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Washer fluid

JackOfDiamonds

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Joined
Jul 31, 2020
Messages
706
Location
Idaho (USA)
Ok, it's all the same stuff.

Or is it? Is there any brand or type of washer fluid that you actually prefer? I'd like something that's good for heavy duty de-icing when driving in snow, sleet, freezing, etc.
 
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sparky 1971

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Joined
Oct 9, 2018
Messages
7,994
Location
Central Iowa
I like the Prestone winter formula and the green bug wash in the summer. The Pre stone seems to melt through the snow and ice build up better, but when it's **** cold out, still leaves an impossible to see through film of ice.

I used to think it was all the same, then one time I had a reservoir full of frozen summer formula. RainX makes a booster that I dump in every fall to keep that from happening until I get all of the bug wash run through.
 

Dave455

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Joined
Mar 19, 2013
Messages
5,829
Location
Sussex, England
It’s definitely not all the same stuff!

I’m reluctant to advise a particular brand as I’m in the U.K. and the better screenwash tends to be of domestic manufacture, which might not be available where you are.

Best advice I can give is to buy your screenwash in concentrated form rather than “ready to use”. It’s cheaper in concentrate, and you can adjust the strength according to the anticipated conditions.

I also find (particularly in snow) that it helps if the screen is truly clean before it gets snowed on. By truly clean I mean washed, de greased with spirit, and polished with glass cleaner.

I also find it helps if I have decent wiper blades, the softer the better for cold conditions. I use Valeo “silencio”.
 

BrandonV

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Joined
Jun 9, 2023
Messages
4,030
Location
Arizona
The same stuff? No!

It can't be the same stuff because Honda had to issue a TSB about certain types of washer fluid & glass cleaner destroying the washer pump in cars.

I try to stick with name brands I can recognize. The stuff is cheap enough as it is.
 

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GaryM909

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Joined
Apr 11, 2016
Messages
1,539
Location
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
I never really noticed any difference of brands. I buy a case of -30º or -40º at a time and never use the summer so called bug wash. I have been caught off guard and had my washer reservoir frozen solid when I needed it the most.
 

Jeepster04

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 25, 2013
Messages
3,100
Ive always used Rainx washer fluid but I would like to try something else. It makes the wipers jump back and forth on some of my vehicles and its highly annoying.

I've thought about using distilled water and the rainx booster thats shown above to see if it works better.
 

johninct

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Joined
Dec 21, 2010
Messages
2,598
Since switching to Prestone Deicer, I have not replaced a windshield washer pump.
 

bwringer

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Joined
Jan 1, 2013
Messages
10,318
Location
Indianapolis
We use the orange -25F RainX stuff year-round. Seems to work a little better than average, doesn't freeze. It has a very, very mild "coating" effect that sorta kinda keeps the windshield beading water, so you do end up using the wipers less at speed. It's much cheaper at Costco.

Life is waaaaaaay too short to fart around with mixing up your own juice or changing it for the seasons.



That said, there are places where the formulas are restricted, and so you have to mix up your own. Or you might live in an area that doesn't get cold, but you have to boost or change it if you go somewhere cold. Bit of a pain.

Even in Indiana, you do occasionally see cheap "summer" juice for sale, which freezes in the winter and causes havoc for cheapos who aren't paying attention to what they're buying. Most of it around here is the -20F stuff.


I really do get why you don't want to just go spritzing toxic methanol and such into the environment, but then again crashed cars can do a lot of environmental damage.

One thing that really frosts my Cheerios is that on the rare occasion I've paid someone for an oil change, they sometimes top up my nice clean expensive orange washer fluid with their crappy blue cheap generic stuff. Bleah. If I think of it, I try to top it up beforehand to keep them out.
 

Crazyjake8493

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Joined
Sep 26, 2014
Messages
3,977
Location
Upstate NY
I use whatever the cheap stuff is in the summer, and Prestone winter formula in the cold months. I used to use the cheapo winter fluid and it still froze up on me a couple times, despite being rated down to -20F or whatever they claim.
 
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Sumboodie

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Joined
Mar 20, 2021
Messages
10,729
Location
AK
I never really noticed any difference of brands. I buy a case of -30º or -40º at a time and never use the summer so called bug wash. I have been caught off guard and had my washer reservoir frozen solid when I needed it the most.
Same. Have some -40* I use in the summer, mostly to get rid of it and, switch to -60* in the winter.

Down to 4 or 5 cases of -40
 

brtsvg

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Joined
Aug 13, 2011
Messages
131
Here in the Mid West it’s easier to go by color - forget blue, go for at least purple and better yet get orange.
 

mike93lx

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Joined
Dec 9, 2013
Messages
37,847
Location
Richmond, VA
The stuff that the VW dealers use smells amazing.

Beyond that, I tend to buy whatever blue **** is available when I need it.
 

ptabatcher

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Joined
Jun 26, 2021
Messages
187
Location
NE Ohio
I generally use Anti Frost from Nextzett in winter. Been using it for years, when they were still Einszett (1Z).


In the summer, I use either their Kristall Klear or 303 tabs… both with distilled water.
 

engineer2

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Joined
Dec 13, 2009
Messages
11,824
Location
Chicago burbs
I have a gallon can of denatured alcohol (aka camp stove fuel, methanol/ethanol).
I put about a cup in the ww jug along with the standard -20F blue stuff. Works fine for our winters.
The only drawback is it smells faintly of booze when you spray it.
You may ask why does the -20F stuff not work? Studies have shown the alcohol evaporates at the nozzles leading to freezing.
Simple solution is to add more alcohol to the mix and try to use it daily during winter weather.
 

Maui

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Joined
Sep 16, 2012
Messages
2,894
Location
Upstate NY
I’ve been using the rain X deicer for several years now, and so far it has worked surprisingly well. And I’m in the upper northeast where it gets very cold in the winter.
 

Steve_P

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Joined
Sep 15, 2010
Messages
5,185
I use the orange Rain-X -20F stuff. It probably costs twice as much as the typical blue -20F formula, but it works much better at removing small bugs. I've been using it for many years, no issues with pumps, etc.
 

dscheidt

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 26, 2017
Messages
2,908
The stuff that the VW dealers use smells amazing.

Beyond that, I tend to buy whatever blue **** is available when I need it.
I rented a caddy last winter in Colorado. The washer fluid smelled like listerine.
 

JAYoung

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 19, 2018
Messages
85
Location
Butte, Montana USA
I buy the cheapest washer fluid, but what bugs me is when you get frost on the inside of the windshield.
I solved that by habitually knocking snow off my boots while entering and by cracking the windows open when parked on cold, clear days when the humidity is low.
 
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