How to clean out the water bottle ?

Ozzie Kuma · Post by **Ozzie Kuma** » 01 May 2011, 12:50

The w/screen washer water bottle on my V6 seems to need a clean, it does not fill easily,.. & it smells, is there something on how to remove/ clean the bottle on this site or can someone explain please?

boeingmech · Post by **boeingmech** » 01 May 2011, 13:07

try steradent (not sure of spelling) for cleaning false teeth

spider · Post by **spider** » 01 May 2011, 13:55

I used various methods.

A bit of watered down tar and glue (the valeting solution stuff) works well (caution: remove bottle and pump first), just cork the output and put the cap on and shake.

A more sensible method may be a bit of washing up liquid. Remover from car first as you do not want washing up liquid on your paintwork, not to mention you don't want to drag any bits of debris up into the pipework / pump anyway.

A bit of washing powder might work well too with some hot water, although I have only used this once and that was a coolant expansion bottle. It did clean it up a treat

internally though but their plastic is tougher and stronger than the washer bottle.

Remember to thoroughly rinse out before refitting.

john alexander · Post by **john alexander** » 01 May 2011, 23:39

I've poured washing up liquid on plenty of my cars and never had any problems

Post by **CitroJim** » 02 May 2011, 07:41

After a good clean out I'd be tempted, especially in a hot climate, to rinse through something like a baby bottle sterilizing fluid (like Milton) to make sure any bacterial growth is well and truly killed. There was a report back along that washer reservoirs on cars could breed and harbour all manner of nasties..

I always used to rinse Milton through our caravan water system at the start of a camping season...

If you have no Milton then a spot of thin household bleach will do the same job.

I'm going to be doing the job on Old V6 today as the washer system is a bit full of muck and regularly blocks the jets.

john alexander wrote:I've poured washing up liquid on plenty of my cars and never had any problems

Not a good idea. Washing up liquid is full of salt. Good for dishes but not cars!!!

P616VKX · Post by **P616VKX** » 04 May 2011, 11:52

CitroJim wrote:
john alexander wrote:I've poured washing up liquid on plenty of my cars and never had any problems
Not a good idea. Washing up liquid is full of salt. Good for dishes but not cars!!!

Thought it tasted a bit off!

Lol.

I must say, I used to be guilty of washing up liquid in the washers in my Grannies Maestro until one day I noticed that the paint on the roof was shot to bits.

What's this Milton you speak of? I like things I've never heard of... Is it OK to use in the washer res' whilst being used as Screen Wash or is it a bottle out jobbie cos' of the paintwork?

Post by **CitroJim** » 04 May 2011, 12:06

Milton was the stuff we used to use to sterilise feeding implements when our kids were babies. Admittedly, that was some time ago now... You used to make up a mix of it and chuck eveything in it and let it soak...

All it is basically is very pure Sodium Hypocholrate (NaCIO aka bleach).

Empty the reservoir and fill it with a very dilute solution of bleach (say, about what you'd find in a swimming pool) let it soak for a few hours. Pump som,e through the washer jets, empty and refill with clean water with washer fluid added to taste...

Xaccers · Post by **Xaccers** » 04 May 2011, 13:29

Jim, do we need to hold an intervention for your drinking habbits?

spider · Post by **spider** » 04 May 2011, 13:31

Although slightly contradictory (sorry) I've always found it best if you are planning on pumping it through to unplug the jets.

This way any debris will come out of the end of the pipe and will not find itself tightly lodged into the jets themselves.

Post by **CitroJim** » 04 May 2011, 17:20

Good point Andy! In gact I did this very job on Old V6 yesterday. I had the jets off, blew them out to clear all the crud from them, then swilled the pipery out before refitting the jets and letting some of the fluid run through them...

Xac wrote:Jim, do we need to hold an intervention for your drinking habbits?

Oh, I don't know. I find a cocktail of Milton and screenwash on the rocks is a great pick-me-up.. It leaves you feeling very clean and bubbly....

Post by **myglaren** » 04 May 2011, 17:33

CitroJim wrote: Oh, I don't know. I find a cocktail of Milton and screenwash on the rocks is a great pick-me-up.. It leaves you feeling very clean and bubbly....

Needs a sprig of mint to be right

spider · Post by **spider** » 04 May 2011, 18:21

Random but related question:

If we were talking about coolant expansion bottles, would the level sensor be unhappy at subjected to various chemicals to clean the bottle ?

I cannot recall a PSA vehicle with a sensor on the washer bottle, except perhaps the 605.

Post by **CitroJim** » 04 May 2011, 18:35

They should be fine I would have thought Andy. They live in a fairly harsh environment normally...

spider wrote: I cannot recall a PSA vehicle with a sensor on the washer bottle, except perhaps the 605.

Xantias with headlight washers have them. Not sure about Xantias not so fitted...

Post by **Paul-R** » 04 May 2011, 18:37

spider wrote:I cannot recall a PSA vehicle with a sensor on the washer bottle, except perhaps the 605.

Ph I C5s have one - at least on the Exclusive level of trim. I would imagine quite a few have it nowadays.

mongoose100 · Post by **mongoose100** » 05 May 2011, 08:39

How hard is it to remove washer bottle? Mine loves to leak out if above 1/4 full