Windshield washer fluid in low temps?

dewey02 wrote:
Wow. This is so weird for me.
I live in a cold place and never even considered that winter winshield washer fluid wouldn't be available in some places. Standard fare here - everybody sells it and some go down to -50 below freeze protection.

X2!
I have never been out of the Midwest until I started RVing. 'ALL' windshield washer fluid sold in the Midwest is good for below freezing period.
You don't even think about it.

My first trip down to Florida I ran out of fluid. Picked up a bottle at the gas station and put it in my truck.
Spent a few months in Florida and headed back home to Wisconsin.

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

Maybe call Camping World ?? Or some of the other local RV sales places.

At the very least, make sure to drain all the water from the the W/S tank and run the system to blow all the air out of the lines. The tank won't freeze on you but those skinny little lines could get slushy and jam up.

The big problem if you use the w/s washer that only has water in it in below freezing temps is that water that is sprayed on the windshield (if it sprays at all) is such a thin layer that it will freeze on contact, blocking your vision. I always let the motor warm up with the defrost setting on high fan so that the windshield is heated as much as possible.

Rain X Winter Deicer Fliud

Good to minus 25

LOL!

I have also seen the wording "Freeze Protection down to 32 F" on the blue washer fluid.

Tap water has the same 'freeze protection' capability.

Blanco1 wrote:
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.

Funny story - I bought some "low temp" windshield washer fluid for my rig. When I read the fine print on the label it said that it was guaranteed not to freeze down to 32 degrees F.

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.

I just bought a gallon of -20 rated windshield washer at my local Ace/True Value for $1.99. They ship, too.

I've lived in snow states all my life (except for a short jaunt in the Army) ... well ... even then, I lived in snow countries! But... I've never used anything but over the counter normal windshield washer fluid. I've never had it to freeze up, even in Indiana 20 degree below zero weather. If its mixed with any water at all ... yes it freezes. Had that happen many years ago when I ran water through my washer fluid resivour and pumped it through to the back window (mini-van). I then added regular washer fluid in the fall, but did not pump it out the back window. Well, the line froze. That was the only exception I ever had. I no longer have that car, and have never used water again for the windshield fluid.

I live in OC and windshield washer antifreeze can be hard to find. Usually when found it is somewhat exotic and priced to match.

I suggest stocking up on that and any RV antifreeze you may need when traveling. I've found it at Mammoth Lakes, but best spots are non resort towns and cities where it gets cold in winter. Walmart etc. has jugs of the stuff on display at low prices. Utah, central NV, ID, eastern OR, northeast CA, CO, etc. are good prospects which are in typical travel areas.