DIY Windshield washer fluid?

[evident]

Is creating DIY windshield washer fluid a good idea? I've read several formulas by just googling, but I hear some apprehension on certain formulas, especially w/ rubbing alcohol, saying that they are hard on the lines. Does anyone do a DIY formula here? The darn bottles cost $2 bucks a pop here and I tend to use mine pretty often.

I've just been diluting them as well, but thinking about switching over to a water + distilled vinegar mix.

 

[iamwiz82]

It costs less than milk, are you really going through multiple gallons a week?

 

[A5]

It costs less than milk, are you really going through multiple gallons a week?

Ha, yeah. I use it pretty often and almost never run out between oil changes.

 

[evident]

i figured if i have the materials (ie vinegar) lying around why not? especially if i run out I can just fill it up w/o having to pick it up anywhere

 

[Jimzz]

methanol plus water is basic washer fluid. There is no vinegar in washer fluid.

 

[phucheneh]

methanol plus water is basic washer fluid. There is no vinegar in washer fluid.

Don't forget the blue.

And seriously...1-2 bucks a gallon. A gallon lasts months. And people don't keep methanol lying around.

The washer pump was designed to use...washer fluid. Anything else just risks tearing it up (acids, solvents, whatever). And you need to use distilled water, anyhow (also about a buck a gallon I think) to help keep the nozzles from getting plugged with deposits.

 

[Insomniator]

lol @ this thread

the GOOD stuff is like 2.50 a gallon

 

[mmntech]

It costs less than milk, are you really going through multiple gallons a week?

You'd be surprised. I used to get all kinds of customers who would rent a car for only a couple days then return it with the washer fluid tank empty. Don't know if they were siphoning it or were just OCD about having clean windshields.

I used to use tap water during the summer on the rental cars. Washer fluid is just methanol and water. I suppose you could use rubbing alcohol. Vinegar would be okay for summer but it would freeze in the winter. If you use vinegar/water, make sure you transition to methanol/water starting before the first frost.

 

[Throckmorton]

There is a very good reason not to use store bought washer fluid... Methanol is extremely toxic and damages your optic nerves. Unless you only use it at high speed on the highway, some of that stuff will get into the HVAC intake and you will breathe the fumes.

I just use distilled water (dries spotless) with a detergent tablet from the auto parts store. I don't know what I'll do for the winter yet... Maybe mix in isopropyl or ethanol (everclear)

 

[DrPizza]

You know, I was meaning to make a thread in OT for a while about using the Rain-X windshield washer fluid. That stuff is awesome awesome awesome. Never in a million years would I have spent $4 on a gallon of washer fluid, but my son bought it for my wife and put it in the van for her. I'm in NY - home of lots of salt and sand on the roads for half the year. Driving in moderate traffic, your windshield is often dirty or covered in salt from the spray kicked up by the tires in front of you. I started using Rain-X & holy crap, I used a fraction of what I had been using to wash the windshield off.

And, if I thought it was awesome in the winter, if I'm on the highway going at any speed above 55, I don't need my wipers, regardless of how hard it's raining. The stuff beads up and slides right up off the windshield. The windshield stays far cleaner. Then, running into bugs, they wash off a lot easier.

Not sure what's in that stuff besides water and methanol, but whatever the film is that's left on the glass that protects it from getting wet or dirty, that stuff is awesome.

 

[smackababy]

Maybe I am the only person that uses that squeegee every time I fill up at the gas station. =(

I also don't remember the last time I bought wiper fluid. They just do it when I get an oil change.

 

[phucheneh]

I would assume the Rain-X stuff has some kind of liquid wax in it. Like the watery 'detailing' stuff in a spray bottle. It doesn't take much to make the windows slick (and wipers more effective)...just doesn't last, so putting it in the washer fluid is kind of a good idea. Hopefully it's minuscule enough to not clog the screen for the washer pump or anything.

As far gas station squeegees, I just assume those bins are full of hobo piss.

 

[96Firebird]

I can also attest to the Rain-X washer fluid being awesome for winters up here. Its one of those things I don't mind spending the extra dollar or two on just to have the peace of mind of my windshield being clean and staying clean.

 

[smackababy]

I would assume the Rain-X stuff has some kind of liquid wax in it. Like the watery 'detailing' stuff in a spray bottle. It doesn't take much to make the windows slick (and wipers more effective)...just doesn't last, so putting it in the washer fluid is kind of a good idea. Hopefully it's minuscule enough to not clog the screen for the washer pump or anything.

As far gas station squeegees, I just assume those bins are full of hobo piss.

Hey, if hobo piss cleans my windshield, that's fine with me. It's not like I am drinking the stuff.

 

[Mark R]

Rain-x is basically a silicone oil in a solvent carrier. When it drives it leaves a coating of silicone on the glass which repels water. I would presume that the rain-x washer fluid also contains trace amounts of silicone.

An alternative option is to use silicone wiper blades; these will leave a silicone residue on the glass as they wipe.

For Summer use, I tend to make my own washer fluid - 1 ounce of dishwasher rinse agent in a half-gallon of water.

 

[BurnItDwn]

the wiper fluid is great when the salt is all over the roads in the winter. I go through a shitton in Dec and Jan, but, usually I just refill once or twice during the whole season. It's cheap, always get the stuff that is good to -70 since otherwise it will freeze and be useless.

 

[SyndromeOCZ]

I've went though a whole gallon in 50 miles in my truck. But none of it got used on the windshield. Yay for methanol injection.

 

[SparkyJJO]

the wiper fluid is great when the salt is all over the roads in the winter. I go through a shitton in Dec and Jan, but, usually I just refill once or twice during the whole season. It's cheap, always get the stuff that is good to -70 since otherwise it will freeze and be useless.

I just use the normal stuff that is good to -20 or whatever it is. Does it really get down that cold where you live?

 

[HeXen]

Newspaper and Window cleaner.

 

[kitatech]

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2316486&highlight=washer+fluid
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2314188&highlight=windshield+fluid

 

[nerp]

I just use distilled water when it's not freezing out.

 

[T2urtle]

the wiper fluid is great when the salt is all over the roads in the winter. I go through a shitton in Dec and Jan, but, usually I just refill once or twice during the whole season. It's cheap, always get the stuff that is good to -70 since otherwise it will freeze and be useless.

+1 on this.

When winter comes i normally top off my washer fluid every month in Dec, Jan and maybe Feb. After that i never care for it. I've only recently found out i have a low wash fluid light after owning the car for 5+ years.

 

[evident]

bleh, seems like too much hassle, especially since it involves distilled water. I'll just stick to buying the $2 jugs and use the jugs for oil changes i guess

 

[BurnItDwn]

I just use the normal stuff that is good to -20 or whatever it is. Does it really get down that cold where you live?

Whatever crap they use a Jiffy lube always freezes.


Blue stuff probably would be OK since it rarely gets below -10 in the far NW burbs of Chicago.

That said, when I travel to visit my grandma and uncle in Sturgeon Bay Wisconsin, it can be a bit colder.

 

[Vetterin]

lol @ this thread

the GOOD stuff is like 2.50 a gallon

But why would you want to use that stuff except in the winter?