Alcohol as Windshield Washer Fluid Anti-Freeze

Perhaps, but it should be a no smoking car you have there. Dry air on winter makes it most likely a fire advantage. Your windshield will gonna be flaming just like the eyes of ghost rider

Yep, that's the stuff.

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Windshield-Washer-Fluid
...or you could just put a heater on it.....
http://www.amazon.com/AlphaTherm-AT-38OD-Windshield-Washer-Heater/dp/B0034GW1WW

What a view. If you're inside this, i don't think if its a comfort.

It's called: waiting for a break in the weather. :-)

Or, another reason to move south?

I think they are going to have to wait for that break in the weather first before they head south.

I just call that Winter in Chicago.

(Although Winter seems to be showing up late this year, I hate when that happens, when it shows up late it tries to cram all the cold into the time remaining, so you get a mild start, and then the temperature drops to around -80ºF with a wind chill factor of -400ºF for the last month and a half, and the snow mounds don't finish melting away until July.)

1Z Einszett Anti‑frost Was...$8.99

But, I live in Arizona. The only ice I'm familiar with comes in a glass.

It is generally under $2.00 for a gallon. But then it may not be as common in Arizona. Don't put it in your glass unless you want to be blind.

I only melt my ice with tequila. I usually skip the ice and go neat.

Although, when in a festive mood, I might also use training wheels.

Just buy some online...

http://www.amazon.com/einszett-949515-Anti-Frost-Windshield-Concentrate/dp/B004PGS368/ref=sr_1_4/181-1365625-2331168?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1419010354&sr=1-4

The printing industry has been using isopropyl alcohol in its solutions without harm to rubber tubing, rollers or plastic parts.

My dad wad a physician - as part of his career he worked at an addiction rehab clinic - he became very cautious around methanol, to the point he made his own washer fluid using isopropyl. He bought it in 5 gallon metal cans of "industrial" quality at a far less expense than the drug store certified brands. He also added a few drops of dish detergent.

I just use the stuff from "Canadian Tire" or "Home Hardware" or the local grocery store or service station.

going slightly off topic...methanol has been used forever in drag racing.the last few years many street racers as well as RV users have rediscovered how methanol injection along with water not only reduce intake temps but greatly increase octane in boosted engines. the cheap guys buy winter windshield washer fluid thats "usually" about 50% methanol/water and pump that into their intakes and raise their boost for towing and racing.http://www.bankspower.com/products/show/447/99

† Not legal for sale or use on emissions-controlled vehiclesThat takes a lot of fun out of it.

I always obey the law when it comes to horsepower

Up until the mid-50's when ethylene glycol started to be used in most cars, Methyl Alcohol, (wood alcohol) was used almost exclusively for the cooling system fluid in vehicles. It had to be checked at the end of fall to see what tem it was good for. More usually had to be added. With the advent of vehicle air conditioning, with its pressurized cooling systems, it was no longer suitable for this application.

Ever since there has been moonshiners and methyl alcohol they have diluted their moonshine with it to make 'shine go farther in volume. Unfortunately this has no appreciable "kick" to it and long time use causes blindness.

Good Luck, Old Salt

"Coworkers claim to freeze home made beer to separate the water from the alcohol allowing them to increase the octane of the beer."

The Germans have done this for years. It is commercially available, even in the USA. Ice beer can be as high as 20% alcohol. I've drank (drunk) 13.5% and on an empty stomach, when you are used to the weak US beers, a stein of that nearly puts you on the floor, because who drinks beer like whiskey? You put beer down in gulps. Legend says the original ice beer was a mistake discovered when a keg froze, I believe as long ago as the 14th century.

It might be worth adding something about OP's concern that he would end up with chunks of ice in the hoses.

Ice will only start to separate out when the temperature falls to the freezing point of the % alcohol mixture given in #9, so if it's strong enough in the first place it won't happen. I doubt it would do any damage if it did freeze, plenty of times I've had washers fail as frozen up, but OK after thawing. But not where it's cold enough to freeze everything solid, so I'll stand correcting if somebody knows better.

BTW the FP of ethanol is even lower than methanol, about -100°C (-148°F) at 100%.

Interesting that methanol is only $2 per gallon and isopropanol less than 1$ per quart. I'll try to source some in UK. Here most people buy a proprietary mixture which is a lot dearer. I've used diluted methylated spirit before now (mostly ethanol with enough methanol to make it poisonous) but it's not that cheap. Does give a nice smell when the washers are used though

Windshield washer mixture differs by season.

The summer mix is usually around 20% methanol,with a little synterg (detergent) and a

little color added.

The winter mix is usually 50% methanol,to de-ice the windshield.

The other ingredients are the same.

Make sure you buy the winter mix for cold climates and seasons.

The current effective formulas for windshield washer fluids consist of:

Methanol (Methyl Alcohol, wood alcohol, carbinol, wood naphtha, or wood spirits among other names). 45-50% methanol, 45-50% water and 5% Iso-propyl alcohol will stay fluid till about -50^oF.

Ethanol (Ethyl Alcohol, Alcohol; Alcohol anhydrous; Algrain; Anhydrol; Denatured ethanol; Ethyl hydrate; Grain Alcohol; Ethyl hydroxide, among others) 100% will protect down to -173^oF. A 50% solution with water protects down to -25^oF. 100 proof Vodka will protect down to the same temperature.

Isopropyl Alcohol (Isopropanol, 2-Propanol, rubbing alcohol, etc,) 100% will protect down to -128^oF. A 50% with water will protect down to -5^oF. A popular concentration of 70% will protect down to -20^oF. 90% will protect down to -70^oF.

The streaking you see after using it and it evaporates is most likely a combination of the dirt and the detergent, usually up to 5%, that is in the formula to make it so that it cleans the windshield some. Problem is that your car doesn't have a soapless rinse solution so the soap streaks.

The choice is yours. Get the one you think will meet the properties you want. The best way to see what each product uses for the active component, some people will shout not to, is to gently smell the odor of each. Methyl Alcohol has the sweetest odor of all three. The other two can be done by comparison. If it smells like vodka it is Ethanol based. If it smells like rubbing alcohol it is Isopropanol (rubbing alcohol).

Neither will harm plastic. That is what they are bottled in. These three formulas have been used for many years, especially methanol, and have not harmed the pumps, rubber hoses, plastic, etc. The ethanol used is denatured with other products in order to eliminate liquor taxes.

Good Luck, Old Salt

I started wondering why ammonia wouldn't work...and I guess it will. Found this.

http://www.recochem.com/windexwash/products

Edit:

Maybe it doesn't contain ammonia, but it's readily available.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/29210139?www=true&productRedirect=true#ProductDetail

The only problem there is the smell.

The current formula for Vindex De-icer is around 15 to 40% Methanol,about 10 to 15% Ethylene Glycol,(anti-freeze) about 1% proprietary silicone co-polymer, and the remainder is water.

Yeah. I saw that after I posted. Only the summertime bug remover Windex has ammonia-D...whatever that is.

I've always liked the smell of Windex...smells like clean glass.

I would not consider ammonia because the fresh air intake on automobiles is located at the base of the windshield the ammonia fumes will be lethal to the occupants of the vehicle.

Normal Denatured or Methylated spirits (depends where you live) does a great job. I use it (about 20-30% Alcohol 80-70% water id a good start!) and a good shot of washing up liquid will get you clean screens. We get days down to -24°C in winter.....

I have never had any problems with any parts of all my cars over about 50 years. It has also never frozen here in Europe either.....though you need to use a little bit at least, every day as the "bit" sitting at the nozzle can lose its alcohol and freezes....if the screen is clean, a quick jab will do it. Once a day is usually enough....

If you have a smeary windscreen that nothing can clean, you may need to clean it first with silicone remover......it depends upon the environment where you live, how often, with me its about once a year or so........

I have never used any other alcohol other than that mentioned, which work fine and mix well with water...

If you get too much water in your fuel, a pint of meths added to a full tank of fuel will take the water with it through the engine. Water gone!!! Old trick!!

I have been in field services, sales and owned an auto repair facility... I have driven over 1 million miles and have been using Rain-X for over 31 years. Rain-X currently sells an additive for the windshild washer fluid system which I believe you must be talking about. I would first clean your windshield well at a gas station with currently changed fluid, at the same time use that fluid and paper towels and clean your windshield wipers until the paper towel shows no dirt on a wipe. This is the biggest problem that causes smearing and glaire... dirty wiper blades! Aply the origial Rain-X to your winshield once it's clean. All you need to do is add regular winter washer fluid or the alchohol you are talking about along with the Rain-x to your washer fluid container. In the AM, I do a quick wash-wipe with my blades while warming up. by the time I drive away, I have a clean windshield... drive on....

Rainx won't help when you are on the freeway and the roads are wet because they have been salted and sanded after a snow storm. You will be much better off with a standard methanol based windshield cleaner. Be sure to carry a spare because you will need lots of wash to get rid of the debris from the highway splashed constantly on your windshield from the traffic in front of you or passing you. Trucks are always the worst to be near. Rainx will be a waste under that condition of driving.

Do you ever get that haze that nothing will remove from your windshield?

Not even the best glass cleaner or windshield washer seems to work.

Try this:Use WD40 to clean the windshield and wipers,then use Dawn liquid solution to clean off the WD40.

The haze is not water soluble,but will yield to WD40 or mineral spirits.

Just be careful with the mineral spirits (don't use on wiper blades) on paint,and remember to remove it's residue with Dawn and rinse thoroughly.

Works for me.

There are sprays from car companies that are made to remove silicones and similar contamination from almost anything, not expensive and a can will keep the screen clean for many years to come.....

That film is the plasticizer subliming out of the vinyl dash board and depositing on the windshield.

These are mostly phthalate esters and are not water soluble.

On the outside of the screen?

I find the automatic car wash "wax" is horrible stuff to get off. When it rains it is like a greasing film that streaks terribly. I will try the WD 40 and Dawn. Also found "VIM" works well - but may be abrasive.

Sorry. I was referring to the inside haze.

That may be 100% true, but I was talking about the outside of the screen when I posted.

I assumed, maybe wrongly, that is what we were talking about as the OP was talking about "washer fluid" and I personally have not seen a washer of this type for the inside.....but always willing to learn more of course!!!

Note.

The "crap" on the inside of the screen seems to come off really easily on my cars...I generally use washing up liquid and water.....

But if it ever proved to not be easily cleanable, I would use a spray silicone remover that does not affect glass other than to make it really clean....

Right, the outside. My mistake.

Thank you to all that replied. I have been away from my computer for a while.

My problem is a lack of planning caused me to not be in a region that sells fluid with antifreeze until I am in a region that needs antifreeze. It is a chicken-and-the-egg that could result in a frozen washer system.

I added some isopropyl as a band-aid fix and hope I don't freeze the system before I can get some better fluid.

My Rain-X comments are related to whatever Rain-X leaves on the windshield to cause rain water to sheet off the windshield. I don't know how it works but I don't see any way for it to work without leaving something on the windshield. In a rainstorm I love Rain-X. Pointing a cold windshield east on a humid morning often gives me the opinion that the glare is worse.

If you're heading north from Fla, you should be able to find the non-freezing washer fluid by the time you hit central GA.

Asphalt has oil in it.

When it rains,some of the oil rises to the surface,and is atomized and mixed with water

and other contaminants to form a colloid that will cling tenaciously to your

windshield.

When dry,and the water leaves, a combination of oil,asphalt,tire rubber and rubber

compounds and the other residues remain on your windshield,which are rubbed into

the windshield by the wipers.

This is especially severe when it first begins to rain.

That is why most windshield washer fluids are not effective against this haze.

It never rains in Arizona. Our windshields are sand blasted.

WD-40 doesn't do much good.

No help for that after the fact.

Motocross riders have a peel-off plastic shield on their visors that they simply pull off

when it becomes too dirty to see,and a new one pulls into place or is exposed.

Perhaps someone could make a similar disposable shield for a windshield in

abrasive environments.

Race cars already use them, more for oil than sand.

Sand really isn't a big problem. My 2001 windshield is still not bad. (it does show some abrasion)

A GA for your post. Like it!!

Happy Christmas. (which is FAR nicer than a "Crappy Isthmus", don't you agree?)

"Do NOT use ethanol for a washer fluid this time of year, unless you want to learn more about breathalyzers. I whipped some up one time before leaving work (we always had drums of both denatured alcohol and IPA around) instead of going to the store, as I had to pick up a friend. At first she wouldn't get in because she was sure I'd been drinking!!"

Officer, I have not been drinking, but my windshield wipers have.

You'd have the cops looking around for Allan Funt. (The late host of the original Candid Camera show, for the youngsters. Think of it as the show that was the inspiration for Punk'd.)

Here is a timely article from the Globe and Mail. The article describes why you can still get freezing on your windshield and responds to why we don't see more companies selling -60C windshield fluid for bragging rights. Most windshield alcohol is methanol and is the product of choice for several reasons. From the article:

"Ethylene glycol turns to a gel at cold temperatures and would clog nozzles and make it tough to see out your windshield, Macchia says.

Methanol doesn't get viscous at low temperatures and it's not as corrosive as ethanol. Plus, it's a lot cheaper than the alternatives."

It makes for an interesting read. By the way, do not drink "Purple Jesus" made from lab alcohol or ethanol and grape juice. Some ethanol make-ups do contain a small percentage of methanol. That makes the stuff dangerous and can cause serious bodily harm.

"It makes for an interesting read. By the way, do not drink "Purple Jesus" made from lab alcohol or ethanol and grape juice."

If anyone in a chem lab hands me a beaker of something and says "here, drink this," my first thought would be that they're pulling a prank on me, and that stuff will do humiliating things to my GI tract in front of everyone. To be honest, I'd be reluctant to drink from the water cooler in a chem lab, there's a lot of things that look like water, taste like water, but act like ex-lax inside the body.

The fact that some of the 'pranks' can be dangerous/deadly just emphasises the need for caution around smiling lab techs.