I need a cheap windshield washer fluid tank

The place where my windshield washer fluid tank used to be is now occupied by an oil cooler.

There are plenty of other places in the engine bay to hang a tank, but the original tank is a weird molded shape and really large.

I'm looking for some cheapo thing to use instead. But my imagination is failing me utterly.

It doesn't need to be big. Even a pint would be enough. And the pump is a little separate unit so that's no issue.

http://www.cobranda.com/19la19eawaba.html

What about the "bag" style that was used in cars like the 70s Fiats and tons of other cars?

Looks like Woody was faster with the Ford-branded version .

Gatorade bottle with a hole drilled in the cap just big enough to stick the hose down in and an even smaller hose to vent.

I've got the stocker out of my Miata. Want it?

gl21133: You are a mensch. Thanks for the offer. But I'm looking for something a little more GR.

Thanks tr8todd, I had forgotten the feed could be dropped in from the top.

You know those metal containers, like the ones ATE Super Blue comes in? I will be trying to spot-weld a mounting tab on one, and drill the top for a metal feeder tube.

Photos in the future.

BoxheadTim wrote: What about the "bag" style that was used in cars like the 70s Fiats and tons of other cars? Looks like Woody was faster with the Ford-branded version .

$30 at Vick Auto

73-87 Chevy/GMC pickups had a small, squarish ones. I'm guessing 5x5x7?

The coolant overflow tank on the Volvo 122 is about 12" tall and 3" in diameter, basically, tall and narrow. It works well for space-challenged tank installations.

Skip it and claim the weight savings?

Summit has plenty of cheapo "universal" systems for hot rods:

http://www.summitracing.com/int/search/part-type/windshield-washer-reservoirs

Looks like about $40~$60 for a reservoir + pump. The bag type might be the cheapest option ($15~$30) if you want to reuse your existing pump.

$13 at Amazon

I was going to offer mine off my challenge car. CHEAP. except in every other way it is exactly what you don't need.

On the bonus side though, did you all know that BMW 7 series have three washer tanks? there is a regular fluid one, for regular window washing, a high-strength container for those extra greasy windshield jobs, and my best-guess on the third is that it is a backup to the first two.

NAPA has an NOE unit, part number 730-4514 for $13. On sale for $7.

rcutclif wrote: On the bonus side though, did you all know that BMW 7 series have three washer tanks? there is a regular fluid one, for regular window washing, a high-strength container for those extra greasy windshield jobs, and my best-guess on the third is that it is a backup to the first two.

Only ze Germans...

GameboyRMH wrote:

rcutclif wrote: On the bonus side though, did you all know that BMW 7 series have three washer tanks? there is a regular fluid one, for regular window washing, a high-strength container for those extra greasy windshield jobs, and my best-guess on the third is that it is a backup to the first two.

Only ze Germans...

That's the only wash bottle solution that the design panel and their subcommittee could come up, as the round table of engineers couldn't agree with the accountants on when to meet for the conference call back to the shareholders.

Any water bottle will work, just drill a 5/8 hole in the bottom for a tire valve stem without the core for your hose. I typically use Nalgene bottles with metal valve stems for radiator overflow, held in by a muffler clamp, but for washer fluid I would probably use a bicycle water bottle and aluminum bracket.

Brilliant stuff! My thanks to all.

Since the car is in fact a BMW, I may employ three different homebrew tank designs. oldopelguy's idea of a bike water bottle is too good to pass up, since I could mount it with a bike water bottle cage. And if I go with 3, the third obviously has to be a douche bag.

bumping an old thread because I finally remembered I had pics of the finished job to post. I went with oldopelguy's line of thinking.

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The valve stem(with valve removed) installed in the bottom of the bottle works great. The pump is attached to the cage with nothing more than several wraps of floral wire. But zip ties would have been okay too.

In reply to rcutclif:

Headlight washers might explain the third?

Way back in High School, a friend of mine had an Opel GT that was bone stock except that the windshield washer reservoir had been converted into a bong.

Every day before class you’d see him with the hood up and his head stuck down in the engine bay like he was working on the car…working on a gnarly buzz was more like it.

Well, considering it was a sub-100 HP car, he was unlikely to hurt himself driving it afterwards.

Old thread back with a passed-along comment from another Opel-er:

"Our cars may have been sub-100 horse from the factory, but they sure as heck could still get up and do 120 (just took a bit to get there) just fine, I think you know where my line of thinking was going from there Just as likely to get hurt as in anything else (maybe even more so) Personally I never went driving around full bore at 100mph after takin a big rip off a bong (usually to busy raiding the fridge or cupboards for snacks ) Just saying"

I don't bong.

Bus as for the contents of my drinking bottle windshield washer tank -- who's to say?

And thanks again for the idea. It draws favorable attention during tech inspection.