What's The Deal With Blinker Fluid?
Source: Pixabay
It’s always good fun when a harmless prank comes together. Maybe it’s a little less fun if you’re on the receiving end of the stunt. One of the most well-known pranks targeted the less mechanically-inclined is the classic Blinker Fluid prank.
You’ve likely seen it. An unsuspecting victim who knows nothing about cars and maintenance marches into an auto shop, only to be laughed out for inquiring about an imaginary product.
What is blinker fluid? If you haven’t gotten that by now, a blinker fluid isn’t a genuine product. Well, scratch that – it’s now a real product but not an actual product used by cars.
For today’s post, we’ll talk about the infamous Blinker Fluid prank, how it came to be, how blinkers work, and the real fluids your car needs.
What is Blinker Fluid: The Prank’s Origin
The prank has been around for years, and we were still unsure where it all started. However, perhaps the most well-known stunt video that went viral was from YouTube user Rohe. Two daughters were sent out to buy a “blinker fluid” and a “bucket of steam” while the parents filmed the ensuing hilarity.
Of course, the two teens in the clip came out of the shop laughing and embarrassed, relating that said products aren’t real and how they made complete fools of themselves. But who can blame them? At that age, most people don’t know what’s going on under the hood of a car.
The video went viral, and like most things popular online, many more people went onboard and pranked their daughters, wives, and girlfriends.
Interestingly, some shop owners played along and took things to another level. In another video by user Michael Wheelock, a little girl went to an AutoZone shop asking for the notorious blinker fluid. In a rather funny twist, the daughter returned with the biggest smile on her face carrying two gallons of blinker fluid assumed to be gag gifts.
The owner probably thought: “Might as well profit off these pranks.” It’s not only a good business move, but it also saves the victims from embarrassment.
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How the Prank Was Received
Like all things going viral, this infamous prank gathered mixed reactions. While many people thought that it’s nothing more than “good, clean fun,” there were those who weren’t so amused.
Some people said it was a low-hanging joke that played on the “girls are dumb” stereotype (although some prank victims were boys). They believe it was a funny joke to share within the family, but not online where it’s permanent for the whole world to see.
Regardless of how you feel about this prank, the blinker fluid saga was another example of the Fool’s Errand practical joke, usually played on a newcomer to a group. Other well-known examples of the Fool’s Errand joke are the sniper hunt and collecting spark plug sparks.
Other variations of the prank with legitimate-sounding products (at least for those unfamiliar with cars) include a left-handed wrench, muffler bearings, headlight fluid, canooter valve, and elbow grease.
Where Do I Buy a Blinker Fluid?
If you want to purchase blinker fluid, know that you can only get the fake ones that are essentially gag gifts. A quick Google search should do the trick. Everyone seems to be in on the joke nowadays, including leading retailers such as Amazon, Walmart, AutoZone, O’Reilly, eBay, and more.
These gag gifts come in either an empty container or filled with water. Funny enough, many of these products promise a certain number of blinks (Good Up To 6,000 Blinks). Also, reading the reviews for these gag products can be pretty entertaining as they’re primarily satirical posts rather than serious feedback.
How Do Turn Signals Work?
What is blinker fluid? Hopefully, we’ve answered that question for you. Now, let’s make this post educational by learning how turn signals work.
Turn signal light bulbs are activated with electrical power, so any fluid will cause damage. A fuse in the power junction block protects the circuit in case of electrical failure. When the turn signal lever is used for either left or right side, a circuit is completed to let power pass through the front and rear turn signal lights relative to the selected side.
When turn signal lights are used, they will constantly flash in a rhythmic pattern to attract the attention of other motorists. You’re letting them know about your intent to turn in either direction so that you can do so safely. To achieve this effect, electrical power is sent via a flasher or module that sends pulsing energy to the bulbs instead of a steady stream.
Once you complete the turn and the steering wheel is returned to the center position, a component called the turn signal cancel cam rotates with the wheel and deactivates the turn signal. In some cases where you only make a slight turn, the signals may not deactivate automatically, and you have to do it manually.
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What If My Blinkers are Not Working?
If your blinker signals are not working, you’re dealing with either a blown fuse, a defective turn signal switch, or a faulty flasher module. Can you drive without working turn signals?
As the owner, it’s your sole responsibility to ensure your car is in perfect working condition. Without working blinkers, you run the risk of getting into an accident. Blinkers let other drivers know about your intention and add the element of predictability.
With that said, it’s not illegal to drive if one of your turn signals is malfunctioning. However, it is unlawful if you don’t signal your intentions before a maneuver. This is where the hand signals you learned from your driver’s test come in handy.
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Fluids Your Car Actually Needs
What is blinker fluid? Well, it’s nothing more than a prank, and it’s not even a new one at that. However, your car does need several types of fluid essential to its operation. This includes engine oil, coolant, transmission fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid, and windshield wiper fluid.
Hopefully, this post may prevent you from falling prey to a blinker fluid prank in the future.
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