Motomaster washer fluid heater

"boondocks" wrote in news:kSfxf.84645$6K2.17246@edtnps90:

Waste of money.

Although I suppose if you've accidentally left summer bug wash in there, the heater will keep it from freezing on you.

based on what I've seen of it, it looks like an in-line heater, so if you happened to leave bug wash in the tank, it would still freeze, as the tank is way down in the bumper (in most cases on hondas) and quite far away from the actual heater.

My thoughts on the contraption are that it seems like an ok idea in theory, but there are too many possible problems, leaks and heat differentials causing glass cracks etc etc. I think it says that it heats the fluid up to

heres a link to the device mentioned.... $50 canadian, its cheaper than I thought it would be....

OR

TeGGeR® wrote:

I agree. Seems good in theory for getting ice off the windshield but I wouldn't be comfortable spraying 60 C liquid on a windshield that is -20 C or colder in the middle of a Canadian winter. Any chip or imperfection in the glass and you're asking for cracks.

Never saw that particular gadget... but the idea is sound as long as the solution doesn't get too hot. Warm fluid cleans better and can do a little melting of frost/ice in addition.

Professor

Must be something similar to what the new Buicks have....(at least I think is was a Buick ad that I saw....)

I saw a similar idea years ago in a DIY article in something like Popular Mechanics... a small pipe, or a couple pipes, are run through the fluid tank, and then fed from a split off the heater hose, so a small amount of coolant could circulate through the pipe in the washer (it doesn't actually mix with the washer fluid) and warm it up. Probably more efficient, and wouldn't overheat the washer fluid until the car - and theoretically the windshield - were warmed up as well.