DIY Windshield Washer Fluid

lucille · 02-02-2008, 05:13 PM

When we were driving to the store tonight the warning light for low washer fluid went off. The last time I bought a jug it was about $3 and I swore I wouldn't keep doing that considering most of it is water.

My hubby used to work for an oil plant a long time ago and he had mentioned it is just water, ethel alcohol and some detergent. I knew I had seen a recipe online somewhere.

http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/rec...uid61200.shtml
This one uses rubbing alcohol.

I also found this interesting blog entry about making your own windshield washer fluid and also how to reverse engineer lots of different auto and household products.
http://madscientistmatt.blogspot.com...her-fluid.html

purplefdu · 02-02-2008, 07:38 PM

Sweet. My husband is going to love that link. I always worry about the effect on the paint job though. I mean I wouldn't want to purposely put that on my paint job all the time, and yet thats exactly what we do most of the time by using windshield washer.

72Tiger · 02-02-2008, 07:52 PM

cool. I used the last of mine up today getting the frost off of the windshield. Perfect timing to give it a try. Thanks.

lucille · 02-03-2008, 09:51 AM

Some of the things I read suggested using methanol instead of isopropol alcohol if the weather is going to be extremely cold since it resists freezing more.

I was trying to find a cheaper source of methanol than buying a bottle of Heet. Some suggestions I found was to look in the pain aisle for shellac remover but make sure it is pure methanol not something else. Another suggestion was anywhere that sells things for hobby racing cars or go carts. I'm not sure if I am going to do the methanol version or not since it is starting to get warm out.

jkuo13 · 02-03-2008, 03:21 PM

Methanol is supposed to be pretty toxic, but maybe it's not too bad in the amounts found in windshield washer fluid. Still, I don't know if I'd want to have a large amount of methanol around just to make windshield wiper fluid. I'd stick with ethanol or isopropyl if the winter temps are warm enough to allow it.

purplefdu · 02-07-2008, 09:29 AM

Having worked in and around labs I've never died from using methanol, although it was normally under a fume hood. If you get together enough people you could use the entire bottle of methanol and not have any leftovers though...

02-02-2008, 05:13 PM	#1
lucille Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 673 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts Reputation: (38)	DIY Windshield Washer Fluid When we were driving to the store tonight the warning light for low washer fluid went off. The last time I bought a jug it was about $3 and I swore I wouldn't keep doing that considering most of it is water. My hubby used to work for an oil plant a long time ago and he had mentioned it is just water, ethel alcohol and some detergent. I knew I had seen a recipe online somewhere. http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/rec...uid61200.shtml This one uses rubbing alcohol. I also found this interesting blog entry about making your own windshield washer fluid and also how to reverse engineer lots of different auto and household products. http://madscientistmatt.blogspot.com...her-fluid.html

02-02-2008, 07:38 PM	#2
purplefdu Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: York Beach, ME Posts: 627 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Reputation: (29)	Sweet. My husband is going to love that link. I always worry about the effect on the paint job though. I mean I wouldn't want to purposely put that on my paint job all the time, and yet thats exactly what we do most of the time by using windshield washer. __________________ Homeward Bound Puppy Blog&Personal Blog best general coupon site & organic grocery coupon help

02-03-2008, 03:21 PM	#5
jkuo13 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Lancaster, PA Posts: 153 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Reputation: (36)	Methanol is supposed to be pretty toxic, but maybe it's not too bad in the amounts found in windshield washer fluid. Still, I don't know if I'd want to have a large amount of methanol around just to make windshield wiper fluid. I'd stick with ethanol or isopropyl if the winter temps are warm enough to allow it. __________________ TheInternalArts.com \|\| Zenfulness

02-07-2008, 09:29 AM	#6
purplefdu Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: York Beach, ME Posts: 627 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Reputation: (29)	Having worked in and around labs I've never died from using methanol, although it was normally under a fume hood. If you get together enough people you could use the entire bottle of methanol and not have any leftovers though... __________________ Homeward Bound Puppy Blog&Personal Blog best general coupon site & organic grocery coupon help

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02-02-2008, 07:52 PM	#3
72Tiger Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 301 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Reputation: (38)	cool. I used the last of mine up today getting the frost off of the windshield. Perfect timing to give it a try. Thanks.

02-03-2008, 09:51 AM	#4
lucille Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 673 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts Reputation: (38)	Some of the things I read suggested using methanol instead of isopropol alcohol if the weather is going to be extremely cold since it resists freezing more. I was trying to find a cheaper source of methanol than buying a bottle of Heet. Some suggestions I found was to look in the pain aisle for shellac remover but make sure it is pure methanol not something else. Another suggestion was anywhere that sells things for hobby racing cars or go carts. I'm not sure if I am going to do the methanol version or not since it is starting to get warm out.