Stinky Washer Fluid

[Revs_Addiction]

My god it smells like something has died in my washer reservoir!

I drained the system completely, washed reservoir as well as I could with a hose, and ran with the washers running until it smelt clean. I then topped back up with fluid. But now the smell has come back!

Anyone else experienced this, or have ideas how to cure it?

NOT good with the roof down!

[andyiley]

I haven't come across that one before, is it worth a bit of disinfectant, a good flush, scrube & run the washer jets until the whole system is fully flushed through. Complete with a drain & then refill with fresh water & washer fluid.

[CoolC]

Could you run some Milton (or similar) through the system.

I had this with the wife's previous car, but luckily it was relatively easy to get the whole bottle out and properly scrub it with a bottle brush (whilst gagging at the smell )

[littleredrooster]

Well-known problem in the warmer climes. Some Milton fluid (baby-bottle sterliser) flushed through the system usually does the trick.

[Revs_Addiction]

Thanks for the feedback. It has come back within a week of me flushing out the system, so will try some milton!

[bullitinhead]

A quick squeeze of bleach in the bottle , will clean it up in a couple of days,


Bullit

[littleredrooster]

bullitinhead said:

A quick squeeze of bleach in the bottle , will clean it up in a couple of days,


Bullit

It will also 'clean up' the wiper blades, windscreen trim and any paintwork it dries on, too...

[MGJohn]

After draining system fill with a weak BLEACH solution.

Disconnect the washer tubes from the jet assemblies. Use a length of suitable hose to divert the open washer fluid tubes away from the car and it's paintwork.

Operate the washer Motors to run through a couple more of Bleach Solutions.

Flush with clean water a couple of times and then refill with decent washer fluid diluted to suit use of car. That should clean up the system and no more nasty smells.

Those smells are usually present if the system has not been used for a while in warm weather and microbes or algae self-generate in the system. That rots and then the smells appear. That can also completely block up the jets in time too.

[Justin Cyder]

Milton is a weak bleach. It's about 17% bleach & salt. Thousands of windsurfers can't be wrong! I would fill the reservoir with Milton, leave for a day then flush through, wash any off the bodywork & that would do it I reckon.