the bleach. You may have to flush it out a few times & repeat the bleach treatment. Maybe using a proprietry windscreen washer fluid may help as they contain ammonia which is a cleaning agent.

I would go lightly on the bleach as your paintwork /hose/rubbers may not like it.

For it to smell it must have bacteria growing there. Make sure you use very clean water .

Let us know how you go.
Yes, a few drops of bleach goes a long way with bacteria. Any more and it would likely eat away at everything else.
Is there anyway to drain the washer resovoir? I will take a look over the weekend but thought a complete drain down and fill with fresh fluid and a few more drops of bleach may be what it takes to knock it out completely.
Old 03-08-2013, 02:26 PM
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You could always syphon out what you can a few times or just put a running hose into the containor & flush out for a few minutes making sure not to wet your electrical components.

Last edited by Carsy; 03-09-2013 at 03:56 AM.
Old 03-09-2013, 02:04 AM
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drain first your washer tank then fill it up with bleach + water solution and let it stay there for a few hours then drain again and refill with the proper washer fluid. just make sure to NOT do the water solution if it is freezing outside.
Old 03-09-2013, 11:14 AM
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any chance someone put coolant in there? It's happened (by dealer).

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