De-Icing Wiper Fluid

They are made with isopropyl alcohol, water (in varying percentages depending on temperature rating), and a drop or two of soap with some artificial colouring. The Rain-X adds their product. In the summer they sell it with modified formula, to dissolve bug guts, with little alcohol in it as there is little or no chance of freezing.

I buy the cheapest I can find (rated at -40 deg). It's often used to draw potential customers into the store. Around $1.40 a gal. is a good price. Typical prices range from $1.90 to $2.95 a gal. Canadian dollars, of course. US owners multiply by .85.

It does freeze on the windshield in the right conditions (I guess you don't get real cold weather in Cleveland). It evaporates quickly, and that lowers its' temp. even more, so it will freeze. When it's below -10 C don't spray it on the windshield until the car has warmed up. Don't spray it when you're going fast. When it does freeze on the windshield it does so in a thin film created by the wipers, with crystals showing, and will evaporate slowly. Once the car is warm and blowing warm air on the windshield it will evaporate in seconds. Otherwise it will take minutes (not good!). I usually wait for a red light to use it, to give it time to evaporate before I have to move (and see where I'm going).

Around here, you must use it or it will freeze in the tank in the car and destroy the pump that sprays it.

 

I buy the cheapest too, but i add a little rubbing alchol to it in the winter to doctor it up.

 

I am using the Rain-X product this winter for the first time. We've had virtually no snow and no ice, but we've had some fairly cold mornings, as low as ~10° F, with significant frost. The fluid stays "fluid" and does an excellent job of quickly melting the frost. No complaints.

 

I only buy the Prestone. Every other one I've tried freezes.
Never tried the Rainx, but none of regular pink or blue ones work for me and they freeze right in the nozzle.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jmann @ Feb 17 2007, 04:28 PM) [snapback]392082[/snapback]</div>

It probably isn't available near you, but in Canada the Canadian Tire retail chain carries their "Motomaster" washer fluid. They claim it's good down to -45 C. I use it year round. Only downside is when you spritz it on the windhshield, it REEKS.

Combined with my winter wiper blades, even at -40 the fluid works well on a warm windshield. No streaks at all. Now if only every other driver around me did the same, most of them have windshields so badly smeared they're opaque.

 

I thought all window washing fluid has de-icing properties.

 

Depends on the fluid. Most of the "winter" stuff I see in MN and ND is rated to -20 F. Some folks who live in ND and MN along the border will purchase their washer fluid at a Canadian Tire just to get the -40 "average" fluid. Or spend an extra buck to get the better -45 stuff.

 

Years ago, I was on a business trip in Sweden during the middle of winter. During the entire trip the temperature was well below freezing. We did a considerable amount of driving during that trip. I asked my host what he used for windshield washer fluid - water, ethyl alcohol, and a few drops of detergent.

This solution was considerably cheaper that commercially available products and worked just as well.

I have used this formula for the last 10 years every time I go skiing. It always seems to work well for me, although I must admit that ethyl alcohol is not always available at the local drug store.

Keith

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Soylent @ Feb 18 2007, 08:23 PM) [snapback]392585[/snapback]</div>

Apparently not the factory stuff. It would freeze up with temps in the mid-20s.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tech_Guy @ Feb 18 2007, 09:39 PM) [snapback]392625[/snapback]</div>

Aarrggh! You use perfectly good ethyl alcohol for that???

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JimboK @ Feb 19 2007, 04:27 AM) [snapback]392763[/snapback]</div>

Sure, ethyl alcohol has many useful purposes. For example:

1) very effective antiseptic / antibacterial compound,
2) very effective cleaning agent,
3) anti-icing / windshield cleaner (as stated in this thread),
4) clean burning fuel,
5) you can drink it; but only for medicinal purposes of course. (Unfortunately, I'm a very sick person and have to use it on a regular basis - but not before driving, working, operating heavy equipment, or flying aircraft.)

Keith

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tech_Guy @ Feb 19 2007, 12:47 PM) [snapback]392823[/snapback]</div>

I know. My tongue-in-cheek response was implying: Why waste a good drink on anything other than drinking? I don't drink it for medicinal purposes though.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tech_Guy @ Feb 19 2007, 01:47 PM) [snapback]392823[/snapback]</div>

How sad, we both appear to have the same "sickness"