dirk diggler

hey guys, i live in nevada, lake tahoe, and it's pretty damn cold, lately been getting my windshield sprayers freezing up, strange thing is it never happened before, after i drop down in altitude, then they seem to thaw out and work, any suggestions? thanks, dd

midiwall

I think most washer fluid is rated to about 20* below zero, and from what I hear you can hit that pretty commonly given that you're at around 7,000 feet.

I just looked online for "high altitude washer fluid" and didn't come up with anything specific. You might want to take a look at the rating on the fluid that RainX makes - it may be higher.

I did find a couple of things related to heated washer fluid though:

http://www.myles-rec.com/Transportat...uid_heater.htm
http://www.ecarboutique.com/showcase...211&MAN_ID=409
http://www.microheat.com/News/default.asp

I dunno how practical those systems would be given that the fluid may freeze in the tank before it gets to the heater.

kyle_22r

i'd say try to find some lower temp washer fluid. mine used to freeze until i found some better stuff(it's actually kind of thick looking)

dirk diggler

appreciate the help. dd

Fink

I seem to remember reading on the bottle of the orange De-Icer version of RainX that it can go to 32* below freezing but im not sure...I can check when I go to Wal-Mart to get some more for myself.

Fink

Jboy

I would move to Hawaii

Jonathan

Mine froze the other week and I live in SC and it barely ever gets to freezing much less 20 below freezing. I'm thinking of changing my fluid to something else as well.

Blair

This may sound silly, but don't they sell the "winter" type of fluid there? Prestone and others (I believe) makes one that is good to -40, which I use up here. Never had a freeze up, and it's great for those mornings with light frost on the window. Coupla squirts and the defogger gets the rest!

midiwall

Just an FYI, I was just in Target tonight and found washer fluid that was rated to -30.

Highland Runner

I've found the blue colored liquid seems to freeze even though it says good to -30 or whatever. The stuff that is red and sold as ice melt seems to be much better. It has never frozen on me and seems to clean the windshield much better. The blue kind may seperate and the water part freezes in the tube. The red kind is thicker almost like radiator fluid. It must be all alcohol.

kyle_22r

i don't think there's alcohol in washer fluid...ever seen what brake fluid does to your paint?

Tacoma Dude

Here's a related question for you guys...
Is there a particular brand of washer fluid that you guys all use or did you all just get the special 99 cent gallon tanks on the bottom shelf next to the register?

EWAYota

if you can find the washer fluid made by rain-x, and its the orange color, its a defroster as well. makes it nice to go out to the truck and not have to scrap the windshield, i just turn the wipers on and spray some of that on there and it de-ices the windshield. i can't find that de-icer fluid here anymore. they used to sell it at fred meyers, they probably have it at Wal-Mart.

Fink

I would higly recommend any RainX fluid, that stuff is awesome. Even with crappy wiper blades the water clears off and it looks like the glass is dry...its amazing. Right now I'm using the orange De-Icer formula fluid but I usually use the green stuff. Its about a dollar and some change for a gallon and the winter stuff I have goes to -35* so thats pretty good.

Just thought I would answer Tacoma Dudes question..RainX man!

Fink

Tacoma Dude

Thanks for the info guys

foxtrapper

I think I'll also nominate the Rainx washer fluid now. I've been running it for almost a month now, and I'm quite impressed. Tried it after listing to friends and family recomend it to me. Felt like a fool spending $3.50 on fuzzy orange washer fluid (is fuzzy orange a color?)

But shucky darns if the glass doesn't stay cleaner, and with my thoroughly worn out wiper blades, today in the rain I could see just fine. In fact, I generally wasn't using the wipers because I didn't need to. The water just beaded up nicely and visibility was quite good.

Tacoma Dude

Incidentally, there is no drain for the washer reservoir, is there?
I'll just have to wait until it's empty, right?

toy283

You could always pour in some straight rubbing alcohol to lower the freezing temperature.

miket223

The blue stuff is a alcohol/water mixture that is usually rated to -20F but it's actually only good to probably +20F in my opinion. It's problem is that after you squirt it on the windshield the alcohol evaporates faster than the water and all that's left is water after a short period of time. If it's freezing in lines it might've been cut with water to save money at the shop you took it to, assuming you took it to a shop. Buy "winter" windshield wash which doens't contain alcohol and instead contains propylene glycol which is extremely resistent to freezing. These are typically colored red or yellow.

Fink

I was at Wal-Mart and just at a glance I saw a big jug of Prestone De-Icer fluid that is good to -34* its yellow in color and runs about $2.15 a jug. Just thought I'd pass that on...

Fink