Frozen windshield washer fluid

[mtnagel]

I just wanted to give everyone a heads up on a problem I had with my 2000 GA.

About a week and a half ago, my squirters stopped squirting. Since it's been snowy and slushy here, it's really been a safety hazard when slush splashes up on my windshield. I took it into the local repair shop and the guy told me I had about a 3 inch solid block of ice in the washer fluid resevoir (and "some snotty looking stuff" - mechanics words). I normally buy the more expensive stuff, usually the Rain-X brand but for some reason, I got the cheap blue stuff last time. It was fine all summer, but since we've been having single digit temps at night lately, the cheap stuff didn't cut it. The mechanic said that some of the blue stuff is just mostly water with food coloring in it. I not sure if I really believe that, but apparently, this stuff had a freezing point that was probably around 5F, which is definitely not sufficient for winter.

I'm just praying that the freezing of this stuff didn't cause any leaks when it expanded in the resevoir. The mechanic said it didn't look like it was leaking, but wasn't sure. In the end it cost me $90 for them to take it apart and get the ice and snotty stuff out. I'm just lucky it didn't break the pump (I thought I burned it out since I didn't here the pumping noise anymore, but thankfully it wasn't).

I think from now on, I will use the Prestone De-Icer (it says it has a freezing point of -34F, which hopefully would be good enough).

I figured I would let everyone know for future reference. Has anyone else had the washer fluid freeze on them??

[Jason Lesbirel]

Funny - the "blue" stuff sold in these parts is good to -40 degrees Celsius, which coincidentally is also -40 degrees Fahrenheit. I'd say you had some water in there, too.

I personally use a new product available in Canada from Canadian Tire - it contains 3 times as much detergent as a typical windshield wiper fluid, so the window gets clean, and Teflon, to help the wipers do their jobs.

Man this stuff works good - brought my wipers back from the dead, and what's better, the stuff is good to -45 deg. C, or -49 degrees Fahrenheit.

The best part is that it costs about as much as regular-priced WWF - 2,99$ CDN. for 4 litres.

[redgrandam]

I've used the cheap stuff all winter, (down to about -25 Celcius), and this is the no name cheap stuff, which is prolly mostly water.. but no problems freezing on the tank.. I just don't use it sparingly.. lol...

[Cmnky16]

I use Prestone De-Icer. it remove ice and keeps it from coming back. I leaves a film where the wipers dont wipe.

[gold dragon]

yes I've had a problem with the fluid freezing I got PO'ed I thought my washer fluid guage was broken cause it wasn't shooting out the fluid so I thought it was empty and the gauge didn't light up so I was going to take it in to have it checked I'm glad I read this.

[Matt95GT]

Keep in mind not all "blue" fluids are created equal. Some have low freezing points, others are mostly water.

[mtnagel]

Ever since then, I haven't put anything in there except Prestone De-Icer (even in summer - I stock up over winter) and I haven't had a problem since and we've had some pretty cold temps this winter.

[mtnagel]

Originally posted by Jason Lesbirel
I personally use a new product available in Canada from Canadian Tire - it contains 3 times as much detergent as a typical windshield wiper fluid, so the window gets clean, and Teflon, to help the wipers do their jobs.

Man this stuff works good - brought my wipers back from the dead, and what's better, the stuff is good to -45 deg. C, or -49 degrees Fahrenheit.

The best part is that it costs about as much as regular-priced WWF - 2,99$ CDN. for 4 litres. This stuff sounds interesting. Is there a US-equivalent for Canadian Tire?

[RocketFast321]

I use the blue stuff you get at wal-mart for about $1.50 maybe less. I don't mix it with water and it has not frozen yet. The lower temp. i use it was around here was 10 degree F and it worked fine