Factory fill washer fluids smell so good

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Apr 13, 2013
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Whatever Cadillac filled in my Lyriq smells piney fresh. Same with the factory fills in my other cars.

The off the shelf stuff smells like nothing or just alcohol. Sad!
 
I find some washer fluid aromatics gives me a headache, I would much prefer 0 scent,
but all of them seem to be scented in some way...
 
OP, I was thinking the same thing about the washer fluid that came in our Carnival! It had a sweet, pleasant smell. Even diluted when topped-off with the regular blue stuff, the smell remained for quite a while.
 
Is it me, or did washer fluid used to have scent added to it? Some smelled better than others.

Maybe I'm imagining it.

I seem to remember some brands would have a scent, but it seems like none do.
 
Yep I use this too. Love the scent and how well it cleans the window. I add some to store bought winter washer fluid in winter time here and then mix it with tap water for summer.
I use this as well. They also sell it by the quart, which is a little cheaper but requires you to do math (the qt is to dump in a 55 gal drum). For winter use, I just add 1.5qt of 91% isopropyl alcohol per gallon, which takes the freeze point below what we usually see here in Middle Tennessee.

Like 10 months out of the year, just the concentrate+tap water is fine here, which makes this super cheap. And it smells nice, as noted above.
 
Similar topic: I have found the concentrates that you add water to are superior in performance to the bottled pre-mixed stuff. GM OptiKleen has suds and really cleans. The gallon jug stuff I swear is just water+alcohol. I don't think it has any surfactants.
 
Whatever VW used in their MK4 cars was the best smelling stuff. I use the Einszett/1Z stuff these days.
 
Coming soon: A whole new market for designer scented windshield washer fluid at the parts stores...they'll have a special "try before you buy" booth staffed with "fragrance professionals". They'll even have a dedicated aromatherapy lineup for stress relief too...

"...hints of sandalwood, juniper berries and citrus to help you see clearly and calm your senses during rainy driving....mmmm....ahhh".
 
If I was a billionaire I’d pour Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium in my washer reservoir. The best washer fluid I’ve experienced was the factory fill in a 2021 made in Japan Corolla Hybrid.
 
For winter use, I just add 1.5qt of 91% isopropyl alcohol per gallon, which takes the freeze point below what we usually see here in Middle Tennessee.
I do that year 'round because the alcohol also prevents black mold/gunk from growing in the fluid in the tank, which can clog the lines.

My two cents, I just put distilled water in. It works great and doesn't leave any streaks. And usually by the time I need to use a windshield washer, the car needs to be washed.
For years I used a pure DW / glycol mix so it doesn't freeze. But once I got clogged lines from organic algae-like black flecks that grew in the fluid, so now I add some alcohol too.
 
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