Anybody run some type of windshield washer fluid booster or tabs? The goal would be improved bug cleaning in summer and improved de-icing in winter.
Washer fluid booster?
- Thread starter buck91
- Start date
I have been using 303 Instant Windshield Washer Tablets for the last few years. They work by themselves just in plain water or in washer fluid. Don't touch the tabs with bare fingers. The dye sticks well to skin.
Einszett/Nextzett Kristall Klar and P21S liquid booster are products I have also used with success.
Einszett/Nextzett Kristall Klar and P21S liquid booster are products I have also used with success.
Nextzett user here, just in summer thou and just mixed with tap water at slightly higher concentration than suggested, works very well. If you're going for a high speed long drive and esp in morning or evening and expect plastered with bugs then apply rain-x on the glass, much easier to clean. Waxing front end and mirrors also helps with bugs removal.
Winter time, store bought fluid rated to at least -40deg (F or C) to get meaningful amount of alcohol in it, local Home Depot often has it on sale in cold seasons for C$3.33 a gal.
Winter time, store bought fluid rated to at least -40deg (F or C) to get meaningful amount of alcohol in it, local Home Depot often has it on sale in cold seasons for C$3.33 a gal.
Last edited:
Washer fluid for winter is actually menthanol at a 30-50% concentration and is very poisonous so be careful when using it.
Is that a "3 for $10" deal? ...+taxes?
C$3.33 < US$2.50. You'd likely not find -20 for that price here.
Does not sounds so good
Here in Northern Europe it Ethanol in the winter washerfluid and i use to just add 50% ethanol to the summer washerfluid when winter is comming closer jusr so it dont freeze.The only windshield washer tablets I have tried are the 303 Instant Windshield Washer tablets. When I used them to the instructions, they did very little to clean. So I tried using double and even triple the concentration. It seemed no better. Then I tried using them as a booster in RainX, and that didn't help at all. They got a 2 star rating from me on Amazon. I cannot recommend them at all. I had bought two tubes of them, and after multiple trials with tablets from the first tube, the second tube ended up in the landfill.
I have tried a number of different windshield washer fluids and "boosters". Based upon my personal but in the seat experiences. I have found the best success with Vaico Washer Fluid Concentrate. It works better than any of the regular RainX, 20/10, Prestone products. If you need it stronger, just mix it a 3x or 4x concentration. I haven't tried it yet, but I plan on adding a few ounces of the Vaico to RainX Extreme for winter use.
I love this stuff, and it is now my preferred summer windshield washer fluid. The only disadvantage is limited availability. I bought it from FCP Euro, but it is also available at most all European auto parts stores, such as Pelicanparts, bimmerworld, RMEuropean. I can't speak for the other sites, but FCP Euro give free shipping on the Vaico concentrate.
A close second is Nextzett concentrate. It can be used to mix windshield washer fluid, but I have also used it as a booster, and I think it helps. It is a little easier to find. I I've bought it from Amazon.
I have tried a number of different windshield washer fluids and "boosters". Based upon my personal but in the seat experiences. I have found the best success with Vaico Washer Fluid Concentrate. It works better than any of the regular RainX, 20/10, Prestone products. If you need it stronger, just mix it a 3x or 4x concentration. I haven't tried it yet, but I plan on adding a few ounces of the Vaico to RainX Extreme for winter use.
I love this stuff, and it is now my preferred summer windshield washer fluid. The only disadvantage is limited availability. I bought it from FCP Euro, but it is also available at most all European auto parts stores, such as Pelicanparts, bimmerworld, RMEuropean. I can't speak for the other sites, but FCP Euro give free shipping on the Vaico concentrate.
A close second is Nextzett concentrate. It can be used to mix windshield washer fluid, but I have also used it as a booster, and I think it helps. It is a little easier to find. I I've bought it from Amazon.
I think it's more about keeping a clean windshield clean than cleaning a dirty windshield with the wipers. I also use Invisible Glass on all car glass which repels dirt in the first place.
This makes me wonder, how often do you guys clean your windshields, mirrors, etc?
Is this a trick question? Oh, wait, not everyone lives in Seattle.
I am more likely to wash and scrub my wiper blades than clean my windshields.
Wiper hygiene was going to be my next question.
I'm chemistry, methanol is still an alcohol, while not the drinkable one.
That question is just a little too personal.
there are small quantities of methanol in beer, wine, and distilled booze. Moonshine may be dangerously high in methanol. Pruno anyone?
And has been used for the last 70 years or so. But has low temp limitations and will evaporate leaving behind blue frozen water at high Windchill conditions. then they put some polypropylene glycol in there to sweeten the mix as a deicer.
No question about it. Regularly cleaning a windshield, cleaning and replacing wiper blades, and sealing a windshield, are all big helps in making it much easier to clean off bugs with washer fluid.
Isn't it accurate to say that all forms of alcohol are poisonous to humans. Some at just much lower concentrations than others.
Yes.
Correct, it's a byproduct during distillery process. Lighter fraction if I recall it right and initial alcohol still has high concentration of it.
I think we learned it in chemistry class back in 6th or 7th grade.
Owen Lucas
$100 Site Donor 2023
- Joined
- Sep 5, 2021
- Messages
- 3,666
Nothing is going to make washer fluid better at removing bugs. It's about windshield prep. I believe some here have used glass coatings, maybe that can help with removal.
Nothing works as well for removing bugs as wadded up newspaper and a spritzing of glass cleaner.
I've used the 1Z (old name) and Wurth concentrate products, and distilled water, and they do seem to work better than straight blue alcohol fluid, especially for bug guts.
Also like to keep my glass clean, but IG's dirt repellant properties are a new one to me.
Do like Griot's glass sealant, though, but I don't treat my windshields.
Also like to keep my glass clean, but IG's dirt repellant properties are a new one to me.
Do like Griot's glass sealant, though, but I don't treat my windshields.
