Washer Fluid Capacity!?

muzzalad · 03-05-2019, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teaston

Well the washer fluid light finally came on today, at 3500 miles!!

Filled it up and it took nearly 6 litres!

7 top ups for me over the whole time I'll have this car then.
Better make them special.

teaston · 03-05-2019, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by muzzalad

7 top ups for me over the whole time I'll have this car then.
Better make them special.

Ah but this was with winter use, should use much less in summer!

muzzalad · 03-05-2019, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teaston

Ah but this was with winter use, should use much less in summer!

Oh man.
Most of miles come in the summer as well, on roadtrips.

I could be topping up oil more frequently than washer fluid.

Ragnarkov · 03-06-2019, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crowdedhouse

Quote:

Originally Posted by spangle1980

Since I got the new one, without those headlight washers, mine is like a bloody TARDIS. I tried to top it up the other day after using for nearly two months, and it only took half a litre!

This may not apply in your case but every time I went to fill mine it only seemed to take half a litre also. It just didn't make sense to me. Turns out though I wasn't actually filling it.

After a search here I found the reason, my driveway has a slight slope, I reverse in so the car is nose down when parked. Last time I tried to fill the washer I drove in so that I was 'nose up' and filled over 5 litres.

if you bend over and look down under the Fender edge, you can see the path the tube takes from the washer fluid refill "pan". it's very oddly designed. it exits the pan, then curls around 180 degrees, and then goes back almost parallel for a bit before heading south to where I'm assuming the reservoir is. if the vehicle is tilted too much either way, it will bog down (because it cuts off any air circulation created from the actual act of filling)if you don't pour slow. I had trouble facing both directions on my driveway. had to put the dang thing in the garage itself to properly fill it up.

MechX3M40i · 03-06-2019, 06:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ragnarkov

Quote:

Originally Posted by crowdedhouse

Quote:

Originally Posted by spangle1980

Since I got the new one, without those headlight washers, mine is like a bloody TARDIS. I tried to top it up the other day after using for nearly two months, and it only took half a litre!

This may not apply in your case but every time I went to fill mine it only seemed to take half a litre also. It just didn't make sense to me. Turns out though I wasn't actually filling it.

After a search here I found the reason, my driveway has a slight slope, I reverse in so the car is nose down when parked. Last time I tried to fill the washer I drove in so that I was 'nose up' and filled over 5 litres.

if you bend over and look down under the Fender edge, you can see the path the tube takes from the washer fluid refill "pan". it's very oddly designed. it exits the pan, then curls around 180 degrees, and then goes back almost parallel for a bit before heading south to where I'm assuming the reservoir is. if the vehicle is tilted too much either way, it will bog down (because it cuts off any air circulation created from the actual act of filling)if you don't pour slow. I had trouble facing both directions on my driveway. had to put the dang thing in the garage itself to properly fill it up.

I'm trying to visualize this... so, is it shaped like a piping trap under the bathroom sink instead of straight down to the reservoir? If yes, I'm guessing it is to prevent back flow or vapor comes straight out?

jmedarts · 07-27-2020, 10:12 AM

THANKS FOR THIS POST! Refill alert was driving me nuts, thing would only take a pint of fluid, then bark again the next day. Was going to make a stealership appointment but decided to check here instead. Saw this, got her on the upslope and she drank almost 2 gallons! THANK YOU

abbike18 · 12-17-2021, 03:25 PM

Really glad this thread exists....took me almost 2 gallons to fill it up and I really thought something was wrong - a leak or something. Glad the actual capacity is just nuts!

M40i4me · 12-18-2021, 06:51 AM

It’s crazy, even my 2011 328 took over 1.5 gallons of washer fluid! I remember thinking is this stuff leaking out as I fill it somewhere? My X3 and Wife’s X5 are pigs as well. Much appreciated when following someone in a slushy snow storm when the salt and snow mix is being kicked in your face!

Admiral · 12-18-2021, 04:19 PM

There was another thread on this some time ago and nobody including me gave a definitive answer

rob175 · 12-21-2021, 10:02 AM

I know BMW's have an issue with some washer fluids. I read somewhere that the silicon which some washer fluids contain can damage the pumps.

The advice I got was to either use the BMW branded concentrate (and mix w/water).......or just use the cheap "blue stuff" because it doesn't contain anything harmful to the system....one reason why it's so cheap...LOL.

I was definitely told to avoid the Rain-X brand.

Jimbo79 · 12-13-2023, 09:21 AM

From Bone Dry/Will not Pump.
1 Gallon = 128 oz
2 Gallons = 256 oz

I was able to put the better part of 2 gallons in the reservoir.

Measuring what was left over, and subtracting from 2 gallons, it held an amazing 238 oz.

Sadly, I can find no mention of this in a Manual anywhere, and since you can't visually see the tank...

07-27-2020, 10:12 AM	#28
jmedarts Enginerd 3 Rep 24 Posts Drives: 2014 X3 Xdrive 35i Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: CT iTrader: (0)	THANKS FOR THIS POST! Refill alert was driving me nuts, thing would only take a pint of fluid, then bark again the next day. Was going to make a stealership appointment but decided to check here instead. Saw this, got her on the upslope and she drank almost 2 gallons! THANK YOU
	Appreciate 2 teaston10994.50 Jimbo790.00 Quote

12-17-2021, 03:25 PM	#29
abbike18 Lieutenant 701 Rep 554 Posts Drives: 2019 BMW X3 M40i Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Colorado, USA iTrader: (0)	Really glad this thread exists....took me almost 2 gallons to fill it up and I really thought something was wrong - a leak or something. Glad the actual capacity is just nuts! __________________ 2019 X3 M40i \| TU Pump \| AA DP \| VTT GC \| xHP Stage 2 \| Dorch ECA \| MHD Odin FF \| Carbon Black \| Adaptive Suspension \| M-Sport Rear Diff \| 20" staggered SOLD! 2015 X1 35i \| Alpina Trans Tune \| Dinan Stage 2 \| Bilstein B6
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12-18-2021, 06:51 AM	#30
M40i4me Lieutenant Colonel 1037 Rep 1,526 Posts Drives: 2021 X3 M40i Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: NJ iTrader: (0) Garage List 2021 X3 M40i [10.00]	It’s crazy, even my 2011 328 took over 1.5 gallons of washer fluid! I remember thinking is this stuff leaking out as I fill it somewhere? My X3 and Wife’s X5 are pigs as well. Much appreciated when following someone in a slushy snow storm when the salt and snow mix is being kicked in your face! __________________ 2021 M40i Phytonic Blue / Black Vernasca 2020 X5 xDrive 40i Tanzanite Blue / Coffee Vernasca 2011 328xi. Space Grey - Sold 188,925 great miles
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12-18-2021, 04:19 PM	#31
Admiral Lieutenant 776 Rep 593 Posts Drives: 2019 BMW X3 2.0D X Line G01 Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: Cymru UK iTrader: (0)	There was another thread on this some time ago and nobody including me gave a definitive answer
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-21-2021, 10:02 AM	#32
rob175 Major 688 Rep 1,116 Posts Drives: BMW X3 xiDrive30 Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: Illinois iTrader: (0)	I know BMW's have an issue with some washer fluids. I read somewhere that the silicon which some washer fluids contain can damage the pumps. The advice I got was to either use the BMW branded concentrate (and mix w/water).......or just use the cheap "blue stuff" because it doesn't contain anything harmful to the system....one reason why it's so cheap...LOL. I was definitely told to avoid the Rain-X brand.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-13-2023, 09:21 AM	#33
Jimbo79 Registered 0 Rep 1 Posts Drives: 2011 335i M-Sport, 2018 X3M40i Join Date: Dec 2023 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	Tested from empty - 2018 X3 M40i From Bone Dry/Will not Pump. 1 Gallon = 128 oz 2 Gallons = 256 oz I was able to put the better part of 2 gallons in the reservoir. Measuring what was left over, and subtracting from 2 gallons, it held an amazing 238 oz. Sadly, I can find no mention of this in a Manual anywhere, and since you can't visually see the tank...
	Appreciate 0 Quote