Windshield Washer Freeze
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 19,311
Likes: 97
From: Waterloo, Iowa
Originally Posted by Sparky83
wasnt referring to the washer fluid by itself.. was referring to the old school additions to it which is why its not recommended to do it anymore..
Have you ever heard of a windshield catching on fire?? LOL... c'mon!
FTE Legend
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 80,535
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From: Norlina NC
its about like all the labels these days that say "xxxxxxxx by the california standards indicate this product contains known agents that may cause cancer... " anymore by most those standards just about everything made can give you cancer..
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 19,311
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From: Waterloo, Iowa
Originally Posted by Sparky83
it has to do with the concentration... it wont spontaneously catch fire.. but if the concentration gets high enough and you just happen to get that lucky little single spark it could ignite it... i never said the regulatory committees were sane in their reasoning... just saying thats why they advise against the additions.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2015
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From: Mts. S. of San Francisco
New User
Joined: Feb 2018
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I am having the same problem with a 2015 F-150. I have been using the -20 Rain Ex fluid. The tank and lines (as far as I can tell) are not freezing, the problem is in the nozzles. Originally it was happening when it was in the low teens or colder. Once the truck had gotten warm and you stop and let it sit for a few minutes the problem would go away and generally worked the rest of the day. Today, however, I was getting really frustrated with it. It was 25-28 and the nozzles kept freezing up. If I stopped for a few minutes they unfroze and worked, but the minute I was moving again they froze right up.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,464
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From: Staten Island, NY
I am having the same problem with a 2015 F-150. I have been using the -20 Rain Ex fluid. The tank and lines (as far as I can tell) are not freezing, the problem is in the nozzles. Originally it was happening when it was in the low teens or colder. Once the truck had gotten warm and you stop and let it sit for a few minutes the problem would go away and generally worked the rest of the day. Today, however, I was getting really frustrated with it. It was 25-28 and the nozzles kept freezing up. If I stopped for a few minutes they unfroze and worked, but the minute I was moving again they froze right up.
Tuned
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 474
Likes: 4
From: SE Michigan
I am having the same problem with a 2015 F-150. I have been using the -20 Rain Ex fluid. The tank and lines (as far as I can tell) are not freezing, the problem is in the nozzles. Originally it was happening when it was in the low teens or colder. Once the truck had gotten warm and you stop and let it sit for a few minutes the problem would go away and generally worked the rest of the day. Today, however, I was getting really frustrated with it. It was 25-28 and the nozzles kept freezing up. If I stopped for a few minutes they unfroze and worked, but the minute I was moving again they froze right up.
New User
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
NO, I have a 2015 freezes up all the time. I only use the -35 fluid now and it only got down to 28 degrees last night and it still is frozen. No one can figure it out just give the same crap not the proper fluid. Explain how -35 fluid freezes at 28 above?
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,464
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From: Staten Island, NY
First, wind chill does NOT lower the temperature. A popular misconception. Wind chill is a measure of how fast an object that is at a temperature above the current ambient temperature will cool down to ambient. If the temperature is 20 degrees and the wind chill is -20 degrees, objects will still be no colder than 20 degrees. They'll just get there faster if they were warm to start with or if, like your nose and ears, they can't supply enough heat to remain above freezing.
As to windshield washers - the inexpensive washer fluids are primarily alcohol based. The alcohol in the washer nozzles evaporates leaving water and pretty blue dye which then freezes into a plug in the nozzle. Use one of the washer fluids like Prestone and others make that rely mainly on ethylene glycol or propylene glycol. They don't evaporate as readily. I switched years ago for the same reason and haven't had a freeze up problem since.
As to windshield washers - the inexpensive washer fluids are primarily alcohol based. The alcohol in the washer nozzles evaporates leaving water and pretty blue dye which then freezes into a plug in the nozzle. Use one of the washer fluids like Prestone and others make that rely mainly on ethylene glycol or propylene glycol. They don't evaporate as readily. I switched years ago for the same reason and haven't had a freeze up problem since.
Tuned
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 474
Likes: 4
From: SE Michigan
It's not the washer fluid that is freezing it’s the check valve that gets rain water in it that is freezing.. There is a TSB out on this, but most just remove the valve like I did ( no more problems) or drill it out. Note I use only orange rainX.
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 528
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From: Rochester,NY
Thank You PupnDuck I live here in upstate NY near Lake Ontario we get lake effect snow and its almost always windy here I understand your logic about to wind chill
and the Ethylene Glycol and Propylene Glycol that's the only washer fluid I get Prestone but I always look at the ingredience.
and the Ethylene Glycol and Propylene Glycol that's the only washer fluid I get Prestone but I always look at the ingredience.