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Washer Fluid Light - only have had the car for a month
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06-17-2006, 03:23 AM | #1 |
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Washer Fluid Light - only have had the car for a month
The washer fluid light came on today and told me that I am running low on the good yummy sauce that makes my windshield go clean. I've only had the car for a month and I find that a little odd that I'm out so early in the game. The only thing I can think of is that is came on when I was going out of a parking garage and angled pretty stepward down. But even after 10 minutes of driving I still had the light. It wasn't until 15 minutes later that it went off.
False alarm or should I fill her up? |
06-17-2006, 04:12 AM | #3 |
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When on an incline the fluid is moved to be at an angle and this triggers the sensor (same happens in the petrol tank sometimes). If this happens on an incline then you are very close to having it happen on the level surface. So, yes, you should top it up when you get a chance. It takes about 5 litres and you still have at least 1 litre when the warning goes off.
A month seems a bit on the short side to run out of fluid but if you have headlight washers and are spraying while the lights are on they get cleaned as well as that uses quite a bit more fluid. If you notice it doesn't last more than a few weeks (when you hardly every use them) then you might have a leak in the hose system (like I had). See... http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12818 |
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06-17-2006, 10:57 AM | #4 |
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Mine drinks washer fluid like an alcoholic at a happy hour. I think it is because of the headlight washers, they seem to use a lot of fluid to get the high pressure spray happening.
I am constantly filling mine up. My Audi would go between services without refilling, and I squirt the same amount in both cars, and both cars have the same volume of fluid in their washer tanks...
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06-17-2006, 12:57 PM | #5 |
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I think it is a false alarm. I have the same problem with my SUV that is parked on a hill. It usually takes about 15 min for the level to adjust and fuel light to go off. No worries!
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06-17-2006, 01:06 PM | #6 |
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The dealer didn't fill mine up, the light went off within a week and I had only used it twice. There may have been a couple of liters. I filled it up when the light came on and it took about a gallon.
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06-17-2006, 01:10 PM | #7 | |
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06-17-2006, 05:55 PM | #8 | |
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06-17-2006, 06:00 PM | #9 |
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It's probably not a false alarm. Our cars don't come full from the factory, so it runs out really fast (5 months for me). Just head over to walmart or Target, and get the blue or green fluid for like $2 a gallon and dump the whole gallon in there.
Since there's been a lot of threads on this already, I know some ppl have had luck swinging by the dealer and having it topped off for free, but chances are they won't since washer fluid is not covered in our warranty. It's easier to do it yourself for $2.
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06-17-2006, 06:32 PM | #10 |
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I have only filled it myself since owning the car (not counting the service filling it up) but it doesn't eat up much as my X5 because of the headlight washers.
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06-17-2006, 07:48 PM | #11 |
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I have the headlight washers and haven't had to fill it yet (just over 5 months + a week in Europe). Maybe my dealer filled it when I took it in for the self-pay oil change.
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06-18-2006, 12:19 AM | #12 |
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Thanks guys. Just got back from Walmart. I bought a one gallon jug of Rain-X Bug Remover Windshield Washer Fluid for $1.97 and filled up the washer fluid compartment in the engine bay. Worked out to be the perfect amount because after I emptied the full gallon into the compartment, I could see the green fluid settled only several inches away from the top. If I had even a quater of a liter more it would have overflowed--- which is no big deal but it's cool that it was the exact amount to fill her up.
I sort of wish they sold more expensive washer fluid though (don't know if anyone even makes it) because for $2 I don't feel like I'm getting that great of a product. Even if it was $10 for a one gallon jug, as long as it's really good I'd buy it. |
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06-18-2006, 01:14 AM | #13 | |
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06-18-2006, 01:18 AM | #14 | |
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06-18-2006, 01:23 PM | #15 | |
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You can use these also: P21S Windshield Washer Booster Wurth Windshield Wash Additive
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06-18-2006, 02:57 PM | #16 | |
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Also, what's better? The P21S with Rain-X or just the BMW Windshield Washer Fluid? Or better yet, BMW Winshield Washer Fluid with P21S? |
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06-18-2006, 07:28 PM | #17 | |
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Anything that's not Rain-X will be good. It will be better with the P21S. Just buy the BMW windshield washer fluid and add the P21S booster. When my washer fluid runs out, I'm planning to do the same thing. I haven't made up my mind yet on which one to get. P21S or Wurth? I'm using 303 Instant Windshield Washer Tablets mixed with BMW windshild washer fluid and water. I don't see any difference in the cleaning. The 303 doesn't clean well. I still have some tablets left over.
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06-19-2006, 12:29 AM | #18 | |
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06-19-2006, 12:34 AM | #19 |
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After a while the film builds up.
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06-19-2006, 07:34 AM | #20 |
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My Car was leaking fluid from 2 different spots at different times. once the hose fell off the headlight washer and once the other side was simply leaking. I'd get it checked out.
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