Heated Windshield Washer Fluid

[ember1205]

9 hours ago, GETGONE said:

Are you SURE it's rated for -40F? A friend had bought some thinking it was winter rated and then looked at the bottle he had and it was only rated for 32F and above. They swap things out depending on time of year, or possibly mix in whatever is on the shelf with whatever they get in.

 

I will usually buy a number of bottles when the winter stuff is out for the season and stash it in the garage. I use it year 'round as it doesn't cost more than the non-winter one and I don't have to double-check what I'm putting in the tank regardless of what time of year it is...

[MaverickZ71]

16 hours ago, redwngr said:

Frozen in the tank or freezes on the windshield?

Definitely on the windshield. Maybe in the tank, too, but I quit using it before it froze and busted the tank. 

[MaverickZ71]

19 hours ago, redwngr said:

Are you adding the -40F stuff to some sort of summer washer fluid or using only the -40F stuff all year?

Only using -40F stuff year 'round. Use washer fluid from O'Reillys now, after I learned the Wally World stuff must be just water with blue dye. 

[MaverickZ71]

19 hours ago, newdude said:

 

 

Are you mixing it with water or something?  I've used the Prestone winter (gold/yellow color) which is rated to -34F and I've never had it freeze.  

Nope, straight BLUE "-40" fluid from Walmart. The yellow Prestone/RainX stuff is much much better, but can be hard on paint if it pools. 

[MaverickZ71]

15 hours ago, GETGONE said:

Are you SURE it's rated for -40F? A friend had bought some thinking it was winter rated and then looked at the bottle he had and it was only rated for 32F and above. They swap things out depending on time of year, or possibly mix in whatever is on the shelf with whatever they get in.

Affirmative. At least that's what the labels said. But with Chinese stuff at Walmart, it was probably just blue water. 

[MaverickZ71]

9 hours ago, Jus Cruisin said:

The first "clue"..... Walmart...... It would have to be a life and death emergency for me to set foot in one of those stores. It's been years since I've gone to Walmart. 

 

I always had my washer fluid (really just water) freeze when visiting Michigan at Christmas. Living in Florida, the dealers just add water to top off the tanks during oil changes. I would try to add real stuff fut it would be too diluted. I had to be careful when using the wipers and carried a squirt bottle of the washer fluid as a backup. Traveling back home it would take me getting into Kentucky for it to thaw. 

Yeah, I hear ya. But here in "flyover country" your choices are Walmart and maybe 1 auto parts store if you're lucky, unless you drive 40+ miles. And the auto parts store costs 2-3 times more for mostly the same stuff. Last year the temp here ranged from -23 to 112F. 

[KARNUT]

When the weather is bad and I can’t walk the walking trails I walk the super Walmart. I dig it. I do business at the local places when I can. That’s not always possible. I don’t get the people who can’t go to a restaurant and use food delivery services. At least in the pizza delivery days it only costs a tip. Starbucks coffee, that’s one I’ll never get.