# Ethanol-based windshield washer fluid - safe? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 23, 2008, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethanol-based-windshield-washer-fluid-safe/474095 "2008-11-23T14:47:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Yeah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/dbc845/32.png) [@Yeah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeah)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethanol-based-windshield-washer-fluid-safe/474095/1 "2008-11-23T14:47:25Z")
Where I live, vodka is much cheaper than subzero windshield washer fluid. Any reason I shouldn’t pour rotgut into the fluid reservoir? (Yes, I did a web search. But I trust this board more than Google.) ---
**Author:** ![Debon\_Err](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ea924/32.png) [@Debon\_Err](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debon_Err)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethanol-based-windshield-washer-fluid-safe/474095/2 "2008-11-23T14:48:48Z")
Flammability issues would be my first concern. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethanol-based-windshield-washer-fluid-safe/474095/3 "2008-11-23T14:58:37Z")
FWIW the factory fill on the windshield washer system on some European cars is drinking alcohol. The reasoning is that if there is an alcoholic on board the ship they don’t want him going blind. The problem with putting vodka in the system is that it has no cleaners in it, like windshield washer fluid does. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethanol-based-windshield-washer-fluid-safe/474095/4 "2008-11-23T15:59:27Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > FWIW the factory fill on the windshield washer system on some European cars is drinking alcohol. The reasoning is that if there is an alcoholic on board the ship they don’t want him going blind. Ship? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethanol-based-windshield-washer-fluid-safe/474095/5 "2008-11-23T16:00:34Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > Ship? A really big boat. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethanol-based-windshield-washer-fluid-safe/474095/6 "2008-11-23T20:49:50Z")
> [@](#): > > The problem with putting vodka in the system is that it has no cleaners in it, like windshield washer fluid does. OK, so what if you used vodka mixed with a little dish detergent? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethanol-based-windshield-washer-fluid-safe/474095/7 "2008-11-23T20:57:34Z")
Dish detergent is likely to leave a film of residue, but some ammonia should do nicely, instead. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethanol-based-windshield-washer-fluid-safe/474095/8 "2008-11-23T22:06:26Z")
> [@Q.E.D](#): > > Dish detergent is likely to leave a film of residue, but some ammonia should do nicely, instead. I’d hate to be driving behind the guy who sprays vodka and ammonia all over his windshied if I have my windows open. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethanol-based-windshield-washer-fluid-safe/474095/9 "2008-11-23T22:18:25Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > I’d hate to be driving behind the guy who sprays vodka and ammonia all over his windshied if I have my windows open. Heh. So would I! Imagine trying to explain _that_ to the police. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethanol-based-windshield-washer-fluid-safe/474095/10 "2008-11-23T22:43:03Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > Ship? It’s a little tough to drive a car from Europe to America. European car makers use big assed boats called ships to transport their cars to America. For that matter so do the Asians. Here is one such [ship](http://www.walleniuslines.com/en/Our-business/Fleet-List1/) Basically they are one huge floating parking garage, where all the cars are chained down. Here is what the inside of one of those ships looks [like](http://web.archive.org/web/20060211200313/www.blognewsnetwork.com/members/0000001/mpg/tricolorAutos/tricolorAutos-Pages/Image3.html). More pictures of the MV Tricolor [here](http://web.archive.org/web/20050714033910/http://www.blognewsnetwork.com/members/0000001/mpg/tricolorAutos/tricolorAutos.html). Here is the story of what [happened](http://www.cedre.fr/uk/spill/tricolor/tricolor.htm). ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethanol-based-windshield-washer-fluid-safe/474095/11 "2008-11-23T23:20:15Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > I’d hate to be driving behind the guy who sprays vodka and ammonia all over his windshied if I have my windows open. Ha! Topping off my regular season washer fluid with some Osco brand vodka (the worst on Earth) sounds like it could work. ---
**Author:** ![Genericuser234](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/5daacb/32.png) [@Genericuser234](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Genericuser234)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2008, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethanol-based-windshield-washer-fluid-safe/474095/12 "2008-11-23T23:55:04Z")
I wonder how well the “Oh, I use Vodka for windshied fluid” story will go when the cops pull you over for whatever reason and your car reeks of liquor. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethanol-based-windshield-washer-fluid-safe/474095/13 "2008-11-24T01:02:37Z")
> [@marochko](#): > > I wonder how well the “Oh, I use Vodka for windshied fluid” story will go when the cops pull you over for whatever reason and your car reeks of liquor. 😛 “Breathalyze me.” ---
**Author:** ![Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Throatwarbler_Mangrove)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethanol-based-windshield-washer-fluid-safe/474095/14 "2008-11-24T03:41:42Z")
> [@](#): > > Flammability issues would be my first concern. You…might be a little concerned to discover that [methanol](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windshield_washer_fluid), which IIRC most washer fluids are based on, is also flammable. My car comes from the factory equipped with an intercooler water sprayer, which sprays windshield washer fluid directly on to the intercooler, which sits in front of the radiator which is in turn in front of the exhaust manifold and turbocharger. Later versions of this car came with a separate tank for the intercooler spray. Obviously, my version was the version designed for real men. ---
**Author:** ![Rhubarb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/59ef9b/32.png) [@Rhubarb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhubarb)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethanol-based-windshield-washer-fluid-safe/474095/15 "2008-11-24T04:02:47Z")
I saw an episode of the Tonight Show where Johnny Carson was interviewing a lady who had written a book about household cleaning tips. Basically, she was the world’s best cleaning lady. One of the tips she related on the show was that instead of buying Windex or other commercial glass cleaner, she used a mixture of distilled water and rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol, claiming it was more effective and much cheaper. I have tried this solution and it works very well. As for flammability, IANAChemist, but I think you’d want to keep the proportion of alcohol to water at less than 25% to be on the safe side. A quick check of the _Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 28th edition, 1944_ tells me that a 25% solution will protect against freezing down to ~5 °F. A 30% solution freezes at -2 °F. ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethanol-based-windshield-washer-fluid-safe/474095/16 "2008-11-24T04:06:36Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > “Breathalyze me.” “Honest officer, it’s my windsheild washer fluid. I’d let you breathalyze me, but I had a few drinks back at the office.” ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethanol-based-windshield-washer-fluid-safe/474095/17 "2008-11-24T04:08:27Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > Here is the story of what [happened](http://www.cedre.fr/uk/spill/tricolor/tricolor.htm). What does the story of one of the ships sinking have to do with anything? > [@Rick](#): > > FWIW the factory fill on the windshield washer system on some European cars is drinking alcohol. The reasoning is that if there is an alcoholic on board the ship they don’t want him going blind. > The problem with putting vodka in the system is that it has no cleaners in it, like windshield washer fluid does. Is normal washing fluid in cars full of enough alcohol to attract alcoholics?? Wouldn’t they just bring their own drink on board? This seems like a bizarre prevention to think of. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethanol-based-windshield-washer-fluid-safe/474095/18 "2008-11-24T04:23:01Z")
> [@Rhubarb](#): > > I saw an episode of the Tonight Show where Johnny Carson was interviewing a lady who had written a book about household cleaning tips. Basically, she was the world’s best cleaning lady. One of the tips she related on the show was that instead of buying Windex or other commercial glass cleaner, she used a mixture of distilled water and rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol, claiming it was more effective and much cheaper. I have tried this solution and it works very well. One of my landlords once told me you only need three things to clean the house, vinegar, ammonia and bleach. I looked at him cockeyed and said “So what, I just mix them all in a bucket and start cleaning?” I was joking (he didn’t realize it) but his eyes just about popped out of his head with the thought of doing that. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethanol-based-windshield-washer-fluid-safe/474095/19 "2008-11-24T05:10:39Z")
> [@jackdavinci](#): > > What does the story of one of the ships sinking have to do with anything? This post was in response to post #4 from **CookingWithGas**. I wanted to show what the inside of one of these ships looks like, and the pictures of the Tricolor salvage was the easiest way to do that. I know damn well that if I just posted a pic with no explanation, there would be a whole bunch of WTF posts. So I posted a link to the story of what happened. And I get a why the fuck post. :smack: Some days you just can’t win. > [@](#): > > Is normal washing fluid in cars full of enough alcohol to attract alcoholics?? Wouldn’t they just bring their own drink on board? This seems like a bizarre prevention to think of. Yes, since it has to have enough alcohol in it to keep from freezing. After all these cars could be headed to somewhere in the Canadian prairies at -40. (C or F your call) As far as bringing it on board, first off the ship only spends about 12-18 hours in port, and the crew generally doesn’t get liberty. Furthermore, I am guessing you have never worked around an alcoholic have you?\* They are always just going to have one drink, or just this one bottle. Then when that is done, they are just going to have just one more. As my father told me, an alcoholic is the guy that buys 1/2 pint bottles cause he is just going to drink just one. He may buy 4 a day, but he is just going to drink that one. So sooner or later a shipboard alcoholic will run out of his stash. At that point the alcoholic will turn to whatever they can get their hands on. Sterno for [example](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sterno). No Sterno on board ship, so what else is there? Windshield washer fluid. is one easy answer. As far as bizarre goes, this is a very Swedish way of thinking. ::: shrug::: After all the years I have spent around them and their products, it seem somewhat normal to me. \*I had a couple of recovering alcoholics in class once and they started telling stories about their drinking. Wow, just wow. All of the rest of us in that class had this expression :eek: if we have any recovering alcoholics that are willing to share their stories, you might be amazed, I know I was. ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethanol-based-windshield-washer-fluid-safe/474095/20 "2008-11-24T07:02:55Z")
Why don’t they just leave the washer fluid empty until it gets to the dealership instead of buying drinking alcohol for the alcoholics on the ship. I mean, I guess they expect it to be empty when it gets off the ship anyway. Why go to the trouble and expense to give away free booze? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethanol-based-windshield-washer-fluid-safe/474095.md?page=2)