Question. WTF was that smell?

"Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer" (smallbear94) 07/14/2017 at 11:16 • Filed to: None

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Figured I’d expose this question to the full knowledge of Oppo. What would make washer fluid smell bad (like fish. Really strong.)?

If kinja kinjas check the comments.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Gratuitous truck pic for your time.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 07/14/2017 at 11:16

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Link in case of kinja.

http://oppositelock.kinja.com/1796888870

benjrblant > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 07/14/2017 at 11:19

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The water repellents are dissolved in a type of ethanol. Lots of washer fluids use some solvents to dissolve bug splat and tree sap etc that are comparable and also dissolved in a type of methanol or ethelyne glycol to keep it from freezing.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > benjrblant 07/14/2017 at 11:22

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That’s RainX. That wasn’t the one with the awful smell.

This was the stuff the dealer topped it up with. It smelled from the day they put it in until the day it ran out. Re-filled with RainX again, no smell.

benjrblant > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 07/14/2017 at 11:23

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Edited the comment, but kinja.

Lots of washer fluids use methanol or ethelyne glycol to keep the fluid from freezing. There’s an insane amount of nasty stuff in washer fluid.

jimz > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 07/14/2017 at 11:25

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who’s to say they didn’t just put grungy water in it? typical washer solvent has a mild, “sweet”-ish alcohol odor from the methanol.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 07/14/2017 at 11:26

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They put dead fish in the fluid, obviously.

Funktheduck > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 07/14/2017 at 11:26

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I’ve had this problem too

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > benjrblant 07/14/2017 at 11:27

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So it’s a form of alcohol that smells like fish? But I also switch between winter and summer RainX, so why wouldn’t one of those smell terrible?

I’ve never smelled a washer fluid like that. Bad batch maybe?

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > jimz 07/14/2017 at 11:30

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It was decidedly pink. Unless they put antifreeze in it instead of washer fluid I think they filled it with the right thing. Of course the overflow bottle and the washer bottle ARE right next next to each other...

This smell was neither mild nor sweet though.

Urambo Tauro > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 07/14/2017 at 11:30

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Modern washer fluid is formulated is ethyl mercaptan so that, just like propane, it’s easier to be aware of leaks.

Also, I might have totally made that up.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 07/14/2017 at 11:30

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My first thought :)

Checked the bottle, no remains detected

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 07/14/2017 at 11:31

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It was juiced by the washer pump

TheRealBicycleBuck > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 07/14/2017 at 11:35

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Am I the only one who hates Rain-X? It’s fine when you aren’t using the wipers, but I find that when they are on, the wipers leave a haze across the windshield. The haze causes excessive headlight glare on the windshield when driving at night.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Urambo Tauro 07/14/2017 at 11:35

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I believe that was a mandate stemming from the Sweden-Denmark Neutrality Act of 1794, it just took a really long time to get implemented.

Svend > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 07/14/2017 at 11:35

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How often do you top up your screenwash?

If you don’t top up often and have heavily diluted screen wash you may have bacteria forming from stagnant water.

Do you dilute the screenwash with tap water or distilled water from the motor department at a supermarket?

If you don’t top up regularly, top water will go stagnant and start to smell it will also scale and may cause excess wear on your washer motor. Distilled water will keep longer, and won’t leave scale in the system and better for the washer system.

If the garage topped up the washer fluid, they may of had some diluted too much that has sat for too long. It doesn’t help that the screenwash fluid gets warmed from the engine and then cools down promoting bacterial growth.

Running some neat for a short period will clean out the system and then you can dilute it down with distilled water.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 07/14/2017 at 11:36

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There WAS a residue...

hmm

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > TheRealBicycleBuck 07/14/2017 at 11:41

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Yes.

#1, use RainX washer fluid too.

#2, your wipers are wearing out, or you need to reapply the RainX.

#3, any haze from wipers that aren’t up to snuff is better than a totally untreated windshield that distorts everything and has to have the wipers on too fast.

#4, I find exactly the opposite.

I wouldn’t be able to see shit in this with an untreated windshield. It’s bad enough in daylight. All I’d have seen here would have been some vague light and then pitch black.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Svend 07/14/2017 at 11:49

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When it’s empty.

I do spray regularly, especially in pollen season. I hate having any dust at all to look through. I doubt there’s a bacteria formation, unless the washer fluid was sitting at the dealer for a long time or something. Like I said it appeared when they filled it and disappeared when it ran out.

I don’t dilute. Just straight-up RainX, with different types depending on the season. Usually from Canadian Tire.

Doesn’t apply to this, it was fine until they topped it up.

This is the best theory I’ve seen so far... could well be. From now on I’m topping up before taking it in, anyways...

I’m wondering if you get different washer fluid over on that side of the pond. Do you have to mix all yours? I just get gallon jugs ready to go.

Thanks for the input m8

TheRealBicycleBuck > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 07/14/2017 at 11:50

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When my wife bought some Rain-X washer fluid, I installed brand new wipers and cleaned the windshield thoroughly. Same problem.

Note that in your example, you aren’t using the wipers at all. Like I said, when the rainfall rate is higher and wipers are required, I find that the haze left behind is unbearable. To me, it looks like the haze that is at the bottom of your windshield in that gif, except that it’s across the whole windshield.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > TheRealBicycleBuck 07/14/2017 at 11:59

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Weird.

I would have probably had my wipers on a slow setting in this case. It was an off-and-on rain... alternating between “light” and “buckets”. That haze is just small droplets that haven’t started to run up yet, so I don’t think that’s what you’re seeing. They would only be there with wipers off.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > TheRealBicycleBuck 07/14/2017 at 12:05

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Had a rethink... that could be what you have after all. If you’re wiping, the beading has to start all over again, and it takes a bit to get going. In heavy rain, that means the windshield gets covered with fine beads fairly quickly. Fine beads don’t roll off as easily, but they will group together and roll off if you give them time. I suggest leaving the wipers along altogether, once it gets rolling it’s fine.

The place I’ve found it least effective is in very light, misty rain and in heavy traffic. That said, I’d rather look through beads than that sheet of pure distortion you get from an untreated windshield.

Svend > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 07/14/2017 at 12:05

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There are recommended screenwash fluids, cheap shop brand ones, cold weather, etc...

I always use VW/Audi/Skoda/SEAT OEM washer fluid which I buy from where ever I can get it the cheapest. Use neat in very cold weather, diluted 1:1 with distilled water for cold weather and 2:1 in warm weather.

adamftw > Svend 07/14/2017 at 12:12

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The OEM VW wiper fluid smells amazing. Not sure why I really liked it when I had my MK6 Golf.

TheRealBicycleBuck > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 07/14/2017 at 12:15

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I think you are getting the idea of what I’m seeing. A fresh wipe leaves behind ultra-fine beads which cause glare.

In my experience, a good set of wipers on a clean windshield doesn’t leave behind a sheet of pure distortion as you describe. I agree that it can be bad when dealing with a dirty windshield, especially when most of that dirt is bug guts smeared around by the wipers.

Perhaps part of the difference is because I’ve always been particularly sensitive to light. So much so that I always wear super-dark sunglasses when I’m outdoors in the day. Nighttime glare has always been a problem for me whether it is raining or not.

Svend > adamftw 07/14/2017 at 12:17

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I’ve been told a few times that VAG have refused to replace washer motors under warranty if on OEM stuff is used.

I also like continuity in what ever fluids I use on the car.

I’ve never really smelled the washer fluid but have noticed some of the cheaper stuff has a chemically smell.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > TheRealBicycleBuck 07/14/2017 at 12:27

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In the end it’s whatever you’d rather put up with I guess. And you get used to that. I just know what I’ve experienced, and I don’t like untreated windshields. Water seems to lie in a sheet on them and then form waves that screw with the view. I’d rather look through beads. But that’s me.

This could be. The thing is, what I’ve found is that my windshield is never clean. Ever. Could be the fact it’s a truck and more upright? Quite possibly. And what’s a good wiper? I tried those newer style ones that are supposed to provide more even pressure (1-piece style—I think these ones were Bosch Icon), found them totally useless. The slightest bit of dirt meant streaking. Bugs? Forget it. I went bask to the metal-framed ones. Maybe less even pressure but there’s more of it, as far as I can tell.

I almost always wear sunglasses, but they’re the rose-tint style. And polarized. Wasn’t my first choice, but I needed some to fit over normal glasses and that was what was available. Turns out I really like them! They cut the glare, but don’t make everything super dark. I can wear them deep into the evening without issues, which is nice if you’re driving into a sunset.

adamftw > Svend 07/14/2017 at 12:51

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The VW stuff smells floral to me.

Svend > adamftw 07/14/2017 at 12:55

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I’ll have to give it a smell.

TheRealBicycleBuck > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 07/14/2017 at 13:40

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I’ve tried a bunch of sunglasses. My favorites were some polarized Oakleys, but at $200/pair, they were way too expensive given how often I drop, break, scratch, or just lose glasses. The worst for me were dark yellow “blueblockers.” Those increased contrast as advertised, but it felt like it made everything brighter somehow.

Now I just use really dark wraparounds and save the more expensive polarized glasses if I’m going to be on the water.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > TheRealBicycleBuck 07/14/2017 at 13:42

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You can get polarized glasses pretty cheap. Mine were ~$35. Granted they don’t look super pretty... but not too bad

TheRealBicycleBuck > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 07/14/2017 at 14:33

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I buy my sunglasses by the dozen. It works out to less $5 per pair.

At this price, if I scratch them, they go into the trash and I grab a fresh pair.

Khalbali > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 07/15/2017 at 02:16

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My guess would be coolant honestly, I think it has a fishy smell and it reacts with washer fluid so that could be it, I actually use a spray bottle of washer fluid to disolve dried coolant.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Khalbali 07/15/2017 at 11:28

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Oh, for fucks sake. The bottles are right next to each other, too.

I’ll bet that’s what they did. Incompetent twats.

Khalbali > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 07/15/2017 at 11:32

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At least they didn’t put washer fluid into the coolant reservoir that would be much worse.