Homebrew Washer Fluid w/303 - Distilled water?

[The Critic]

I just ordered a 25-pack of 303 washer tablets off amazon for $14, and am looking forward to brewing my own washer fluid from now on.

Someone on a different forum advised that plain tap water can cause mineral build-up overtime in the washer fluid system, which can potentially lead to issues.

In order to prevent this, should distilled water be used? Or would some type of "soft" water be a good choice?

Thanks!

 

[The_Jeff]

Do you know what makes soft water soft? Salt!

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
Do you know what makes soft water soft? Salt!


That's true...I forgot about that.

Maybe I meant spot-free water. Is distilled water spot-free?

 

[oggb]

What's the benefit of this?

Could always get a Brita filter pitcher I suppose.

 

[asiancivicmaniac]

Originally Posted By: JRed
What's the benefit of this?

Could always get a Brita filter pitcher I suppose.


It doesn't take out the dissolved minerals.

 

[JustinC25]

$.56 each for the tablets + $.50 each gallon
Distilled water from Walmart. = $1.06
Washer fluid @ Walmart $1.29 gallon.
Your only saving $.23 per gallon.
Just curious why you want to make or yourself?

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: JustinC25
$.56 each for the tablets + $.50 each gallon
Distilled water from Walmart. = $1.06
Washer fluid @ Walmart $1.29 gallon.
Your only saving $.23 per gallon.
Just curious why you want to make or yourself?


The blue colored stuff from Walmart's SuperTech line does not work well enough for me. Prestone's Bug Wash is the only one that comes close, and that one is closer to $2/gal.

 

[Garak]

If you wanted to save money, ordinary RO water will be spot free, and will likely be more readily available in larger quantities and cheaper prices than distilled. Up here, the grocery stores let one fill close to five gallons of RO water for a couple bucks or so.

 

[Drew2000]

Unless you have some super-hard water, the 303 tabs should work fine in regular tap water. I just buy the regulat "blue" washer fluid and throw a tab in. The wipers seem to work much better in the rain than with any of the additized fluids like Rain-X.

 

[spackard]

I live in an area with a high percentage of Asians. They like neighborhood stores that sell filtered water. One I go to for refilling my water bottles (yes, I get it for the coffee maker) has a TDS meter that most of the time reads 0.001 ppm total dissolved solids. I figure that's good enough. $0.20/gal.

Water: $0.20/gal (no tax)
Honda tablets (seem to be the same as 303) bought years ago: $0.25 each

Plus, I just recycle an old 1-gal bottle, that used to be a Fabuloso container. The mouth is wide, making it easier to pour the water in, and it has a flexible handle at that end, making it easier to pour into the washer reservoir.

 

[dwcopple]

Originally Posted By: JustinC25
$.56 each for the tablets + $.50 each gallon
Distilled water from Walmart. = $1.06
Washer fluid @ Walmart $1.29 gallon.
Your only saving $.23 per gallon.
Just curious why you want to make or yourself?
$.78 gallon at Menards for blue stuff.

 

[antonmnster]

The bug stuff went on sale at the local farm store last summer so I bought 10 gallons. Still have 4 or so left.

The blue stuff went on sale last winter at Menards so I bought a bunch.

Like some of you guys with oil, I like to stock up when it's cheap.

 

[The Critic]

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.