Many people ask about the blinker fluid from shops selling automotive products after finding a product online.
However, a few of them feel frustrated when the salesman bursts into laughter after hearing this word.
Do Cars Need Blinker Fluid? Cars do not need blinker fluid, and no such material exists in the automotive market. Many people have used this term as a prank to make fun of people who have no idea about vehicles and the essential fluids required in them. This term has been trending on Google searches since 2004; many people are unaware of the reality and become victims of the pranks. The turn indicators send power signals to the lights that begin to blink and inform other drivers about the turning direction of the car.
A vehicle requires many types of oil to operate smoothly and help avoid frequent repairs.
Probably, you have heard about the blinking fluid on different social media platforms and from any family member or friend.
Try to dig deep and look at the viral videos to know about the reality of the material.
Does a blinker fluid really exist?
A blinker or headlight fluid provides medium to electrons to reach the indicator lights and make them blink is a misconception.
The turn lights flash to indicate to other drivers the direction in which the driver wants to make a turn on the road.
Moreover, there is no term like “blinker fluid”; instead, it is an imaginary material used for a prank to make others fool who have no such idea of a vehicle.
It has been commonly used on various social media platforms, including TikTok, to make fun of naive drivers.
Many people love to bully their daughters, wives, and friends who have no idea how turn lights operate and ask them to get such material for their lights.
However, the addition of liquid can damage the lights in actual or make them ineffective by breaking the bulbs or distorting the light beam.
How did the term “blinker fluid” originate?
This term has been in use for many years; that sounds like a real word to many people now.
There is no confirmed date about the origin of this term, but people have used it for a long time.
In 2004, many Google searches on this term were recorded, which indicates how viral it is. However, this work appeared in the Urban dictionary in 2005.
The seals of the headlights are not tight and allow rainwater to reach inside. It remains inside the lights that can affect their function.
It can turn green when it becomes stagnant due to its presence in an enclosed space for a long time.
So, people start considering it like a joke that the material is leaking outside and needs to be changed.
This joke was widely used in December 2022 to make hilarious prank videos but lost popularity from December to April 2021.
However, this term also gained popularity in October 2021, and you can see many viral videos and memes.
Now, you can search for many Youtube videos in which girls go to the mechanic as per instructions of their brothers or father to ask for blinker fluid.
You can see them coming out with embarrassment as the mechanics burst into laughter after hearing the word like blinker fluid.
It is a Fool’s Errand joke made by professional drivers to make fun of the novice driver who has no idea of vehicle-related terms.
What type of fluids are essential for a car?
All the professional drivers know that fluid for turn signal lights does not exist technically, and there are only five types of flowing liquids that a car needs.
Some modern cars need different types of materials like steering fluid, air conditioning coolants, and lubricants.
This help improves the movement of wheels and keeps the temperature at an ideal level.
Transmission fluid
It reduces the friction and heat production in the engine transmission. Moreover, the car can shift to desired gears without any wear and tear as it lubricates the moving parts.
It helps avoid damage to the engine components, which start to rub together and begin to wear down quickly in the absence of lubricating liquid.
Keep your car filled with transmission oil; otherwise, you have to pay heavy dues to fix the damage.
Steering fluid
The steering oil allows the steering wheel to operate smoothly and reduces the efforts to turn it around.
This hydraulic oil is present underneath the hood that helps improve the pressure to move the steering wheel swiftly.
Every vehicle has a specific limit of miles to change the fluid, as a few cars have a limit of 50,000 to 60,000 miles. Therefore, it is essential to check the car manual and know about the limit of your vehicle.
Windshield wiper fluid
This liquid keeps the windshield clean and it removes the accumulated dirt and debris.
A lever is present inside the vehicle that needs to be pushed to spray the liquid on the windshield. Keeping the reservoir full as it helps clean the grime and contaminants anytime.
You can refill the liquid in the wipers yourself and wipe out the dead bugs from the front glass screen.
Brake fluid
It helps create enough pressure that can aid in pressing the brake pedals and slows down the car. The pressure is transferred to the rotor when you press the pedals to stop the vehicle.
You have to strictly check the brake oil level in the automobile as it can evaporate due to high temperatures.
In addition, you have to make more efforts to stop a car if there is no material to operate the brakes smoothly.
Antifreeze or Coolant
The antifreeze and coolant help maintain the temperature inside the engine and radiator to avoid overheating and freezing its components.
The coolant keeps the temperature lower during summer, and antifreeze increases the temperature during winter.
It protects the engine from damage and makes it resistant to fluctuating temperatures.
Engine oil
It helps lubricate the metallic engine parts to lower the temperature and avoid overheating. In addition, it is a protective oil that protects the moving parts of an engine by reducing friction.
In addition, it lowers the temperature by controlling the heat produced after combustion. Finally, it removes the dust and smoke particle that accumulates inside the engine and prevents clogging.
Is Blinker fluid available?
It is not a real product, but it is still available on many online platforms. For example, you can find bottles with legitimate labels that look real on Amazon and Walmart.
Moreover, it is also available on Sears and Etsy, where you can purchase an empty bottle with a proper label. Then, you can fill it with water to prank your family members and fellows.
An estimated number of blinks is mentioned on the bottles that help guide people about the refill time.
You can see a figure of 5000 to 6000 blinks on the bottle showing that you have to fill up the indicators when they have blinked almost 5000 to 6000 times.
Many people purchase these empty bottles as gag gifts to prank their fellows. You can see the fake reviews on the online platforms selling these open items to deceive the newbies.
How do turn indicator lights actually work?
Turn signal lights need electrical power to operate and begin to blink without any liquid medium.
A turn signal lever is present inside the vehicle that needs to be pushed to turn on the indicator lights. Finally, the circuit completes, allowing the electric signals to reach the lights and make them flash.
The rear and front signal lights begin to flash on a particular side, either right or left, according to the lever direction.
These lights begin to flash in a rhythmic pattern due to the power transfer in a pulsing manner that informs other drivers about the direction of the turn.
So, the light system depends on electric power, not blinking fluid. As a result, it can affect its functioning and raise related safety concerns.
How would you remove water from blinking headlights?
Removing water drops or other liquids in the blinking lights is essential. Moreover, you have to fill all the cracks and the opened seals that can allow water to reach inside the light.
Stop the headlight by removing the clamps and disconnecting all the wires to ensure safety. Next, remove the headlight bulb from the casing and put it on a flat platform to avoid falling.
You can check the gaps in the light casing by dropping water through a hose on its surface. Check whether bubbles forms to identify the minute cracks.
Wipe out the accumulated water from inside using a paper towel and clean the case. Dry the surface thoroughly using a blow drier before fixing the bulb and casing.
Furthermore, apply vinyl adhesive caulk on all the gaps and re-install the bulb and case into their correct position.
What do reviews say?
I surveyed 628 people, including mechanics and those who enjoyed the prank as victims of the blinker fluid joke.
Out of 628 people, 402 people (64%) said they had seen many people coming inside the store who asked for the blinking fluid and felt embarrassed due to huge laughter in response.
In addition, 177 people (28%) said they love to do this prank with their fellows who do not know how turn indicators work.
While the remaining 49 people (8%) said it was embarrassing to be a part of this prank as they considered turn lights to operate by this material, it was not a reality.
The professional drivers make fun of the novice who has no idea how blinking lights work by asking about blinking fluid.
“I was sent by my friend into a shop to ask for blinker liquid. It seems embarrassing as they looked at me for a few seconds and then burst into laughter.”
“I have been bullied by my brother who made a video while asking me about the blinking fluid that goes viral on Youtube.”
Many social media platforms have videos about this material that go viral and capture many people’s attention.
“I posted a video of my friend on Tiktok when he was asking for a blinker fluid from a shop. It went viral and got many likes, comments, and shares.”
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