Comments on: Make Your Own Windshield Wiper Fluid

By: Pastshelfdate

Pastshelfdate — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:36:06 +0000

Did you ever check the roof of the passenger compartment? That’s where ammonia spray would have gone. Driving is like being in a backward-blowing wind, and ammonia from the washer fluid would not tend to get on the hood, especially not all over it. I suspect something else damaged the paint on your hood.
I have run across a warning that if there is any copper tubing in the washer system, that ammonia would react with it and cause problems.

By: Thriftylady

Thriftylady — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 22:34:17 +0000

MORE RECIPES
Found this on annother site: “Add 2 ounces of gas line antifreeze(methyl hydrate) and fill jug with water and add food coloring just for color..(i use 15 drops of blue) estimated cost comes to less than 1 dollar for 4 liters(cdn)
Has anyone tried using methyl hydrate?

By: Thriftylady

Thriftylady — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 22:24:52 +0000

I’m totally with you on that point!! The wasted fuel tansporting ‘modified water’ and the waste of all that plastic!! Why don’t they have re-fill stations at various locations like hardware stores, gas stations etc. But to give a cynical reply: that would make sense! (and not as much profit)

By: Thriftylady

Thriftylady — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 22:15:05 +0000

How cold does it get where you live?
I would like to make my own washer fluid – for one reason that i get mad with all the wasted , strong plastic containers!! We get some minus 20°C temps so I need to be sure that the washer fluid can cope with that. I guess one way to find out would be to leave some out in the garage. What ratio of rubbing alcohol to water do you use?

By: Ash

Ash — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 19:54:44 +0000

It’s winter and this is good info – microbial, paint fade, etc. I was about to make up my own ww fluid but after reading all of the above, I’m heading to Wallyworld to pick up a gallon for the extreme cold temps. As someone stated already, the cost for a gallon of this stuff is very reasonable considering the work it does.

Thanks and Happy Holidays to all.

By: Sheila

Sheila — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 15:31:47 +0000

I live in North Florida and it is summer most of the year – winter really only exists in Jan & Feb, so I have used distilled water and a few drops of all purpose cleaner (ex:Mr. Green, Zep or Melaluka. Make sure the cleaner does not contain any solvents – or your paint job will reflect it. The sun here is brutal and will bake anything. And distilled water, since in the South we have really hard water and all the lime and calcium will build up in the system, costing lots more in replacement parts.

By: Nancy

Nancy — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 20:35:35 +0000

Years ago I was a frugal college student. I used water with a little ammonia in it for a general purpose cleaner at home. Worked great. I decided to use it in the windshield washer reservoir as well. It seemed to work fine… but after a couple of years the hood of the car had lost all it’s shine and did not match the rest of the car. That’s when I realized the ammonia ruined the paint. I’m glad it was an old car. Never use ammonia in water for your windshield cleaner.

By: ROGER LEAHEY

ROGER LEAHEY — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 21:46:13 +0000

Caution: Never operate your window washer without fluid. You can quickly burn out the pump motor and will wind up with a costly and unnecessary repair. Also, I had a bottle of blue washer fluid on my garage shelf for a long time. It formed clumps of gunk in the fluid. Make sure you know what you are pouring into your washer tank!

By: Bill

Bill — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 21:39:16 +0000

Great post!
All things aside, shipping truck loads of diluted cleaner all over a continent is likely more environmentally destructive than the dab of methanol. Then look at the plastic and packaging material waste. Let’s be real. This is for bargain minded environmentalist. Fuel system treatments I checked, HEAT brand, the diesel was methanol and the gas version was isopropyl. I have heard they are suitable as the antifreeze and solvent in the washer mixtures.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 18:23:28 +0000

Also very important: Make sure there is an actibacterial agent in your fluid (isopropanol works great and also precents icing/freezing).

A study of British truck drivers who have a high incidence of Legionnaires disease isolated the use of plain water as windshield wiper fluid as a likely cause.

In a warm environment (the wiper fluid reservoir under the hood), in plain water over months, bacteria will flourish. Then, it get’s sprayed up into the air and becomes a health hazard. So be sure to use something that’s not toxic to inhale and is anti-microbial.

By: Lynn

Lynn — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 13:34:35 +0000

Found Automotive Windex for a $1 at Freds. Put. 1/4 cup and rest water. Works great! Probably won’t do this in freezing temps. Better to get the other premade stuff then.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 13:34:25 +0000

You could probably just dilute a gallon of regular windshield washer fluid too- just split it between two or three gallons and fill the rest up with water. That would probably work here in Minnesota for most of the year. It’s just two or three months when it really gets below zero, and you would need full strength.

By: Brandon

Brandon — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 11:13:00 +0000

My grandfather used to make washer fluid with Windex, a tiny drop of dish-soap (sounds crazy I know) and the rest was water. He would usually add blue dye to it too, (just to differentiate between all the different bottles of homemade stuff, hehe).

I have had some luck with that method, but one thing I wanted to post was that I once experimented with putting a “tiny” drop of ANTI-FREEZE in with my concoction. Not a good idea!! It took months of clean fluid to wash-out the oily substance. Be careful before you DIY!

By: Louise

Louise — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 15:12:26 +0000

I have heard that there is a certain color of fluid you’re not to use in a Toyota. Does anyone know, and why?

By: Chiot's Run

Chiot's Run — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 23:26:02 +0000

So if the bacteria from using water as windshield washer fluid will get atomized into your ventilation system being “dangerous” how about the toxic chemicals in the windshield washer fluid? I think I’ll choose risk of bacteria over toxic chemicals.

For those worried about freezing, try mixing up a small batch with alcohol at various concentrations and put in your freezer. You’ll figure out what will work well in your particular climate.