[watchout]

Would it be OK to use water only instead of windshield washer fluid?

I RainX my windshield, so I rarely need to use the washer fluid. However, there are those rare occasions when bugs or some other road schmutz will necessitate a quick squirt on the road. But I hate to get the washer fluid all over the hood and roof and trunk. Plus, it shortens the life of the RainX.

So, I would like to know if anyone knows if water will hurt the windshield/headlight washer system?

 

[frank29]

So, I would like to know if anyone knows if water will hurt the windshield/headlight washer system?

Looking at your location, water would defintely hurt the system in five out of twelve months.

 

[watchout]

Oops. Forgot to mention, the car is garage kept for the winter. It might be driven in cold weather, but never, in snowy or icy conditions. It's strictly a pleasure use vehicle...

Good catch Frank29.

 

[jeepgrady]

Garge kept or not. Living in New Jersey, you'd be very foolish not to include washer in the reservoir. To replace the reservoir, you have to take off the front bumper. Spend the $1.00 and add the fluid.

 

[watchout]

Garge kept or not. Living in New Jersey, you'd be very foolish not to include washer in the reservoir. To replace the reservoir, you have to take off the front bumper. Spend the $1.00 and add the fluid.

Foolish? Spend the $1.00? Great feedback! Thanks.

Over the past 13 years - commuting close to 100 miles per day, I have very rarely needed to use the washer fluid. When I did it produced the issues I mentioned in my first post. I do run it occasionally just to be sure it's operational.

However, I believe leaving the system dry may not be a good thing. If anyone knows the answer to this or an alternative fluid, your input will be greatly appreciated.

 

[300C_AWD]

Would it be OK to use water only instead of windshield washer fluid?

I RainX my windshield, so I rarely need to use the washer fluid. However, there are those rare occasions when bugs or some other road schmutz will necessitate a quick squirt on the road. But I hate to get the washer fluid all over the hood and roof and trunk. Plus, it shortens the life of the RainX.

So, I would like to know if anyone knows if water will hurt the windshield/headlight washer system?

During the months that it won't freeze Distilled water works great at 48-79 cents a gallon. You can also pickup a Reverse-osmosis system with a de De-Ionization filter on ebay for $69-$99 http://search.ebay.com/reverse-osmosis-DI. No water spots, no streaks, no wax removing slime. The car and windows stay clean.

I use higher flow rate reverse-osmosis-DI with a 55 gallon storage tank and electric Pump. I wash my car with it and it will dry 100% spot free every time.


Distilled water is almost 100% pure.
Reverse osmosis with DI filter. 98-99% of the minerals will be removed.
Mr. Clean AutoDry will take out 90-94% of the minerals. You can fill your washer tank with it.

Just remember never to use pure water when their is a chance of freezing. Where I live I use water year around.

 

[watchout]

Excellent info 300C_AWD.

I have a water softener for the house that uses salt to regen the brine tank - Is that the same as the reverse-osmosis process?

Thank you.

 

[Colonel Angus]

you mention that you very rarely use your windhshield washer fluid and if thats the case, why all the research. the fluid running down your hood isn't going to cause harm and the RainX on the windshield is not going to be effected unless you're pulling from the resovoir.

 

[IceMan1959]

Well, In this part of the country you can get rainX that you mix with your washer fluid if you use that with distilled water, I dont believe you will have a problem and pluse you will have the best of both worlds.

 

[300C_AWD]

Excellent info 300C_AWD.

I have a water softener for the house that uses salt to regen the brine tank - Is that the same as the reverse-osmosis process?

Thank you.

Don't use water from your water softener as the calcium and magnesium ions in the water are replaced with sodium ions. You'll end up with salty water deposits on your car.

Reverse-osmosis uses stages of filters and then a special membrane that removes almost all of the bacteria, chemicals, heavy metals and minerals that would normally form water spots on your car. If you buy a Reverse-osmosis system with a DI (Deionization Resin filter) then it will remove 98-99% of the junk that causes water spots.

Most people buy the Reverse Osmosis with DI setup's to use for drinking water.
You just mount it under your kitchen sink. You can use the water for drinking, ironing, cleaning eye glasses without spotting, topping off batteries, windshield fluid, filling radiators etc,.. Don't use regular tap water in your radiator. You don't want your radiator to be an environment where the minerals and dissimilar metals add to the electrolysis and rusting. Over the years the minerals tend to form thin deposits in the core that will hamper heat conduction or even clog the radiator. For $79- $99 on ebay they are getting really cheap. It pays for itself pretty quickly.

 

[watchout]

300C_AWD - Again great info - Thank you.

 

[frank29]

......you can get rainX that you mix with your washer fluid..........

Does this have a lasting affect like the "regular" stuff? Or, does it simply provide a momentary benefit in sheeting off what the washer sprays on?

 

[MikeB]

It won't hurt your system--assuming you don't let it freeze--but water won't work as well as windshield washer solvent in removing the road oils and greasy grimy bug innards that accumulate on your windshield.

 

[300C_AWD]

It won't hurt your system--assuming you don't let it freeze--but water won't work as well as windshield washer solvent in removing the road oils and greasy grimy bug innards that accumulate on your windshield.

True but water is called the "universal solvent" because it dissolves more substances than any other liquid.

 

[300C_AWD]

I've also had good luck using 100% pure Dihydrogen Monoxide (DHMO).

http://www.dhmo.org/

Dihydrogen Monoxide (DHMO) is a colorless and odorless chemical compound, also referred to by some as Dihydrogen Oxide, Hydrogen Hydroxide, Hydronium Hydroxide, or simply Hydric acid. Its basis is the unstable radical Hydroxide, the components of which are found in a number of caustic, explosive and poisonous compounds such as Sulfuric Acid, Nitroglycerine and Ethyl Alcohol.
For more detailed information, including precautions, disposal procedures and storage requirements, refer to the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)
http://www.dhmo.org/msdsdhmo.html for Dihydrogen Monoxide.

 

[300C_AWD]

BTW: Dihydrogen Monoxide is water.

 

[watchout]

300C_AWD
I'd try that Dihydrogen Monoxide but I might hurt myself trying to pronounce it :biggrin:

I picked up the distilled water for now. But I am going to get one of those reverse-osmosis systems for washing the car, since the water in my area is hard-as-hell. I never used my "soft" water for washing the car because of the salt content that you mentioned. Do you recommend a particular RO system or are they all pretty equal?

BTW - are you the Culligan Man? :wave:

Thank you for all of the good information.

 

[Blacksrt]

Try the rain-x waher fluid, the stuff is great. They make a pink and a green, one for winter and one for summer. The winter won't freeze and it helps breakdown ice. The summer will freeze, but it gets bugs off better. they sell it at Wal-mart. Just make sure you dealer doesn't add regular fluid to it when you get service. Mine always does, so i drain out and refill. It won't hurt anything, it just deluites the good rain-x fluid. I rain-x my windshield, then use this stuff and it is great.

 

[II kings 9:20]

I use the rain X washer fluid, as said, the best of both worlds.

 

[vvv90]

I've been using the RainX Washer/de-icer on my truck for YEARS and I absolutely love it. Kill 3 birds with one stone.

However,

Beware! My friend got a stone chip in his windshield and uses rain-x regular wipe-on. The glass guy came out to blow the chip out at his house, inspected his windshield and asked: "Did you use Rain-X?" to which he aknowledged. The guy left and couldn't do a damn thing for him.

Who knows, maybe it's because he put it on AFTER he got the chip. I'll take a risk with my truck. If I notice any chip I'll stop using immediately and call my insurance to get it blown out and maybe they can.

I just thought I'd pass that warning onto you guys.