Ballast Homemade windshield washer fluid

[Deflexor]

I was talking with my wife about ballast and using washer fluid. After looking at prices she showed me a youtube video "Diy windshield washer fluid ".

The video indicates you only need water, rubbing alcohol, and Dawn dish detergent.
Researched and found out commercial fluid has methanol, where rubbing alcohol is isopropyl, both lower the freezing temp of the solution. Some indication of using ammonia in some diy recipes.

What prevents the water in windshield washer fluid from being corrosive? (The soap?)

Seems I could make my own washer fluid for less than a dollar a gallon. There must be some flaw in my thinking, can someone tell me what it is?

 

[fried1765]

I was talking with my wife about ballast and using washer fluid. After looking at prices she showed me a youtube video "Diy windshield washer fluid ".

The video indicates you only need water, rubbing alcohol, and Dawn dish detergent.
Researched and found out commercial fluid has methanol, where rubbing alcohol is isopropyl, both lower the freezing temp of the solution. Some indication of using ammonia in some diy recipes.

What prevents the water in windshield washer fluid from being corrosive? (The soap?)

Seems I could make my own washer fluid for less than a dollar a gallon. There must be some flaw in my thinking, can someone tell me what it is?

If you shop carefully, you can sometimes buy windshield washer fluid very inexpensively.
I bought 80 gallons of -20F fluid at an end of season sale for $1.20 per gal.

 

[shooterdon]

I bought mine on sale at Menard's. It was less then $1.25 a gallon but that was three years ago.

 

[k0ua]

To help answer your question about the corrosive ability of the water component of WW fluid or any mixture you would make up. The reason the water doesn't just rust out the rims right away is because of the low oxygen content inside the tire. And the fact you fill the tire so that the fluid is covering the rim. With the rim covered there is low oxygen content in the water and the rust process is starved for oxygen. Does some rusting happen? yes, but it is greatly slowed down.

 

[oosik]

Hi Deflexor. I made up a gallon of that stuff and am just now using up the last of it. Seems to work OK and I see no corrosive action anywhere. Corrosive action from the water - ??? What kind of water do you have there??? I have spring water - pretty high in dissolved minerals but it's left no "dry water spots" anywhere. I used the gallon in the windshield fluid tank on my truck.

If you are planning on using it in your rear tires - be careful. You want to be certain that whatever you make will go down to at least -20F or lower. Gets pretty cold in your neck of the woods.

Your 11.2x24 rear tires will take 24 gallons each to reach the 75% fill level.

 

[dusty3030]

For filling tires I buy it in bulk 55 gallon drums. You have to shop around but there will be a jobber / distributor somewhere near you that can order it in. Try your local NAPA. If you have a car repair shop or tire shop that you have a good relationship with get them to order you a drum the next time they buy some. Believe it or not the last time I got some the best price was at Grainger.

 

[3Lfarms]

I bought a 55 gallon drum of methanol and mixed it about 1:2.5 with water IIRC. Made about 130 gallons to fill my rears. Math says it should be good down to about -22f.

 

[PILOON]

For cheap WW fluid you might visit a car rental agency.
They buy fluid in 45 gal drums to service their rental fleet.
U can perhaps purchase from them.

 

[msb1766]

I bought 40 gallons of washer fluid from Walmart for .99 a gallon last year.

 

[aczlan]

I bought 40 gallons of washer fluid from Walmart for .99 a gallon last year.

I missed the windshield washer fluid when they had it for sale this spring, but I did buy 30 something gallons of RV antifreeze for a dollar a gallon.
It worked perfectly to load the tires in our project tractor.

Aaron Z