Do our cars heat the windshield washer fluid when spraying like some models of BMW?

 

I don't know, but I doubt it. The reservoir filler is at the rear on the trunk, and I don't see where the heat source would come from. There are more options for doing that in the engine compartment.

At any rate, windshield washer fluid does have anti-freeze properties, so it will flow just fine in frigid temps.

 

Not to mention that spraying hot fluid on a frozen glass surface is not a good idea.

 

BMW thinks it is.

1) it's probably not that hot, and
2) it's in the form of a spray so not a big thermal shock

 

Then what purpose does heating the fluid have?

 

On cars with more conventional washer jets (bonnet mounted), the heater element is in the Jets themselves, and is designed to prevent them from freezing up. The washer fluid will be at whatever temperature the area around the reservoir is, so probably not hot as such.

Does anyone remember the fun of pouring hot water on the washer jets to get them to thaw out? From memory, anything below freezing plus speeds of over 50 would cause it - even with neat screen wash...

 

There is no heating in the wiper wash system on the F-Type, nor on any modern Jags that I can recall.

With the sprayer mounted on the wiper arm I think they are less susceptible to freezing up than bonnet mounted ones.

 

Ah, that makes sense. I just remembered on my previous BMW that something was heated. Thanks!

 

Washer fluids here have a freezing point of -30C* or -40*C, so the jets freezing over would be unheard of.

 

Yes, I think there are people who put water in the reservoir, or dilute the fluid w/ water, which I wouldn't. I never had any freeze in my 10 years in Minnesota with proper wiper fluid.

 

My Lincoln LS had heated wiper rests - a heating element in the windshield where the wipers rested. Kept ice from building up on them. I miss having that.

 

The earlier Jags had that as well.

 

I'm certain the heated windshield will serve adequately to keep the washer fluid from freezing when the temps gets down to -50F.

 

If it ever goes to -50F we'll all face bigger problems than frozen jets on our bonnets

 

Happens in Minnesota all the time (well, at least once every year or so). I remember having to drive my car several blocks in first gear because I couldn't move the gear shift lever.