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Increase screen wash capacity

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Britprius, Jul 21, 2011.

  1. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    I have noticed that when filling up the screen wash on gen2 the container cannot be filled to the top because of an air lock in top. To gain a useful increase in capacity if you pierce a small holes, (not drill) with a sharp pointed tool or soldering iron in the top of the baffles near the top of the filler neck the container can be filled to the top, adding about one pint to the capacity. The holes should not be drilled because plastic particles will end up in the container risking damage to the pump or blockages.
     
    #1 Britprius, Jul 21, 2011
  2. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

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    Wouldn't increasing the duration between fillups actually increase the liklihood of running out? It would be easier to forget.
    .
     
    #2 john1701a, Jul 21, 2011
  3. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    I do a lot of miles 80,000 in three years and find with our UK weather on long motorway runs it all to easy to run out of screen wash and that is an offence here.
     
    #3 Britprius, Jul 21, 2011
  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Just an idle thought: post-mod are you filling up into the neck region, and might there be splices in the neck that aren't watertight? I've no idea if that's the case, just speculating that the air lock might be purposeful.
     
    #4 Mendel Leisk, Jul 21, 2011
  5. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    The container is a one piece plastic moulding no splices and a tight fitting lid. The internal baffles could just be to make the container more ridged.
     
    #5 Britprius, Jul 21, 2011
  6. firepa63

    firepa63 Former Prius Owner

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    I believe that air space is to allow for expansion of the fluid in hot weather conditions. I would leave it as designed.
     
    #6 firepa63, Jul 21, 2011
  7. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    Water does not expand that much with normal temp changes and the lid has a breather hole in it, further you still cannot fill higher than the point at witch you make the holes.
     
    #7 Britprius, Jul 21, 2011
  8. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    I believe that air space is to allow for the fluid freezing and expanding, if the owner does not use washer fluid rated to 0 degrees F.
     
    #8 Patrick Wong, Jul 21, 2011
    1 person likes this.
  9. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    The washer bottle may be different in the US version, In the UK version it is mounted by the bonnet (sorry hud) hinge to the left of the ICE in front of your passenger our driver.
     
    #9 Britprius, Jul 21, 2011
  10. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    Same location in the North American Prius. When facing the engine compartment, the washer bottle is on the left (or passenger-side) fender, adjacent to the engine.
     
    #10 Patrick Wong, Jul 21, 2011
  11. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    Washer fluid rated at 0 degrees F would be solid here over the past few winters.
     
    #11 Britprius, Jul 21, 2011
  12. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    Forgive my ignorance of US terminology is a fender what we call a bumper, if so is your bottle mounted in the fender ours is mounted just below the screen.
     
    #12 Britprius, Jul 21, 2011
  13. BAllanJ

    BAllanJ Active Member

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    No one here would put in stuff only good to 0 F... the standard stuff is good to about - 40 F. Even in the summer we put that stuff in since we may not empty it before winter. And no, it doesn't get that cold around here, but even at freezing when driving down the road and you squirt the windshield the stuff will freeze due to some fraction evapourating and the rest freezing. Not very safe.

    It's nice to talk about this when we have a heat wave going.
     
    #13 BAllanJ, Jul 21, 2011
  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i don't remember not being able to fill it all the way.
     
    #14 bisco, Jul 21, 2011
  15. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    A fender is the sheet metal part that covers a tire. I'm sure that the washer fluid container is mounted in the same location.

    I live in an area where the summer high temps are around 110 degrees F while the winter low temps are generally above 32 degrees F, so windshield washer fluid rated to 0 degrees F is as low as I've personally seen...
     
    #15 Patrick Wong, Jul 21, 2011
  16. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    Thanks for the education re fender our mud garde. Not sure about the 110degree part of your weather but I am envious, our temperatures this year have gone from -23.5degrees C to 30degrees C (-10F/86F).
     
    #16 Britprius, Jul 22, 2011
  17. brownsnoutuk

    brownsnoutuk Active Member

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    American Fender = Quarter panel. (The metal between the headlight and the passenger/driver door)
     
    #17 brownsnoutuk, Jul 22, 2011
  18. Britprius

    Britprius Senior Member

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    UK quarter panel = metal between rear door and tail lamp, the metal between headlight and front door = wing
     
    #18 Britprius, Jul 22, 2011
  19. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    cool. how did we get so mixed up in 200+ years?
     
    #19 bisco, Jul 22, 2011
  20. brownsnoutuk

    brownsnoutuk Active Member

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    there are front and rear quarter panels. brownsnout(UK)
     
    #20 brownsnoutuk, Jul 23, 2011
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