Experienced drivers remove this part from the car in winter: which one and why

With the onset of winter, car owners are faced with the question of how to avoid freezing of the windshield washer and increase its reliability. One of the methods used by experienced drivers is to remove the check valve of the washer system. Experts have told what the benefits of this modification are and what are its drawbacks, writes Avtosota.

Why remove the valve in winter?

A non-return valve installed in the windshield washer system prevents backflow of fluid, so that the washer fluid immediately enters the glass when the control lever is pressed. However, in winter, the non-return valve can cause the washer to freeze. The fact is that the alcohol that is part of the winter washing fluids gradually evaporates, leaving clean water in the pipes. At low temperatures, this water freezes, blocking the system.

Removing the valve allows the fluid to return to the reservoir after each use, reducing the chance of residual water freezing in the tubes. Although the reaction of the system to the supply of the washer will become a little slower, the system will remain operational even in severe cold conditions.

However, if the car is used in a warm climate or the driver rarely goes to the car wash in winter, such a solution may be superfluous. In such cases, the evaporation of alcohol in the washing liquid remains at a minimum level, and freezing does not cause problems.

Alternative means of protection of the washer

Some car manufacturers have already provided for heating the washer tank, which allows you to keep the liquid in a liquid state. For example, in some models, the tank is located next to the engine cooling system, which helps it to warm up and protect the washer fluid from freezing. Also, a popular solution is to add antifreeze additives to the washer fluid, which helps maintain a low freezing temperature.