Heated Washer Fluid Reservoir?

[TBrennan]

I was thinking about the possibility of heating the washer fluid reservoir by circulating engine coolant through it. Systems that heat washer fluid on demand (HotShot) sound nice but since I have an Espar coming I thought this was a more elegant and cheaper solution. It also would not be a further drain on the batteries.



Any reason you would not want to do this?



I was thinking of some metal tubing (what material? Copper ok?) routed through the washer fluid reservoir would be straight forward to do if designed properly. Would you try to make it a full flow system or a by-pass system? Where would be best to tap into coolant system? Routing large 3/4" tubing through the reservoir may be a problem to install.



From the HotShot site, they mention this option and say the disadvantage is that heating causes the washer fluid to evaporate quicker. True, but I wouldn't think that much and washer fluid is cheap enough.



Thoughts?

 

[rbattelle]

It's an interesting idea, but at the same time you're adding several leak points and more complexity to the cooling system.

 

[Crunch]

Originally posted by TBrennan

I was thinking about the possibility of heating the washer fluid reservoir by circulating engine coolant through it.

<snip>

I was thinking of some metal tubing (what material? Copper ok?) routed through the washer fluid reservoir would be straight forward to do if designed properly. Would you try to make it a full flow system or a by-pass system?

If you are going to run copper tubing through there why not just rig up a still and be done with it? As long as the reservoir is the high point in the system you should get some fine hooch as it condenses into your jug! Thunder Road in a diesel--I'm there, man!

 

[TAdamsCT]

Oh man, no way would I want to add more complexity to my cooling system..... or more potential leak points.

I vote for using the electric heater... . you could put it on a switch if you're worried about the load when starting the truck. You could also put it on a potentiometer to "dial" your favorite temperature

 

[Blakers]

A good idea, but you'd have to keep the temperature down around 100 deg F. I don't know the boiling point of methanol off hand, but I'd bet it's around 150 - 160 deg. You'll boil all the alcohol out and end up with water.



I think it would be easier to make a tube and shell heat exchanger out of an 8 or 10 inche piece of 3/4" copper tubing with a piece of 1/8" tubing entering and exiting from the side. Soldier it all together. Then put this assembly into a heater hose and attach the windshield washer hose to the 1/8" line.



This would heat the fluid only as needed as it passes through the heat exchanger and would not keep the whole reservoir hot. Plus it would not cause a leak potential to the reservoir. Installing into the heater hose should be easy and straight forward.



Blake

 

[DaveMorris]

I am just thinking a hot liquid and a cold windshield wouldn't mix very well. :--)



Good luck hope does what you want,

Dave

 

[TBrennan]

Blakers, a good idea and one I thought about also. Wasn't sure what the boiling point would be but if you are correct then the heat as needed system would work better. I couldn't find any information on the HotShot website as to what temperature they use for their system. I would think 100 deg. F wouldn't be warm enough to do a lot of good, not sure. Also any thermodynamics geniuses wanna give a WAG at what temperature I might expect the washer fluid to get to running through an exchanger like Blakers describes if the coolant is at max temperature (190?)?



Note however that both systems introduce just as many new leak points, two. Your just moving were they are. EDIT: Actually a shell and tube exchanger would introduce FOUR potential leak points, but I still like this design better.



DaveMorris: HotShot doesn't seem to have a problem with cracking windshields so it shouldn't be an issue. They claim these will be oem in some vehicles in a few years.

 

[Blakers]

Just my personal opinion and guess... but I do think 100 degree water would be enough to do a lot of good. And I don't think it's gonna be enough to hurt a cold windshield. You would not want it so hot that it would flash to steam upon exiting the spray nozzels.



Regarding the leak points... Yes there would be four. But my feeling is that connections between copper tubing and rubber hoses are a lot more manageable and less likely to leak than running some kind of coil through a plastic reservoir tank. I've never been able to get plastic like that to seal well if drilled or cut.



Good luck.

 

[JRG]

Aren't there any good low temp washer fluids in your area, or does it get that cold. Personaly if it is that cold wouldn't you plug in anyway? The heat from the block should keep things above say -10?



Just my . 02.



JRG

 

[TBrennan]

Blakers: I was thinking of having the copper tube entering and exiting the washer fluid reservoir above the normal fill line if possible, to eliminate a potential leak problem pretty much. I still like the inline heat exchanger close to the point of application idea better though.



The most likely candidate I could find online so far is here. Looks good and simple to install, just need to change the fuel line fittings to something appropriate for the washer fluid hose (not sure what size that is yet). This would seem pretty simple to install while doing the Espar install, I would just put it right after the Espar unit and before the coolant goes through the firewall to the heater core.



JRG: Low temp washer fluid is available and I use it, doesn't really help melt ice on the windshield much as that is the intended purpose. (See Microheat's HotShot website). I'm not trying to just keep the washer fluid from freezing but making it effective on any ice/snow on the windshield.



Of course with the Espar unit, the windshield should be cleared before I get in so the heated windshield fluid would only be much use in bad storm/ice/sleet situations that build up quickly.



Still I think it may be a fun an interesting thing to try!



The only gotcha as I see it is that the exchanger may only raise the temperature of the washer fluid a few degrees and not even get close to 100 deg F in sub freezing weather. If that is the case I'm back to heating it in the reservoir, and associated evaporating / boiling issue. In which case I would drop it.

 

[JRG]

Low temp washer fluid is available and I use it, doesn't really help melt ice on the windshield much as that is the intended purpose.

I agree, didn't help me much either on the road durring our ice storm. In that situation, I can see your point on having heated fluid to spray. Try to get it from the inside AND outside huh.



JRG

 

[rbattelle]

On Hummers (real Hummers, not the H2), there's an option for a defroster similar to what's on most car rear-windows. Any chance anyone makes one of these that could be installed on the windsheild? Maybe an aftermarket one intended to be used on a rear window would work? Just a thought.

 

[Crunch]

Originally posted by rbattelle

On Hummers (real Hummers, not the H2), there's an option for a defroster similar to what's on most car rear-windows. Any chance anyone makes one of these that could be installed on the windsheild? Maybe an aftermarket one intended to be used on a rear window would work? Just a thought.

Along those lines, why not steal a page from NASCAR and use the peel-away windshield films? I'd love to get a 10-pack of those and just peel one off when the windshield got too dirty or covered with ice. Hmmm... maybe a call to the Invention Submission Corporation is in order... NOT!

 

[mschoenheider]

Here's another idea. Replace a section of the rubber hose that carries your washer fluid from the pump to the nozzles with coper tubing. Wrap that coper tubing around your exhaust manifold a few times, and you will have heated washer fluid squirting on your windshield.

Mark

 

[RDHamill]

Rain X make a winter washer fliud that contains de icer.

I've been using it for a couple of years, seems to work fine, de ices frost and snow, does not freeze on contact with the glass, and I don't see the alcohol evaporate out of it like the normal winter washer fliud.

Bottle says it's good to -40.

Must be so, it's -40 here today and it's still flows



Good luck with the Espar

 

[lil red cummins]

i thought this was obvious but no one has mentioned it yet. the most likely place that the fluid will freeze is right at the spray nozzle. any time i cant get the washers to work it is because there is ice on the spray nozzle. no amount of tank heating will thaw a frozen nozzle, because if the flow is blocked IT IS BLOCKED!. therefore heating the fluid really won't accomplish anything.

jim

 

[JTadra]

jcwhitney has a washer fluid heater, that heats to 149 degrees F, it is on sale for $199, $100 of regular price. item # 49ZX219W.

It is claimed the heated fluid is safe for the windshield. Online it is www.jcwhitney.com

 

[TBrennan]

lil red cummins: You are right that once frozen the nozzle would be a problem. That's why the hotshot electric unit claims to blast steam through first and then the heated fluid.



However it has been below zero here for some time overnight and my nozzles haven't frozen yet. I would continue to use a de-icing type washer fluid to prevent that kind of thing.



Before I would buy the JcWhitney "no name" unit I would spend the extra $50 and get the MicroHeat brand that has a lot of information on their website and is apparently pretty well engineered.

 

[JTadra]

Whoops!! I left out some information: The unit from JCWhitney is Micro Heat Hot shot



Jim

 

[DF5152]

it would be cheaper to get heated wiper blades... .