MB Medic Mercedes-Benz Repair Guides, Service, How To DIY
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You ought to find the best Mercedes windshield washer fluid; the choice will depend on many factors. Choosing the best windshield washer fluid for Mercedes is not confined to the model you use or the brand you prefer. You have to consider the climatic challenges. You should also consider your driving pattern. The places you drive to if you would indulge in long-distance drives and how often you would have to get the windshield cleansed as you drive or when you cleanse your car.
Watch: Mercedes-Benz SL-Class R230 Add Windshield Washer Fluid
According to the Mercedes-Benz Dealer, the best washer fluids are Mercedes Summerfit Windshield Washer Concentrate A0019867117 and Winterfit Windshield Washer Concentrate A0019864571. Their names clearly indicate what they are and what time of year they are best suited for. Both can be purchased online; see the links below.
- Summerfit Windshield Washer Concentrate A 001 986 71 17 (eBay link) A0019864471
- Winterfit Windshield washer concentrate (eBay link) A0019864571
The summerfit will need to be mixed with water. The winterfit for a colder climate contains antifreeze, so the fluid does not freeze in very low temperatures. If you love to have a crystal clear windshield on your Mercedes-Benz, you may want to mix the concentrate with distilled water. In either case, follow the instructions provided in the bottle.
You may wonder if you should use the blue windshield washer fluid you can get at a store. Using the blue windshield washer fluid is fine. The blue windshield washer is not as effective when it comes to cleaning, but it will at least help prevent the windshield fluid from freezing in the winter. The decision is up to you, but in our opinion, there are a few cost-effective alternatives that give excellent results. A concentrate you mix yourself is usually the cheaper route per gallon.
Top Windshield Washer Fluid Alternatives
Various windshield washer fluid concentrates perform well in different climates, and give good results. Below are a couple of options to consider. These concentrates allow you to make windshield washer fluid by mixing the concentrate (or tablet) with water.
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Instant Windshield Washer, 25 Tablet Super concentrated. Excellent cleaning results. Each table makes one gallon of windshield washer fluid. Removes bugs, road film, dirt, and grime. It can make up to 25 gallons of windshield washer fluid. |
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Kristall Klar Washer Fluid Concentrate Help remove bugs and dirt. It has additives that will reduce wiper shuddering and skipping. Citrus scent. It can make up to 7 gallons of windshield washer fluid. |
Mercedes Summerfit should be mixed with water. This dilutes the concentrate and ensures the washer fluid has enough moisture to remove dust and dirt from your windshield. The Winterfit has some antifreeze to prevent the fluid from freezing. This may not be necessary when temperatures don’t dip close to the freezing point, but it is necessary for colder regions. Do not run plain water through the system to get by in winter. It freezes in the reservoir, the lines and the pump, and a pump that has frozen is usually a replacement rather than a repair. Engine coolant is not a stand in either, since it will not clear the glass and it attacks paint and trim. If the washers have already stopped working, our guide to troubleshooting Mercedes windshield washer problems covers the pump, the lines and the nozzles. Mix the summer concentrate with distilled water where you can. Tap water carries dissolved minerals that dry as spots on the glass, which is the whole reason distilled water is worth the bother. Choosing the best windshield washer fluid for Mercedes requires choosing the ideal variant. For instance, you might wonder if the best winter washer fluid for cold weather is the blue windshield washer fluid you can get at a store. You can use it, but it is ineffective at cleaning the windshield. You will be able to prevent the fluid from freezing during winter, though it does less to actually lift dirt off the glass. There are some other options, some of which are more affordable.
Mercedes Summerfit is the ideal choice in tropical climates and even during summers up north or in temperate zones. Winterfit is the one to reach for anywhere temperatures drop near or below freezing, since it already contains antifreeze. If the car is going to sit through the cold instead, see how to store a Mercedes-Benz for the winter. In a climate that never gets that cold, it buys you nothing the summer concentrate does not already do.
You can do your research and read reviews of Mercedes windshield washer fluids on Amazon and other global marketplaces before making a choice. You may also choose to go with the official recommendations of the brand.
When the problem is not the fluid
Washer fluid is the cheapest thing on the car, which is why it is worth knowing that the system can fail for reasons that have nothing to do with what is in the bottle. On many models the car watches the fluid level and the pump circuit, so a low level warning that will not clear after a refill, or wipers and washers that behave oddly together, usually points at a sensor or a module rather than the fluid.
That is the sort of thing you confirm by reading the car rather than guessing at it. The fault is often stored in a body or convenience module instead of the engine, so it takes a scanner that reaches every control unit rather than one that only talks to the engine, and the YOUCANIC UCAN-II Pro is one example of that class of tool.
Before you buy parts, scan every control module, not just the engine. It shows the root fault behind the warning lights and tells you whether the problem is still active. See how to do a full health check.
