Frozen wiper fluid!!!

I have had my car for just over a year now and every time the temperature drops into teh 20's I am unable to clean the windshield because the wiper fluid freezes up in the lines and it won't dispense! Has anyone else had this issue? I know it isn't the fluid that I am using because it is the same fluid I use in all of my cars. The only one that freezes up is the X5. I am bringing it in on Friday to see if there is anything that can be done.

When it warms up, use all your fluid until your reservoir runs out. Then fill it with -25 degree washer fluid. You probably don't have a winter washer fluid.

Originally Posted by cali311soca

When it warms up, use all your fluid until your reservoir runs out. Then fill it with -25 degree washer fluid. You probably don't have a winter washer fluid.

It is winter washer fluid which is why I can't understand why this is happening. I have had this issue on an off since I have owned the car.

Did you fill it yourself? Or did you have the dealership do it last service? Sometimes they can make a mistake and put the wrong stuff in. Otherwise, it may be possible you got a bad batch of washer fluid... I've never heard of that happening before, but I'm sure it does.

Originally Posted by cali311soca

Did you fill it yourself? Or did you have the dealership do it last service? Sometimes they can make a mistake and put the wrong stuff in. Otherwise, it may be possible you got a bad batch of washer fluid... I've never heard of that happening before, but I'm sure it does.

I filled it. I will try to flush it and re fill.......I may have gotten a bad batch.

I had this exact problem this morning and I could barely see out the windshield. Later on it was fine. BMW probably uses different wiper fluid!!!


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same here, we have 20*F +/- in NYC, this morning my wiper fluid is freeze. it start working after 30 min. it never happen on my MB and Inf, as well as my Honda!

Not good! I think is the fluid hose got freeze up, not the tank. I have the factory fill up, this is my 6th days with this X5!

In my old E39, the nozzles were heated. Isn't that the case with the X5 as well?

I drained it and put in a new gallon of -35 degree fluid. I ran it through the system to flush out teh old stuff (when it finally thawed) and it was frozen again when I got in my car after work (21 degrees). I know there is probably nothing they can do but I am bringing it in next week to have teh new tail lights coded so I might as well have them take a look. It may be too much to ask but I would like to be able to drive my car when it snows.

Originally Posted by dkotanto

In my old E39, the nozzles were heated. Isn't that the case with the X5 as well?

The nozzles are heated but the lines themselves are not. The fluid is freezing in the lines between the reservoir and the nozzles.

But why would -25/-35 F* washer fluid be freezing. Regardless if the washer head is heated or not. The fluid it's self should not be freezing. It doesn't make since.

Well there is no way your X5 is REFRIGERATING the fluid, so unless your ambient temps are dropping below -35 F, either the brand you are buying is crap or the water is settling out of solution. I'd switch brands, and complain to wherever you bought the stuff you're using.

You can always "brew your own" by adding a pint of cheap vodka to the mix.....

Here is Canada the temp. (w/o windchill) has gons to -11 degree C (about 12 degree F) and have not had any problems. The fluid I buy is from Costco rated to be effective till -40 degree C (same as -40 degree F).

Originally Posted by quackbury

Well there is no way your X5 is REFRIGERATING the fluid, so unless your ambient temps are dropping below -35 F, either the brand you are buying is crap or the water is settling out of solution. I'd switch brands, and complain to wherever you bought the stuff you're using.

You can always "brew your own" by adding a pint of cheap vodka to the mix.....

I agree to some degree but the X5 is the only one of my vehicles that has this issue. The fluid that I have been using for years works fine in our other cars. Probably has something to do with the placement of the lines. Who knows

I had the same problems with my X3. I used -20 degrees De-Icer fluid and the nozzles froze. I used the same exact fluid in my Lexus and not once in 9 years that the nozzles froze up. I've never heard of that in any car, especially when it comes to a "luxury" brand. What's the point of having De-Icer fluid in the washer tank when you can't even spray it out to de-ice the windshield? I brought it back to the dealership and the service advisor told me that it's the fluid that froze, I was arguing with him that the fluid was not the problem since I have the same exact thing in my Lexus and it sprayed fine. The dealership could not give me a stratight answer nor could they solve the problem. They flushed out the whole tank and put in their fluid and told me that the problem should be resolved. Well, of course it sprayed fine, because the temps out there was over 45 degrees.

Yes, I've experienced it this winter up in Colorado when temps got to around +12F. Didn't understand it either. My guess is dealer here in warm climated just fills with concentrate and then thins w/ H20.

Originally Posted by Marshotel

I have had my car for just over a year now and every time the temperature drops into teh 20's I am unable to clean the windshield because the wiper fluid freezes up in the lines and it won't dispense! Has anyone else had this issue? I know it isn't the fluid that I am using because it is the same fluid I use in all of my cars. The only one that freezes up is the X5. I am bringing it in on Friday to see if there is anything that can be done.

I think that sometimes it is not the fluid which freezes, but rather the nozzles are blocked on the outside by ice from the snow/ice. Even if it looks clear, you can have a small bit of ice covering the tip of the orifice.

Originally Posted by Marshotel

I drained it and put in a new gallon of -35 degree fluid. I ran it through the system to flush out teh old stuff (when it finally thawed) and it was frozen again when I got in my car after work (21 degrees). I know there is probably nothing they can do but I am bringing it in next week to have teh new tail lights coded so I might as well have them take a look. It may be too much to ask but I would like to be able to drive my car when it snows.

Really, really odd.

We've hit temperatures between -25 and -35 Celsius several times this winter for extended periods. The X5 is never garaged overnight and I haven't ever had an issue with the washer fluid freezing.

'Course mine throws CEL's every time it gets to that temp but never washer issues.

Originally Posted by Cdnrockies

Really, really odd.

We've hit temperatures between -25 and -35 Celsius several times this winter for extended periods. The X5 is never garaged overnight and I haven't ever had an issue with the washer fluid freezing.

'Course mine throws CEL's every time it gets to that temp but never washer issues.

I agree, but it happened all winter long. The good news is that we have had a few 20 degree mornings since I picked up my '11 and all is well so far.