I'm in Chicago for an extended engagement and have been experiencing freeze up in my washer jets. I have undiluted washer fluid in the tank which should be good below zero, and it's been at or above zero since I've been here.

Any ideas?

 

Just a question...

The Ex's are 'prone' to the washer fluid HOSE popping off...

If your jets were frozen and created a blockage...you MAY have the hose off already...

You can easily check...simply open the passenger door, pull back the carpet in the top outside corner up under the dash by the kick side panel (the top most outside edge).

There will be a fitting (T or elbow can't remember) where the hose goes into it...IF that hose POPPED off...you may simply be pumping fluid in that corner.

The other fitting is in the rear headliner area...but you would see washer fluid dripping down from there...I'd suspsect that if you did have a frozen line...you may have popped the line...just a quick thought...

Other than that...you may need better fluid...mine hasn't frozen this year and I'm only a few clicks from Chi-Town...and it has been colder than a well diggers behind...!...so head south!

Good luck,
joe.

 

Either dump a bottle of isopropanol (rubbing alcohol) in your washer reservoir or use the Rainex premix. Even though the basic washer fluid says that it's good to 0 degrees, there's alcohol evaporation at the jets which freezes and blocks flow. I've never had them freeze after I added the extra alcohol or since I've been using the Rainex premix.

 

Mine freeze all the time, well alot of times, when getting your coffee see if you can get a warm cup of water, pour it on the jet, that should get it working, and should be fine. For the rest of the day anyway..

Brian

 

mine freeze unless I put the winter additive stuff in the washfluid

 

Yep....good washer fluid is a must. Not that cheap stuff from wallyworld. Found that out the hard way! I have been using Peak which is good to -20F, so far so good.


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Go with the isopropyl alcohol....you may have had some condensation in your tank or lines....Mine have never frozen...

 

Mine froze up and since I'm a smart guy I thought I knew how to fix that problem. I simply let the truck idle for a while and bingo! Good to go. Hopped in the truck and took off. Made 20 miles before enough road spray obsured the windshield and had to hit the spray. Frozen again and I was screwed for the next 2 hours. Time for Triple Ex's recommendation.

 

I hope I never see -36. Even if that's centigrade it's around -30 F.

 

mine is a little easier get yourself a couple of instant hand warmer pop them and let i lay on top of the jet for 5 minutes it takes car of the problem and then you can use it in you gloves to keep your hands warm. Other things that work is a zip lock filled with hot water. Once unfrozen make sur you use windsheild wiper fluid good for -35. We have it avalible hear in WI if not isoprpyl alcohol will work in addition to the -35windsheild wiper fluid.
good luck

 

I got caught with summer mix in the tank on a trip to CO a couple winters ago. -11 froze the fluid in the tank and I had to remove it and thaw it out.

 

In a pinch a small bottle of gasline antifreeze will keep you going but like has been said already winter washer fluid in the winter

TripleX where in Alberta you at ???? Nice to see another Canadian.

 

I live in St. Albert and work in the extreme NW of Edmonton, Alberta and not to split hairs, but -36 degree Celsius = -32.8 degree Fahrenheit, that picture was taken later in the morning but when I first got the truck started, without plugging it in or boosting it it was -44 degree Celsius = -47.2 degree Fahrenheit.

So all you southern folks realize, seats are hard as rocks at that temperature for about the first 15 miles!!

 

basically it is Darn cold!!!!!!!!!! just carefull not to freeze vital parts to your seat! So did the truck start on the first try??????

 

It sure did, I usually run 5W30 full synthetic and I am sure this helps on the cold starts.