best windshield washer fluid

Only skimmed this thread, but

First, SOME of the blue crap, at least in my experience, no matter what the label says, will freeze, even at a few degrees below freezing . Not much help in getting ice off the windshield.

Prestone is my go-to for Windshield Cleaner, and it seems to be serious. However, it can be hard to find...O'Reilly, Auto Zone or Advance, one of those three sells it. I never remember which one of them...



However, since Prestone is hard to find, I often end up with the orange/yellow RainX stuff, which claims to be good to -25 below zero (F). For some reason, I don't like it much, but it seems to work also.

Other than that, I would not trust the 99-cent jugs. Did that once years ago. Ice on the windshield, maybe 29 degrees (F) hit the wiper fluid button, as soon as the blue hit the windshield I had an extra thick layer of ice. Managed to make it off the highway safely, but never again. Go for the good stuff.

And, I have been posting too much. I retire until my next round of car repairs, hopefully, next summer....

 

Well, here in the cold white north, we use the blue stuff rated at -40 to -45 C (when we can find it). The -35C stuff is always around, but will turn into mararitas here every once in a while. Do note that if the washer freezes solid, not being able to clean the windshield is the least of your worries. It can and has destroyed the pump (plastic - the ice expands and breaks it). That is not cheap! They use isopropyl alcohol in most of this stuff to prevent freezing.

For Africa, I'd just use water with a few drops of soap to get the suicidal bugs off. Hand soap would be ok, though car wash soap would be best. Avoid dish detergent. Oh, and NEVER use engine anti-freeze! It makes a mess and can damage paint.