# Windshield Washer fluid alternative **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** windshields, fluids\ **Created:** [October 10, 2011, 4:05am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-washer-fluid-alternative/68511 "2011-10-10T04:05:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![badbearing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/badbearing/32/10683_2.png) [@badbearing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/badbearing)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 4:05am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-washer-fluid-alternative/68511/1 "2011-10-10T04:05:20Z")
Can i use RV waterline anti-freeze for windshield washer fluid?? I can only find -34 washer fluid and where i live it has the potential to get another 20 30 degrees colder. They are sold out of the -40 and im leaving town for awhile ---
**Author:** ![badbearing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/badbearing/32/10683_2.png) [@badbearing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/badbearing)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 4:15am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-washer-fluid-alternative/68511/2 "2011-10-10T04:15:32Z")
The RV anti-freeze is rated for -50 ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 12:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-washer-fluid-alternative/68511/3 "2011-10-10T12:20:02Z")
Where do you live that can get to -64???..Northern Alaska??? ---
**Author:** ![badbearing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/badbearing/32/10683_2.png) [@badbearing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/badbearing)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 12:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-washer-fluid-alternative/68511/4 "2011-10-10T12:23:23Z")
Northern Alaska ---
**Author:** ![W123Benz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b9bd4f/32.png) [@W123Benz](https://community.cartalk.com/u/W123Benz)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 12:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-washer-fluid-alternative/68511/5 "2011-10-10T12:24:46Z")
I think you might have trouble with the anti-freeze because the glycol may not evaporate and wipe off the windshield without leaving a film. What you need is a higher concentration of alcohol. Washer fluid usually is methanol based, but I betcha if you grab a bottle of cheap ethanol-based rot-gut vodka, that will get you up to the concentration you need. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 12:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-washer-fluid-alternative/68511/6 "2011-10-10T12:26:26Z")
Alcohol was what my Dad used some 50+ years ago before there was washer fluid. ---
**Author:** ![badbearing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/badbearing/32/10683_2.png) [@badbearing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/badbearing)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 12:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-washer-fluid-alternative/68511/7 "2011-10-10T12:31:46Z")
Now why didn’t I think of that. Great. Thanks guys ---
**Author:** ![mleich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71c47a/32.png) [@mleich](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mleich)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 12:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-washer-fluid-alternative/68511/8 "2011-10-10T12:54:24Z")
Everclear. ---
**Author:** ![badbearing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/badbearing/32/10683_2.png) [@badbearing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/badbearing)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 1:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-washer-fluid-alternative/68511/9 "2011-10-10T13:00:58Z")
Kinda spendy. Im thinking about 6 oz. Of rubbing alcohol to a gallon of -20 washer fluid. ---
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 2:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-washer-fluid-alternative/68511/10 "2011-10-10T14:50:29Z")
Denatured alcohol should be cheaper than the drinkable variety. Check the hardware store. ---
**Author:** ![badbearing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/badbearing/32/10683_2.png) [@badbearing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/badbearing)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 3:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-washer-fluid-alternative/68511/11 "2011-10-10T15:12:43Z")
Copy that. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![W123Benz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b9bd4f/32.png) [@W123Benz](https://community.cartalk.com/u/W123Benz)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 4:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-washer-fluid-alternative/68511/12 "2011-10-10T16:12:16Z")
Good thinkin’ Circuit. I was thinking a ten dollar jug of Devil Springs 160 proof rot-gut. ---
**Author:** ![badbearing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/badbearing/32/10683_2.png) [@badbearing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/badbearing)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2011, 4:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-washer-fluid-alternative/68511/13 "2011-10-10T16:24:46Z")
I’m thinkin dump that in the gas tank ---
**Author:** ![Rod-Knox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Rod-Knox](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rod-Knox)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 7:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-washer-fluid-alternative/68511/14 "2011-10-11T19:18:15Z")
Heet, the gas drier will lower the freezing point of the fluid but what is the freezing point of pure alcohol? Alcohol will freeze somewhere above -60 I believe. ---
**Author:** ![Rod-Knox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Rod-Knox](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rod-Knox)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 7:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-washer-fluid-alternative/68511/15 "2011-10-11T19:20:41Z")
Well it wasn’t hard to find. Pure ethanol freezes at -173\*F. ---
**Author:** ![badbearing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/badbearing/32/10683_2.png) [@badbearing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/badbearing)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 7:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-washer-fluid-alternative/68511/16 "2011-10-11T19:21:12Z")
Ok. Whats your guess on an amount of HEET per Gal of Washer fluid??? ---
**Author:** ![badbearing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/badbearing/32/10683_2.png) [@badbearing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/badbearing)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 7:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-washer-fluid-alternative/68511/17 "2011-10-11T19:21:43Z")
It shouldnt get quite that cold… ---
**Author:** ![badbearing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/badbearing/32/10683_2.png) [@badbearing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/badbearing)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2011, 7:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-washer-fluid-alternative/68511/18 "2011-10-11T19:22:30Z")
1bottle of HEET per Gal should be plenty?? ---
**Author:** ![FordMan59](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb8c5e/32.png) [@FordMan59](https://community.cartalk.com/u/FordMan59)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2011, 1:10am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-washer-fluid-alternative/68511/19 "2011-10-12T01:10:54Z")
100% pure rubbing alcohol has a freezing point of -127_F. I’m not sure whether you can find pure rubbing alcohol or not, but I’ve bought 90% pure before. I would think adding a bottle with the washer fluid which is already rated at -34_ should bring the freezing point down to a safe temperature rating for your area. Rubbing alcohol is also cheap. ---
**Author:** ![oblivion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3ab097/32.png) [@oblivion](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oblivion)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2011, 1:24am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-washer-fluid-alternative/68511/20 "2011-10-12T01:24:36Z")
What about the antifreeze in your radiator though? [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/windshield-washer-fluid-alternative/68511.md?page=2)