Windshield washer/wiper

[N1chu]

I just replaced my windshield due to a stone chip growing a crack that got too large. The F-150 is a 2011. I thought the glass was in good shape before the stone chip but once the new one was installed I noticed a better overall difference in visibility. The reason for this is that windshields get (what I will call) micro scratches. The glass is a soft glass and is easily scratched. You don't need a diamond to scratch windshield glass. This got me thinking... When I use the washer, it comes on AFTER the wipers get halfway through their first wiping cycle. The wipers are all the way up on the glass BEFORE the washer fluid hits the glass. Talking to the Ford people, I was told it's because the washer system does not keep fluid in the hose lines leading to the nozzles. It's allowed to retreat back to the resivor in order to help prevent freeze ups in cold weather. Sounds logical but the first wiper half-cycle is dragging dry blades over the dirt on my windshield. That can't be good but I can't accept that it can't be helped. Anyone know of an aftermarket remedy or modification to get the washer fluid onto the glass before the blades start?

Where I live, the major interstate highway runs east west. Those unfortunate to commute into the sun in the morning and again going home in the evening get sun glare. I always thought the backups during rush hour were caused by an accident (which you never see because they are cleared before you get there). But talking to a state trooper about those backups, I was told it was sun glare. Some windshields are so bad that the entire screen goes white when the sun hits it just right! People can't see, they hit the brakes, and everyone comes to a grinding halt. There are treatments for this which you apply to the glass and it fills in the micro scratches but it wears off quickly. The trooper suggested there should be overhead sprayers applying this wax on sunny days, requiring motorists to turn on their wipers and clearing the glass. But that's about as impractable as it gets. At least the trooper was alert enough to be able to identify the problem and then, more importantly, search for solutions!

[65comet]

There are one way fuel line valves for lawn mowers, and those lines are usually the same size as the wiper line. You could install them close to the sprayer and that would keep the fluid from draining back. I keep a good coating of Rain-X on my windshield. That also "floats" the blade above the glass so that it does no scratching.

[N1chu]

Thanks for that tip. The one way valve idea might work. I've got to look at when the washer pump comes on. If it starts at the same time as the wipers or slightly thereafter... There could be a design parameter incorporated whereby the washer pump must first see the wipers are engaged, so as not to have fluid spraying and no wipers... As safety concern. I doubt that is the case but you never know with all the computer driven amenaties that allow an untold amount of options to the designers these days. If that's the case however, a software change would be needed in order to change the start time of the washer pump. Or worse, a need to disconnect the pump from the system and put it on its own switch, allowing the operator to first hit the washer pump and then engage the wipers. I'm not about to do that. Thanks again for the tip.

[aleekat]

https://www.google.com/search?q=wind...utf-8&oe=utf-8

[N1chu]

Thanks