6.7L Cummins Forum

Hi Gang,
For those of us living in the northern part of North America (live outside Ottawa Canada) I am starting this thread to share what I believe is a common problem. As the temperature drops to -10 C (14 F) the washer nozzles freeze - end result - no fluid on the windshield. Flat out, this is just a poor design and I have done the legwork online to find out this is a fairly common problem that isn't solved by just getting a windshield wiper fluid with a lower temperature rating. I have considered a washer fluid heater. Don't buy this one. I bought 3 because they were $10 and it seemed like a good idea. The system doesn't work and I suspect that the high current draw likely killed the alternator on my 97 Nissan Sentra. I have since removed them. I plan to salvage the connection cable to use on the truck to connect up a power converter inside the cab (12VDC - 110 VAC).
As we are all aware, the washer nozzles and wipers are in a tray separate from the engine compartment. So there is really no blead heat available from the engine to keep this area warm.
I am considering two solutions. I suspect the least invasive will be fitting a small local heater element on or near the nozzle. Now I just need to find something that I can adapt for this application as I have not been able to find such device off-the-shelf.
My second thought is to connect a metal tube from the engine into the wiper tray (will have to make a hole) in order to promote hot air into this area. If this was a jet engine I would simply tap of hot exhaust into a bleed air tube and direct it onto each nozzle. As it is not a jet engine and I don't have a ready source of high velocity air. I am thinking a wide inlet that will allow the fan air flow to push heat up and into the 'heating tube'.

As I go forward with the plan I will update and let you now how I made out with this solution.

Canadian Tire - Motomaster HotWash, Windshield Washer Fluid Heater customer reviews - product reviews - read top consumer ratings

[URL="http://canadiantire.ca"]




My Truck: 2008 - 2500 Quad Cab Long Box

You can also try adding more IPA or methanol to your washer fluid to lower the freeze pt.

The only thing I wonder about is warm solution hitting a cold windshield?

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2007.5 Dodge Ram 3500 HD,QC, 6.7L Cummins, 6speed Auto, 4X4, Bighorn Edition.
Click for installs: Carr Steps PML Diff Cover Edge Juice with Attitude Volant Intake Hankook ATM RF10

If you have a crack on said windshield, it can spread when hot meets cold.

Although I have not driven my truck the last 2 winters, I had no problems with the washers, the the first two winters I owned it. I do run fluid rated for lower temperatures in all my vehicles, here, in the winter months.

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2007 Ram 2500 QC 4x4 SLT TRX4-Offroad 6.7L Automatic. '08 Jeep WK 3.0L diesel-wife's DD.
1998 Jeep ZJ 4.0L Automatic Selectrac-project for our son. '98 Jeep XJ-my wife's former DD.
1965 Dodge Polara 880 Convertible 383 Automatic.

I've had my nozzles freeze up a couple of times but we get more freezing rain then snow here. I've been thinking about getting a set of heated nozzles/Jets from Ford, BMW Toyota, etc and just wiring them into the Heated Mirror switch but haven't found the time.

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2007.5 Dodge Ram 3500 HD,QC, 6.7L Cummins, 6speed Auto, 4X4, Bighorn Edition.
Click for installs: Carr Steps PML Diff Cover Edge Juice with Attitude Volant Intake Hankook ATM RF10

Hi Gang,
Some good suggestions. I have tried the -45C washer fluid. Flat out there is just not enough methanol to keep it from freezing as the temperature drops toward -15C. As the washer fluid hits the windshield it is also cooled by air effect.
Here's my interim solution until I come up with a fix. I bought a small bottle of lock de-icer and squirted that directly into the nozzles (it was -15C that day in the sun). I cycled the washer on several times and finally managed to get it free. Now, here is the trick. At the same time I bought a small bottle of hand sanitizer. Once I had the nozzles free of ice, I dropped a dab of the hand sanitizer onto each nozzle. The hand sanitizer has a higher alcohol content and the gel is viscous enough to provide a good barrier while the truck is parked. So far this is working, but I still want a means to do this without having to get onto the bonnet of the truck to free up the nozzles when it is cold and the wind is howling at +20 kts..

PS...The hot wash on the windshield doesn't work. Or at least the ones I have from Canadian Tire don't work. The fluid is pretty much cold by the time it hits the windshield. And I share the concern about the windshield cracking on a cold day when a hot/warm liquid is applied.

Thanks for the update and DOH! I have a big ole bottel of Hand Sanitizer in my garage.

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2007.5 Dodge Ram 3500 HD,QC, 6.7L Cummins, 6speed Auto, 4X4, Bighorn Edition.
Click for installs: Carr Steps PML Diff Cover Edge Juice with Attitude Volant Intake Hankook ATM RF10

As I said mine was fine down to the -40 range. I do spend some time, when cleaning snow off my vehicles, to make sure that all the snow is cleared from the cowl and nozzle area.

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2007 Ram 2500 QC 4x4 SLT TRX4-Offroad 6.7L Automatic. '08 Jeep WK 3.0L diesel-wife's DD.
1998 Jeep ZJ 4.0L Automatic Selectrac-project for our son. '98 Jeep XJ-my wife's former DD.
1965 Dodge Polara 880 Convertible 383 Automatic.