[s-cars] Winterizing Windhshield Washer Fluid

[Igor Kessel]

Theodore Chen wrote:
> given the price of washer fluid, i wonder if it might be cheaper to
> buy some popov vodka (the kind that comes in a 1.75 liter plastic jug
> for $6) and cut it with water.
> 
> and if you get cold, you can drink it, too.
> 
> -teddy
> 
> --- Kirby Smith <kirbyasmith at gwi.net> wrote:
> 
> 
>>The chemical used in the original GM Optikleen (c.a. the '60s) was 
>>methanol.  This is also used in the blue stuff I bought from the "Auto 
>>Palace" recently.  It may be used in all blue stuff for all I know.
>>
>>Methanol at the concentrations used does not affect paint (at least 
>>acrylic lacquer, and I've seen no problem on my Pearl S6).  It disolves 
>>bug goo very well.  It would be unwise to ingest it, or keep your skin 
>>in contact with it for long.  Premixed methanol based windshield fluid 
>>would probably be a good source of water/alcohol injection liquid.
>>
>>kirby
>>
>>
>>Igor Aleshin wrote:
>>
>>>I don’t know it’s good or not, but I use to make windshield fluid
>>>myself. This is mix: Isopropyl 70% Alcohol (~80c) and water. Alcohol
>>>shouldn’t be less then 35-40% ;). Finally I use to put half cup of
>>>car wash soap – after that mix smells much better ;). It works fine
>>>already second winter and didn’t have yet any frizzing issues.

Finally someone found an appropriate application for the "I want to bear 
a cool Russian name despite the fact that I am made from Kentucky corn" 
40% CH2COOH solution in tap water.
:)

Kirby, if I were you I'd stay away from methanol as far as I could. It 
may cause brain damage if inhaled long enough. I am dead serious here. 
The same goes for ethanol, BTW.

Last year Igor Aleshin and I had toyed with the isopropyl alcohol idea 
on a certain Russian automotive forum. The isopropyl alcohol solution 
suggested above by Igor did indeed work very well. However with the 
climate control on auto the inside of my car would stink like I had just 
shattered a bottle of vodka inside, and actually I would get high after 
inhaling it for half an hour. Eventually I dropped the idea largely 
under the influence of my mother-in-law who was a retired chemist.

These days I use the pink Rain-X stuff and I tend to agree with Taka 
that this is prolly the best windshield washer fluid that I have tried 
to date.

-- 
Igor Kessel
two turbo quattros