Home Made Windshield Washer Fluid

[Nick1994]

What about throwing a lil bit of Windex and water mixture into the reservoir?

Never put Windex in a washer fluid reservoir. I did that once (mixed with water of course) and it was absolutely blinding, until it dried then it was clear. It also then started foaming and plugged up a washer nozzle.

 

[NitroM3]

Well I carry a bottle of premixed Meguiars glass cleaner at 10-1 mix to water. I no longer use my OEM wiper fluid reservior as I converted it to storing water/methanol for my water/meth injection system . For me it’s easier and cleaner to spray and wipe with a rag then spaying wiper fluid all over the windshield, body parts and at times over to top of the car raining down on the tail gate Demond or stop light creeper behind you. Although it is fun to soak them once in a while lol

 

[aquariuscsm]

Never put Windex in a washer fluid reservoir. I did that once (mixed with water of course) and it was absolutely blinding, until it dried then it was clear. It also then started foaming and plugged up a washer nozzle.

Man that's be horrible! Yep, best to pony up the 80 cents for proper washer fluid!

 

[skyactiv]

My wife bought a new made in Japan Corolla Hybrid recently. The factory fill windshield washer fluid is foamy, soapy and quite effective.

 

[930.engineering]

Yes all my cars have headlamp washers too, bixenons with active curve illumination. Like I said, it's cheap in the US, at $1.84 for a gallon, that's less than half the price you're paying. The stuff we have is all basically a mixture of methanol, water and some cleaning agents/dye. Smells normal, maybe your unpleasant smell is for the bittering agent they use for whatever alcohol you're got in whatever mix you're buying.

Yes, as often prices are quite different in the US and in Europe. Some things are cheaper here, some are more expensive. Automotive fluids in general are cheaper in the US and that's not confined to fuel.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Why bother, the WM stuff is cheap enough.

That is toxic methanol. Goes right into the HVAC and you breath it in. The sweet smell of death.
I don't know how that stuff is still on the market. Bad for paint and wiper blades too,

 

[Bear]

Is anyone using a homemade washer fluid? I've seen a few different formulas and am not sure what might work best in my situation. I was thinking of distilled water, vinegar, and a drop or three of dish soap.

For most people cost would be $1.00 for one gallon of distilled water, $.50 for the alcohol and minimal for the soap. Why bother when a gallon of ready made can be purchased for under $2.

• Features an all-season formula for a long-lasting use
• Helps clean your windshield in low temperatures
• Can be used in most vehicles safely
• https://www.homedepot.com/p/128-fl-...asher-Fluid-111205/202259351#product-overview

$197

 

[ARCOgraphite]

During the above freezing weather, its just a gal. of tap water with a 1/3 tsp of dish detergent in my cars - That's it.
No alcohol wanted or warranted.

In freezing weather, I do 2/3 RV and Pool Antifreeze and the balance tap water. Get the RV stuff on clearance in the Spring for a buck a jug at WM. It is Non Toxic and even potable if you get the correct stuff. Read the label. It should be Ethanol and Propylene Gly which is GRAS.

People missed this during the hand sanitizer run, You can drink it**, sanitize with it and antifreeze with it !
___________________________________
** CAUTION ! Read the label. if it is printed that its is toxic or not potable - it's not potable!

 

[sk_pete]

That is toxic methanol. Goes right into the HVAC and you breath it in. The sweet smell of death.
I don't know how that stuff is still on the market. Bad for paint and wiper blades too,

another risk of homebuilt fluid is increase in corrosivity (vinegar, etc) or paint/plastic issues.

 

[UG_Passat]

Winter: Some commercial stuff mostly from both VW and BMW. Purchased in bigger plastic jugs it's similar price as most supermarket antifreeze. Paid less than 10 € last time for a 5 Liter jug of BMW concentrate and it's -55°C, so I usually dilute it 50/50 at least.
Summer season: Destilled water + two drops of dish soap usually. Sometimes tap water, but I try to avoid to replenish water at gas stations as both my Mini and Porsche lack a strainer (which the GTI has). Sometimes hard to spot whether that water's clean or dirty.

Does the VW one have the factory citrus scent?

I use Vaico Clean Screen concentrate with the peach scent

 

[Wolf359]

That is toxic methanol. Goes right into the HVAC and you breath it in. The sweet smell of death.
I don't know how that stuff is still on the market. Bad for paint and wiper blades too,

Actually it goes right on the windshield and you also have a cabin filter before it goes into the car. I don't smell it at all when I use it. Not sure if your covid training included the facts that air dissipates by the square of the distance so by the time the methanol on the windshields which is only about 30% reaches your nose, it's pretty highly diluted. You've got gasoline in the tank that's also toxic and you breathe in more of that when refueling.

 

[UncleDave]

Refillable 5-gallon jug of distilled water that I use for other purposes (battery maintenance, humidifier, etc.). Empty jug from previously purchased washer fluid to mix it into. Tube of these:

Same here.
Why bother carrying liquid that can leak and weighs at least 8.34LB around when water is available at every stop and you can just bring tablets and an empty plastic container.

 

[pdxglocker9mm]

I have just been watching for sales at walmart the last few years, i can usually get a winter mix that goes to -20*f for .50-1.00$ I just buy 6 and recycle the bottles when done. I got the purple -30*f rain-x i mix it with 30-50% water in the summer time it helps with the streaks. In the winter the rain dilutes it and no streaks. Plus the rain sheds off like water off a duck. I too agree with Scotty kilmer on this subject rain-x is the way to go.

 

[Malo83]

That is toxic methanol. Goes right into the HVAC and you breath it in. The sweet smell of death.
I don't know how that stuff is still on the market. Bad for paint and wiper blades too,

IDK, works great for me, no fumes and no paint blemishes, toxic

 

[Wolf359]

I have just been watching for sales at walmart the last few years, i can usually get a winter mix that goes to -20*f for .50-1.00$ I just buy 6 and recycle the bottles when done. I got the purple -30*f rain-x i mix it with 30-50% water in the summer time it helps with the streaks. In the winter the rain dilutes it and no streaks. Plus the rain sheds off like water off a duck. I too agree with Scotty kilmer on this subject rain-x is the way to go.

The only problem with those mixtures is that it can sometimes screw up the windshield washer level sensor. Had to replace one of mine that went bad. It's just two metal prongs so I think the PH might be different from what it's expecting and those can coat the senor over time making it useless and hence you get an out of windshield washer fluid message all the time even when it's full.

 

[nwjones18]

Why bother, the WM stuff is cheap enough.
View attachment 64670

I'm waiting for the -20 winter formula to come back to GA. Need 22 gallons to get the 5:1 ratio I want to put in my tractor tires. Apparently that's good enough to keep them from freezing down to around 0.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Actually it goes right on the windshield and you also have a cabin filter before it goes into the car. I don't smell it at all when I use it. Not sure if your covid training included the facts that air dissipates by the square of the distance so by the time the methanol on the windshields which is only about 30% reaches your nose, it's pretty highly diluted. You've got gasoline in the tank that's also toxic and you breathe in more of that when refueling.

I am disheartened by this continual rationalization. I recall studying the Gaussian dispersion of smokestack plumes at University 45 years ago.
The cowl inletis at the base of the windscreen where you have induced system low pressure from the hvac in many instances whilst operating the defrost; here your dissipation model doesn't work in such instances.
Why use toxic and paint corrosive chemicals when you can use NON toxic alternative that work better (the propylene gly eliminates wiper chatter ) at the same cost if you shop smart ?

 

[Wolf359]

I am disheartened by this continual rationalization. I recall studying the Gaussian dispersion of smokestack plumes at University 45 years ago.
The cowl inletis at the base of the windscreen where you have induced system low pressure from the hvac in many instances whilst operating the defrost; here your dissipation model doesn't work in such instances.
Why use toxic and paint corrosive chemicals when you can use NON toxic alternative that work better (the propylene gly eliminates wiper chatter ) at the same cost if you shop smart ?

Who else sells windshield washer fluid that won't destroy your fluid level sensor and protects to -20F and doesn't use methanol? We've been using methanol for decades. No real big studies on how people are dropping dead from the methanol, mostly it's restricted now because it's considered bad for the environment.

 

[UG_Passat]

Who else sells windshield washer fluid that won't destroy your fluid level sensor and protects to -20F and doesn't use methanol? We've been using methanol for decades. No real big studies on how people are dropping dead from the methanol, mostly it's restricted now because it's considered bad for the environment.

https://www.nextzettusa.com/anti-frost-windshield-washer-fluid-concentrate-169-oz-5-liter/

Uses Monoethylene Glycol for its anti-freeze agent.

Stuff isn't cheap though

 

[atikovi]

From some of these posts it's seems like people use a lot of washer fluid. I bought a 6 gallon case over a year ago for $10 and still have 3 gallons left.