Mixing my own 'windshield washer solution' to load tires

[ctfjr]

After looking into 'beet juice' and the cost of having Rim Guard installed (almost $500) I decided to just go with windshield washer solution. I tried to find some kind of deal for buying 60 gallons but the best I found was $1.89/gal + tax and I had to go pick it up. So...
I thought, "what is windshield washer solution anyway". In my searching it turned out to be water. ammonia or isopropyl alcohol, and some detergent. Well I sure don't need the detergent and I really don't like the smell of ammonia.
That leaves just water and alcohol. I have plenty of water and I found 99% pure alcohol on Wally's site - 8 qts for $29.99 with free shipping. Since my searching showed a mix of 8oz of alcohol to 1 gallon of water I calculated I needed 480oz or 15qts. So I ordered 2 8-packs which will be here Monday.
With my recently added 3" rear spacers and the almost 500lbs in the tires this is my best shot for decreasing the pucker factor on slopes.

 

[BigG]

I like your thinking. How low does that lower the freezing point?
8 oz alcohol to 128 oz water equals ____ degrees

 

[ctfjr]

I was told it would bring the freeze point down to approx 25 deg F. Since the tractor is kept in a heated garage that's all I need. I probably will never be on it below 25 degs. If you wanted a lower freeze point you could increase the %

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Windshield washer fluid is not Isopropyl alcohol, it's methyl alcohol.
Yes DIY stuff they use Isopropyl because it's available and cheap.
Isopropyl alcohol will damage the rubber extremely fast.
It will damage the tire from the inside out, unknown to you, till it fails catastrophically.

 

[Chuckinnj]

BUY a the washer fluid and use a time tested product that won’t deteriorate your tires.

 

[ctfjr]

Windshield washer fluid is not Isopropyl alcohol, it's methyl alcohol.
Yes DIY stuff they use Isopropyl because it's available and cheap.
Isopropyl alcohol will damage the rubber extremely fast.
It will damage the tire from the inside out, unknown to you, till it fails catastrophically.

hmmm, Thank you for the info. The articles I read on line did not mention that.

 

[fruitcakesa]

Windshield washer fluid rated at -32°F is approximately 39% Methanol.
At $6 to $8 a gallon for methanol that will drive up the cost
I would want maximum temp protection as my machine is in an open shed

 

[BigG]

Windshield washer fluid is not Isopropyl alcohol, it's methyl alcohol.
Yes DIY stuff they use Isopropyl because it's available and cheap.
Isopropyl alcohol will damage the rubber extremely fast.
It will damage the tire from the inside out, unknown to you, till it fails catastrophically.

Boy you took the air out of that bubble.

 

[D2Cat]

Believe it or not, winter windshield washer fluid does go on sale. At Walmart, I had the manager tell me folks will not buy winter rated washer fluid in the summer so they put it on sale at the end of winter. I purchased 62 gallons in one store and 22 in another for $1 a gallon. Got to wait until Spring though.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Boy you took the air out of that bubble.

I'd rather burst someone's bubble, then hear about someone hurt from me not saying anything.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

gee, I use winter wwfluid year round,started doing that years ago when a 'cold snap' froze the 'summer' wwfluid the day I had to get to airport for some free flying time.....

hmm....wonder how many beets I have to grow to make my own 'rim guard'

 

[SidecarFlip]

Beets here get pickled and wind up in the cellar. Never loaded any tires on any of the Kubota's I've owned. No need, at least for me.

 

[Donystoy]

Beets here get pickled and wind up in the cellar. Never loaded any tires on any of the Kubota's I've owned. No need, at least for me.

I agree! Younger days on the farm we used calcium in the tires that was a mess. No 4wd in those days either. I would rather have weight that I can easily remove when needed. Have been doing this for the last 35 years.

 

[ctfjr]

Well I'm convinced. Although several sites I looked at specifically mentioned isopropyl alcohol it appears not applicable for loading tires. Perhaps it is fine for washer solution in a vehicle. . .
Thanks Wolfie

 

[SidecarFlip]

I agree! Younger days on the farm we used calcium in the tires that was a mess. No 4wd in those days either. I would rather have weight that I can easily remove when needed. Have been doing this for the last 35 years.

CACL is fine for road dust control, not so good for weighted tires. It eats up rims (corrosive) and kills vegetation in concentrated amounts, plus it's hard to put in or remove.

I just use common sense (a rare commodity today) when using my front end loader and the optional Kubota cast Iron center weights. Never have issue one and my tires and rims stay in good shape.

Both of my Kubota's are heavy to begin with (8000 pounds +) but the loaders will still lift the rears off the ground if you don't use 'common sense'.

Kubota has a habit of matching over spec loaders to their tractors and then you have the owner segment that has to shim up the loader valve for even more lift, something I've never done and don't want to.

 

[Ikc1990]

My old ford 3000 we put tubes In tires and loaded tubes with calcium chloride mixture. May do that to my kubota too we will see after winter. But I would say windshield washer fluid is no better. It rots winter wiper blades. Cracks them. But either way I think if you load tires it will cost you to do it and cost you again to repair it later. It's a vicious cycle of life.

 

[Timmer92]

So how do you actually get it in the tires?

 

[i7win7]

So how do you actually get it in the tires?

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=fluid+filling+tractor+tires+

 

[old and tired]

Tire Valve Adapter Kit like this:

Amazon.com: Milton S-466 Tire Valve Adapter Kit : Automotive

Buy Milton S-466 Tire Valve Adapter Kit: Tire Valve Tools - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

And a drill pump... https://www.amazon.com/Flotec-FPDMP21SA-P2-Self-Priming-Drill/dp/B000FKF5WI

 

[D2Cat]

I used a 15 gallon garden spray tank with the 12 volt pump. I simply jacked the rear of the tractor up about 1" off the ground. Removed the valve core. Rotate tire so valve stem is at 12o position. Clamp hose from spray tank to valve stem. Dump gallon jugs into the tank. Use battery to fill tire. Need to remove the hose on the valve stem about 2/3 times to burp the air out to make room for more fluid.

I bought one of those "required" installation fittings from NAPA. Never used it. Don't need it.