If your camping in low temps in the teens or lower.What would you suggest for windshield washer fluid?I know windex will freeze.I was thinking to help keep the windshield free of Ice/frost & driving through snow.Besides letting the engine heat up long enough to defrost the windshield is there any sort of liquids you suggest for this?My rig is a 12 Valve Cummins hot rod & has a 4" turbo back exhaust straight pipe.So in other words it's loud & out of courtesy I try not to let it idle too long in campgrounds or where ever I may be before leaving.Especially if we're leaving at sun up.So...... That brings me to my question.Thanks.

Auto parts stores have washer solution with low freeze point, or winter blend.

I either buy the windshield fluid that premixed for cold weather, or I add isopropyl alcohol form the drug store.

Bull Rider wrote:I either buy the windshield fluid that premixed for cold weather, or I add isopropyl alcohol form the drug store.So Rubbing alcohol works?Do you run it straight or mix it into windex?If I wait till I get to a cold weather area, I won't remember till I need it.& being I live in Los Angeles I doubt I could find any of this cold weather formula blends.So I was thinking of doing it at home before we head out.How much alcohol to what ever I'm mixing it with percentage wise?If I'm not running it straight?

The best i have found is Prestone deicer. I use it in winter and Prestone bug formula in the summer. The other benefit is it doesnt dry up and plug the spray nozzles like the blue stuff does.

I doubt I could find de-icer in Los Angeles?Maybe I can order it on line?Yet seems alcohol would be easier?Considering I could buy it anywhere.

Windshield washer fluid in low temps? | Good Sam Community

rockhillmanor
Explorer
Nov 02, 2014
How about spill proof gasoline containers?
Try to buy a 5 gal "Jerry Can" *anywhere* in the USA that isn't the new style spill proof container. Same for Euro NATO cans.
Spill proof - really means "spill more" & they're a PITA.
(If you find any old style at a garage sale - grab 'em!)

Boy you sure got that right! :B

CG had a power outage due to a storm. So I thought I would just go to sears and buy a couple big gas cans to fill the MH so I could run the gen without breaking camp each time to fill up.
How wrong could I have been!!

There was no way I could get the gas to come out of those new type gas cans into the MH. I had gas all over me, the MH and all over the ground. Ya these are safer to use.:R

I brought them back to get my money back and sears had a fit. Long story short I won and got my money back.

I now search every garage/estate sale and buy every one of the old type gas cans I can get my hands on.
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Nov 01, 2014
In cold weather I switch to the De-Icer type washer fluid, Two or three companies make De-Icer lines. This year though.. Well, stuck in southern GA, i think I'll stick with the blue kind.
Blanco1
Explorer
Nov 01, 2014
dewey02 wrote:

That Prestone stuff is safe in 49 states, but it somehow morphs when crossing the California border and then it makes mice get cancer.

LOL!!!
Blanco1
Explorer
Nov 01, 2014
joe b. wrote:
During the 25+ years I lived in Interior Alaska, I made my windshield wiper solution. Buy a qt/ltr of the cheapest vodka you can find, mix a cup of Dawn dishwashing detergent with it. At super cold temperatures is will freeze or get slushy, but not at the temperatures most of us will run into. 80 proof will work but 100 proof is better. Everclear will also work, but more expensive. A quart of the mix would get me through most of a winter, most years.

I'd find it hard to waste Vodka on the windshield & then again I'd hate to get pulled over with the thing sinking of Booze! LOL!
joe_b_
Explorer II
Nov 01, 2014
During the 25+ years I lived in Interior Alaska, I made my windshield wiper solution. Buy a qt/ltr of the cheapest vodka you can find, mix a cup of Dawn dishwashing detergent with it. At super cold temperatures is will freeze or get slushy, but not at the temperatures most of us will run into. 80 proof will work but 100 proof is better. Everclear will also work, but more expensive. A quart of the mix would get me through most of a winter, most years.
dewey02
Explorer II
Nov 01, 2014
Blanco1 wrote:
I just tried to order the Prestone & it can not be shipped to me in Ca.

As I expected, being California & all it's lame restrictions.

That Prestone stuff is safe in 49 states, but it somehow morphs when crossing the California border and then it makes mice get cancer.
Sport45
Explorer II
Nov 01, 2014
rockhillmanor wrote:
2 months later during a blizzard in freezing temps I was on the interstate and hit the windshield washers to get the salt off.

In a split second my ENTIRE windshield froze over!! Blinded I could not see a thing I almost died that day.

Fortunately I found my way to the side of the road without hitting anybody and it took me awhile to figure out what just happened.

Yup they DO sell windshield washer fluid that does NOT have antifreeze in it. They sell it in Florida and that was the last bottle I put in. :S

That can happen if you use rubbing alcohol in your washer too. It will easily keep the reservoir from freezing. It will also work to help de-ice before you get going. But if you use it at highway speed the alcohol can evaporate leaving the water behind to quickly turn to ice.

Folks should get the real stuff, it's worth it.
Greyghost
Explorer
Nov 01, 2014
I found this at Walmart Winter Formula Wiper Fluid Unfortunately that was in an AZ store. I checked in the LA area and they do not carry it.
Blanco1
Explorer
Oct 31, 2014
Yeah i'll get the gallon being I'll have the RV & a Toad.
Jim_Shoe
Explorer
Oct 31, 2014
After you leave home and before you get to high country, buy a jug of "Prestone with De-Icer." I just bought a gallon jug today because I expect to need it before spring. You're a lot closer to high country than I am, and I found a gallon jug at the local Auto Zone store.