Why the driver needs to readjust the windshield washers in winter
- January 12, 2023
- 0
The operation of the windshield washer system in winter is a constant headache for most car owners. Nozzles do not spray. The glass is dirty. It’s dark outside,
The operation of the windshield washer system in winter is a constant headache for most car owners. Nozzles do not spray. The glass is dirty. It’s dark outside, but you have to go. As a result, the liquid is consumed at an unprecedented rate, but it does not get any better. However, there is a way out of this situation. It just needs some adjustments to the system. How to do this, the portal “AvtoVzglyad” tells.
Many motorists note that in winter the windshield washers are not as efficient as they would like, they deliver fluid to the right points on the glass. As a result, you have to use the washing machine much more often. This is annoying and leads to extra problems and costs. Few people like to open the hood in the cold, under a piercing wind, unscrew the filler cap of the washer reservoir and try to get into it with a thin stream of precious liquid, which the incoming gusts either try to send directly into our pocket or in the gentle depths of the generator.
Let’s see why the efficiency of the washing machine drops so significantly during the cold season. First, the problem is caused by the fact that the winter air is much denser and puts more pressure on the windshield while driving, which prevents the expensive alcoholic jet from even reaching the middle part. As a result, only the bottom of the “frontal” is freed. And not everyone can look at the road, in the position of a tanker, from under the steering wheel and into a small transparent opening.
Secondly, much depends on the physical properties of the liquid itself. After all, we use water in the summer. And the specific weight is 997 kg/m³. And the adjustment of the nozzles, as a rule, is carried out specifically for watering and the summer period. And the wash pump is optimized for water. In winter we use ethyl alcohol based fluids. And the density is lower – only 789 kg / m³. It is lighter, making it more difficult for the wash pump to create the right pressure.
In other words, the mass of the jet at the nozzle outlet is 20% less, and the cold stream of dense air manages to stop it much earlier. In addition, as the temperature decreases, the viscosity of the fluid also increases. That is, the pressure at the outlet of the nozzle drops even more. In addition, the losses for pumping liquid through the system of pipes, tees and valves increase. And in order to achieve at least the minimum acceptable result, you need to constantly use the washing machine, literally consuming the liquid at the rate of fuel consumption.
Meanwhile, the frequency of such fillings can be reduced and the efficiency of the washing machine can be greatly increased by performing the simple seasonal adjustment. Since the problems are related to the overall pressure drop in the system, we first make sure that by adjusting the position of the nozzles they spray strictly on the points recommended by the manufacturer on the glass. And then we increase them even higher, to compensate for the influence of cold air at high speeds.
To improve the pumpability of the liquid after the pump, you can use a slightly longer tube and wrap it around the rubber coupling of the engine cooling system. Then close it with refractory thermal insulation material. This solution will also save you from actively freezing the nozzles. However, these measures will not help much if you use a frankly poor-quality washing machine, which, fortunately, already freezes at a temperature of -10 degrees.
By the way, in addition to working with pipes and nozzles, do not forget about the electric motor. Before the start of the winter season, it is advisable to clean the contacts and check the voltage on them. After all, even its slight decrease will lead to a significant decrease in speed and a drop in pressure in the system.
Photo blog.consumerguide.com
Many drivers note that in winter the windshield washers are not as efficient as they would like, delivering fluid to the right points on the glass. As a result, you have to use the washing machine much more often. This is annoying and leads to extra problems and costs. Few people like to open the hood in the cold, under a piercing wind, unscrew the filler cap of the washer reservoir and try to get into it with a thin stream of precious liquid, which the incoming gusts either try to send directly into our pocket or in the gentle depths of the generator.
Let’s see why the efficiency of the washing machine drops so significantly during the cold season. First, the problem is caused by the fact that the winter air is much denser and puts more pressure on the windshield while driving, which prevents the expensive alcoholic jet from even reaching the middle part. As a result, only the bottom of the “frontal” is freed. And not everyone can look at the road, in the position of a tanker, from under the steering wheel and into a small transparent opening.
Secondly, much depends on the physical properties of the liquid itself. After all, we use water in the summer. And the specific weight is 997 kg/m³. And the adjustment of the nozzles, as a rule, is carried out specifically for watering and the summer period. And the wash pump is optimized for water. In winter we use ethyl alcohol based fluids. And the density is lower – only 789 kg / m³. It is lighter, making it more difficult for the wash pump to create the right pressure.
In other words, the mass of the jet at the nozzle outlet is 20% less, and the cold stream of dense air manages to stop it much earlier. In addition, as the temperature decreases, the viscosity of the fluid also increases. That is, the pressure at the outlet of the nozzle drops even more. In addition, the losses for pumping liquid through the system of pipes, tees and valves increase. And in order to achieve at least the minimum acceptable result, you need to constantly use the washing machine, consuming the liquid literally at the rate of fuel consumption.
Meanwhile, the frequency of such fillings can be reduced and the efficiency of the washing machine can be greatly increased by performing the simple seasonal adjustment. Since the problems are related to the overall pressure drop in the system, we first make sure that by adjusting the position of the nozzles they spray strictly on the points recommended by the manufacturer on the glass. And then we increase them even higher, to compensate for the influence of cold air at high speeds.
To improve the pumpability of the liquid after the pump, you can use a slightly longer tube and wrap it around the rubber coupling of the engine cooling system. Then close it with refractory thermal insulation material. This solution will also save you from actively freezing the nozzles. However, these measures will not help much if you use a frankly poor-quality washing machine, which, fortunately, already freezes at a temperature of -10 degrees.
By the way, in addition to working with pipes and nozzles, do not forget about the electric motor. Before the start of the winter season, it is advisable to clean the contacts and check the voltage on them. After all, even its slight decrease will lead to a significant decrease in speed and a drop in pressure in the system.
Source: Avto Vzglyad
Donald Salinas is an experienced automobile journalist and writer for Div Bracket. He brings his readers the latest news and developments from the world of automobiles, offering a unique and knowledgeable perspective on the latest trends and innovations in the automotive industry.
