Windshield Wiper Fluid (Updated March ’20)
When you think about windshield wiper fluid, you might not think that it is really all that important.
Chances are, you will keep track of whether or not you have enough of it in the reservoir under your hood if you are a person that regularly checks your own oil, checks the air pressure in your tires, and even does a little of your own maintenance. A lot of people, however, don’t really take the time to do any of those things. If you are the type of individual that simply gets in, inserts the key and turns the ignition, you might not give any thought to something as simple as windshield wiper fluid.
BACKGROUND
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Perhaps it is time that you changed the way you think about this very important aspect of your car’s operation. Granted, it might not be as important as ensuring that you have enough of the right kind of motor oil in your engine block, but it is vitally important when it comes to operating your car safely. It can also be a major factor when it comes to matters of convenience, as you will soon discover.
THE IMPORTANCE OF WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID
Why is this fluid so important? Imagine what it would be like to try to see through your windshield after it has been caked in mud, dust and grime and the sun is coming right through your windshield. It becomes almost impossible to see anything. The truth is, you can barely see the road, much less see what might be in your path of travel or who is coming at you. If you don’t have any fluid in the reservoir, how are you going to know whether or not it is safe to continue moving forward?
A MATTER OF CONVENIENCE
While it is true that having an ample amount of windshield wiper fluid can make a lot of difference in operating your car safely, it is also a matter of convenience. It is just annoying when you are in a rush to get home or you are trying to make it to an appointment on time and you have to stop to clean the windshield or do some other form of routine maintenance that you wish you could simply put off until another time. If you have enough wiper fluid, you just might be able to use that to clean the windshield and then get on with your business instead of having to find a place where you can stop and clean it off.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF FLUID
You might think that this fluid is all the same but the truth is, there are a lot of differences in the products available. Sure, you can choose one of the basic types that basically applies some moisture to the windshield that can then be wicked away with the windshield wipers. However, you might want to consider using one that has a special chemical in the fluid that is designed to keep water from remaining on the windshield in the first place. It forces the water to bead up just as it would on the surface of a newly waxed car. It makes it much easier to see while driving in a blinding rainstorm and it just might give you something of an advantage when you’re trying to make it home in adverse conditions.
FILLING AND CHECKING FLUID
You certainly don’t need a mechanic to check the fluid or to fill the reservoir for you, even if you don’t have any experience working on cars whatsoever. All you need to do is lift the hood, find the reservoir which will be marked with the appropriate symbol, such as the symbol that is on your windshield wiper control inside the cab of the vehicle, and then fill that reservoir to the appropriate level. After that, you are good to go. Checking the fluid level is as easy as opening the hood and determining whether or not it needs to be filled.
SUMMARY
A lot of people have a tendency to overlook the importance of windshield wiper fluid. The truth is, having enough of this fluid in your vehicle can make all the difference in the world when it comes to driving safely. in fact, some people might consider it to be almost as important as wearing a seat belt. One thing is certain, it will make your driving experience a lot more pleasant when you have enough of this fluid at your disposal and you can use it whenever you need to.
