In car maintenance, some motorists tend to cut corners to save money and time. One of the most common errors most motorists commit is using regular water instead of windshield wiper fluid. Sure, this may seem to be harmless after all, as water is inexpensive and everywhere it can produce its own host of problems with your visibility as well as your car.
Here at this blog, we look at what can go wrong if you substitute water for windshield wiper fluid and why it’s worth the cost to use the right stuff.
No Cleaning Power
Windshield wiper fluid is designed to break through dirt, grime, bugs, and oil on your windshield. Water just doesn’t have the cleaning chemicals that can deal with that type of mess.
Particularly on summer road trips or during bug season, water will simply smear grime onto the glass and not clean it off. This can become a serious hindrance to vision and a driving hazard.
Freezing in Cold Weather
Perhaps the most vital reason not to employ water is that it freezes when it is cold outside. Windshield washer fluid has antifreeze agents such as methanol or ethylene glycol that do not allow it to freeze during winter.
When water freezes in the washer reservoir or hoses:
- It can break the reservoir tank
- It can ruin the washer pump
- It can rupture the fluid hoses
When it gets cold and your windshield becomes dirty and the water in the system is iced up, you’ll find yourself with no means to clean it while driving making it a potentially hazardous situation.
Bacterial and Algae Growth
Water left in the windshield washer reservoir, particularly standing tap water can serve as a breeding ground for mold, algae, and bacteria. These microorganisms will clog the nozzles and hoses, cutting or fully shutting off fluid spray.
Worse still, when washer fluid is sprayed onto the windshield and evaporates, it may expel aerosolized bacteria into your car’s cabin through the air vents. This has been implicated in Legionnaires’ disease, a type of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria.
Windshield Component Damage
Tap water is hard and has minerals and contaminants in it that will create white spots and streaks on your windshield as it dries. These deposits may:
- Lessen visibility
- Create distracting glare from sunlight or headlights
- Etch or damage the windshield glass over time
Mineral buildup can also cause clogging of spray nozzles, resulting in irregular or ineffective cleaning.
Reduced Visibility = Increased Risk
Unclogged visibility is not an option when you are driving. A dirty windshield smeared with grime, bug splatters, or road salt can become an instant safety risk if you are unable to clean it off effectively.
Washing only with water disadvantages you because:
- Water fails to cut through oily road deposits.
- It produces streaks leading to glare.
- It makes you more likely to drive “blind” in rain or dirty conditions.
A few seconds of reduced vision can cause accidents particularly at high speeds.
Voiding Warranty or Insurance Issues
Most manufacturers will specify or advise the use of particular washer fluids for their cars. Water might invalidate part of your warranty if damage is traced to incorrect maintenance.
Although only in exceptional circumstances, accidents that were a result of reduced visibility (when traceable to insufficient washer fluid) might even cause problems with insurance claims, especially in a case of negligence being established.
Conclusion
Employing windshield wiper fluid rather than plain water is more than a best practice, it’s a vital safety practice. Although water might appear to be a cheap and easy substitute, the hazards it can cause are much greater than any perceived cost savings. By filling with the correct fluid, you get maximum visibility in every type of weather and guard yourself as well as your vehicle against unnecessary damage. So go ahead and resist the next temptation to fill up your washer tank with water, don’t do it. Use the correct fluid and drive assured, clear, and safe.