Rubbing alchol in wiper fluid

[DJSapp]

So I was getting my oil changed today and asked the guy if they had low temp wiper fluid. He said no but reccomended putting some rubbing alchol in with the wiper fluid to drop the freezing point and act as a cheap solution instead of buying a $5.00 bottle of the real stuff.

Anyone have any experence with this? Am I going to ruin my windshield/wiper fluid pump by doing this?

[Beaver]

$5, ha yer getting hosed. Go down to walmart, you can get -30 rated stuff for a buck.

[DJSapp]

yeah, I hear ya about getting hosed on that (Napa price), but walmart around here isn't much better, and I have rubbing alchol sitting around the house.

[mr_gyptian]

Dries out what ever rubber it touches. buying windex concentrate at Walmart and not cutting it works.

[Beaver]

It will lower the freezing level when in the tan but when it evaporates off your windshield it will leave a nice layer of ice behind.

[Mountainman]

My $1.29 bottle of wiper fluid survived -30 here.

[dipstik]

since were on the subject...how do you prevent wipers from freezing up? It's been very cold this winter and on some mornings when a lot of grime accumulates on my windshiled and I try to wash it off, the wiper completley skips over everything, leaving me with a big puddle of washer fluid in my eyesight. I've cleared off all the ice, what else can I do to prevent it?

[Arty50]

Originally posted by dipstik
since were on the subject...how do you prevent wipers from freezing up? It's been very cold this winter and on some mornings when a lot of grime accumulates on my windshiled and I try to wash it off, the wiper completley skips over everything, leaving me with a big puddle of washer fluid in my eyesight. I've cleared off all the ice, what else can I do to prevent it?

Piss in the fluid tank.

[interloper]

They make electric heated wipers. Never used them but it's better than doing the old reach around.

[splat]

There's a de-icing solution you can get at auto parts stores that I add to my washer fluid for that. It's orange and tastes really good with breakfast before skiing.

[pollard]

I think rubbing alcohol will mess up your wipers. the special wiper fliud has a detergent to help get the window clean.

[powslut]

Petrop canada came out with a wiper fluid which contains teflon and methyl hidrate. its supposed to be good to -45 and has a warning on the bottle explicitely warning that a respirator is neccessary when refilling the car.

[Plakespear]

Originally posted by dipstik
since were on the subject...how do you prevent wipers from freezing up? It's been very cold this winter and on some mornings when a lot of grime accumulates on my windshiled and I try to wash it off, the wiper completley skips over everything, leaving me with a big puddle of washer fluid in my eyesight. I've cleared off all the ice, what else can I do to prevent it?

I find it helps to keep your defroster blasting all the time. It warms up the wiper blades a little bit. However this doesn't work too well when it's really cold, or you're getting a lot of heavy, wet snow.

[phUnk]

Originally posted by Arty50
Piss in the fluid tank.

Damn, that's almost as good as "shoot the hostage."

[gonzo]

kinda scary that every drop of windshield washer fluid sprayed ends up in the grass and dirt on the side of the road. i guess it keeps us from ending up in the dirt on the side of the road to though...

[Theodore]

Use some Rain-X in the first place. That will make it harder for the ice to adhere to the glass. Also change your wiper blades. Lots of peolpe leave em on for a long time, and they really should be replaced at least twice a year. While being a very basic part they are VERY important to your saftey.

Ted

[DINMS]

Ha. Reminds me when we were driving across BC and it froze on the windows. Glad the wipers got it off the place where the wipers go first... Did I ever mention that my father is a fugal basterd.

[Red Baron]

Well, you know the old saying, it's better to be fugal, than frugal...

[DINMS]

Ha. Reminds me when we were driving across BC and it froze on the windows. Glad the wipers got it off the place where the wipers go first... Did I ever mention that my father is a fugal basterd.

[Ditch]

If you let your vehicle warm up and defrost your windshield before driving then you won't have any problems, unless it starts snowing. But if it's below -15 and unless you're stopped at a light for too long, the snow won't have time to melt and ice up your windshield. I've seen -60 and I never had any problems with my washer fluid, and I bought the cheapest shit I could. Now oil at that temp is more of a problem. Plus, if you have a weather front/piece of cardboard if you're a student or red neck, once the engine warms to temp it will thaw your fluid if it does, however unlikely, freeze.

[midget]

you can buy "Winter Blades" which have the wiper blade arm/springs wrapped in rubber to keep them from freezing up. They work. But if you like to drive fast, they tend to start lifting a bit and will start streaking. If you drive around the speed limit you'll be fine though.

[lemon boy]

If the nozzle freezes up a little bit of morning coffee splashed on will get things moving again. Changing blads is very important too.

Perhaps this is too obvious (I doubt it): when it is very cold simply do NOT use the fluid until after the water temp comes up and you've heated up the window a bit.

[lemon boy]

Ohhhh and when I first saw this I was reminded of this kid I knew in HS who had an old dodge (Dart I believe) and in order to give it a little extra go juice he filled his washer res. with alcohol and ran the tube into the carb thereby getting a little squirt of extra juice

No kids, don't try this damned dangerous, fool thing at home.

[Theodore]

Originally posted by lemon boy
If the nozzle freezes up a little bit of morning coffee splashed on will get things moving again. Changing blads is very important too.

Careful with this. The coffee is probably acidic enough to damage the wax/clearcoat.

[lemon boy]

WAX? CLEARCOAT!? FUCKIN PUSSIES!

It is a goddamned vehicle for getting around in! JAYSUS! Wax!

Meanwhile those of us livin in the real world of salt and mag chloride ain't gonna be worrying about a little bit of coffee on the paint when there's 3 gallons per hour of crap and crud flying at the car.

[shakes head]
Kids these days!
[/shakes head]