I have 4 vehicles that don't individually see enough road time to empty the WW fluid reservoir by winter. I have no way to know if the antifreeze property is still sufficient for extreme winter cold. It's difficult to drain them. Can I just add some rubbing alcohol to increase freeze protection?
Windshield washer fluid
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Nick1994
$100 site donor 2024
It's easy to drain them if you just hold the washer switch.
Originally Posted by Nick1994
It's easy to drain them if you just hold the washer switch.
That's what I do.. I'm careful not to let the pump run any longer than is necessary then I replace it with Prestone winter formula.
It's easy to drain them if you just hold the washer switch.
That's what I do.. I'm careful not to let the pump run any longer than is necessary then I replace it with Prestone winter formula.
Just run the winter stuff year round and problem solved. I find I rarely use my wash in the summer compared to the winter anyways so my winter stuff stays in year round.
When it goes on sale, stock up. I purchase mine at Costco and the price can't be beat when it's on sale.
I have 3 vehicles to maintain and I'll never purchase the summer stuff again.
When it goes on sale, stock up. I purchase mine at Costco and the price can't be beat when it's on sale.
I have 3 vehicles to maintain and I'll never purchase the summer stuff again.
Kestas
Staff member
I switch fluids seasonally. Disconnect the line, plumb it to a receptacle to capture the fluid, and hold the washer fluid switch down.
Summer fluid is water with a bit of soap. Make sure the soap is some color other than blue to avoid confusion.
Summer fluid is water with a bit of soap. Make sure the soap is some color other than blue to avoid confusion.
For a dollar or two a gallon, I run the winter mix all year.
Originally Posted by irv
Just run the winter stuff year round and problem solved. I find I rarely use my wash in the summer compared to the winter anyways so my winter stuff stays in year round.
When it goes on sale, stock up. I purchase mine at Costco and the price can't be beat when it's on sale.
I have 3 vehicles to maintain and I'll never purchase the summer stuff again.
That's exactly what I do, no worries!
Just run the winter stuff year round and problem solved. I find I rarely use my wash in the summer compared to the winter anyways so my winter stuff stays in year round.
When it goes on sale, stock up. I purchase mine at Costco and the price can't be beat when it's on sale.
I have 3 vehicles to maintain and I'll never purchase the summer stuff again.
That's exactly what I do, no worries!
I stop filling my Windshield washer Fluid (WWF) in September or August and let it run down until it's almost empty then refill with winter fluid usually in October. My wife drives fewer miles than I do so it takes longer to use up her WWF. In the spring time you usually see the winter fluid on sale so I'll pick up 2-3 gallons.
No one has answered the question yet. Can I bump up the freeze protection with rubbing alcohol?
The winter stuff has alcohol in it. Find out exactly what kind of alcohol is in it. Rubbing alcohol is denatured alcohol. Has poisonous things added to it. They might cause problems with your components. You might consider Everclear from the liquor store. it is almost 100% alcohol.
Originally Posted by pkunk
No one has answered the question yet. Can I bump up the freeze protection with rubbing alcohol?
Perhaps... BUT I certainly wouldn't. Rubbing alcohol is isopropyl alcohol. The antifreeze component in washer fluid is methanol. A much better way to lower the freeze point of your washer fluid is get HEET, in the yellow bottles, which is nearly 100% methanol.
No one has answered the question yet. Can I bump up the freeze protection with rubbing alcohol?
Perhaps... BUT I certainly wouldn't. Rubbing alcohol is isopropyl alcohol. The antifreeze component in washer fluid is methanol. A much better way to lower the freeze point of your washer fluid is get HEET, in the yellow bottles, which is nearly 100% methanol.
Originally Posted by pkunk
I have 4 vehicles that don't individually see enough road time to empty the WW fluid reservoir by winter. I have no way to know if the antifreeze property is still sufficient for extreme winter cold. It's difficult to drain them. Can I just add some rubbing alcohol to increase freeze protection?
I use the de-icer WWF year round just for the reason you mention.
I have 4 vehicles that don't individually see enough road time to empty the WW fluid reservoir by winter. I have no way to know if the antifreeze property is still sufficient for extreme winter cold. It's difficult to drain them. Can I just add some rubbing alcohol to increase freeze protection?
I use the de-icer WWF year round just for the reason you mention.
Originally Posted by pkunk
No one has answered the question yet. Can I bump up the freeze protection with rubbing alcohol?
That's what I did as a CYA for a Tahoe trip since you can't buy "winter" fluid in the more populated parts of CA. It worked fine. If I can, I'll buy a gallon of the good stuff in Truckee or Pollock Pines.
No one has answered the question yet. Can I bump up the freeze protection with rubbing alcohol?
That's what I did as a CYA for a Tahoe trip since you can't buy "winter" fluid in the more populated parts of CA. It worked fine. If I can, I'll buy a gallon of the good stuff in Truckee or Pollock Pines.
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In florida, just about everyone I know uses the hose and a splash of carwash soap for the WW fluid. I go above and beyond, I also add a touch of rainX additive. I use a ton of fluid, three seconds of window washing gets tailgaiters off your rear very quickly, doing so also gets their middle finger up quickly as well.
Not sure if you can bump it up with rubbing alcohol but if I'm stuck at the end of the Fall with a tankful of the summer washer fluid, I add a bottle of Prestone Washer Boost: https://www.grainger.com/product/49XW68?gclid=CjwKCAjwzJjrBRBvEiwA867bysxf_IZFLXcR-_ixxZm52shqP2frXEY2cDDUHZTyoRGn1XS4XlANMRoC_l8QAvD_BwE&cm_mmc=PPC:+Google+PLA&ef_id=CjwKCAjwzJjrBRBvEiwA867bysxf_IZFLXcR-_ixxZm52shqP2frXEY2cDDUHZTyoRGn1XS4XlANMRoC_l8QAvD_BwE:G:s&s_kwcid=AL!2966!3!264955915814!!!g!438380054125!
You can buy it on Amazon as well. Good luck
You can buy it on Amazon as well. Good luck
I wouldn't use rubbing alcohol when you can the real deal for a couple bucks more. Can you get the -35 stuff and mix it in? I would think that would be plenty for NM.
Yes you can bump up the freezing point of washer fluid using Isopropyl alcohol.
I use -45'C fluid all year around in everything. After having to defrost a gallon of frozen summer fluid, it really sucks.
You need the high test isopropyl, but you really should start out with a minimum of even cheap winter fluid. It'll take a lot of isopropyl to bump a gallon of summer stuff to give it an appreciable drop to it's freezing point.
I use -45'C fluid all year around in everything. After having to defrost a gallon of frozen summer fluid, it really sucks.
You need the high test isopropyl, but you really should start out with a minimum of even cheap winter fluid. It'll take a lot of isopropyl to bump a gallon of summer stuff to give it an appreciable drop to it's freezing point.
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