Making Your Own Windshield Washer Fluid
With 3 cars, we have to keep 3 windshield washer reservoirs filled during the winter months. I used to see a gallon of fluid for only 99 cents, but now I can’t seem to find it anywhere for under $1.50. Therefore, I made it my mission to find a recipe for my own washer fluid that is still safe to use in my vehicle. I don’t want something that will corrode or deteriorate the fluid lines or spray nozzles, so I’m careful about the acidic nature of some recipes.
Note: the reason you have to use a “special solution” rather than just water is because the solution has chemicals that prevent the fluid from freezing in the lines. You can’t just put regular water in there, at least in the cold months.
When I Googled for a recipe, I found that eHow.com has a 5-step process. You basically water down regular window cleaner. However, it doesn’t calculate the costs of using window cleaner vs just buying the auto solution.
Many of the other results were just reposts of the eHow recipe, so if any of you make your own fluid, please comment with your recipe, your results and your cost breakdown!
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Ok, that’s just being cheap. I pay around 3 bucks for mine because it’s rated to -49C, I’m not taking any chance getting slush on my window and then spraying an ice sheet up my window while driving. In fact, I was thinking of even adding a windshield washer fluid heater, I got one for my Dad for Christmas one year and he loves it.
Traciatim, I will forcefully disagree with you. It is frugal, not cheap. I refuse to pay $1.50 for a bottle of blue-colored ammonia and water!
Now recall that I’m in the D.C. area, not the arctic north. I don’t have a need for anything below -10 degrees (even with wind chill). I can understand if you need more than just ammonia and water so that it doesn’t freeze, but making something for yourself rather than buying a premade product is never cheap. It’s inventive, frugal and often gratifying.
I suppose so, if you could save 75 cents when you were 20 and let it compound over 45 years you’d probably have around 10 bucks, what a steal. Why not just use Isopropyl Alcohol and water then, you’d be good to about -20C at a 50/50 mix, and it would be very streak free.
How much is a bottle of distilled water, 99 cents if I remember correctly . . . or are you distilling your own with a solar powered distillery?
Sorry, didn’t know I was up against a rocket scientist. I’ll shut up now. You seem to know it all. Thanks for the comments.
You aren’t putting tap water in your washer fluid are you? I sure wouldn’t trust my city to not have all kinds of weird grime in there that will eventually destroy the pump. At the very least let it settle for 24 hours in a container and then syphon out the top half of the water and use that.
I am not quite sure about the economical side of this, but this might be a good way to “teach” kids about chemistry. If I can get them to love studying and be curious about the things they don’t understand yet, it will be worth my time and effort.
Just my 2 cents.
When I do something frugal, I try to concentrate on the larger items. And when I do concentrate on the smaller items, it’s usually something that is recurring, which would net $100+/year savings. I only need a new container of washer fluid once a year and I but them on sale for a buck.
I’m sure you get a greater return on investment when you produce in bulk. Get a 50 gallon drum and mix the concoction in there. You’ll be set for life!
I might try this. I live in sunny California (though it is sometimes gloomy) so I don’t really need to worry about freezing temps. I try to use natural cleaners, including a natural window cleaner (Clorox makes one now) so I’d much prefer making my own windshield fluid than using the blue dyed ammonia/water jugs they sell at auto stores.
For household cleaners, I buy the natural products or make my own. I make my own laundry detergent and love it! Plus, it’s cheap.
Here is my take on this…
Water: $.66/gallon of distilled water (WalMart, but if you would rather not support this company it might be more or less)
Alcohol: $2.50/16oz of 99% Isopropyl Alcohol (bulk buy 12 @ 2.39/16oz online)
Dish washing liquid soap: $5/38oz DAWN (some of the best degreaser out there).
OPTION: RainX additive: $8/10oz (I have seen this for ~$5)
Mix: 1 gallon water, 8oz Alcohol, 2oz soap (+/- 2oz RainX).
total cost: 2.17 for basic, 3.77 for RainX option.
Benifit? Normal fluids use Methanoyl = poison
I can get the RainX orange fluid at WalllyWorld for ~1.99 (Washington State BTW).
Ken..have you tried this before..and does it freeze..I live in Vermont and I payed 3.20 yesterday for WWF and I was outraged, but needed it. So my questions is but is the lowest temp that u have used this in and how much does it make?
In the Pacific Northwest we get to about 19 F or so on a bad winter. my cars stay in the garage at night too. never froze when out in the parking lot at work, but that doesn’t mean that it won’t. Insulating or heating the WWF tank might be a option to combat freezing. if it freezes then up the alcohol content to the point where it quits freezing… ?? simple ratio tests that you put in your home freezer will give you an idea of the freezing point of the mixture.
I hope you find the formula you seek. Until then I suggest visiting you local walmart when the weather warms and looking for clearance prices on the premixed stuff. Last I picked up a few jugs for 75¢ each and stored them until winter. Needless to say you shouldn’t make a special trip for such things, just look around next time you go.
I know how to make a mix, but you’ll have to contract with a specialty chemicals manufacturer to do it.
ok, do tell….
The primary ingredient in WWF is methanol. Pure methanol is hard to come by, especially since it forms an azeotrope with water.
In any case, 49% methanol, 49% water, and 2% dishwashing detergent will give you a solution that will likely outperform the generic “blue stuff.” It might also be compatible with water injection, I am still looking into that.
I can purchase methanol at the local sprint car racing shop in 5 gallon batches.
How much does it cost, how pure is it, and do they deliver nationwide?
Now in Germany, I found the cost of antifreeze washer to be expensive at over $5+ a pint (to be diluted). Normal washer is cheap at about $2 GAL.
Found that vinegar has both antifog and cleaning properties. It also does keep ice from forming on glass, though only lasts a week or so. (Just wash it again)
Noted that mixing amonia and vinegar will cancel each other.
Also using just some dishwashing soap is fine, but it can streak the windows and the paint.
So I just use 20% vinegar, 75% water and 5% Isopropyl Alcohol. (rubbing alchohol). Can add more rubbing alchohol for better freeze protection, but have not had a freeze problem.
costs:
1 GAL White Vineger $1
16 oz Rubbing (Isopropyl) Alcohol $1
1 GAL distilled water $1
The ingrdients mix well in water, which is a problem with some other additives that can separate in cold or hot conditions.
No problems with Isopropyl Alcohol evaporation, as the washer system is otherwise closed. No RainX except on the glass itself, as it can build up and clog your washer system.
Some note just using 100% Vinegar, but it can etch metal full strength and dissolve car wax.
Feel free to Google these.
lots to think about here
Alcohol will deteriorate hoses.
Vinegar will etch metal and dissolve car wax :O lol
Ammonia, not sure I’ve heard anything bad about that yet…..
I read another blog/post somewhere that mentions just getting the blue (or green) stuff, and just watering it down a little bit
I.E. fill up your reservoir, then fill the jug back up, preferably with distilled water (unless you have access to a reverse osmosis/water filtration system).
Probably would only recommend doing it once or twice, as over-dillution could affect the solutions’ ability to do it’s job, and also affect the freezing point (if that’s an issue, for those in the north).
The only problem I have with vinegar and ammonia are the smell, which last for a long time. Sure, all this is outside the car, but the smell can get inside, and stinks. All the rain-x type products will clog the squirter holes, if not the whole system, eventually. I love Rain-X, but put it on by hand. And half the country runs the risk of freezing windshields, at least part of the year. Those things that prevent freezing also do a good job of cleaning smog type garbage. But watering down the “blue stuff” won’t help the cold states in the winter.
Vinegar and Ammonia neutralize each other, so it is why you can’t buy this combination in a commercial product.
Mix them together and you have cloudy water.
Alcohol is perhaps the only ingredient your washing system is designed to handle. It may dissolve after market hoses and seals, but as long as you didn’t mess with that you should be fine.
Ammonia is probably okay as well, but just be conservative, using the bottle DIRECTION FOR USE