Forum Discussion

remi987's avatar
remi987
Explorer
Nov 15, 2013

Windshield washer fluid on fresh water

Hello,

I buy Minnie Winnie 31k - 2014 and is my first winter with it.
I made a special use and I want to use it this winter.

So I tought to use windshield water (-40 celsuis) to put in my fresh water tank (50% windshield washer and 50% fresh water).
I only wash dishes and flush the toilet with this water.

But I don't know how to put special liquid on the fresh water fill...
Usually when I only put fresh water, I plug watering on the holl, open water and it fill automatically.
But now, I when to put special liquid on gallon on this. How I can do that !?!

Thanks !

20 Replies

  • Ray_IN's avatar
    Ray_IN
    Explorer III
    Your reply bears repeating, so here it is again:

    mark5w wrote:
    BAD IDEA

    Read this:

    MSDS wrote:

    2
    3. Hazard Identification
    Emergency Overview: This is a clear purple colored
    liquid with as pungent odor. It is combustible
    and toxic. Methanol cannot be rendered non-toxic. R
    esponders must protect against possible
    inhalation and contact exposure. Fire protection mu
    st be available to prevent or rapidly
    extinguish a fire.
    Primary Routes of Entry: Inhalation, skin contact, eyes, i
    ngestion
    Target Organs: Central Nervous System, eyes, circulatory
    and respiratory systems.
    Symptoms of Over Exposure by Route of Exposure: Windsh
    ield Washer Solvent may be harmful if
    swallowed, inhaled or injected into skin. Windshield Was
    her Solvent can cause skin and eye irritation or
    damage. It can also be irritating to mucous membranes
    and the respiratory tract.
    Inhalation: Inhalation may lead to irritation of th
    e nose and throat. Symptoms of overexposure may
    include dizziness, coughing headache, dyspnea, llachrymati
    on, nausea and vomiting. Exposure to high
    concentrations of vapor may cause unconscious or death. Asp
    iration into the lungs can cause chemical
    pneumonitis.
    Contact With Eyes: Windshield Washer Solvent is an ey
    e irritant. Splashes in the eye may cause
    irritation, redness, tearing and temporary corneal da
    mage or blindness.
    Skin Absorption: Windshield Washer Solvent is absorbed
    through the skin and may result in effects
    similar to inhalation exposure.
    Ingestion: Ingestion of 1 to 4 ounces of Windshield
    Washer Solvent can cause irreversible damage to
    the nervous system, blindness or death. It cannot be made
    non-poisonous.
    Injection: Injection can cause redness and irritation of
    the surrounding tissue.
    Health Effects or Risks From Exposure (In Lay Terms
    )
    Acute: Severe irritation of the tissue that had contact
    with the product (skin, eyes, mucous membranes).
    Drowsiness, fatigue, confusion may be experienced after i
    nhalation or ingestion of the material.
    Chronic: Washer Fluid is eliminated slowly from the bo
    dy. Repeated exposure may build up toxic levels
    in body tissues. Animal studies show long term exposure t
    o Methanol damages the CNS, kidneys or
    liver, skin disorders and birth defects.
  • Hi remi,

    The freshwater tank is usually in the heated part of the RV. There is no need for antifreeze to be used except for storing an RV in an unheated state.

    remi987 wrote:
    Oh ok !
    I didn't know RV antifreeze.
    I will use it. It will be better !!
    I will buy the pump, but fill 150 liter with RV antifreeze may take many hours with the little pump...
    Or you put it 25% RV antifreeze and rest of fresh water ?

    Thanks for your advice !!
  • Hi,

    DO NOT USE ANY ANTIFREEZE THAT IS NOT INTENDED FOR POTABLE WATER.

    There are is a host of information about winter camping.

    I've camped at -37 C (-34 f) and boondocked for 5 days at a high of -27 c (-16.6 f).

    I suggest reading this thread winter camping carefully--and then start your own thread if you have further questions


    remi987 wrote:
    Hello,
    So I tought to use windshield water (-40 celsuis) to put in my fresh water tank (50% windshield washer and 50% fresh water).
    I only wash dishes and flush the toilet with this water.
  • Do not use windshield washer antifreeze. It may contain Ethylene Glycol which is poisonous and will contaminate your entire system.
  • BAD IDEA

    Read this:

    MSDS wrote:

    2
    3. Hazard Identification
    Emergency Overview: This is a clear purple colored
    liquid with as pungent odor. It is combustible
    and toxic. Methanol cannot be rendered non-toxic. R
    esponders must protect against possible
    inhalation and contact exposure. Fire protection mu
    st be available to prevent or rapidly
    extinguish a fire.
    Primary Routes of Entry: Inhalation, skin contact, eyes, i
    ngestion
    Target Organs: Central Nervous System, eyes, circulatory
    and respiratory systems.
    Symptoms of Over Exposure by Route of Exposure: Windsh
    ield Washer Solvent may be harmful if
    swallowed, inhaled or injected into skin. Windshield Was
    her Solvent can cause skin and eye irritation or
    damage. It can also be irritating to mucous membranes
    and the respiratory tract.
    Inhalation: Inhalation may lead to irritation of th
    e nose and throat. Symptoms of overexposure may
    include dizziness, coughing headache, dyspnea, llachrymati
    on, nausea and vomiting. Exposure to high
    concentrations of vapor may cause unconscious or death. Asp
    iration into the lungs can cause chemical
    pneumonitis.
    Contact With Eyes: Windshield Washer Solvent is an ey
    e irritant. Splashes in the eye may cause
    irritation, redness, tearing and temporary corneal da
    mage or blindness.
    Skin Absorption: Windshield Washer Solvent is absorbed
    through the skin and may result in effects
    similar to inhalation exposure.
    Ingestion: Ingestion of 1 to 4 ounces of Windshield
    Washer Solvent can cause irreversible damage to
    the nervous system, blindness or death. It cannot be made
    non-poisonous.
    Injection: Injection can cause redness and irritation of
    the surrounding tissue.
    Health Effects or Risks From Exposure (In Lay Terms
    )
    Acute: Severe irritation of the tissue that had contact
    with the product (skin, eyes, mucous membranes).
    Drowsiness, fatigue, confusion may be experienced after i
    nhalation or ingestion of the material.
    Chronic: Washer Fluid is eliminated slowly from the bo
    dy. Repeated exposure may build up toxic levels
    in body tissues. Animal studies show long term exposure t
    o Methanol damages the CNS, kidneys or
    liver, skin disorders and birth defects.
  • Oh ok !
    I didn't know RV antifreeze.
    I will use it. It will be better !!
    I will buy the pump, but fill 150 liter with RV antifreeze may take many hours with the little pump...
    Or you put it 25% RV antifreeze and rest of fresh water ?

    Thanks for your advice !!
  • remi987 wrote:
    Hello,

    I buy Minnie Winnie 31k - 2014 and is my first winter with it.
    I made a special use and I want to use it this winter.

    So I tought to use windshield water (-40 celsuis) to put in my fresh water tank (50% windshield washer and 50% fresh water).
    I only wash dishes and flush the toilet with this water.

    But I don't know how to put special liquid on the fresh water fill...
    Usually when I only put fresh water, I plug watering on the holl, open water and it fill automatically.
    But now, I when to put special liquid on gallon on this. How I can do that !?!

    Thanks !


    Its a good way to eventually get poisoned
  • I would not do this. RV antifreeze is considered non-toxic. Windshield washer fluid may not be and it could poison future users of the RV.
  • I have been RVing during the Winter months for many many years, in temps to -10 below zero. I have never needed anything other than plain water in my fresh water tank. Just keep it as full as possible and you should not have any problems. When it gets below freezing, I do use a 100 watt incandescent bulb in my wet bay, which keeps the pump and water lines open and it also helps to warm the fresh water tank.
    Some people use heating pads that are made to attach to the tanks but I have never seen the need to add them to my fresh or waste tanks.
  • remi987 wrote:
    Hello,

    I buy Minnie Winnie 31k - 2014 and is my first winter with it.
    I made a special use and I want to use it this winter.

    So I tought to use windshield water (-40 celsuis) to put in my fresh water tank (50% windshield washer and 50% fresh water).
    I only wash dishes and flush the toilet with this water.

    But I don't know how to put special liquid on the fresh water fill...
    Usually when I only put fresh water, I plug watering on the holl, open water and it fill automatically.
    But now, I when to put special liquid on gallon on this. How I can do that !?!

    Thanks !

    Vodka would be better. But I'd use nothing but the prefered RV antifreeze solution. I would think that alcohol used in windshield washer solution is not good for your innards, or your motorhome's fresh water tank.

    and there is a special pump for putting the RV antifreeze into the tank, and some have modified their water pump to do it there.