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vegpedlr
Samba Member
Joined: June 07, 2014
Posts: 774
Location: TBD
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 Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2016 7:43 pm Post subject: Frozen wiper fluid |
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I'm loving my Cooper snow tires, but my windshield wiper fluid isn't working. I'm assuming it's frozen, and because of the location of the reservoir, there isn't engine heat to keep it liquid.
Any tips? |
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CdnVWJunkie 
Samba Member
Joined: February 01, 2004
Posts: 1110
Location: Sarnia, Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2016 7:48 pm Post subject: Re: Frozen wiper fluid |
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| vegpedlr wrote: |
I'm loving my Cooper snow tires, but my windshield wiper fluid isn't working. I'm assuming it's frozen, and because of the location of the reservoir, there isn't engine heat to keep it liquid.
Any tips? |
Engine heat to keep it liquid? LOL. There is summer and winter washer fluids available. Engine heat has nothing to do with it.
Either put your van in a heated garage overnight or simply remove the reservoir and bring inside a heated space and let thaw out. |
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IdahoDoug
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Joined: June 12, 2010
Posts: 10251
Location: N. Idaho
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| Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2016 8:04 pm Post subject: Re: Frozen wiper fluid |
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A good tip is to randomly engage the washers front and rear (especially) in cold climates. The fluid can evap out the ingredient that keeps it from freezing, so pushing that through keeps the sprayers from getting frozen from aged fluid.
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jackbombay
Samba Member
Joined: October 19, 2007
Posts: 2723
Location: Eastern Idaho
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| Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2016 10:04 pm Post subject: Re: Frozen wiper fluid |
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I only ever put the -20* washer fluid in my vehicles so I don't have to worry about it, and when it is colder than -20 there is no water/slush/sludge on the roads to mess my windshield up anyway, but I've never known the -20* stuff to freeze on me, that I knew of, down to -35*.
I did buy a used vehicle from a dealer in Salt Lake city not long ago, and early this winter on a balmy 15* day I found that the washer fluid was frozen, it did thaw after 45 min of driving, so I sat at the gas station and pumped a gallon out while getting gas and bought a gallon of the proper -20* stuff, big blue puddle at the pump, whats a guy to do?
Looks like it'll be 32* in the tahoe area tomorrow, as long as the washer isn't filled with straight water it will melt, and you can leave a big blue puddle somewhere and fill it with the proper stuff!
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61Scout
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Joined: November 06, 2011
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Location: Shoreline/Yakima WA
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IdahoDoug
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Joined: June 12, 2010
Posts: 10251
Location: N. Idaho
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| Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2016 12:37 am Post subject: Re: Frozen wiper fluid |
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I was just going to ask that very question, o clairvoyant one....
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1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader |
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jackbombay
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Joined: October 19, 2007
Posts: 2723
Location: Eastern Idaho
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| Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2016 8:32 am Post subject: Re: Frozen wiper fluid |
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| 61Scout wrote: |
If you have the "wrong" stuff in there or are trying to use it up, you can simply add rubbing alcohol to the reservoir to keep it from freezing.
-Kevin |
Good point, but a pint of rubbing alcohol is $2 and a gallon of -20 washer fluid is $2, with the washer fluid I know the freeze protection, adding rubbing alcohol to the tank doesn't provide me with that.
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greggearhead
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Joined: June 20, 2004
Posts: 563
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
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| Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2016 8:53 am Post subject: Re: Frozen wiper fluid |
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| 61Scout wrote: |
If you have the "wrong" stuff in there or are trying to use it up, you can simply add rubbing alcohol to the reservoir to keep it from freezing.
-Kevin |
Yep, or methanol - which is what the -20 stuff has in it. Yellow bottle of Heet fuel line antifreeze is straight methanol. I rescued a friends frozen washer fluid with that trick - worked a treat.
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greggearhead
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Joined: June 20, 2004
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Location: Colorado Springs, CO
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hans j
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Joined: May 06, 2006
Posts: 2715
Location: Salt Lake City UT
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| Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2016 10:44 am Post subject: Re: Frozen wiper fluid |
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I've had mine freeze even with the -20. But I don't think it was solid in the reservoir, I believe it froze/clogged in the hose or nozzles. I could hear the pump run, but nothing spraying out. Got the van warmed up a bit and it started working, I may have even parked it in the sun. I've also seen it happen a couple times with modern cars that come into my work.
Warm it up, get new fluid in there and see what happens.
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