i was checking fluid levels after driving my car and noticed that my washer fluid in resevoir was hot,is this normal?
thanks
eek

Yes, If you look at your resevoir, there is a small metal hose that is "coiled" in the tank & hooked up to the engine's cooling system.

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Alain
independant MBZ tech since 1981
http://www.motorsportlegendsks.com/

It's probably like my 91 350SDL, which has a small heating coil in the washer tank; coil has engine coolant flowing through it. Isn't that neat? 'Learned this several years ago when I hit a deer. Fluid on ground under front of car was hot and slippery beween fingers; 'thought it was coolant; 'turned out to be washer fluid leaking at shattered left front light assembly.

There is a little thermostat at the end of the heater coil which should control the temp of the washer fluid. It opens and closes much like the one in your cooling system. The washer fluid should be warm not "hot", but I guess that depends on your definition of "hot"...This little temp control valve is known to fail and stay open all the time or leak. You can test it by removing the coil from the tank and running cold tap water over it. It should open (blow thru one side of the stainless tubing. Now run it under warm to hot tap water. Should either close completely or at least restrict flow. If nothing changes with the hot water, then it's stuck open. The bad news is that it can't be repaired. and as far as I know it's not a separate item. If you leave the washer fluid "hot" all the time, you will end up with all of the alcohol boiling off and have a resevoir of blue water.

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Jeff Lawrence
1989 300e
2000 Dodge Grand Caravan SE
No matter what you fix, there will always be something else to fix..
"Warranty" is just another way of postponing the inevitable.

Jeff
great post,because lately i've noticed some dripping coming from the resevor and could not quite figure it out,now it makes sense,the fluid was hot,now whats the best thing to do to fix it or can i leave it alone?
thanks
eek

If you want, you can bypass by just disconnecting the hoses to the heating coil. Connect them together. Check with parts shop here on a price for a new heater coil. I believe they go for about $90-$95 US.

__________________
Jeff Lawrence
1989 300e
2000 Dodge Grand Caravan SE
No matter what you fix, there will always be something else to fix..
"Warranty" is just another way of postponing the inevitable.