1st Gen R50 Cooper Most liked posts in thread: Windshield washer bottle leak?

Back a couple winters ago when my R53 sat in the subfreezing temps for a LONG time, the washer fluid reservoir developed a crack in the seam near the bottom of the tank - and so the fluid leaked out.

I suppose yours could be farther up the side of the tank - if you saw cold weather this winter.

 

You could look for a crack...but doesn't sound like much is missing....
Winter mix washerfluid usually is about 30% methanol....so it DOES tend to evaporate a bit...hot engine bay?
Many trucks in about 2010 suddenly had boiling washer fluid and splitting bottles under the hood when freightliner reduced airflow to improve mpg's, and new emissions rules added EGR with higher flows that increased engine temps....
So if you have a modded car....running hotter than NORMAL....might explain a bit of fluid boiling off...
But it might be worth yanking the wheel well liner, and taking a peek....

 

My R56CS has had just about everything leak at some point, and the washer reservoir was one of them. It had a tiny crack about half way up the bottle, so the washer fluid always leaked down to that point.

I let it go for quite a while, since I didn't use it much, but last winter I finally replaced it with an OEM bottle from WorldPac.

I doubt it is evaporation, since I live in Texas where it is 100-plus degrees half the summer, and I've never had any noticeable evaporation of washer fluid on any of my cars.

CD

 

Or just a little JB weld. The bottle is in the quarter panels so it's not like any one can see it.

 

The bottle is made of polypropylene, epoxy (JB Weld) won't stick to it.

 

This will work
Glue For Polypropylene

 

I had a little panic at the autocross sunday, both sides of mine puke washer fluid all over when I get on the brakes really hard

 

Here is a good article that tests different adhesives on polypropylene.

http://www.christinedemerchant.com/coroplast-glue-test.html

 

That's because if they are filled to the top the fluid moves and pops of the silly little cap.

It just washer fluid, drain the tank, do your runs and fill it up before you leave.

FYI Gorilla Duck tape will stick and cover any little hole and it will also hold the stupid lid closed.

http://www.lowes.com/pd/GORILLA-TAPE-1-88-in-x-105-ft-Black-Duct-Tape/3055683

 

mine were half full, but I was triggering abs with re71's, whole lot of pucker factor

 

Just drain the tanks. It's not like you need Winter washer fluid now, just refill them with water.

I run Dunlop Direzza ZII Star Specs

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/surveyresults/surveydisplay.jsp?type=EP