Use the right water in Colorado windscreen washers
Dav4Cris said
04:20 PM Jun 5, 2015
I just finished doing a service on my 2009 Colorado, I decided while I had time I would unblock the washers as I tried to use them last week. Blew all the lines and jets out with compressed air, pressed the lever, washers operated for about 10 seconds and then lots of algae or scum came out and they stopped. Bugga looks like pull the tank out, bloody easier said than done. Had to remove the grille, the lh headlight, lhf wheel, wheel flare and splashtray. Then pull the filler neck out of the bottle and then undo the two nuts holding the bottle in, then flush the tank out. Then put it all back, would have cost me a few hundred dollars at a dealer as it took about one and half hours on a hoist in a workshop. All I can work out is that I put some, creek and dam water in the washers last year and this must have caused the algae. From now on I will be using good tap water out of the sink, that has been filtered.
The Phantom said
04:45 PM Jun 5, 2015
It's sad that you have posted this.
Now every nomad on the road won't be able to leave home without their bottle of Algicide.
Something else we have to carry
The Phantom (with his tongue firmly planted in his cheek for those without any humour)
brickies said
04:46 PM Jun 5, 2015
Someone on the forum awhile back said they put rinse aid in the washer tank and give a good clean window wash but sure hope they use clean water has well .
Dav4Cris said
05:58 PM Jun 5, 2015
Yep We carry enough crap now. I use 100ml of metho and 100ml of Bars Bugs and it works well for clean screen but no good for killing algae. Need a bottle of pool algicide now.
hako said
06:11 PM Jun 5, 2015
Algae needs light to grow - paint the outside of the washer reservoir black so light cannot pass through and algae cannot grow. Doesn't matter if the water you use is full of algal spores, they cannot grow without light. Simple.
Good Luck.
Phil C said
06:21 PM Jun 5, 2015
OK, lets try this. How about a few drops of bleach to get the green out?
brickies said
06:24 PM Jun 5, 2015
How would the paintwork like the bleach
gemmybob said
06:42 PM Jun 5, 2015
Some metho would work I reckon, bout 50 to 100 mils, and if it doesn't you can always drink the rest. Metho and beetroot juice, mmmmmmm. Its an old timers beverage, they call it scrub blush because of the colour left round the lips.
( of course metho drinking is said tongue in cheek and I do not in any way recommend drinking it.)
-- Edited by gemmybob on Friday 5th of June 2015 06:44:45 PM
Lozza1956 said
12:10 PM Jun 6, 2015
Hi guys. In my 42 years of driving I have never had this problem.
if you use a GOOD quality washer additive, you shouldn't have the problem. Dish washing liquid is a big no no. As is metho as it dries out you windscreen wiper rubbers, silicon or whatever, as well as the delivery hoses. IMHO and experience anyway.
Have fun out there guys.
Laurie.
rockylizard said
04:34 PM Jun 6, 2015
Dav4Cris wrote:
~~~SNIP I put some, creek and dam water in the washers last year and this must have caused the algae. From now on I will be using good tap water out of the sink, that has been filtered.
Gday...
I have never had anything "grow" in my washer reservoir either - and I have only ever used plain tap water
However, perhaps as the OP stated, it was the creek/dam water that caused it.
Cheers - John
Nomes said
07:37 AM Jun 14, 2015
I'm a gardener and I put 1 and 2 cent pieces in my customer's birdbaths to stop algae, works a treat.
Perhaps a couple of copper coins might work since they don't float.
Cheers, Naomi
-- Edited by Nomes on Sunday 14th of June 2015 09:17:04 AM
mr glassies said
02:56 PM Jun 21, 2015
some people use dishwashing or car was soap thats a no no to it tells up and clogs up the nozzles
dibs
Aus-Kiwi said
12:24 AM Jun 23, 2015
Yep copper wire in tank.. It works as IUD too.. A few drops of domestose doesn't hurt .. Not as IUD .. Lol
The Hats said
04:19 PM Jul 4, 2015
I always use good old Bars Bug and a bit stronger than normal I have a 4.5 ltr washer bottle and would use it up in a week so the water is never very old
Cheers
The Hats
-- Edited by The Hats on Saturday 4th of July 2015 04:23:11 PM
I just finished doing a service on my 2009 Colorado, I decided while I had time I would unblock the washers as I tried to use them last week. Blew all the lines and jets out with compressed air, pressed the lever, washers operated for about 10 seconds and then lots of algae or scum came out and they stopped. Bugga looks like pull the tank out, bloody easier said than done. Had to remove the grille, the lh headlight, lhf wheel, wheel flare and splashtray. Then pull the filler neck out of the bottle and then undo the two nuts holding the bottle in, then flush the tank out. Then put it all back, would have cost me a few hundred dollars at a dealer as it took about one and half hours on a hoist in a workshop. All I can work out is that I put some, creek and dam water in the washers last year and this must have caused the algae. From now on I will be using good tap water out of the sink, that has been filtered.
It's sad that you have posted this.
Now every nomad on the road won't be able to leave home without their bottle of Algicide.
Something else we have to carry
The Phantom (with his tongue firmly planted in his cheek for those without any humour)
Good Luck.
Some metho would work I reckon, bout 50 to 100 mils, and if it doesn't you can always drink the rest. Metho and beetroot juice, mmmmmmm. Its an old timers beverage, they call it scrub blush because of the colour left round the lips.
)
( of course metho drinking is said tongue in cheek and I do not in any way recommend drinking it.
-- Edited by gemmybob on Friday 5th of June 2015 06:44:45 PM
Hi guys. In my 42 years of driving I have never had this problem.
if you use a GOOD quality washer additive, you shouldn't have the problem. Dish washing liquid is a big no no. As is metho as it dries out you windscreen wiper rubbers, silicon or whatever, as well as the delivery hoses. IMHO and experience anyway.
Have fun out there guys.
Laurie.
Gday...
I have never had anything "grow" in my washer reservoir either - and I have only ever used plain tap water
However, perhaps as the OP stated, it was the creek/dam water that caused it.
Cheers - John
I'm a gardener and I put 1 and 2 cent pieces in my customer's birdbaths to stop algae, works a treat.
Perhaps a couple of copper coins might work since they don't float.
Cheers,
Naomi
-- Edited by Nomes on Sunday 14th of June 2015 09:17:04 AM
dibs
I always use good old Bars Bug and a bit stronger than normal I have a 4.5 ltr washer bottle and would use it up in a week so the water is never very old
Cheers
The Hats
-- Edited by The Hats on Saturday 4th of July 2015 04:23:11 PM
Ditto Hats,,, used it for years. It also softens the rubber when applied direct by a rag.