DIY windshield washer solution

Tom Dunlap

Tom Dunlap

Here from the beginning
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Retired in Minneapolis
This week I had to buy a jug of solution. Sticker shock! $5.50/gallon

There are diy recipes with minor variations. Costs almost nothing

One thread was cautionary A guy made some and filled three family cars. All different makes

Each of them had a diverter valve break. Anyone who has needed to work on anything on or in the firewall knows it’s not easy. He never found out what caused the failures but he was blaming the diy windshield solution. Could have been long odds and all just wore out too

Has anyone used diy for a while?

Any regrets
 
My concern would be freezing.

Deionized water would probably do a good job cleaning.

Or don't buy it at the gas station. It's $2.50 at Menards (I'll probably be there 3 times next week anyhow...).
 
Tom Dunlap said:
This week I had to buy a jug of solution. Sticker shock! $5.50/gallon

There are diy recipes with minor variations. Costs almost nothing

One thread was cautionary A guy made some and filled three family cars. All different makes

Each of them had a diverter valve break. Anyone who has needed to work on anything on or in the firewall knows it’s not easy. He never found out what caused the failures but he was blaming the diy windshield solution. Could have been long odds and all just wore out too

Has anyone used diy for a while?

Any regrets
Click to expand...
My wife loves to make up concoctions. She mixed her own with (?) In a then new Subaru. Front and back wiper system eventually failed.

The mechanic says forward hoses were brittle and needed to be replaced, back pump went out - all in about 6 years. At close to $200 hrs for a mechanic she is now using my $5 a gallon Rain Tree(?).

Others concoctions and results will vary I'm sure.
 
Most drive through lube places top off while you wait. Now I’m not suggesting you get your vehicles maintained at these places, but they’ll probably fill up your jug/s cheap if you ask.
 
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Chris Schultz said:
Most drive through lube places top off while you wait. Now I’m not suggesting you get your vehicles maintained at these places, but they’ll probably fill up your jug/s cheap if you ask.
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I do the quick oil change only at one certain place and they mix their own formula of windshield solvent and it’s fine in the late spring, summer, and early fall but it freezes up in cold temps! Sad thing is the employees know it and don’t bother with my vehicles which I’m thankful for!

They are very good for everything else even open new oil jugs in front of me before filling as long as you pay for their premium service if not and you choose the $19.99 oil change you’re getting used filtered oil.
8 quart synthetic is $100
You get what you pay for!
 
Along similar lines, we have really fucked up well water, very high in iron and magnesium, it stains about everything and leaves a rusty blue film where the hose leaks.
Anyway my wife would allow the sprinkler to water the driver side of the car, and it’s left a deposit on the windshield and an opalescent sheen. Normal glass cleaners won’t take it off and I’ve considered soaking a towel with one of the household acid cleaners.
I rather not fuck up and etch the windshield.

Any one have thoughts other than chucking a hammer through it? I wouldn’t mind getting it off the paint too, but it would be nice to get rid of the sun glare!
 
evo said:
Along similar lines, we have really fucked up well water, very high in iron and magnesium, it stains about everything and leaves a rusty blue film where the hose leaks.
Anyway my wife would allow the sprinkler to water the driver side of the car, and it’s left a deposit on the windshield and an opalescent sheen. Normal glass cleaners won’t take it off and I’ve considered soaking a towel with one of the household acid cleaners.
I rather not fuck up and etch the windshield.

Any one have thoughts other than chucking a hammer through it? I wouldn’t mind getting it off the paint too, but it would be nice to get rid of the sun glare!
Click to expand...
Maybe brake cleaner or clr
 
evo said:
Along similar lines, we have really fucked up well water, very high in iron and magnesium, it stains about everything and leaves a rusty blue film where the hose leaks.
Anyway my wife would allow the sprinkler to water the driver side of the car, and it’s left a deposit on the windshield and an opalescent sheen. Normal glass cleaners won’t take it off and I’ve considered soaking a towel with one of the household acid cleaners.
I rather not fuck up and etch the windshield.

Any one have thoughts other than chucking a hammer through it? I wouldn’t mind getting it off the paint too, but it would be nice to get rid of the sun glare!
Click to expand...
household vinegar???
 
Typically I follow Dad’s preventive maintenance regimen. First of the month is check fluids and a once over look-see

Since I retired I don’t drive as much so I got out of the monthly regimen. One day I was out and I was driving to an appointment so there wasn’t a minute to loose finding the best price. The auto parts chain store was right there. Urgency was the deciding factor not budget.

The reservoir holds a galllon so I have time to go with store bought or concoction. I’m leaning towards store bought.

I’m watching for flex nozzle spray cans for penetrating oil Acetone/ATF has beaten Kroil and PB Blaster in several tests. There are spray cans around so it isn’t an urgent purchase

There’s a chance that I’ll go total Uncle Angus (MacGyver…hm, that’s in the auto correct typing bubble). Epoxy a tire valve stem to an emptied aerosol can

Puttering in the shop with things like this is therapeutic. Save a few coins and get out on the shop!
 
Matias said:
Or the higher strength vinegar solutions readily available at the store if need be.
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That's probably be step 3 for me. See if the weaker stuff works. If not, I'd probably try CLR (or lime away) like @VenasNursery said. If that doesn't, then I might start to think about a higher concentration vinegar (horticultural vinegar should be relatively available)...but that burns skin and can cause blindness pretty easily, so I'd hold off unless nothing else works.
 
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