OEM Washer Fluid Stinks!

I've noticed over the last couple weeks that there's a stink when I fire up the windshield squirters. I made the mistake today of taking a whiff from the washer fluid bottle and it made my eyes cross. Smells like old shellfish left out in the sun or vaguely of wet concrete.

I've still got the OEM juice in there as I've not run it down yet.

Anybody else notice this? I'm sure some fresh fluid will help, what with the alcohol content that'll probably kill any creepies that have taken up residence in there, but I need to run it down more so I can get enough fresh stuff to fit.

 

Your fluid should have some methanol. Surprised bacteria got busy in it. Maybe it got slurped up at the factory by someone and the end product was deposited instead. A very small amount of vinegar is always a good solution to those organisms. Shouldn't affect hoses and plastics in low concentration.

 

Ha! Yeah, kind of.

 

Yeah, I noticed that too the day I bought the truck. It had been delivered from the railyard the day before, so it didn't sit a long time on the dealer lot. The stock fill is absolutely pungent, reeks to high heaven. I siphoned it out and put in some fresh RainX fluid.

Didn't know washer fluid could "go bad" till I got this truck.

 

Usually when I smell that it's because the customers don't drive much and the washer fluid never gets used, so it sits and "ferments" as the chemicals break down. I don't think it is specifically an issue with the manufacturer's fluid.

Just drain it and refill with some fresh. If you drive and use it more frequently I doubt it will be a repeat issue

Side note, be careful with vinegar. I've seen those little mickey-mouse plastic pumps get ruined from too much vinegar

 

Just for giggles I opened mine up and took a whiff. Smells like washer fluid to me so it hasn't gone bad yet in mine

 

Once I bought washer fluid from Walmart and didn't read the label. It was made from recycled treatment plant water. When it hit the hot windshield it stunk so bad. I sh*t you not.

I use and recommend rain-x green washer fluid.

 

You have to lick it.

 

Windshield washer fluid can even get algae. On 2018 we got a new Infiniti QX30 and soon after the fluid stopped coming out. Turn out the reservoir had a green tint to it! Dealer "cleaned it" under warranty but eventually I had to flush it several times with exterior and patio bleach until it worked.

yes, the liquid can go bad and even algae can breed there

 

Interesting. I've never had this go wrong in any car I've had. The truck gets driven a little more than my last car did and I never had the fluid turn in that one. Heck, even my busted project car that's been sitting in the garage for five years the fluid smells normal. Must be something with the factory fluid Toyota uses. Probably some sort of good-for-the-environment, tree-hugging, endangered-animal-snuggling juice or something.