Should the windshield wash formula be part of the selection process?

[Hall]

but often very near or shipping would not be worth it. I suppose it depends on volume. I think there blow molded correct?

I assumed the smaller stuff like 16 oz ones were thermo formed? Never gotten much involved with that stuff.

Packaging empty bottles - like drinking water bottles - just to ship them to another location is cost-prohibitive. Bottles like wiper fluid, oil, etc could be a different story, I admit. This is what water bottles look like:

The water bottlers will buy them like this and they're likely shipped in giant cardboard crates loose just like shown. The final process (shape) is done on-site.

 

[Wylie6G72]

I've had two different Great Value distilled water bottles start leaking on their own in my garage at separate times, and another one leaked on the floor in my pantry. Manufacturers are just using bottom of the barrel plastics to cut costs.

I have read reports of the freeze-resistant washer fluid contaminating the washer systems with orange goo, so I'm in the process of flushing that through the Canyon's system.

 

[HemiBenny]

Note to self, don’t hoard windshield washer fluid, especially Rain-X!

All kidding aside, I’ve never had washer fluid around long enough to start leaking from the original container. I’ve also never had a washer fluid reservoir start leaking.

 

[GON]

Note to self, don’t hoard windshield washer fluid, especially Rain-X!

All kidding aside, I’ve never had washer fluid around long enough to start leaking from the original container. I’ve also never had a washer fluid reservoir start leaking.

Definitely making me take a second look at what washer fluid I buy, and what the contents are.

Currently, my vehicles have minimal exposure to sub freeze temperatures. Starting to wonder if I should migrate to summer formula. Summer formula might be less risk to the windshield wash reservoir and delivery systems.... Something I never thought of prior to this issue if leaking de ice wash containers.

 

[Carmudgeon]

Why use a winter formula if not needed?

https://www.amazon.com/nextzett-92100815-Kristall-Washer-Fluid/dp/B001NZFCRW?th=1

https://www.wurthusa.com/Chemical-P...Windshield-Cleaner-1-08Fl-Oz-Bottle/p/0892333

https://www.p21s.com/portfolio/windshield-wash-booster/


Also not unlike avoiding paying for half a jug of water, like with premix antifreeze.

 

[GON]

Why use a winter formula if not needed?

https://www.amazon.com/nextzett-92100815-Kristall-Washer-Fluid/dp/B001NZFCRW?th=1

https://www.wurthusa.com/Chemical-P...Windshield-Cleaner-1-08Fl-Oz-Bottle/p/0892333

https://www.p21s.com/portfolio/windshield-wash-booster/

Great question. Two reasons. (1) Occasionally it gets below freezing where we live -- reduces risk even if minimal, (2) I buy fluid on clearance at end of season, I paid one dollar per gallon for these rain ex containers of fluid.

 

[Slick3914]

I’m more curious why you need de-icer in the desert?

 

[RhondaHonda]

The thought of you moving across the country with 50 pounds ($15 of washer fluid) really gets me. I bet it’s just the crappy construction of the bottles, not the fluid itself.

 

[Hall]

Currently, my vehicles have minimal exposure to sub freeze temperatures. Starting to wonder if I should migrate to summer formula. Summer formula might be less risk to the windshield wash reservoir and delivery systems....

Why do you think this is exclusive or specific to the winter formula type ? Just mix what you have half and half with "regular" washer fluid and USE IT !

 

[GON]

I’m more curious why you need de-icer in the desert?

Deserts freeze..in fact, sand is very poor at retaining heat. If Phoenix didn't have so much blacktop, Phoenix likely would have an additional ten degree temperature drop at night.

In Iraq,.it was blistering hit during the day, unbearable. In the early morning, same day, same location, it would get painfully cold at about 4am.

 

[GON]

Pen

The thought of you moving across the country with 50 pounds ($15 of washer fluid) really gets me. I bet it’s just the crappy construction of the bottles, not the fluid itself.

Penny wise, pound foolish...

 

[HemiBenny]

Great question. Two reasons. (1) Occasionally it gets below freezing where we live -- reduces risk even if minimal, (2) I buy fluid on clearance at end of season, I paid one dollar per gallon for these rain ex containers of fluid.

Just out of curiosity, how many gallons of this washer fluid do you go through during any given season?
Just say one year, if you were to guess, how many gallons do you go through?

Is the amount you use worth the hassle and perceived savings as opposed to just purchasing what you actually need?

 

[4wd]

I’d get some distilled water … -30°F could be cut back and used up

 

[GON]

Just out of curiosity, how many gallons of this washer fluid do you go through during any given season?
Just say, 1 year, if you were to guess, how many gallons do you go through?

Is the amount you use worth the hassle and perceived savings as opposed to just purchasing what you actually need?

Not much. Might go through a gallon a year.

I have seen gas stations sell a gallon for a pretty penny. Additionally, I have seen many times, especially at toll road gas stations, a run on the fluid.

A after action review clearly shows the fluid was not good but. I bring the fluid to my son in law when we go to visit my daughter in Colorado. My daughter tells me to quit dumping my stuff on him.

 

[y_p_w]

Yeah - I've seen stuff like that where I was thinking something was really wrong. I bought some Neutrogena spray sunscreen in a spray bottle. The bottle itself was maybe polypropylene that was OK. But it contained a cap made of clear polystyrene to cover the pump head. I think one of the ingredients in the sunscreen was liquid silicone that would get on my hands and then onto the cap. At first it was just leaving fingerprint marks on it. But eventually it started softening it up and it started warping. There are other things that can't really take certain silicones, including ABS plastic (since that includes polystyrene) and styrofoam.

 

[Japanese]

I thought something stored in a plastic bottle and is intended for pouring in another plastic container would be plastic-safe

Most likely the plastic bottle itself. We don't know how old is it. Looking at the $1.00 price it might be prior pandemic, the least. I had a car wash liquid in a plastic bottle and after 10-15 years the bottle broke like glass after I touch it. The price of that Rain-X now is at least $4.00 here. The Walmart brand currently is $3.50 where I live.

 

[y_p_w]

I’d get some distilled water … -30°F could be cut back and used up

I've bought some washer fluid in cold weather areas that had methanol, and some said that they could be diluted 1:1 in summer areas. I have seen some concentrate that have instructions for freezing temps. One was ACDelco concentrate and another was RainX concentrate in a 32 oz bottle. It's something like 2 oz to a gallon for summer, but up to 1:1 for the coldest winter use. But it's just methanol. I figure industrial methanol would probably work just as well.

 

[TomYoung]

Believe it or not, in many cases the bottles are produced in-house, in the same facility as the fluid. This is definitely common with water bottlers, flavored liquids (iced tea, etc) too. I wouldn't be surprised if it's the same for windshield washer fluid.

Without doing any research, just giving this thirty seconds of thought and my experience in heavy industry, I am going to call you on this assertion. There is no way that it is true. There is very little prep required to make the fluid, which is detergent, alcohol, dye and mostly water. The plastic needs machinery, blow mold, extrudes, thread. The bottles are a
Obviously generic and used across chemical types and brands. No way are these two functions under one roof.

 

[Sequoiasoon]

One thing to check is how close bottle is to edge with those shelves. They look the same as ones I got from Costco I think. The wire grates had some sharper edges. I had an oil bottle sitting by the edge and general warmth (not hot in my garage) but just sitting for a while was a pressure point. The bottle actually slightly formed to the grating and the sharp edge pushed through. Had a nice leak of 5W-30 PP.

I put some cardboard along that edge now. When I get stuff off the shelf some day I'll flip the grate so the shorter parts (front to back) are on the bottom. Less spots to worry about and cover.

 

[4wd]

I've bought some washer fluid in cold weather areas that had methanol, and some said that they could be diluted 1:1 in summer areas. I have seen some concentrate that have instructions for freezing temps. One was ACDelco concentrate and another was RainX concentrate in a 32 oz bottle. It's something like 2 oz to a gallon for summer, but up to 1:1 for the coldest winter use. But it's just methanol. I figure industrial methanol would probably work just as well.

Copy that. I buy RainX concentrate bcs it can spike normal stuff that’s already in the tank when the first freeze comes …