Why the plastic tube attached to the screenwash cap???

Maxbert · 19th January 2008, 16:30

Evening all, it's been awhile...

So-I was filling (again..) the screenwash tank, and I was wondering why the cap is connected to a long piece of black, opaque ribbed plastic tubing

My Espace was similarly equipped, but the tube was transparent and smooth- The idea being, I take it, that you would put your finger on the little hole in the cap, extract the tube, eyeball it, and this would give you a rough indication of the amount of screenwash left in the tank.

However, the Civic's being totally opaque, it's purpose escapes me...

Enlightenment, anyone?

Cheers,

Maxbert

amronno · 19th January 2008, 17:48

Hello Maxbert.

Not sure myself what it is for, it make sense to me though that it is some kind of air escape duct. However, there are some disagreement among the members on here what the purpose of it really is.
See this thread:
Low washer fluid

Maxbert · 19th January 2008, 17:56

Mange Tak (sp?) Amronno... That will teach me to use the Search function!

Still, it seems to remain a bit of a mystery...

Maxbert

amronno · 19th January 2008, 18:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maxbert

Mange Tak (sp?) Amronno... That will teach me to use the Search function!

Still, it seems to remain a bit of a mystery...

Maxbert

You are welcome!
Very nice!

One more K in 'takk' is the only letter missing.

Yeah, it is a bit of a mystery, we still need someone to enlighten us...
Anyone

ritchie_perriam · 19th January 2008, 18:37

i dont see the pont in having a level indicator? if i take the cap off i usually top it up!

Maxbert · 20th January 2008, 10:20

Quite- But then why the black tube???

Maxbert

Nick7 · 20th January 2008, 10:46

IMO, it is to see how much fluid there still is in there.
You can notice where 'wet' part on that tube is.

civicfan · 20th January 2008, 11:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maxbert

Quite- But then why the black tube???

Maxbert

I think it is to let the air escape when you fill in - the opening is flexed and quite narrow. Try to remove the tube and fill up, you'll notice the difference.

ASH · 20th January 2008, 14:35

Owner's manual page 376. It's only meant to be a dip stick to check fluid level.

civicfan · 20th January 2008, 15:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by ASH

Owner's manual page 376. It's only meant to be a dip stick to check fluid level.

Perhaps, but it still makes filling easier (and prevents the cap from falling). A dipstick doesn't make too much sense even if so intended by the manufacturer, if you have the bonnet open and the cap in your hand you may as well fill up

ASH · 20th January 2008, 16:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by civicfan

A dipstick doesn't make too much sense even if so intended by the manufacturer, if you have the bonnet open and the cap in your hand you may as well fill up

Agree. I do exactly that and never use it as dip stick myself.
Just pointed out what it was meant to be by the manufacturer as it was the question at first.

Maxbert · 20th January 2008, 17:36

Sorry, I don't buy either reasons

1. If it is to serve as an indication of quantity left, I put it to you that the Espace arrangement is superior, in that it worked (in the absence of a real, Honest-To-Goodness gauge or light on the dash)- A black ribbed tube which S-C-R-A-P-E-S as you pull it out will give a useless indication, unclear to boot!

2. Breather tube? Then the hole in the cap is all that's necessary, shurely

Either way, poor design at best, unnecessary at worst (especially when the first filler bit falls off and you have to wedge it back in place, and no matter how you jiggle it, it still leaks screenwash on the forecourt

)

Maxbert

civicfan · 20th January 2008, 17:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maxbert

Breather tube? Then the hole in the cap is all that's necessary, shurely Maxbert

What' s a hole in the cap good for during filling? If anything it prevents fishing for the cap under the bonnet, not the peak of engineering art I agree

A much better solution was in my old C5, a huge opening with a flip-cap, you could fill off a bucket without spilling anything (and had an onboard level warning but this again was cr@p)

Maxbert · 20th January 2008, 18:08

Yes, but yes, but yes, but NO, Civicfan...

I'm all in favour of a "Stop me losing the cap" solution, but if the purpose of the snaky black tube is just that, then sorry, but "Poor design" again...

P@tje · 20th January 2008, 18:37

it's only for level indication. As the screenwash tank is very deep situated and the filling pipe has some curves, Honda has used this kind of indicator to give a reliable indication of the fluid left in the tank.

civicfan · 20th January 2008, 18:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maxbert

Yes, but yes, but yes, but NO, Civicfan...

I'm all in favour of a "Stop me losing the cap" solution, but if the purpose of the snaky black tube is just that, then sorry, but "Poor design" again...

OK OK I did say it's poor design (and it really is) - BTW is it still the same in the new 2008 Civic?

Maxbert · 20th January 2008, 19:06

P@tje-

Misschien wel, maar het werkt niet!!! En het is heelmaal niet "reliable"!

Mods- Don't panic, nothing rude or diffamatious (?)

Cheers,

Maxbert

P@tje · 21st January 2008, 08:23

@Maxbert
well I can see where the fluid level is. The difference between wet and dry is clear visible. So for me it works. And if you can't see the level, it's empty

tomtank62 · 21st January 2008, 12:57

Well it does serve one purpose. You can pull it out far enough to be able to fill up without completely removing the black tube but you don't lose the cap down the back of the engine.
Incidently the joint of the filler neck is total rubbish, resulting in washer fluid leaking all down the inner wing when filling up. Another example of something designed on a computer instead of in real life.

Greedy · 23rd January 2008, 20:28

yep - it's a dip stick. The corregated/ grooved tube hold water in the grooves and thus you can see the water level.

Used to use the clear tube with a hole on the cap to create the vacuum - some people had trouble with it - those not manually dexterous - and also due to the positioning of the tank vs the opening on the new car then the tube was somewhat longer than older models and thus this alternative method where you don't have to keep that finger on the top while extracting a mile of tube. There was also the doubt factor - is the tube empty cos the tank is or because I didn't hold my finger on the top properly.

As to whether you check it or fill it. I check it frequently in bad weather when I fill up at the petrol station and thus I find it useful.

19th January 2008, 16:30	#1 (permalink)
Maxbert Supporter Locking Wheelnut Join Date: 11th August 2006 Location: The Green Heart of Europe Posts: 138 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Why the plastic tube attached to the screenwash cap??? Evening all, it's been awhile... So-I was filling (again..) the screenwash tank, and I was wondering why the cap is connected to a long piece of black, opaque ribbed plastic tubing My Espace was similarly equipped, but the tube was transparent and smooth- The idea being, I take it, that you would put your finger on the little hole in the cap, extract the tube, eyeball it, and this would give you a rough indication of the amount of screenwash left in the tank. However, the Civic's being totally opaque, it's purpose escapes me... Enlightenment, anyone? Cheers, Maxbert

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This thread is about: Why the plastic tube attached to the screenwash cap???, it's in General Discussion at the Honda Civic forum Civinfo; Evening all, it's been awhile... So-I was filling (again..) the screenwash tank, and I was wondering why the cap is connected to a long piece ...

19th January 2008, 17:48	#2 (permalink)
amronno Supporter Magic Rear Seat Join Date: 8th August 2007 Location: Bergen, Norway Posts: 765 Thanks: 5 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts	Hello Maxbert. Not sure myself what it is for, it make sense to me though that it is some kind of air escape duct. However, there are some disagreement among the members on here what the purpose of it really is. See this thread: Low washer fluid

19th January 2008, 17:56	#3 (permalink)
Maxbert Supporter Locking Wheelnut Join Date: 11th August 2006 Location: The Green Heart of Europe Posts: 138 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Mange Tak (sp?) Amronno... That will teach me to use the Search function! Still, it seems to remain a bit of a mystery... Maxbert

19th January 2008, 18:37	#5 (permalink)
ritchie_perriam Tyre Shredder Triangular Exhaust Join Date: 30th November 2007 Location: guildford, surrey Posts: 276 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	i dont see the pont in having a level indicator? if i take the cap off i usually top it up!

20th January 2008, 10:20	#6 (permalink)
Maxbert Supporter Locking Wheelnut Join Date: 11th August 2006 Location: The Green Heart of Europe Posts: 138 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Quite- But then why the black tube??? Maxbert

20th January 2008, 10:46	#7 (permalink)
Nick7 Supporter Triangular Exhaust Join Date: 10th August 2006 Location: Croatia Posts: 433 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	IMO, it is to see how much fluid there still is in there. You can notice where 'wet' part on that tube is.

20th January 2008, 14:35	#9 (permalink)
ASH Wheelnut Join Date: 29th September 2007 Location: London Posts: 84 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Owner's manual page 376. It's only meant to be a dip stick to check fluid level.

20th January 2008, 17:36	#12 (permalink)
Maxbert Supporter Locking Wheelnut Join Date: 11th August 2006 Location: The Green Heart of Europe Posts: 138 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Sorry, I don't buy either reasons 1. If it is to serve as an indication of quantity left, I put it to you that the Espace arrangement is superior, in that it worked (in the absence of a real, Honest-To-Goodness gauge or light on the dash)- A black ribbed tube which S-C-R-A-P-E-S as you pull it out will give a useless indication, unclear to boot! 2. Breather tube? Then the hole in the cap is all that's necessary, shurely Either way, poor design at best, unnecessary at worst (especially when the first filler bit falls off and you have to wedge it back in place, and no matter how you jiggle it, it still leaks screenwash on the forecourt ) Maxbert

20th January 2008, 18:08	#14 (permalink)
Maxbert Supporter Locking Wheelnut Join Date: 11th August 2006 Location: The Green Heart of Europe Posts: 138 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Yes, but yes, but yes, but NO, Civicfan... I'm all in favour of a "Stop me losing the cap" solution, but if the purpose of the snaky black tube is just that, then sorry, but "Poor design" again...

20th January 2008, 18:37	#15 (permalink)
P@tje Locking Wheelnut Join Date: 19th November 2006 Location: Netherlands Posts: 185 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	it's only for level indication. As the screenwash tank is very deep situated and the filling pipe has some curves, Honda has used this kind of indicator to give a reliable indication of the fluid left in the tank.

20th January 2008, 19:06	#17 (permalink)
Maxbert Supporter Locking Wheelnut Join Date: 11th August 2006 Location: The Green Heart of Europe Posts: 138 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	P@tje- Misschien wel, maar het werkt niet!!! En het is heelmaal niet "reliable"! Mods- Don't panic, nothing rude or diffamatious (?) Cheers, Maxbert

21st January 2008, 08:23	#18 (permalink)
P@tje Locking Wheelnut Join Date: 19th November 2006 Location: Netherlands Posts: 185 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	@Maxbert well I can see where the fluid level is. The difference between wet and dry is clear visible. So for me it works. And if you can't see the level, it's empty

21st January 2008, 12:57	#19 (permalink)
tomtank62 Supporter Wheelnut Join Date: 21st December 2006 Location: Harrogate. North Yorks Posts: 61 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Well it does serve one purpose. You can pull it out far enough to be able to fill up without completely removing the black tube but you don't lose the cap down the back of the engine. Incidently the joint of the filler neck is total rubbish, resulting in washer fluid leaking all down the inner wing when filling up. Another example of something designed on a computer instead of in real life.

23rd January 2008, 20:28	#20 (permalink)
Greedy Triangular Exhaust Join Date: 29th June 2007 Location: Swindon Posts: 210 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	yep - it's a dip stick. The corregated/ grooved tube hold water in the grooves and thus you can see the water level. Used to use the clear tube with a hole on the cap to create the vacuum - some people had trouble with it - those not manually dexterous - and also due to the positioning of the tank vs the opening on the new car then the tube was somewhat longer than older models and thus this alternative method where you don't have to keep that finger on the top while extracting a mile of tube. There was also the doubt factor - is the tube empty cos the tank is or because I didn't hold my finger on the top properly. As to whether you check it or fill it. I check it frequently in bad weather when I fill up at the petrol station and thus I find it useful.