My windshield washer fluid is freezing!

JM19 · 01-02-05, 09:09

I am experiencing a problem concerning my washer fluid in cold temperatures. When the outside temperature drops below freezing, my "blue" washer fluid is freezing in the reservoir and won't even come out of the nozzles located on the hood. This is creating a hazard that I am looking to fix.

Does anyone have a recommendation for a washer fluid that won't freeze in cold temperatures? I did some research and found something made by Prestone that claims to work to -34 F. I figure I'll give it a try if all else fails.

General Lee · 01-02-05, 09:14

Any good brand of windshield washer should not freeze. I don't know what kind you have been using but it shouldn't be freezing. -50 degress is one thing, but tempatures the east coast is seeing right now or has seen so far this winter there shouldn't be any washer freezing.

Aurora40 · 01-02-05, 09:19

That Prestone stuff is awesome for low temps. However, it's kinda thick and not unlike antifreeze. I use it when I need to as it's better than frozen stuff, but I kinda wonder if it's very good for the wax on the car if it oversprays.

Shiny Lil Detlr · 01-02-05, 09:57

I use some *gasp* Turtle Wax stuff called "Liquid Fire" -- it's a de-icing formula that has the same basic consistency as the cheap blue stuff, but its orange and works 10x better. I run the stuff year-round, and have never seen any problems with it stripping wax (even as it gets dumped down the back of the truck by the rear wiper)

Additionally I'm going to put in a plug for Bosch Microedge Excel wiper blades -- they're the ONLY ones I use anymore because the anco and other brands don't seem to work as well on any vehicle I've ever used them on. Definitely worth the extra couple bucks.

JM19 · 01-02-05, 09:59

Quote:

Originally posted by General Lee
Any good brand of windshield washer should not freeze. I don't know what kind you have been using but it shouldn't be freezing. -50 degress is one thing, but tempatures the east coast is seeing right now or has seen so far this winter there shouldn't be any washer freezing.

Currently, I am using a store brand by the name of Apex that bought from Advance Auto. I bought it for around .88 cents, so I guess I got what I paid for.

I was experiencing what happened around the 21st or 22nd of December when the temperatures here in the Philadelphia area were around the low 30s during the day and it went down to the teens at night. A day or two after the temperature rose to the mid-40s and the washer system worked fine.

I think just to experiment I might buy the Prestone and test it out when we get another artic blast in the area.

OJ_GTI · 01-02-05, 10:38

I use Rain-X de-icer washer fluid. I find it works very well and never freezes.

Link here

salty · 01-02-05, 11:54

They should say -35 to -40 on the bottle. If you dilute with your summer stuff or water it seems to knock down the - rating more than you would think.

15951 · 01-02-05, 12:24

Even the cheap stuff shouldn't freeze. Don't dilute it at all during winter and you should be fine.

Setec Astronomy · 01-02-05, 12:38

Quote:

Originally posted by Shiny Lil Detlr

Additionally I'm going to put in a plug for Bosch Microedge Excel wiper blades -- they're the ONLY ones I use anymore because the anco and other brands don't seem to work as well on any vehicle I've ever used them on.

Used to be a pet peeve of mine and a friend that you could never get any wiper blades worth a darn in comparison to the factory ones (Detroit, anyway). One pair of refills I got was such a piece of crap I was afraid I had bent the blade, so I went so far as to order the OE blades and refills from the Pontiac dealer...but they were kinda crappy too (not the same as the ones that came on the car). Seems like the aftermarket ones have gotten better, at least in certain brands.

Setec Astronomy · 01-02-05, 12:44

I used to use the Delco...umm...I'll remember the name....Opti-Kleer or Opti-Kleen. I used it for two reasons: one because I had a GM car and right after I used some cheapo washer fluid the pump failed, which I thought might be related, and second, because the Delco stuff was a concentrate that you could mix for different freezing points. FWIW, if IIRC, the lowest you could mix it for was 0Â°F, which might explain why the cheapo stuff freezes much higher.

I had a stash of the Opti-whatever, but used it up...last time I was at a GM dealer I asked about it and they didn't have it anymore.

I'm doing an experiment right now in my freezer with a little bit of Walmart special SuperTech Winter Formula Windshield Washer Fluid which "Protects to 25Â°F Below Zero". Notice it says protects, not that it doesn't freeze at that temp. The freezer test which is approx. 0Â°F should be a good test, I'll keep you posted.

crobinso · 01-03-05, 06:05

JM19,

I think your nozzles may be clogged. Take a pin and stick it into each opening to loosen any dirt or gunk that may have formed in the nozzles. DON'T be aggressive, you don't want to enlarge the openings.

Charles

JM19 · 01-03-05, 06:10

Quote:

Originally posted by crobinso
JM19,

I think your nozzles may be clogged.

Charles

I'm not sure if this is the case. The system works fine on above freezing days without a problem as the fluid comes out of the nozzles with ease. It's only on below freezing days that it will not come out of the nozzles.