RV Anti-Freeze as Windshield Washer Fluid?

[Henro]

The purple version has a lower freezing point than the orange and is marketed as a de-icer. My vehicles washer tank holds a little more than a gallon so I use one jug of purple all year.

edit: I looked it up... purple is effective to -30°F. Orange is effective to 0°F.

I was hoping for a different flavor than grape or orange...

 

[hagrid]

I was hoping for a different flavor than grape or orange...

They have lime (green) but it's only good to 32°F.

 

[The Evil Twin]

De ice WWF is basically RV antifreeze. Methanol and propylene glycol. Don't see why it wouldn't work. It is hell on windshield wiper blades though.

 

[The Evil Twin]

I was hoping for a different flavor than grape or orange...

Judging by post #7, you favor banana

 

[BruceP]

The windshiled-washer I always use in all vehicles is good for -25F. WallyMart carries it.

Rain-X® 2-in-1 Windshield Washer Fluid - Rain-X

Rain‑X® 2-in-1 De-icer with Bug Remover Windshield Washer Fluid is formulated with advanced technology for streak-free cleaning power. The washer fluid applies water beading technology to your windshield for greater driving visibility.

www.rainx.com

 

[NorthwoodsLife]

De ice WWF is basically RV antifreeze. Methanol and propylene glycol. Don't see why it wouldn't work. It is hell on windshield wiper blades though.

Thank you!

But the wiper blade part, I'm not so sure. It seems to be excellent on rubber.

 

[NorthwoodsLife]

On sale last year, I could buy RV antifreeze at Walmart for $2.99 a gallon. ( I think that it was $1.99). But -32-degree windshield wiper Fluid was $5.99.
I have lots of RV antifreeze. Because I use it on my toy hauler in the winter. And my cabin. The cheapo Walmart brand doesn't seem to be sticky as others have mentioned.

 

[NorthwoodsLife]

Judging by post #7, you favor banana

Right!

How RV antifreeze as a windshield wiper fluid alternative, becomes a similar situation as putting a banana in your butt as a suppository is, well. Bizarre.

Maybe somebody needs a boyfriend.

 

[WFM]

Back story.. Last winter I got too close to the edge of the road avoiding a snow laden tree overhanging the road. I ended up in a frozen swamp next to the road.

The way the county snowplows work in NW Wisconsin you can't see where the pavement stops, and the side of the road starts. It looks like a perfectly crowned sheet of road. The snowplows blade extends 4 feet or more over the road's edge. Anyway, once my right tires "fell off" the pavement edge, which was about a 10" drop, the deeper snow sucked me off the road. I was going about 35 MPH.

I was stuck. Really stuck. I locked the rear axle, and in 4Hi or 4Low and my 35" aggressive tires, it did nothing. Tires were on ice, truck frame on snow. I was about 3/4 of a mile from home and it was at night, so I left my truck there overnight, I didn't feel much like winching in the dark at about zero degrees F.

Winched my truck out the next day. My wheels were filled with packed-in snow. Ever drive a car or truck with snow packed into the wheels? If so, you know it's like driving on unbalanced tires. So, I sprayed the wheels with RV antifreeze the next afternoon, and it worked. Most of the snow came out of the wheels.

Fast forward to this past summer. My wheels and tires look amazingly clean. The tires almost look like I sprayed that tire-black stuff on them. So, I was thinking about the cheap price of RV antifreeze, and maybe it has other uses. Such as a cheap window washing fluid for a sub-zero lifestyle.

Thank you for your replies. View attachment 116857 View attachment 116858

That kinda looks like 'possibly' Bud light might of been driving that night.

 

[WFM]

RainX leaves a slimy flim. I'm not a fan.
Winter washer fluid I use. The green summer fluid from Walmart I have is already frozen in the jugs.

 

[NorthwoodsLife]

That kinda looks like 'possibly' Bud light might of been driving that night.

It definitely does look like that could be the cause. But I don't drink and drive. Ever.
It was tree limbs hanging over the road.

 

[leveraddict]

Northwoodslife that was one short motorcycle ride!

 

[Bmyers]

I use Rain x all season. If it gets to -20f, I won't be outside anyway. We get windchill that low, but actual Temps usually not that low.

 

[Thunder chicken]

Ive used RV antifreeze as airplane deice fluid in a pinch (a liquid broom per se).
If i want good washer fluid, ill mix it up to 50/50 with methyl hydrate, or isopropyl. Dont seem to matter. MH i have on hand more readily sonthats what ive used mostly. Ive only had one seal in one washer tank fail, and wiper blades are junk anyhow and dont last anyways so it seems no more worse for them. It sure takes the frost off and never have ice causing streaks on wiper blades.

 

[fried1765]

Ive used RV antifreeze as airplane deice fluid in a pinch (a liquid broom per se).
If i want good washer fluid, ill mix it up to 50/50 with methyl hydrate, or isopropyl. Dont seem to matter. MH i have on hand more readily sonthats what ive used mostly. Ive only had one seal in one washer tank fail, and wiper blades are junk anyhow and dont last anyways so it seems no more worse for them. It sure takes the frost off and never have ice causing streaks on wiper blades.
[/QUOTE

Is RV antifreeze approved by the CAA?

 

[Thunder chicken]

CAA? Transport Canada? I don't care what they think, i dont recall it saying anywhere it wasnt approved! No published holdover times obviously... When its -20, and your Beaver on floats is going to get frozen into the lake that day if you dont leave camp and head south, and there was FZDZ you need to clean off your wings, you do what you gotta do. Hot water first, chase with RV antifreeze to keep the water from freezing on. Worked like a charm We use windshield washer fluid as deice fluid too. Its a liquid broom to remove hoar frost. No approvals needed. Better than pulling a rope back and forth along the wing!

 

[hagrid]

hoar frost.

That is not inclusive nor diverse.


It's pronounced "who-er" or "whore!!"

 

[chim]

Not really deicing, but I got into the habit of putting a few tablespoons of purple cleaner in the reservoir with the washer solvent about 40 years ago. We had a project in Harrisburg and travelling the highways when it was raining often resulted in oily deposits on the windshield.

Before going with the purple additive the solution was BonAmi for both glass and wipers. One of the car shows on TV had a tour of a wiper factory. The manufacturer smeared different things on test windshields to evaluate the wiper performance. When the host asked what they used to clean the glass between tests the answer was "BonAmi".

 

[fried1765]

CAA? Transport Canada? I don't care what they think, i dont recall it saying anywhere it wasnt approved! No published holdover times obviously... When its -20, and your Beaver on floats is going to get frozen into the lake that day if you dont leave camp and head south, and there was FZDZ you need to clean off your wings, you do what you gotta do. Hot water first, chase with RV antifreeze to keep the water from freezing on. Worked like a charm We use windshield washer fluid as deice fluid too. Its a liquid broom to remove hoar frost. No approvals needed. Better than pulling a rope back and forth along the wing!

I suspect that the FAA would go ballistic, if they found that being done in the USA, without their specific approval.

 

[NorthwoodsLife]

I suspect that the FAA would go ballistic, if they found that being done in the USA, without their specific approval.

I think it's already approved. It's probably Exactly what they use. Everywhere North of the equator.