Windshield Washer Fluid

[The Critic]

I never use washer fluid. And neither do my parents. If our windshield is dirty to need washer fluid, we just manually clean the window.

Anyway, my friend said his VW's on-board computer was telling him that he needed washer fluid, so I bought him a gallon of PEAK Windshield Washer Fluid (+32F version) while I was at Walmart. It was only $1.08/gallon. For that price, what could I possibly be buying?

So I looked at the MSDS and methanol was listed as one of the ingredients. I shook the bottle and it foamed up. So what is windshield washer fluid, at least the basic stuff? Isn't it just soapy water with a blue dye and some methanol? What do you folks use?

 

[sciphi]

The Rain-X all-seasons mix. I do a lot of driving in colder climates during the winter, so something that doesn't freeze is needed.

 

[jcwit]

Another vote for Rain-X. Plus if youre on the hwy at speed you usually don't need your wipers.

 

[sparkplug]

Rain-X Plus here too. It doesn't freeze and will clean a dead colony of bee's off your windshield!

 

[tig1]

I just started using the Rain X fluid myself.

 

[Eddie]

$1.08 Peak

 

[ARCOgraphite]

For warm weather, I use water and a little detergent or anionic surfactant i.e, tsp ammonia. Cost = 1c/gal. For cold weather i suppose you could use Propylene Glycol AV antifreeze and water. NEVER Ethylene Gly!!!

 

[addyguy]

The cheapest 'blue' fluid I can find at a store - Wal-Mart, Zellers, whatever. In the summer, barely use any - winter, whole 'nother story. Highway driving in a Canadian winter requires LOTS of this stuff!

 

[bepperb]

I like the rainx as well. If you keep using it, it does deposit on the paint between the sprayers and the windwhield.

That's surprising you don't use any. I go though a gallon every OCI it seems.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

If you get a dealer OC they fill it for you

 

[Kaboomba]

The methanol is added to keep the fluid from freezing (and makes it suitable for water injection, if you are a power nut--I just thought I would throw that in there). It may help cleaning, too, but I'm guessing that something else is the primary "cleaner" ingredient.

I have used the rain-x stuff--very good IMO. I need to go get some!

 

[daves87rs]

May have to try the rain x....

 

[WishIhadatruck]

I prefer the Rain-x stuff. It doesn't freeze even in really cold weather. The stuff with just some sort of alcohol in it will freeze on the windshield as the alcohol evaporates first.

I used to use cheaper stuff in the summer but it seems all the cheaper stuff will freeze below 32 deg. F now. I don't really use that much in the summer but I use a ton in the winter when salt spray from other cars is hitting the windshield. From now on I'm just going to use the Rain-X all year as soon as I finish off my last few jugs of cheap stuff. I hate that the bottles all freeze and buldge in the winter and want to fall off the shelf due to the buldging bottom.

 

[Kestas]

I never used washer fluid either when I lived in California. Nor do I use it in the summer anywhere else.

It's strange that methanol is an ingredient of +32°F fluid. Peak must have some of their information crossed.

 

[Papa Bear]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
I never use washer fluid. And neither do my parents. If our windshield is dirty to need washer fluid, we just manually clean the window.

Anyway, my friend said his VW's on-board computer was telling him that he needed washer fluid, so I bought him a gallon of PEAK Windshield Washer Fluid (+32F version) while I was at Walmart. It was only $1.08/gallon. For that price, what could I possibly be buying?

So I looked at the MSDS and methanol was listed as one of the ingredients. I shook the bottle and it foamed up. So what is windshield washer fluid, at least the basic stuff? Isn't it just soapy water with a blue dye and some methanol? What do you folks use?


Your friend may someday want to travel to a cooler climate for a vacation or a visit, keep that possibility in mind when filling the washer reservoir.

I like the -45 or -50 stuff (over the -35) as it de-ices a frosted/iced windshield faster IMO....

of course my CA is colder than your CA.

 

[JTK]

You definitely have to watch the freeze point of the stuff nowadays. A few years ago the -35F (or colder) blue washer fluid could be had for $0.79/gal. Now the $1-2 fluid has so much water in it, it will freeze solid in most winter climates. I got hooked on the orange Rain-X stuff a year or two ago. It's ~$3/gal, but I find you need less of it. California dudes and their no need for w/s washer fluid.. Pffft. (kidding!)

Joel

 

[HondaMan]

GM OptiKleen is awesome, problem is that it costs as much as oil does.

 

[PT1]

I use the cheap -20F blue mystery juice...I buy 2 cases for $.85/gal at the beginning of Winter...lasts all year and the empty jugs get filled with used oil then hit the curb where the city hauls it all away and recycles all of it.

 

[huffmuds9320]

I clean my windows manually as well. But when I am driving and the windshield get dirty I use the windshield washer. I just buy whatever, right now using the washer fluid I got from Target.

When I work on some cars, I noticed there are some deposits on the strainer and inside the reservoir. I just take the reservoir out and clean the inside and rinse out the strainer. Not sure if you leave the washer fluid in there for long period of time and not use it would cause that.

My 02 Jetta has the low washer fluid indicator icon on the dash.

 

[tom slick]

I use 20/20 concentrate mixed with water. it works well and I use the windshield washer every day because of the moist nights around here. I don't think it offers any freeze protection but my weather doesn't offer any freezing temperatures.