Windshield washer fluid in low temps?

[Blanco1]

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.

[rockhillmanor]

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]

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]

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]

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_]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Yeah i'll get the gallon being I'll have the RV & a Toad.

[Jim_Shoe]

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.

[rockhillmanor]

Blanco1 wrote:

rockhillmanor wrote:

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

That's a scary thought of your windshield freezing over like that & being blind!

I'm thinking I might just be forced to look for it as I get close or into Colorado?

Maybe I'll just mix up a batch for now.

I've been reading alcohol & water & table spoon of dish washing soap?

But I would imagine at truck stops or something in a Co they would carry it ?

I would assume all the truck stops should have the fluid with antifreeze in. Since truckers are over the road long distance drivers. Traveling thru the warm states and the freezing ones! :B

[Blanco1]

bukhrn wrote:
http://www.hardwarestore.com/de-icer-washer-fluid-611776.aspx?utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=product_type%3...

Good to -34 if you can find it in LA

Through them I can only buy 6 gallons at a time & I have no need for 6 gallons.

[bukhrn]

http://www.hardwarestore.com/de-icer-washer-fluid-611776.aspx?utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=product_type%3...

Good to -34 if you can find it in LA

[Monaco_Montclai]

I use the stuff that says -20, auto stores sale it there .now its all happy-camping