Windshield washer fluid - Commercial brand or DIY ?

[MobilOne]

So you use a gal (3.8L) every couple of months. How much will you save making your own?

[Fat Charlie]

Way back when I first used Rain-X, One of the directions was not to get it on the paint. Their FAQ has this:

If you get Rain‑X® Original Glass Treatment on your paint, will it ruin the paint?

No, but you should rinse the product off with soap and water.

So while it's completely awesome on your windshield, apparently it's not the best thing for your paint. I have no personal need to Rain-X my whole car, so the why doesn't concern me. I just don't use their washer fluid, doing it by hand every few months.

[gone-ot]

Just plain tap-water works great...until...winter arrives and it freezes.

[user removed]

Originally Posted by Old Tele man

Just plain tap-water works great...until...winter arrives and it freezes.

LOL, throw some moonshine in it.

regards
mech

[Andrei_ierdnA]

Originally Posted by MobilOne

So you use a gal (3.8L) every couple of months. How much will you save making your own?

3 X $2.50 (summer) + 3 x $3.50 (winter) + tax = about $20/year.
Making it at home would be maybe $10/year. I agree not enough to make any difference. I did it because I just like the whole DIY idea when possible, not to save money.

Originally Posted by Old Tele man

Just plain tap-water works great...until...winter arrives and it freezes.

My area has very hard tap-water which leaves mineral deposits fast. Long-term it would eventually clog the fluid pump & tubes and haze the windshield. I have used distilled or reverse osmosis water in all my previous homemade mixes.
Tried with distilled water only but didn't work so well for pollen & bug splats.

When it warms up I want to try wax & distilled water. From what I've seen online about the Rain-X gel is that it seems to act like a liquid wax. You apply and rub it in, wait a few minutes for it to haze & harden, then buff it out with a clean towel.

[Fat Charlie]

Originally Posted by Old Mechanic

LOL, throw some moonshine in it.

But that would be alcohol abuse!