Can you use tap water or purified water instead of windshield washer fluid in your car? Will adding purified water or tap water really cause the washer motor to fail quickly, as some people claim? Let’s talk about this today. Car windshield wipers All about windshield washer fluid.

　　I. What kind of water is best to drink?

　　A windshield washer motor is essentially a small centrifugal pump. Whether you use glass-washer fluid, tap water, or purified water, it won’t affect the lifespan of the washer motor—rest assured. As for why we don’t recommend using tap water or purified water, the main concern is temperature. Especially in winter, tap water and purified water could freeze, potentially causing the centrifugal pump or the windshield washer reservoir to become blocked or damaged.

　　However, you can add purified water in summer, but it’s best not to use tap water, as most tap water isn’t very pure and contains a lot of impurities that could clog the filter screen inside the centrifugal pump or the nozzle. Therefore, adding purified water is perfectly fine.

　　II. Common Car windshield wipers' Failure

　　 Car windshield wipers The performance of windshield wipers directly affects everyone’s visibility and driving safety; therefore, the reliability of wipers is extremely important. Unusual noises from wipers are a fairly common phenomenon, and there are many possible causes, such as interference between metal parts during motor installation, poor lubrication of the wiper motor, or increased clearance in the motor’s output shaft. During the installation of the wiper motor, if the positions of the sheet-metal holes at the motor mounting location are misaligned, causing interference between the motor junction box and the sheet metal, this can also result in unusual noises. This is a problem that arises during the installation process.

　　As Car windshield wipers The increase in operating time has caused excessive backlash in the motor’s gear meshing. This is because the gear components of the motor have worn out, leading to a larger gap between the gears. Before meshing, the gears don’t engage naturally; instead, they collide briefly before finally engaging, which results in unusual noises.

　　Many friends have also discovered... Car windshield wipers There are many reasons why a motor might fail to operate. Typically, this is caused by overheating and burning inside the motor due to overload, or by poor sealing performance that allows water to enter the motor. Additionally, inadequate gear meshing can also render the wiper system inoperable.

　　A friend might ask, Car windshield wipers Isn’t it designed specifically for wiping water off? So why does water still get in? Currently, most vehicles use waterproof motors. However, because the waterproofing performance of these motors isn't very good, rainwater can leak into the motor during operation, rendering them effectively non-waterproof. If the motor’s sealing performance is inadequate, water can seep in through the seals around the motor cover. Therefore, during repairs, technicians typically reinforce the seals at the motor’s mating parts and also apply waterproof treatments to the electrical components inside the motor.

　　Some vehicles experience malfunctioning high-speed wiper settings, while the low-speed settings work normally. No fault was detected when replacing the wiper motor wiring. In fact, water had seeped into the motor housing, causing a short circuit in the high-speed circuit and resulting in burnout. Therefore, even if your wipers are required to operate in environments with abundant moisture, it’s important to regularly remove excess water and debris to help extend their lifespan.

　　During use, some wipers may exhibit shaking. This phenomenon is caused by a variety of factors. As the wiper blades wear down, the fit between the wipers and the glass surface gradually deteriorates, leading to blade vibration and a reduction in the clamping force exerted by the wiper arms. Additionally, if the output shaft of the wiper motor and the wiper arms are excessively worn, the shaking of the wipers will become even more pronounced.