Windshield washer fluid is now pc?

[CRuth]

I'm out so I go to my local auto parts store. All they have is this "summer" version. Its not cold here but hey, I may make a trip or two up mountains and I want some freeze protection. Another auto parts store, almost the same thing. Finally I find a concentrate that protects against freezing----but I'm not supposed to use it in CA unless I live the following counties (lists some mountain counties). Let me rephrase, it says it protects to -25 but living where I do I'm only supposed to mix it a concentration that protects to 10degrees.



I'm just amazed the air resources board has gone that far. Obviously they aren't going to come around and check to see what I actually mixxed it to (think I followed the instructions?) but I can't buy premixxed anymore if want freeze protection.

 

[RankRam]

Wow Commiefornia never ceases to amaze me!#@$%!

 

[MMeier]

I'm out so I go to my local auto parts store. All they have is this "summer" version. Its not cold here but hey, I may make a trip or two up mountains and I want some freeze protection. Another auto parts store, almost the same thing. Finally I find a concentrate that protects against freezing----but I'm not supposed to use it in CA unless I live the following counties (lists some mountain counties). Let me rephrase, it says it protects to -25 but living where I do I'm only supposed to mix it a concentration that protects to 10degrees.



I'm just amazed the air resources board has gone that far. Obviously they aren't going to come around and check to see what I actually mixxed it to (think I followed the instructions?) but I can't buy premixxed anymore if want freeze protection.

Just dump the stuff in there full strength and run with it. Wally world has a -25 fluid that doubles as a bug wash also.

 

[DPellegrin]

The washer fluid here in MN. is 50% methanol and 50% water. Sometimes it is dyed blue and sometimes pink. My guess is the CA. washer fluid does not have as much methanol (methyl alcohol), thus its lower freeze protection and lower vapor pressure to reduce VOCs. Add a little methanol and you will improve the freeze protection. If you can not find methanol try some isopropyl (sometimes called rubbing alcohol) they are both polar solvents and will mix with water very well. Just a word of caution: Both these fluids are flammable so just make sure your concentration in water is at least 50%.

 

[JFaulkner]

The washer fluid here in MN. is 50% methanol and 50% water. Sometimes it is dyed blue and sometimes pink. My guess is the CA. washer fluid does not have as much methanol (methyl alcohol), thus its lower freeze protection and lower vapor pressure to reduce VOCs. Add a little methanol and you will improve the freeze protection. If you can not find methanol try some isopropyl (sometimes called rubbing alcohol) they are both polar solvents and will mix with water very well. Just a word of caution: Both these fluids are flammable so just make sure your concentration in water is at least 50%.

All this is correct however I don't recommend rubbing alcohol simply because of the smell. I did this on a semi and when it runs off the window it passes the vent for the AC/heater and pulls that odor right in the truck.

 

[DieselDoghouse]

Geez, I wonder what der Comminators would think of me driving thru Cali WITH methanol washer fluid HEATED to 130° in the safevue?!!:-laf

 

[JGK]

Methanol has to be in much much higher concentration than 50% to water to be flammable. As much as about 10 or 20 percent water will kill it's flammability.



If you want to add methanol to your wiper fluid as an anti-freeze, just buy some "Heet" fuel dryer in the yellow bottle, if you can find it. That's methanol.



-Jay

 

[JFaulkner]

Not to be confused with the "meth" you can buy from that weird guy downtown with no teeth. :-laf

 

[DieselDoghouse]

Man, does that keep your washer unfrozen TOO?!

 

[DPellegrin]

I just want to restate my caution about flamability. Pure methanol has a flash point of 52F. A 50% methanol and 50% water solution still has a flash point of 75F. So just make sure when you are blending this stuff the temperature is 75F or lower!!



Regards,

 

[MrBee]

The best thing I got out of Commiefornia was me. BTW... I am sure that the washer fluid there is pink.

 

[RClark]

When I'm out of state I always try and buy some GOOD washer fluid.

 

[Highfinance97]

When I'm out of state I always try and buy some GOOD washer fluid.

"Bootleging Washer solvent"


Just when you thought you've heard it all:-laf


Michael

 

[Bachant]

Nothing ever surprises me about the Peoples Republic of California.

 

[Forrest Nearing]

just pour a bottle of Heet in there...



they probably don't sell that there

 

[drury]

I'm wanting the good stuff for my water/meth injection. I just tried to special order a case through my local auto parts store, and the guy got on the phone with the distributor and was told it was illegal and they couldn't sell it. This despite the fact we are at 2800 feet, and had snow last night. Bottles of HEET are going to get pricy. I think I'm going to go to a race fuel store and buy some smaller containers of pure methanol and dilute it myself. Although I would really prefer not to be storing fuel around the house.

 

[Doubleclutch]

Yes guys, it's true! They dip your tank for Red fuel... and washer bottle too. I don't know why you guys left, it's a riot living here!

Greg

 

[sid325]

I couldn't find any in the Bay Area, but they sold it in Tahoe. The parts store told me the same thing, only certain counties could sell it. Stupid.....

 

[Matt42]

Can you get denatured alcohol at Home Depot? That's what I use here. Not because of the gov't, but that the low temperature stuff is really hard to find.

 

[pvanwig]

None in Big Bear

I ran in to this problem last winter. Just added a little rubbing alcohol with orange smells a little better and may help reduce streaks. :-laf