Your recipe?
Homemade Washer Fluid
- Thread starter The Critic
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Water, glass cleaner, and rubbing alcohol
I've used one for years concocted by Consumer Reports; can't remember the receipe just this minute....it was like 16oz of isopropanol, a few drops of dish detergent and maybe ammonia. Then add enough water to make a gallon.
On a hunch, I added some JetDry once. Not exactly sure what that stuff is. Anyone know?
You could also add some Photo-Flo.
On a hunch, I added some JetDry once. Not exactly sure what that stuff is. Anyone know?
You could also add some Photo-Flo.
For $1.99 a gallon I'll just buy some.
With my luck I'd end up wrecking a pump somehow.
Originally Posted By: eljefino
What benefit are you hoping for?
I have not been happy with the cleaning power of most fluids, other than the somewhat expensive Prestone Bug Wash.
The cold weather performance is not really of concern to me since I live in Monterey, and it rarely gets below 55F here.
Some sites are saying that a good recipe is 1 cup of ammonia, a dash of dish soap, and enough methanol or isopropyl alcohol for your climate.
What benefit are you hoping for?
I have not been happy with the cleaning power of most fluids, other than the somewhat expensive Prestone Bug Wash.
The cold weather performance is not really of concern to me since I live in Monterey, and it rarely gets below 55F here.
Some sites are saying that a good recipe is 1 cup of ammonia, a dash of dish soap, and enough methanol or isopropyl alcohol for your climate.
I just sigh and spend the $2.70 on the Rain-X stuff. It was 20*F this morning, and the alcohol in there was great for getting the light frost off the windshield.
Originally Posted By: MarkStock
Originally Posted By: The Critic
Some sites are saying that a good recipe is 1 cup of ammonia, a dash of dish soap, and enough methanol or isopropyl alcohol for your climate.
Is ammonia safe if it sprays on your paint, or a pedestrian?
The ratio would only be 1 cup (8oz) to a gallon of water, so I doubt it would be harmful.
Besides, don't most washer fluids use ammonia as the primary ingredient for the "soap" effect?
Originally Posted By: The Critic
Some sites are saying that a good recipe is 1 cup of ammonia, a dash of dish soap, and enough methanol or isopropyl alcohol for your climate.
Is ammonia safe if it sprays on your paint, or a pedestrian?
The ratio would only be 1 cup (8oz) to a gallon of water, so I doubt it would be harmful.
Besides, don't most washer fluids use ammonia as the primary ingredient for the "soap" effect?
I just put about 25% more methonal in it to boost it up. Works good for me and ive been doing it for years.
Probably better to use the squeegee when you fill up gas if you're after cleaning.
OK, just added 6 ounces of Wallyworld Ammonia, 1 303 tablet, and a couple quarts of warm water into the reservoir. We'll see how well it works tomorrow.
Originally Posted By: The Critic
OK, just added 6 ounces of Wallyworld Ammonia, 1 303 tablet, and a couple quarts of warm water into the reservoir. We'll see how well it works tomorrow.
Just be aware that ammonia is a base and it should be used with caution. Randomly mixing it with chemicals can easily result in some bad results.
OK, just added 6 ounces of Wallyworld Ammonia, 1 303 tablet, and a couple quarts of warm water into the reservoir. We'll see how well it works tomorrow.
Just be aware that ammonia is a base and it should be used with caution. Randomly mixing it with chemicals can easily result in some bad results.
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: asiancivicmaniac
Originally Posted By: The Critic
OK, just added 6 ounces of Wallyworld Ammonia, 1 303 tablet, and a couple quarts of warm water into the reservoir. We'll see how well it works tomorrow.
Just be aware that ammonia is a base and it should be used with caution. Randomly mixing it with chemicals can easily result in some bad results.
Yeah I just read on the internet that Ammonia and a 303 tablet will eat through the toughest plastic if left for more than 8 hours.
Originally Posted By: The Critic
OK, just added 6 ounces of Wallyworld Ammonia, 1 303 tablet, and a couple quarts of warm water into the reservoir. We'll see how well it works tomorrow.
Just be aware that ammonia is a base and it should be used with caution. Randomly mixing it with chemicals can easily result in some bad results.
Yeah I just read on the internet that Ammonia and a 303 tablet will eat through the toughest plastic if left for more than 8 hours.
Best cleaner that I know is "Bar's Bugs" about $4 for a pint of concentrate. We don't use alcohol much down here, as the temperatures aren't that bad (-7to-11C in winter).
Have tried 1/2c Ammonia, some metho (denatured ethanol), and 2L water, for not bad results, but not good this winter.
Household ammonia is pretty mild stuff, when there's 40T of anhydrous at work.
Have tried 1/2c Ammonia, some metho (denatured ethanol), and 2L water, for not bad results, but not good this winter.
Household ammonia is pretty mild stuff, when there's 40T of anhydrous at work.
I used to try and mix my own fluid, but quickly tired of that routine.
I get the blue stuff from Walmart that costs $2/gallon. I never use any "bug wash", any "Rain X", anything that purports to leave a "protective film" or anything on the glass. I probably could get by with just adding some methanol or alcohol to straight water, but again, the blue jugs are just too easy. I buy three or four of the jugs every winter that are good down to 0 deg F and use it year-round so I don't have to worry about any left-over summer mix freezing in the pump.
I get the blue stuff from Walmart that costs $2/gallon. I never use any "bug wash", any "Rain X", anything that purports to leave a "protective film" or anything on the glass. I probably could get by with just adding some methanol or alcohol to straight water, but again, the blue jugs are just too easy. I buy three or four of the jugs every winter that are good down to 0 deg F and use it year-round so I don't have to worry about any left-over summer mix freezing in the pump.
Marvel Mystery Oil. Its da bomb.
I am not a chemist and surely for under $2 a gallon it is safer and faster for me to just buy it off the store shelf. If you want stronger cleaning power than scrub it with a gas station winshield squeegee....I don't want anything stronger touching my vehicle's paint. You have to balance cleaning power, antifreeze ability, paint safety and human safety in that gallon of washer fluid.
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