One of my nozzles was clogged for a long time, and the rain-x additive unclogged it.
303 Washer Fluid Tablets
- Thread starter The Critic
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Originally Posted By: mechtech2
What about freezing with those pellets?
If you're using pure water and the pellets and it gets too cold out, you're in trouble. That's why I was thinking of trying it in the summer or using it to fortify the cheap, blue methanol stuff in winter.
What about freezing with those pellets?
If you're using pure water and the pellets and it gets too cold out, you're in trouble. That's why I was thinking of trying it in the summer or using it to fortify the cheap, blue methanol stuff in winter.
I am using the 303 tablets. They work just fine. They dissolve in just a few minutes and don't leave any residue in the container (even after sitting a while, it stays in suspension).
Most of the cheap blue washer fluid I have used seems to be mostly blue dye and a tiny amount of detergent (sometimes I wonder if there is any at all). Some of it even leaves spots on the windshield. The 303 tablets seem to do a better job and don't leave any spots or streaks as long as they aren't used with hard water. They don't work as well as Prestone Bug Wash, but you could always add another half tablet or something else like Bars Bugs to make it stronger.
In the winter, I added some to SuperTech blue so it would clean better. This works fine, but for some reason it took a few hours to dissolve instead of the few minutes it takes with plain water. Once it dissolved, however, it was fine. It was also cold when I did this so maybe that had something to do with it.
Most of the cheap blue washer fluid I have used seems to be mostly blue dye and a tiny amount of detergent (sometimes I wonder if there is any at all). Some of it even leaves spots on the windshield. The 303 tablets seem to do a better job and don't leave any spots or streaks as long as they aren't used with hard water. They don't work as well as Prestone Bug Wash, but you could always add another half tablet or something else like Bars Bugs to make it stronger.
In the winter, I added some to SuperTech blue so it would clean better. This works fine, but for some reason it took a few hours to dissolve instead of the few minutes it takes with plain water. Once it dissolved, however, it was fine. It was also cold when I did this so maybe that had something to do with it.
gathermewool
Site Donor 2025
Originally Posted By: Colt45ws
Bugs. I washed my car at 7pm yesterday within 30 minutes I had 4 or 5 bug splotches on my windshield.
Then in the winter, at least up north, it freezes, so I go though a lot of the ice melt stuff.
We go though a 4-5 gallons/year I'd guess. Never really kept track. If I could find this stuff, and it did as advertised, I'd be all over it.
I guess I forgot how bad bugs can be in other parts of the country (and NA.) I remember the entire front of my car being covered in bugs while on a road trip up to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island one time. Here in New England, the small bugs clear up with a very short spray of fluid, and the big ones are relatively few and far between.
One thing I have noticed, with my friends at least, is that they hold the spray button for a good 30 seconds straight to clear their not-too-dirty windshields, while I'll spray in short bursts, stopping when the blade passes above the spray area, and then spraying again when the blade drops beneath the spray area.
/digression
Bugs. I washed my car at 7pm yesterday within 30 minutes I had 4 or 5 bug splotches on my windshield.
Then in the winter, at least up north, it freezes, so I go though a lot of the ice melt stuff.
We go though a 4-5 gallons/year I'd guess. Never really kept track. If I could find this stuff, and it did as advertised, I'd be all over it.
I guess I forgot how bad bugs can be in other parts of the country (and NA.) I remember the entire front of my car being covered in bugs while on a road trip up to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island one time. Here in New England, the small bugs clear up with a very short spray of fluid, and the big ones are relatively few and far between.
One thing I have noticed, with my friends at least, is that they hold the spray button for a good 30 seconds straight to clear their not-too-dirty windshields, while I'll spray in short bursts, stopping when the blade passes above the spray area, and then spraying again when the blade drops beneath the spray area.
/digression
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How many gallons of fluid are you guys going through? In my saturn I ran into trouble last year because I didn't pump out all the summer fluid before the winter freeze hit, I was frozen up until I could add enough winter rated fluid to the system.
Now I stock up and buy 4 bottles of winter rated fluid and keep that on hand year round. 4 gallons lasts one year for two cars. I usually get it on sale at the home improvement store for 1.99 each or less.
Now I stock up and buy 4 bottles of winter rated fluid and keep that on hand year round. 4 gallons lasts one year for two cars. I usually get it on sale at the home improvement store for 1.99 each or less.
I've been using these for a few years and they work well for me. I got a pack of 25 for $16. I've dissolved them in a clear jug to see and they dissolve completely so they should not clog your washer jets. I am not too worried about long term freezing here is Florida so I just use water.
I use to park my car in a parking garage all day where pollen and dust would coat the entire car. I have used a lot of washer fluid during those time and the 303 tablets worked great.
I use to park my car in a parking garage all day where pollen and dust would coat the entire car. I have used a lot of washer fluid during those time and the 303 tablets worked great.
Originally Posted By: The Critic
However, I just filled my reservoir with Prestone Bug Wash. This stuff seems to do exactly what I am looking for.
The prestone stuff is great especially when you stack it with a BOGO rebate. Only issue I find is the smell. I am alright with it but the wife...... She hates it.
I have also started to mix it 50/50 with knockoff windex concentrate that has been diluted since I go thru so much in Florida, probably 5 gallons a year or more per vehicle. All depends how bad the love bugs are I guess.
However, I just filled my reservoir with Prestone Bug Wash. This stuff seems to do exactly what I am looking for.
The prestone stuff is great especially when you stack it with a BOGO rebate. Only issue I find is the smell. I am alright with it but the wife...... She hates it.
I have also started to mix it 50/50 with knockoff windex concentrate that has been diluted since I go thru so much in Florida, probably 5 gallons a year or more per vehicle. All depends how bad the love bugs are I guess.
The 303 pellets work well. I now use the cheap, blue WW fluid year 'round. Buy a few gallons, throw in a pellet and stash them in the garage until needed. It seemed to take a few months, but the greasy road film on the windsheld is now gone. I hate the filmy look of RainX when you finally -have- to use the wipers.
gathermewool
Site Donor 2025
Originally Posted By: JustinH
How many gallons of fluid are you guys going through? In my saturn I ran into trouble last year because I didn't pump out all the summer fluid before the winter freeze hit, I was frozen up until I could add enough winter rated fluid to the system.
Now I stock up and buy 4 bottles of winter rated fluid and keep that on hand year round. 4 gallons lasts one year for two cars. I usually get it on sale at the home improvement store for 1.99 each or less.
I JUST refilled my reservoir after 50kmi and 3 years this past winter. I thought the low reading on the "dipstick" meant that I had less in there than I thought, but it took A LOT of spraying before I finally gave up and refilled the reservoir. I don't plan to fill up for another 3-4 years.
My fiance, well she might use a little more, but I've showed her how to use the spray without wasting excessive amounts of fluid, so who knows.
How many gallons of fluid are you guys going through? In my saturn I ran into trouble last year because I didn't pump out all the summer fluid before the winter freeze hit, I was frozen up until I could add enough winter rated fluid to the system.
Now I stock up and buy 4 bottles of winter rated fluid and keep that on hand year round. 4 gallons lasts one year for two cars. I usually get it on sale at the home improvement store for 1.99 each or less.
I JUST refilled my reservoir after 50kmi and 3 years this past winter. I thought the low reading on the "dipstick" meant that I had less in there than I thought, but it took A LOT of spraying before I finally gave up and refilled the reservoir. I don't plan to fill up for another 3-4 years.
My fiance, well she might use a little more, but I've showed her how to use the spray without wasting excessive amounts of fluid, so who knows.
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Been using these tablets for about a year along with a couple of capfulls of Unger's Easy Glide Glass Cleaner. After all the windshield wiper is a squeegee.
I like the idea of the washer tablet, but i would probably run it mixed with some white vinegar.
Vinegar may smell, but...it is an excelent glass cleaner. The 303 tablets will boost that, mine takes less than 1 gallon (my 2006 focus took nearly 2) of fluid.
Vinegar will remove hard water stains and sediment caused by tap water, which is the main reason why i stopped using tap water and glass cleaner mixed for wiper fluid, the hard water was clogging up the nozzles over time. It will also prevent water spots from the tap water.
Vinegar may smell, but...it is an excelent glass cleaner. The 303 tablets will boost that, mine takes less than 1 gallon (my 2006 focus took nearly 2) of fluid.
Vinegar will remove hard water stains and sediment caused by tap water, which is the main reason why i stopped using tap water and glass cleaner mixed for wiper fluid, the hard water was clogging up the nozzles over time. It will also prevent water spots from the tap water.
Tried the 303 stuff. Either it is the tap water quality here or bad luck, but this stuff does not foam much at all. It wipes fairly cleanly but subjectively, it seems weak in comparison to a bug wash.
I will report back once I go through more of it.
As a side note, I wonder what my local Toyota dealer is using. Their stuff is clear but is incredibly foamy and works great. Ford sells their concentrate for $6/32 oz bottle (1:100 ratio) and it is also clear...I wonder if it is that stuff.
I will report back once I go through more of it.
As a side note, I wonder what my local Toyota dealer is using. Their stuff is clear but is incredibly foamy and works great. Ford sells their concentrate for $6/32 oz bottle (1:100 ratio) and it is also clear...I wonder if it is that stuff.
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