Anti-freeze windshield washer fluid: an overview, tips for choosing

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

Today, many different compositions are used to service cars. They are designed for a wide variety of systems. Well-coordinated work of mechanisms, good condition of all components guarantees high safety of the driver and other road users.

To ensure good visibility on the road in winter, anti-freeze washer fluid is used. There are many varieties of such compositions on sale. They differ in quality, performance and cost. What questions to pay attention to when choosing will be discussed below.

General characteristics

Today, there are many different compositions on the market for special products for cleaning car windows. Some of them are in high demand. Demand among buyers of anti-freeze "Liquid Moli", "Gleyde", "Nordway", "Vitex" and other compositions.

It should be said that almost all manufacturers produce both summer and winter glass cleaner. In the first case, the composition must be applied at a temperatureabove 0ºС.

In winter, some areas may experience severe frosts and snowfalls. To remove snow from the windshield, you will need a special liquid. Compositions are on sale that do not freeze even at temperatures of -40ºС or even lower. Anti-freeze composition includes alcohol and special detergents. Also, the means of many manufacturers include fragrances. They allow you to hide the sharp, unpleasant smell of the product.

Composition

Popular antifreezes from Gleid, Liqui Moly and other brands differ in cost. This indicator is affected by the composition of the product. Antifreeze contains alcohol. It may vary.

Methanol is used in some formulations. These are the cheapest liquids. They are highly toxic. If used incorrectly, the user may cause serious damage to his he alth. Methanol is a poison that is life-threatening.

Some formulations are made from isopril. Such a product is characterized by a sharp, strong odor. It resembles acetone. You can also get poisoned by this substance, but only if you accidentally take it inside. The cost of such funds is average.

The most expensive products are products based on bioethanol. It contains alcohol and surfactants.

Features of methanol

An anti-freeze liquid, the price of which is the lowest among competitors, is made on the basis of methanol. This is a potent poison. Even a small concentration is enough for a person to remain disabled. There may even be death.

Similar compositions cost from 20 rubles. for 5 l. However, resellers can sell a similar product for 100 rubles. for the same capacity. In our country, a law was passed a long time ago to ban the production of methanol-based wipers. On the territory of the Russian Federation it is impossible to produce such compositions. They are not safe for the buyer's life.

Inexpensive odorless antifreeze is almost always made on the basis of methanol. When this substance enters the body, the nervous system is affected. First, dizziness appears, then the person loses his sight. Death may occur. Moreover, this poison can be poisoned by inhaling it with air.

Cost

Depending on the composition of the anti-freeze, the price of this product is also set. So, methyl concentrate can be purchased at a price of 25 rubles per liter. It is this fact that forces some underground, unscrupulous manufacturers to supply this unsafe liquid for sale.

Isopropyl alcohol has a sharp, unpleasant odor. To somehow reduce it, manufacturers add fragrances to the composition. Therefore, the price of such compositions is average. Isopropyl glass cleaner can be purchased from 50 rubles/l.

The cost of products based on ethyl alcohol is about 75 rubles per liter. This is due to the excise duty, which is imposed on all products of this kind. If the product contains more than 9% ethyl alcohol,the manufacturer is forced to pay a high tax. It is this fact that contributes to the rise in the cost of safety windshield wipers.

Producers

Today, there are many options for quality formulations on the market for speci alty glass cleaning products. You don't have to buy the most expensive ones. However, experts recommend giving preference to products of well-known companies. Such, for example, are anti-freeze liquids "Liqui Moli", "Shell", "Nordway", etc. Such brands test their products during the production process. They also value their reputation. Therefore, trusted manufacturers will not sell low-quality glass cleaners.

Gleid Exclusive, Wynn's and other companies also enjoy high popularity among car owners. The compositions presented by them do not spoil various materials of the car body, do not spoil glass, rubber seals, plastic.

Don't buy low quality cheap cleaners. They can destroy plastic parts and damage paintwork.

Pour point

Antifreeze manufacturers produce many products for different operating conditions. There are summer and winter varieties. If the temperature is above zero outside the window, but there is a possibility that frosts will come, it is better not to risk it. It is better to fill in the fluid with the appropriate characteristics in the wiper reservoir. Otherwise, the savings may result in the inability to see the road while driving. It mayend in a serious accident.

There are off-season, winter and concentrated formulations that apply to the appropriate weather conditions. If the temperature in autumn and spring does not fall below -10ºС, you can purchase compositions worth about 85 rubles. for 5 l. These are off-season lineups.

In the cold period, when the temperature drops to -35ºС, winter varieties should be used. Such compositions can be purchased at a price of 140 rubles. per canister 5 l. For especially extreme conditions, manufacturers offer to purchase anti-freeze in a concentrated form. Such a tool can be used at temperatures up to -70ºС.

How to choose a temperature indicator?

A good antifreeze can't be too cheap. It is very important to choose the right product that matches the weather conditions of the season. On the packaging, the manufacturer must indicate in what conditions the presented product can be used.

Experts recommend giving preference to trusted brands. Such companies guarantee that the information provided on the packaging is true. For example, Liqui Moly does not harden, according to the manufacturer's instructions, at temperatures down to -25ºС. However, in fact, a similar composition begins to crystallize in a much greater frost -32ºС. This allows you to maintain good visibility on the road even in an unforeseen situation.

However, when purchasing products from unknown manufacturers, you should expect the oppositeeffect. Such compounds begin to crystallize at higher temperatures than indicated in the instructions. This can come as an unpleasant surprise. Therefore, it is better to purchase products from trusted brands.

How to avoid becoming a victim of scammers?

Winter windshield washer fluid is a hot commodity. Therefore, many underground organizations produce fakes. Most often, these products copy the products of well-known brands. In order not to become a victim of scammers, not to purchase a substance dangerous to he alth and life, it is recommended to carefully choose a seller.

More often fakes are sold in plastic cans. This container is easy to make. You need to inspect the canister. It should not have rough, sloppy seams. The letters and numbers of the instructions must be legible. They should not be smeared.

Specialists do not recommend purchasing such products on the side of the road. Such products most likely do not meet the qualities indicated on the packaging. The composition can harden at -5ºС, although it is written on the package that the non-freeze is designed for frost up to -35ºС. If there is an urgent need to purchase a remedy on the side of the road, you need to smell it. A pungent odor indicates that the composition does not contain methanol. You can buy it if there is an urgent need to replace the anti-freeze in the tank.

Should I make my own liquid?

There are certain recommendations on how to make your own anti-freeze. Some drivers purchase a concentrate and dilute it with water. This is a very dubious way. In proportionit's very easy to make a mistake. In addition, the economic feasibility of such an action is a big question.

So a sufficiently high-quality product can be purchased at a price of about 100 rubles. per canister 2 l. Such a composition will not freeze at a temperature of -20ºС. In this case, the cost of a container with a concentrate can be about 300 rubles. for 4 l. In this case, the composition will not freeze at a temperature of -60ºС.

To prepare a winter windshield washer fluid from such a concentrate, you will need to dilute the presented solution in a ratio of one to one. The cost of the diluted agent will be 150 rubles. for 2 l. In this case, you will need to choose the right water, observe the proportions. Therefore, in most cases, drivers buy rather than prepare their own presented liquids.

How to make glass cleaner?

However, many drivers are still interested in how to make an anti-freeze. If you wish, you can do this work yourself. A number of recommendations need to be taken into account. Before preparing the cleaner, you will need to carefully study the instructions. The fact is that you will have to dilute the product only in the proportion indicated by the manufacturer. Otherwise, negative consequences may occur, such as suffocation, fire of the train.

It should be noted that ready-to-use formulations should not be diluted with water. Such actions significantly impair the performance of the anti-freeze. Even a small amount of water can render the product unusable in cold weather.

Water for dilution is notmust contain impurities, foreign elements. For these purposes, distilled or filtered liquid is suitable. Otherwise, hardness s alts or other constituents of tap water may harm the system.

Precautions

In some cases, the driver may urgently need to change the anti-freeze washer fluid. This can happen if the driver has recently replaced an old agent in the system with an unfamiliar compound. If in the process of driving people in the car feel unwell, have a headache and dizziness, you need to stop and get out of the car.

Next, you need to completely drain the suspicious liquid from the reservoir. It may contain methanol. In this case, you need to rinse the container. If there is no other anti-freeze at hand, there is nowhere to buy it, you can use a simple recipe. If the driver is driving home from the store and has a bottle of regular vodka and detergent on hand, he can make glass cleaner from these ingredients.

What to do if the system is frozen?

If severe frost unexpectedly strikes and the anti-freeze washer fluid crystallizes, the driver can perform a number of actions. If the tank is located near the engine, you can warm up the engine at idle. This will melt the ice.

If the windshield wiper is far from the engine, you can drive the car into the garage or parking lot. The contents of the system will thaw. In this case, it is recommended to add a concentrate to the tank. It will mix with melt water, which will allow the liquid to be used insevere weather conditions.

After considering the features of the anti-freeze washer fluid, you can choose the right tool for your car.