Is there a recommended windshield washer fluid?

[DWdrum]

The stuff that comes in the Model 3 leaves blue stains when it dries. Very annoying.

I've got a bunch of the concentrated stuff that Toyota uses. I'll replace it with that as soon as I use up the Tesla stuff.

LOL...no shi* right? Just did a trip to Tahoe and got a few bug splats, used the wipers fine....pulled over to charge and was like " WTF is all this blue shi* all over our white car"???? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Got home and before washing it, I drained it all out.

 

[rhaekar]

Unless you’re planning on drinking out of your windshield wipers, the main reason for not using water is you don’t want it to freeze and cause your lines to crack.

Straight water can be a great place for bacteria to thrive then you spray it all over your windshield and it mists into the air. Places have had outbreaks of Legionnaires disease because of it.

 

[SageBrush]

Straight water can be a great place for bacteria to thrive then you spray it all over your windshield and it mists into the air. Places have had outbreaks of Legionnaires disease because of it.

It is no where that easy

 

[rhaekar]

It is no where that easy

Legionnaires' risk from wiper water

 

[SageBrush]

Legionnaires' risk from wiper water

Right, however

1. It requires neglect and UK type weather
2. 10 cases a year, of which 2 are thought to be related to car wiper fluid
3. Not mentioned but likely that the affected were elderly or had diseased lungs (COPD, etc.)
4. Has nothing to do with using water to wipe down the seats

Find something else to agonize and be paranoid about. There are much better candidates.

 

[cdubois]

I use the same RainX fluid I have for all prior cars. The owner's manual discourages this, as it may result in chattering of the wipers, but seeing in the rain is worth that risk IMO. I've not had any issues so far. I even added the RainX additive to the wiper fluid that shipped from the factory, as it was not beading on my windshield. Again, no issues after three months and two fills.

I only wish there was a way to soak the windshield with fluid on the wiper down stroke. I park under trees at work and get very fine tree sap droplets. It takes a lot of wiper fluid to get those fine sap drops off when the wipers only spray on the up stroke which immediately gets wiped up.

 

[Bill Foster]

Sounds like a CYA statement. there is nothing special about Tesla wipers and glass vs the rest of the industry.

That being said, a capful of ONR in the washer bottle works pretty well with the normal blue stuff

 

[StellarRat]

I use the 20/20 concentrate. It seems to work just fine.

 

[Garlan Garner]

I use distilled water from Walmart in the summer, and a mix of that with Isopropanol (~ 50%, depending on temps) in the winter. Most winter fluids for sale use methanol to raise the freezing point but I avoid it due to toxicity.

I wonder what would happen if you use 100% Isopropanol Alcohol in the winter.

 

[tom.t.walker]

[QUOTE="So does Tesla have a *recommended* washer fluid? If not, is there a brand readily available that you've used over time, in a modern system such as the M3, that works well and doesn't cause problems with wiper blades, auto weather sensing, etc. that you recommend? Thanks!
r[/QUOTE]
@radiocycle -- what washer fluid did you end up using, and has it worked out.? I'm in a climate that sometimes gets below 0 F.

 

[Xenoilphobe]

I wonder what would happen if you use 100% Isopropanol Alcohol in the winter.

I did this, don't do it, it eats the rubber and you will end up with leaks in the tubing.... I wouldnt even add 5%...

 

[SageBrush]

^^ I'm not a methanol fan due to it's environmental toxicity. I've been warned in the past not to use ethanol but I wonder if this still holds true for the Model 3 materials.

Anybody know ?
Or have a recommended substitute.

 

[tom.t.walker]

@cdubois -- any wiper chattering with the RainX your using? Here is a pic of what I bought before reading Tesla's warning about water/bug repellent content.What state do you live in? I'm in the Denver area -- gets below 0F some days.

 

[radiocycle]

@radiocycle -- what washer fluid did you end up using, and has it worked out.? I'm in a climate that sometimes gets below 0 F.

Yeah, this stuff is working just fine, but here in the SF Bay Area, we don't much see temps like that! It's the SONAX Clear View Windshield Washer 1:100 Concentrate, Green Lemon. Got it on Amazon. Made in Germany. *However* It does say, 'Protect against freezing'. I don't think this product would work in your area.


r

 

[Garlan Garner]

I did this, don't do it, it eats the rubber and you will end up with leaks in the tubing.... I wouldnt even add 5%...

Good tip. Thanks.

 

[EVTomorrow]

Hello everyone, I plan to go to the service center at Carlsbad CA to refill the fluid, as it gave a low level alert. Just wonder if they would do it immediately, or I would have to leave my car there and come back later? Would they give me a loaner in that case? Thank you.

The issue with tesla is that there is no number I can call to talk to an agent on site... Hope you can provide some inputs on this.

 

[AKinDC]

Why are you going to the service center for windshield fluid?
Go grab a bottle of the blue stuff at any gas station and do it yourself.

 

[EVTomorrow]

Why are you going to the service center for windshield fluid?
Go grab a bottle of the blue stuff at any gas station and do it yourself.

I checked the price at amazon is around 20 dollars per gallon. Was wondering since the service center would do it for free, I could save 20 by going there...

 

[ewoodrick]

Any auto parts store will probably do it for you.

Doing it at a service center is a waste of everyone's time. If I were service center manager, I'd probably charge $100 for it.

 

[tracksyde]

I checked the price at amazon is around 20 dollars per gallon. Was wondering since the service center would do it for free, I could save 20 by going there...

Its probably like $1-2 a gallon at Walmart or any auto parts store