What happens if you fill your car’s windshield-washer reservoir with water?

Filling a car’s windshield-washer reservoir with water may seem like a quick fix when special fluid runs out, but it can damage the system over time.

Honda warns against using water or homemade mixtures, including solutions mixed with vinegar, because they can damage the washer pump. Tap water also contains minerals that promote limescale and other deposits.

Those deposits can clog the lines and stop the nozzles from spraying properly, reducing the driver’s visibility. The blockage can also force the pump to work harder and, in extreme cases, cause it to burn out.

Experts recommend using washer fluid designed for the reservoir. Toyota lists summer formulas, which contain cleaning agents for dirt, pollen and insects, and winter formulas, which help prevent freezing or melt ice on the windshield.

The fluid does not require regular replacement like engine oil. Drivers only need to refill the reservoir, a simple task that requires no tools beyond a funnel. The article also recommends regular basic maintenance, including checking tire pressure, changing the oil and filter, maintaining the battery, checking brake fluid, keeping the engine clean and inspecting the spark plugs.