Washer Fluid Recommendations?

[ACAD_Cowboy]

As a slave to clean glass, I like the green stuff in summer, more detergent and either the yellow or orange in winter, more alcohol. The rainx component I dont find terribly worth it but costco sells it dirt cheap.

When making your own I find that demineralized water of any variety, 1 gallon. 1/2 cup denatured alcohol and a table spoon of simple green or dish detergent if its super buggy where you are. I have heard rumor that you can replace the alcohol with high test white vinegar and get similar results.

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[ShadowsPapa]

As a slave to clean glass, I like the green stuff in summer, more detergent and either the yellow or orange in winter, more alcohol. The rainx component I dont find terribly worth it but costco sells it dirt cheap.

When making your own I find that demineralized water of any variety, 1 gallon. 1/2 cup denatured alcohol and a table spoon of simple green or dish detergent if its super buggy where you are. I have heard rumor that you can replace the alcohol with high test white vinegar and get similar results.

Interesting. I'd be real sure to rinse off anything with vinegar, though, as it's acid. In fact, it will corrode aluminum, copper/brass and other stuff pretty quickly. I use it to sharpen files. A mix of water and some white vinegar in a plastic tray, set your files in it over night and it etches and sharpens them - but don't leave them longer and rinse the heck out of 'em when done.

But vinegar is great for washing windows, for sure. it's in a lot of tips for washing windows at home.

 

[Klutch]

I never use my washer fluid. I don't clean my windshields by using the wipers in any of my vehicles. The only time I use my wipers is during a rain.
I would rather just make sure my windshield is clean before I drive.

That won't work in Colorado when you've got constant rain or slush with dirt splashing onto the windshield.

 

[mazeppa]

All you ever wanted to know about windshield washer fluids see:

Bob is the Washer Fluid Guy

https://bobisthewasherfluidguy.com/forums/

 

[ACAD_Cowboy]

I thought bob was the oil guy... Bob get's around.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

The stuff on the front of this truck - that makes the grill area almost white - imagine that on the windshield and no washer fluid.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

All you ever wanted to know about windshield washer fluids see:

Bob is the Washer Fluid Guy

https://bobisthewasherfluidguy.com/forums/

The tech info from Bob is fine, but the forums are ordinary people - and at least in the oil forum of his site, the info can be less than good.

 

[johnparjr]

I use the same blinker fluid for windshield washer fluid as well saves money

 

[Rubi-Zero]

That won't work in Colorado when you've got constant rain or slush with dirt splashing onto the windshield.

If it’s raining or slush I’d be using my wipers like I said I just don’t use the washer fluid. Once all that stops I clean the windshield.

The stuff on the front of this truck - that makes the grill area almost white - imagine that on the windshield and no washer fluid.

That’s obviously after it dried so now it needs a bathThe front of mine has looked the same and I would either wash the Jeep or just clean the windshield.

 

[Gvsukids]

A longer thread on this topic...
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...her-fluid-we-use-rainx-what-do-you-use.17949/

 

[AmishMike]

I have found that the higher the alcohol content, the quicker it dries out the wipers themselves. So only run the colder blends in the winter as needed.
BG products makes a concentrate that if used straight is good for -134*F we use that to add to a frozen bottle of washerfluid when there is not time to let it thaw on it's own. I suppose straight alcohol would work too.

 

[Bucephalus]

https://www.amazon.com/P21S-11250F-Booster-Measure-Bottle/dp/B002LOUJ4A

I've used this on all my cars for 15+ years.

 

[Jeepguy002]

I never use my washer fluid. I don't clean my windshields by using the wipers in any of my vehicles. The only time I use my wipers is during a rain.
I would rather just make sure my windshield is clean before I drive.

You obviously don't have to worry about salt use on the roads during winter. I can go through my washer fluid in a week during winter time as the salt spray from other cars coats the windshield and obscures vision almost completely.

 

[ACAD_Cowboy]

https://www.amazon.com/P21S-11250F-Booster-Measure-Bottle/dp/B002LOUJ4A

I've used this on all my cars for 15+ years.

Pretty much a straight shot of alcohol and detergent/surfactant to be added to straight water.

One of my old BMW's had the big washer tank for cleaning and a little tank where you would fill it with the P21S type fluid, straight, and it would on demand increase the crud cutting while boosting flow and heating it. Ahh german engineering.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

If it’s raining or slush I’d be using my wipers like I said I just don’t use the washer fluid. Once all that stops I clean the windshield.

That’s obviously after it dried so now it needs a bathThe front of mine has looked the same and I would either wash the Jeep or just clean the windshield.

While driving, though, it dries and makes it bad enough you can't see, and if the sun is up at all, the GLARE, or the glare from headlights at night. Gotta have washer fluid or you aren't going far.

The truck got washed - I pulled into one of my favorite car washes - as I approached I saw a business van parked out front and two guys talking, one I had seen around there before. I pulled into the stall and got out, looked over my truck for anything loose or that needed special attention before getting the wand and swiping my credit card. The one guy walks up to me and says "thank you for using my car wash, I'm trying a new soap today and want to see how it looks on your truck". OK, I pull out my wallet, start for the credit cars and he says no, just push start, it's all ready to go.
FREE car wash, it didn't run out of time so I got to really get the bugs and crud off the grill and windshield, washed and rinsed it good up underneath.
His new soap worked pretty well, by the way, and wasn't as hard to rinse off as some others, not as many residual "suds" to deal with in all of the body joints of a Jeep.

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