Winter vs summer washer fluid

[ManBearPig]

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[kitatech]

Here in yearroundsunnysummerFlorida I just add 2 oz of Clorox Green Works to a gallon of water and I'm good.

 

[SyndromeOCZ]

Its just the alcohol content so it wont freeze. I always use winter blend in my truck as I use it for the methanol injection, and the winter blend has more alcohol in it, which means moar power for me.

 

[ManBearPig]

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[Jimzz]

Never seen them change the price, but yea winter just has more alcohol unless its the RainX/Prestone version which has some glycol in it.

 

[mmntech]

The stuff the garages use comes in a big drum of electric blue liquid labelled "Washer Fluid".
I used this stuff starting in October. Come April, I'd transition the rental cars to plain tap water for the summer. Customers would always go overboard with the washer fluid so it was cheaper to just use water half the year.

It's just water and methanol. The blue stuff is usually good to -40c. Only gets that cold way, way up north. The pink summer blend contains an additive to dissolve bug guts. As far as I can tell, there's no advantage to the RainX blend.

 

[nerp]

Its just the alcohol content so it wont freeze. I always use winter blend in my truck as I use it for the methanol injection, and the winter blend has more alcohol in it, which means moar power for me.

Your truck runs of washer fluid? Cool!

 

[nerp]

Been using just water in the summer for years. The bug stuff from RainX works great but I don't like the residue and the streaks that run up the hood. I know they say it's safe for paint, but still.

 

[bruceb]

I use the Blue most of the year and in the winter, the special winter blends, as they also help to deice the windshield. Only downside is the price is higher. They both clean equally well.

 

[ThatsABigOne]

I just use water in the summer. It's free.

 

[CraigRT]

Since I never used my washers in the summer, I apparently use winter washer fluid year round. Don't have to worry about getting out water before freeze, just use winter year round.

 

[KIAman]

Even if you rarely use your windshield washer, I would use it up even if not neccessary just to keep the crap out of your tank. Washer fluid is cheap. Go through 3 bottles a year and you wont get the organic crap that grows in old fluid clogging up your filter.

 

[ManBearPig]

deleted

 

[Jimzz]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windshield_washer_fluid#Legionnaires.27_disease

results of a preliminary study of 75 patients, which found an association between the use of plain water as wiper fluid and Legionnaires' disease, which is spread by breathing in aerosolized bacteria from infected water.

 

[SyndromeOCZ]

Your truck runs of washer fluid? Cool!

Well it uses diesel also. But the alcohol sure gives it that extra bit of torque you need to tow a skyscraper.

 

[jlee]

Its just the alcohol content so it wont freeze. I always use winter blend in my truck as I use it for the methanol injection, and the winter blend has more alcohol in it, which means moar power for me.

ftw.

I was looking for that stuff and I can't find it out here.

 

[SyndromeOCZ]

ftw.

I was looking for that stuff and I can't find it out here.

Yeah, during the summer I can't find the winter stuff at gas stations, and even bigger stores will have lower stock. If I ever end up a state north during that time I stock up.

Or did you mean torque?!

 

[Topweasel]

Been using just water in the summer for years. The bug stuff from RainX works great but I don't like the residue and the streaks that run up the hood. I know they say it's safe for paint, but still.

The residue is worth it on the windshield. Keeps a lot of wear off of the wipers because you will find yourself not needing to turn them on till it gets bad even at night.

 

[gorcorps]

Even if you rarely use your windshield washer, I would use it up even if not neccessary just to keep the crap out of your tank. Washer fluid is cheap. Go through 3 bottles a year and you wont get the organic crap that grows in old fluid clogging up your filter.

3 BOTTLES? As in... 3 gallons of fluid a year? That's friggin bananas. I use the shit out of my fluid in comparison to my friends and I still don't even touch 1 gallon a year.

 

[KIAman]

3 BOTTLES? As in... 3 gallons of fluid a year? That's friggin bananas. I use the shit out of my fluid in comparison to my friends and I still don't even touch 1 gallon a year.

I didn't say I legitimately go through 3 gallons, I'm saying you should use it up. Maybe not 3 gallons but don't let the same stuff sit in the tank for a long time. Algae doesn't take long to grow and all the anti-algae stuff doesn't work.

Trust me, it is much cheaper to spend $9 a year compared to replacing a windshield washer pump after 2-3 years.