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freezing wiper fluid (with fancy antifreeze fluid)

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by jmann, Nov 28, 2007.

  1. jmann

    jmann Member

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    A few days ago I switched out my wiper fluid for my winter rain-x anti-freeze wiper fluid. I emptied out the blue crap, filled the fluid tank with the pink rain-x stuff, and squirted it out until the pink stuff came out of the windshield. This morning, it was about 20 Deg F and nothing would come out (I could hear the pump motor). I am assuming that something froze - which should not have happened.

    The blue crap was not supposed to freeze anyway (It said -20 Deg F on the bottle).

    I do not want to deal with freezing wiper fluid all winter. How do I solve this?
     
  2. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

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    Get some inexpensive -40F wiper fluid, at about $2 per gallon - the rain-x stuff has too much junk in it. Even the -40 stuff will freeze on the windshield if you spray it on when the windshield is at full cold - but it usually only freezes when the wipers spread it to a thin film (because the isopropyl alcohol evaporates first). You have to wait until the defroster has warmed the windshield up a bit, and it works best if you are not moving. Then the thin ice film will go away in just a few seconds.

    Pour in a quart of isopropyl alcohol to thaw what's in there. Hopefully it will creep all the way through the system. If not, park in an underground garage for a few hours to thaw it out, and run the washers for 10 sec. or so to get the extra isopropyl alcohol throughout the system. It is the "active ingredient" in windshield washer antifreeze.
     
  3. Stringmike

    Stringmike New Member

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    I do not want to deal with freezing wiper fluid all winter. How do I solve this?
    [/quote]

    Move down here.

    None of my friends or neighbors has complained about freezing wiper fluid (or anything else, for that matter).

    Mike
     
  4. paprius4030

    paprius4030 My first Prius

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    Do what I do add about 1/4 of a small rubbing alchol bottle to a full container of blue windshield wash stuff, and, viola you got super no freeze windshield wash stuff for pennies.
     
  5. abq sfr

    abq sfr New Member

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    Amazingly enough you need to be careful when you buy windshield washer fluid. I've bought some orange stuff before that left a film on the windshield that would block your view of the road. Also, Walmart (yes my wife drags me there sometimes) sells stuff that boasts "Protects to 32 degrees!". Last time I was there that was all they had.
     
  6. jmann

    jmann Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(abq sfr @ Nov 28 2007, 12:53 PM) [snapback]545267[/snapback]</div>
    Are you sure you weren't in the bottled water aisle?
     
  7. abq sfr

    abq sfr New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jmann @ Nov 28 2007, 02:54 PM) [snapback]545415[/snapback]</div>
    Maybe I was in the "blue" bottled water isle.
     
  8. Rangerdavid

    Rangerdavid Senior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(abq sfr @ Nov 28 2007, 12:53 PM) [snapback]545267[/snapback]</div>
    :lol: :lol: Protects to 32 degrees!!! :lol: :lol: who needs protection above that? What protection??? all it does above 32 is (supposedly) clean the windshield!!! :lol: :lol:

    thats' too funny B)
     
  9. jayman

    jayman Senior Member

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    Surprisingly, I've seen cars and trucks with Minnesota and North Dakota plates parked at our local Canadian Tire stores. They're usually marching out with a few jugs of the -45 rated Canadian Tire washer fluid. It actually is pretty good stuff, I use it year round.