Contaminated windshield washer reservoir

06pirate · December 9, 2013

First off I have to admit to being an idiot. I didn't put in the winter formula non-freezing type washer fluid so the summer mix 20/10 froze up on me last night when it got down to 16 degrees F. So, today I pulled the reservoir out to thaw and flush it and put in the Rainex winter formula. No problem there, all went well.

But, during the clean-out process, I got a LOT of chunks of black foam rubber out of the washer tank. This explains the repeated washer nozzle clogs I've been getting. The question is why is that black foam rubber in there? What is its purpose, other than to clog up my nozzles?? If thermal insulation it didn't seem to be that effective.

My truck is a 2006 GMC Sierra SLT, 5.3, 4x4 Xcab.

06pirate · December 9, 2013

No, it's not tubing. This stuff came out in sections from small particles to about 2 inches square. It's a foam rubber sheeting, like a liner inside the reservoir. If I spread out the pieces that came out it would cover maybe eight by eight inches or more.

oldmann · December 9, 2013

I still think it is hose pieces.

06pirate · December 10, 2013

Nope, definitely not hoses. The hose out of the reservoir is plastic, until the flex rubber hose at the base of the wiper blades. There is virtually no way that rubber from there could work its way back into the reservoir. The picture below is about 25% of what I got out of it. It is some form of foam rubber sheet. I was just wondering why they put it in there, not a big deal. But a heads up to others that apparently it can disintegrate and clog up your washer nozzles.

pic below

oldmann · December 10, 2013

Maybe it was leaking and someone put some leak stop in the tank?

MikeInCtown · December 10, 2013

Woah, that's strange. My first thought was maybe a coating on the washer pump, if it is installed inside the tank, but even that would be too much material.

No material is still stuck to anything inside?

Bob D · December 10, 2013

Looks like battery insulation wrap?

Whatever it is, there's no way it found it's way into reservoir by itself...

oldmann · December 10, 2013

Maybe the pump impeller. It is likely made of neoprene.

MikeNH · December 10, 2013

No way on earth any of that came from washer fluid lines or the pump. The lines are like 1/4" OD max and are rubber, not that porous stuff nor is is from the pump. Most washer pumps are about the size of a D-cell battery.

06pirate · December 11, 2013

That's correct. The outlet hoses are plastic and rubber. This is the remains of something like a sheet of foam rubber about 3mm thick that used to be inside the reservoir. It could not have been stuffed down that long thin neck of the reservoir, which means it must have been manufactured in somehow. And, again, what you see in the picture is only a portion of it. The rest was torn up more and went into the garbage. It is all gone now and the inside of the reservoir is clean, there is no adhesive or anything left in there. I just thought someone would know its purpose.

oldmann · December 11, 2013

Watch how rubber tubing and hose is made.

dataspng · December 14, 2013

Some of the newer cars have foam blocks built in... not sure on our Silverado.. cant see that far down the filler neck. Wifes car has one... its pink foam block. Daughters car also has one its blue strip.. Maybe the winter blend with the alcohol in it is eating it up? Just a guess. A parts diagram may show if it has one..

SarahsGMC · December 14, 2013

Looks like paint flakes lol I wonder if that garbage is in my 06

Sent from the toilet

Thelastking · December 15, 2013

I could be a way off here but about that time and that year G.M. had heated window washer tanks. I heard they were a bust, caused fires or something so they recalled them, pulled them out and paid each owner a 100.00 or something. Maybe leftover from that program. Just a WAG.