Anyone else think the windshield wiper reservoir is poorly designed?

[Ricsta]

its capacity is over 1 gallon. It's designed so that when the low fluid light goes on you can add a full gallon.

 

[yrwei52]

Yes, I would recommend against using just plain water in your WW bottle.

Water gets moldy/mildew.
Water can freeze in the system, cracking the bottle, pump, or nozzles in cold weather.
Water can freeze onto the window when sprayed in cold weather/
Water does not show up easily on your WW dipstick.

I actually like the design, and appreciate the fact that it is located as close to the ground as possible for better weight placement and vehicle handling.

Here in California it is very hard to find WW Fluid with anti-freezing properties.

I did not even know that there is a LOW WASHER FLUID indicator on the dash? Always learning!

I use plain water to top off the windshield washer reservoir like OP does. My theory is I'm trying to prevent any chemicals spreaded and left on the paint. We do have freeze during winter here but from my past experience for 35 years I have never had any problem cracking the pump, reservoir, or nozzles. Of course you can't use the washer when it freezes up.

This is just my personal experience however. And I actually recommend friends to use anti-freeze washer fluid to prevent all the problems you mentioned. You're in California, no freezing issues to worry about! (And I wish I can live there only for not having those severe weathers!)

 

[MikeM.]

I use plain water to top off the windshield washer reservoir like OP does. My theory is I'm trying to prevent any chemicals spreaded and left on the paint. We do have freeze during winter here but from my past experience for 35 years I have never had any problem cracking the pump, reservoir, or nozzles. Of course you can't use the washer when it freezes up!

I use commercial windshield washer fluid with freeze protection. I use it all-the-time but have never seen the slightest amount of paint damage from it.

 

[Unobtanium]

I use commercial windshield washer fluid with freeze protection. I use it all-the-time but have never seen the slightest amount of paint damage from it.

I like the dealership swill. Both Nissan and Mazda use a clear fluid that leaves zero residue that I can notice, anyways. Much superior to the blue/green/peach colored stuff you find at the store, IME

 

[dblgoat]

Commercial washer fluid with freeze protection usually contains alcohol which won't damage your paint. High concentrations of IPA won't even remove wax or sealant from your paint. However, the orange Rain X fluid will coat your sensor and render it useless--the warning light will stay on even if the washer is filled and nothing you put in the reservoir will clean the sensor. The only way to repair it is to remove the sensor and either replace or clean it by hand. This is not an simple task on most vehicles as the reservoirs are usually buried in other components and sometimes require removal of the front fender or wheel well shroud. An expensive task if the dealer does it and many times beyond the capabilities of DIYers. I went through it.

 

[CX5-SO]

In 4 months, the wifes's will be 4 years old and has had a steady diet of Rain-X and has had zero issues with that sensor. http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?123852200-Original-Windshield-Wipers-Keep-Going&highlight=wipers I dunno, maybe her Touring is sans the sensor?

 

[dblgoat]

In 4 months, the wifes's will be 4 years old and has had a steady diet of Rain-X and has had zero issues with that sensor. http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?123852200-Original-Windshield-Wipers-Keep-Going&highlight=wipers I dunno, maybe her Touring is sans the sensor?

I've heard a rumor that they changed back to the old formula (which was great and did not coat the sensor) since all the problems, but I'm not willing to take that chance.

 

[Scythe024]

I like the dealership swill. Both Nissan and Mazda use a clear fluid that leaves zero residue that I can notice, anyways. Much superior to the blue/green/peach colored stuff you find at the store, IME

So water?

When I used to work at the dealer,we were instructed to just use water for the washer fluid reservoir and also.... wait for it.... the coolant reservoir!

 

[MikeM.]

So water?

No reputable dealer would put pure water in the reservoir, simply for the reason that cars have wheels and can travel to altitudes or locations that get hard freezes. Plus, water without a surfactant of some sort will not clean as well.

 

[CX5_Pete]

No reputable dealer would put pure water in the reservoir, simply for the reason that cars have wheels and can travel to altitudes or locations that get hard freezes. Plus, water without a surfactant of some sort will not clean as well.

You'd be surprised.

 

[MikeM.]

You'd be surprised.

I said "reputable".

 

[CaboWabo]

I use winter washer fluid year round. Usually the yellow Prestone de-icer or just the generic blue stuff when I'm cheap. I check it occasionally and try to keep it about an inch or two from the cap. I use the winter stuff all the time, just so I don't get caught with the summer stuff in there when winter sneaks up on me. It costs the same anyway...just stock up.

 

[BambooBen]

I had a car that took a little less than a gallon, that's stupid. The low washer fluid warning light in my CX 5 is obnoxious. It comes on when low and I change the view back to current MPG, then I hit a bump or go over a small hill and it comes on again. Over and over until I add some.

I assumed the dealer was topping off my tank until a couple nights ago when the low tank message popped up on the dash. I have an hour drive home from work and even with the display brightness turned down it was extremely annoying to have it flash the message constantly, even after clearing it.

So the next morning I stop by a store and grab some fluid and since I was running late I just did a quick blub blub blub blub pour and figured it would be enough to clear the message. It seemed to, but as soon as I left the parking lot, it came back on. Another frustrating drive to work with the constant eye catching flash.

When I get to work I pour a bunch more fluid in and figure I would save the other half of the bottle for my wife's mazda 3. But when I get in the car to drive home, since the windshield is covered in pollen I give it a quick squirt. Sure enough the warning light came back on, and at 10 at night I wasn't in the mood to pop the hood.

About 5 miles into the drive I regretted that decision.

Come on Mazda, you can't really see that fluid being low as being a major problem that the driver should be warned that hard core about.

 

[Kinghardcor]

I assumed the dealer was topping off my tank until a couple nights ago when the low tank message popped up on the dash. I have an hour drive home from work and even with the display brightness turned down it was extremely annoying to have it flash the message constantly, even after clearing it.

So the next morning I stop by a store and grab some fluid and since I was running late I just did a quick blub blub blub blub pour and figured it would be enough to clear the message. It seemed to, but as soon as I left the parking lot, it came back on. Another frustrating drive to work with the constant eye catching flash.

When I get to work I pour a bunch more fluid in and figure I would save the other half of the bottle for my wife's mazda 3. But when I get in the car to drive home, since the windshield is covered in pollen I give it a quick squirt. Sure enough the warning light came back on, and at 10 at night I wasn't in the mood to pop the hood.

About 5 miles into the drive I regretted that decision.

Come on Mazda, you can't really see that fluid being low as being a major problem that the driver should be warned that hard core about.

Exactly! One small, not-too-bright warning light would be great, and it could come on a little later.

 

[123373]

I assumed the dealer was topping off my tank until a couple nights ago when the low tank message popped up on the dash. I have an hour drive home from work and even with the display brightness turned down it was extremely annoying to have it flash the message constantly, even after clearing it.

So the next morning I stop by a store and grab some fluid and since I was running late I just did a quick blub blub blub blub pour and figured it would be enough to clear the message. It seemed to, but as soon as I left the parking lot, it came back on. Another frustrating drive to work with the constant eye catching flash.

When I get to work I pour a bunch more fluid in and figure I would save the other half of the bottle for my wife's mazda 3. But when I get in the car to drive home, since the windshield is covered in pollen I give it a quick squirt. Sure enough the warning light came back on, and at 10 at night I wasn't in the mood to pop the hood.

About 5 miles into the drive I regretted that decision.

Come on Mazda, you can't really see that fluid being low as being a major problem that the driver should be warned that hard core about.

Sounds like you have a major malfunction with sensor or most likely a major leak. There is no way after adding a gallon you should receive a low warning light.

 

[dblgoat]

Have you ever used the orange RainX solution??

I assumed the dealer was topping off my tank until a couple nights ago when the low tank message popped up on the dash. I have an hour drive home from work and even with the display brightness turned down it was extremely annoying to have it flash the message constantly, even after clearing it.

So the next morning I stop by a store and grab some fluid and since I was running late I just did a quick blub blub blub blub pour and figured it would be enough to clear the message. It seemed to, but as soon as I left the parking lot, it came back on. Another frustrating drive to work with the constant eye catching flash.

When I get to work I pour a bunch more fluid in and figure I would save the other half of the bottle for my wife's mazda 3. But when I get in the car to drive home, since the windshield is covered in pollen I give it a quick squirt. Sure enough the warning light came back on, and at 10 at night I wasn't in the mood to pop the hood.

About 5 miles into the drive I regretted that decision.

Come on Mazda, you can't really see that fluid being low as being a major problem that the driver should be warned that hard core about.

 

[BambooBen]

I have in my other cars, but not the CX-5 yet. I was waiting for it to run out and then fill it. I had assumed the dealer was refilling during oil changes since it never seemed to run out till the other night.

I did pour a little more in the tank and started the car up and there was no warning message. And to top it off I used a bunch of spray last night and again this morning (freaking pollen) and no warning message. Guess it was just an annoying fluke.

 

[SomeGuyFromNYC]

In 4 months, the wifes's will be 4 years old and has had a steady diet of Rain-X and has had zero issues with that sensor. http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?123852200-Original-Windshield-Wipers-Keep-Going&highlight=wipers I dunno, maybe her Touring is sans the sensor?

Just chiming in to say I have used the same stuff, Rain-X, 2 in 1, for 2+ years without any sensor issues.