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Cleaning your windshield isn’t just for a more pleasant drive; it’s a downright safety requirement in cold weather. The washer fluid is key to this process. Use the wrong fluid, and you’re up a creek without a paddle. Even with the right fluid, the washer system may not function in some situations. Let’s see what this Ford F-150 owner posted seeking help with this common challenge:
Every once in a while, my washer fluid won’t come out, even though it’s full of fluid. Could there be air in the line or something?
If you drive long enough, this will inevitably happen to you. We can jump right in and answer one of the questions this owner is asking. No, it is not air that is the problem; it is liquid water that has now turned to ice. Here is how a few fellow owners answered that part of the question:
CJ - “Lines are frozen. Happened to my 15' all the time.”
Mike - “Froze at the nozzles!”
James - “It’s frozen at the nozzle. My 2018. Does it when it's really cold. And I use the -25 purple (lowest temperature rating) washer fluid.”
Ethan - “Mine are normally frozen all winter. Makes for interesting road trips on salty roads.”
Mike - “It might be frozen in the tank.”
Justin - “Mine does this too when it gets -5⁰C and below, even when I use winter washer fluid.”
Ford F-150 Washer Fluid System Freeze Ups
These owners know from experience that the washer fluid system of a Ford F-150 is not perfect. The fluid can freeze, or water can freeze the lines in such a way that the system won’t spray. While the F-150 is certainly not alone in this, it isn’t an acceptable excuse, since Ford trucks are supposed to be tough and capable winter vehicles.
How To Prevent Frozen Washer Fluid Nozzles
There are many ways to help prevent washer fluid system freeze-ups. We will start with the most obvious and work our way down
1) Park in a carport or a garage - This prevents the nozzles from being coated in ice.
2) Avoid the car wash on very cold weeks - Washing your truck is a great idea, but do it in moderation during cold snaps. Stop washing vehicles when temperatures approach the 20F mark. This helps prevent frozen locks and doors as well.
3) If you wash your car, always squirt the windshield fluid as you exit. This purges the wash water out of the nozzles.
4) Lift your wipers before ice storms (see top of page image). This makes it easier to access the washer nozzle areas and keeps the wipers from freezing to the glass. Not all vehicles make this easy. With some, you need to use the “service position” feature in your car’s infotainment controls.
5) Only use the best washer fluid you can buy. Look for -30F rating.
6) After driving in snow or rain in winter, spray the washer fluid once before you shut the truck off. This can help purge any water in the nozzles.
7)Park facing the sun (usually South). This allows the black plastic to absorb heat and hopefully help melt the water in the nozzles.
How to Unfreeze Washer Fluid Nozzles: Dos and Don’ts
Once frozen, getting a system to deliver washer fluid is not easy. First up, do NOT pour hot water on the car’s nozzles. If you hit the windshield, you may stress crack it. You can also damage plastic parts at the base of the windshield. Use alcohol or cold washer fluid from the jug you keep instead. Pour or spray it on the two little nozzles at the rear of the hood.
If you can park inside a garage with some heat, this may help unfreeze the nozzles. In a pinch, you can try a car wash the car at an automated car wash.
A hair dryer can be used (with an extension cord) to direct warm air onto the nozzles. Be careful using a heat gun to do this. They may look alike, but heat guns get a lot hotter and can damage paint and plastics more quickly than you’d expect.
How to Unfreeze Washer Fluid Tanks and Lines
If you accidentally put water or summer-only washer fluid into your tank, your level of trouble will partly depend on the level of fluid in the tank. Obviously, parking inside a warm garage and given enough time, the fluid will thaw, and you can purge it with the washer pump.
If you’re lucky and the fluid in the tank is low, pour in warm washer fluid with a low temp rating. Give it time to thaw the tank and hope the lines can thaw, or use a hair dryer to warm them. If you live near a dealer, you can ask for help overnight. They can park inside and then purge the fluid for you in the morning.
Why Not Heated Nozzles?
Many manufacturers, including Ford, have used heated washer fluid nozzles on and off again. We love this feature, particularly if the tank is also warmed. However, with every new system comes one more possible point of trouble. If I were the designer, I’d heat trace the whole system. As soon as that was in the public though, any cracked windshield would be blamed on the warm fluid hitting the glass.
What suggestions can you offer? Tell us your ideas in the comments below.
John Goreham is the Vice President of the New England Motor Press Association and an expert vehicle tester. John completed an engineering program with a focus on electric vehicles, followed by two decades of work in high-tech, biopharma, and the automotive supply chain before becoming a news contributor. He is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE int). In addition to his fourteen years of work at Torque News, John has published thousands of articles and reviews at American news outlets. He is known for offering unfiltered opinions on vehicle topics. You can connect with John on LinkedIn and follow his work on his personal X channel or on our X channel. John employs grammar and punctuation software when proofreading, and he sometimes uses image generation tools.
Images by John Goreham
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