i30 Owners Club

Washer reservoir and lines clogged with algae

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Offline ryangus

  • 2nd Gear
  • *
    • Posts: 44

    • au Australia
      QLD
Had my 2017 PD in for a 60,000km service yesterday.  Have noticed for a while the windscreen washer wasn't working, and the dealer has diagnosed it as algae in the reservoir blocking the lines.  $270 to remove and flush.  Hopefully this a simple DIY job for someone handy with tools.  Any suggestions, and procedure for removal and flushing?
  • 2007 SLX CRDi


Offline sundiz

  • Technical Advisor
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    • Posts: 827

    • fi Finland
      Helsinki
Check if there are any blowback valves on the line, remove hoses from them and push pressurized air in to the pipes towards reservoir. Drain and clean reservoir and fill it with good guality washer fluid. 
  • i30 cw 1.6crdi -08


Offline Aye30

  • 3rd Gear
  • *
    • Posts: 173

    • au Australia
      Perth
Hi, was the dealer removing old fluid and refilling the reservoir on your dealer services? They used to on our fd. It used to annoy me as I used quality additives which worked better than the dealer stuff. But given the amount of clogged washer fluid lines/ filters I read on the forums, I now know why the used to do it. Check the pd log book service descriptions. I wouldn't expect there to be a problem, if they were flushing the fluid every service.
If I had to clean out the system i would get access to the reservoir via the front wheel arch (FD) disconnect the pump lines and push air backwards through the system. Inside the reservoir there is a small filter before the pump, which is usually the first to block up. Sometimes a jet of water into the reservoir can dislodge the scum. I DIY'd some plumbing fittings, taking mains hose pressure down to water filter diameter, crimped the end a bit with heat to make a spray that went perpendicular. I stuck that into the reservoir and blasted away at the filter area. I had a manageble flow out of the top and watched as chunks came away from inside the tank. I was lucky that the algee had not progressed into the lines.


Offline eye30

  • Global Moderator
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  • HOS BOSS
    • Posts: 27,362

    • england England
      Wirral

  • Wirral, UK. - 1.4 Petrol Active - Aqua Blue
Few posts on here as to how to clean the tank and lines.

It's a diy job so keep your $$ in your pocket.
  • 1.4 Petrol Active I'm no expert, so please correct me if


Offline BrendanP

  • Technical Advisor
  • *
    • Posts: 470

    • gb United Kingdom
      East Midlands
I've always used screenwash and never had a problem. I have had friends that just used plain water, or added eco-friendly dish-washing liquid. In a Rover 75, the contents of the reservoir turned into a thick gloopy jelly. Pulled the pump off and let it slowly ooze out, then flushed the tank clean with hot water.
  • i30 CRD


Offline Greyhound

  • 3rd Gear
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    • Posts: 220

    • gb United Kingdom
...or added eco-friendly dish-washing liquid.
Doesn't most dish washing detergent include salt. Advised not to use it to shampoo the car with it for that reason.
  • i30 PD 2020 1.0 T-GDi


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