Weird wiper fluid smell

[Allerick]

Ever since I have owned my car, I have noticed a weird phenomenon. Whenever I use my wiper fluid I can smell it very noticeably inside my car. Does this happen to anyone else?

I cannot think of any other car I have ever owned where you can easily smell the wiper fluid when it is being used. At first I thought the dealership used some particularly pungent fluid, but then I replaced it with fluid I've used before. In both cases I smell the wiper fluid very distinctly in the cabin.

Part of me wonders if it has to do with the intake into the AC. I have not noticed any leaks in my windows. Any ideas what would cause this?

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[Jay-rod427]

Fresh air vents for the a/c bring in air from near the cowl. Unless on recirculate the a/c will pull in any smells from that area.

 

[Allerick]

Fresh air vents for the a/c bring in air from near the cowl. Unless on recirculate the a/c will pull in any smells from that area.

I figured it had to be tied to the AC. Thanks for confirming. Have you noticed this on other cars? I've never had this happen before.

 

[BrianH87]

It's funny you mention this. I had the exact problem on my Focus RS. Every time I used the washer fluid I could smell it. But it's just as the other guy said. The vents for the HVAC system are right there to bring in that smell.

 

[Allerick]

Must be a more modern Ford thing. I had an 07 F-150, and I don't ever remember this happening.

 

[ElAviator72]

I used to love the washer fluid that GM dealerships used (early 2000's)-smelled like sunscreen ;)

 

[Spike-S550]

Yes this has happened to me on various cars before, nothing to worry about has a lot todo with the concentration of the windscreen mix.

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