Washer Fluid

[Murr1525]

Just a question or two..

Do any of you guys use those winter washer fluids, that melt the ice, etc? I am not quite sure how they work with wipers that are frozen in place anyway, and then if it affects wax or anything. I just use the genereic blue stuff at the moment, and Rain-X.

[Jeff Smith]

Re: Washer Fluid

Originally posted by Murr1525
Just a question or two..

Do any of you guys use those winter washer fluids, that melt the ice, etc? I am not quite sure how they work with wipers that are frozen in place anyway, and then if it affects wax or anything. I just use the genereic blue stuff at the moment, and Rain-X.

I had a big F-250 a few years ago. I had gotten in the habit of using this stuff in the windsheild washer fluid tank. It was the Rain-X pre-mixed De-Icer in the gallon jug.

Over the course of 2-3 years use the paint around my windsheild start peeling and cracking off. Exposed bare metal underneath. This was the only area on the vehicle I had this issues on.

Keep in mind that this was well before I got into proper car care and I might have waxed the thing 1-2 times a year. So the paint was not protected very well at all.

Since then and several vehicles later, I shy away from that stuff. I just make sure I have plenty of gas and start my vehicles up and let the defroster do the work.

Adding an after thought here. My Ridgeline has what they call a heated wiper zone. There are 3 long heating elelments that run the length of the area directly underneath where the wiper blades sit in the off position. There is some sensor 'do-flammer" in the middle of my dash up next to the windsheild that somehow senses the temp and if that zone is frozen, this heating element kicks itself on whether I have the defrost on or not. We have not gotten enough snow or ice here as yet for me to see whether this setup is effective or not. But it does appear to have potential.

[Murr1525]

Well, I just use the Rain-X glass treatment, not the washer fluid... certainly will keep you experience in mind though.

[Jeff Smith]

Originally posted by Murr1525
Well, I just use the Rain-X glass treatment, not the washer fluid... certainly will keep you experience in mind though.

Yep, I use Rain-X as well.

[Shiny Lil Detlr]

I use an additive to the "cheap blue stuff" called "Turtle Wax Liquid Fire De-Icer," but it's not all that great. The fluid still freezes sometimes.

Frankly, I think it would behoove Meguiar's to come up with a more effective de-icing formula; I'd definitely use it in my vehicles.

I wish there were an aftermarket kit to do what Buick included on it's new Lucerne sedan -- it pre-heats the washer fluid to 140-F so there's never a freezing problem

[Ezmoney95]

Used to be able to extend the washer fluid tubing on older cars and then wrapping it around a heater core hose or radiator hose.

I personally never tried it, but remember seeing kits that would do just that.

Don't know how good of any idea it is these days with vehicles running hotter and much more electronics under the hood to get soaked it the tubing fails.

Just my .02.

[gb387]

I just use the normal blue stuff... in the past I have tried a cheap deicer type and it still turned to a sheet of ice on the window. I would guess the more expensive brands work better, but maybe not.

touching on what Ezmoney95 mentioned.... Has anyone seem the commercials for... I think its a Buick w/heated washer fluid? Says its up to 140 degs.

[Ezmoney95]

gb387,

According to Buick's website, it heats the washer fluid to approximately 176 degrees. This, to me, implies that they are using the cooling (heater) system to boost it that high.

I can't see where they would want to do it electronically.

[matt colvin]

I've been using rain-x washer fluid for about a year now. In the late fall, I switch over to their de-icer washer fluid. It seems to work pretty well for me. It is a little prone to some glare at night though.

Last winter, I added some of Prestone's de-icer additive to the rain-x and it worked really well on light frost in the mornings (I park my truck outside 24/7).

I'm alittle worried about Jeff Smith's experience though. I wax the truck at least once every three-four weeks during warm weather, but during the winter it usually has to go on the coat of wax that I applied in late fall.

Does anyone know of added ingredients in de-icer washer fluids that are harmful to clear-coat paint? It really doesn't make any sense to me that companies would use these knowing that it would harm a vehicles paint.

Thanks,
Matt.

[Murr1525]

I guess there is a variety of ways to heat up the fluid, but I would think Buick did what ever is the least expensive to build.

I wish more cars came with the front de-icer grid at the bottom of the winshield. It at least sounds usefull. That plus the heated fluid might improve things.

[bewshay]

yeah the Rain X stuff is pretty good
i use the wipes and do it every 3-4 weeks and it really helps

btw im from Australia so im talking about frost, not snow!

[black240sx]

I would guess that Buick uses electric heat for the washer fluid. If they used the coolant, you would have to wait for the engine to warm up before you could de-ice your windshield.

[Jeff Smith]

If I think about it tomorrow I'll try to remeber to snap a pic of this heated wiper zone on my windsheild. I am not sure if it will show up or not as it is in a recessed area and it's kind of hard to make it out in the first place.

Editing here:
I just found htis for some additional info:

http://www.hondanews.com/catID2138?mid=2005020136983&mime=asc

Automatic Heated Wiper Zone

The Automatic Heated Wiper Zone reduces the need for ice scraping while enhancing wiper performance in heavy snow and freezing rain conditions when wiper blades can become stiff and rendered useless. The heated wiper zone is warmed by electric defrost lines near the bottom of the windshield - similar to a common rear window defroster. Using the HVAC system to monitor outside temperature, operation is fully automatic. When the temperatures outside drops below about 39 degrees Fahrenheit, the heated wiper zone automatically turns on. The Ridgeline is the first truck on the market to offer this feature, which is more commonly found on luxury vehicles.

[Pete-FWA]

Not sure where it's available nationally, but I know there are good alternatives to the "cheap" blue solutions.

I used to buy it by the 55 gal drum for the business from a local manufacturer. That was the smallest quantity they sold, due to the low profit and relative inexpense (around $1.95/gal in the drum).

[Tim Lingor]

Hey,

I have used the Rain-X De-Icer in my wife's vehicles for quite a few years without a single problem! I keep a spray bottle full of the Rain-X De-Icer just to use on my truck's windshield and wipers on those mornings where the ice has literally froze them to the glass. Great stuff in my opinion!

Tim