What do y’all use for windshield washer fluid? I’ve had my car for two years now and the little windshield washer fluid warning light came on. And, sure enough, it’s out. I looked and the reservoir is HUGE (estimate at least 1.5 gallons).
So, I was going to just fill it from the hose and make a dilute Windex mix by tossing in about a half-bottle of such. But why wing it when I’ve got y’all at hand?
What should I do to make the evil windshield washer fluid warning light go away, and have deluxe bug gut removal at my disposal again?
Buy a gallon of winshield wiper fluid at a k-mart, target, wal-mart, or a gas station. You don’t need to make your own. It’s cheap, and probably better than what you can make on your own.
I use Blast. It works really well and it’s about $1.89 a gallon. To clean the inside of my windshield, I use baby wipes. With NO aloe or lotion or anything because it will smear. Also, go directly behind the baby wipe with a paper towel.
random is absolutely right. What’s more, washer fluid will have a lower freezing point than water so your washers will work even at freezing temperatures. You can get a gallon for 99 cents to $2.00 at grocery stores or auto parts stores.
I also seem to remember hearing at some point that little critters can grow in the resevoir if you use straight water, clogging up the hoses and/or nozzles if they get sent through the pump. If washer fluid is used, said little critters won’t grow, and your washer system will be safe. It could be a UL, but I’m content with paying the $1.69 for my gallon of fluid. Cuts through road salt and bug guts a lot better than water does, too.
I use an all season formula-gets bugs and road grime off in the summer as well as ice in the winter. Costs 50 cents more than regular winshield wiper fluid.
Another cool thing I found is if your windows are really grimed up pure ammonia makes them like new! (now don’t put pure ammonia in your wiper fluid resevoir!)
Beatle, this may seem like an off-the-wall question, but you do change your oil regularly, right? I’m not asking this to be a smartass, but most oil change places also fill your windshield wiper fluid at the same time, and your question seems to show that you don’t have a whole lot of experience with cars.
The blue stuff you buy at the store won’t freeze, but aside from the fact that it won’t streak, it doesn’t really clean very well. It is water (to rinse crap off) mixed with some alcohol (to prevent freezing). No detergent at all, usually.
A tablespoon of Windex topped off with a gallon or so of clean water will work better, as long as it doesn’t freeze.- MC