Happy_expat
Member
My tesla service center told me they use tablets and add water. Don't know what kind but it didn't freeze at prolonged 20F weather. To be on the safe side i used mercedes winter blend but its not cheap.
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Windshield Wiper Fluid and Recommendation
- Thread starter Mendione
- Start date
jabloomf1230
Minister of Silly Walks
They are the same as these BMW tablets which are roughly half sodium carbonate by weight:
www.pro-detailing.de
People that have used these say they work well as long as you can filter out anything that doesn't completely dissolve. I stick with the blue gallons which are alcohol based.
Windshield Wash Tabs BMW
Windshield Wash Tabs BMW is a windscreen fluid supplied in the form of tablets, which can be dissolved in the tank where liquid is applied to clean the windscreen. One tablet is enough for 1 to 4 liters of water. Windshield Wash Tabs BMW can also be used in winter if mixed with windshield fluid...
www.pro-detailing.de
People that have used these say they work well as long as you can filter out anything that doesn't completely dissolve. I stick with the blue gallons which are alcohol based.
stopcrazypp
Well-Known Member
I was considering what washer fluid to buy. I previously had some blue O'Reilly washer fluid left and it worked fine, but I no longer have enough to top off completely after the car warned as low. Was going to just buy a bottle of whatever was at Home Depot, but it seems they only have the 32+F type and the Rain-X.
I previously used Rain-X (not the washer fluid, but the coating and glass cleaner). It was neat and worked well during driving (where the wind blows off the water beads), but with the car parked, it made fogging/visibility worse for my security cameras (regular Windex worked a whole lot better to prevent fogging), so I stopped using Rain-X and would avoid their washer fluid (from review above it seems it doesn't work quite as well as the blue anyways).
Looking at this thread, I think I'll just stick with O'Reilly. It's interesting Tesla uses tablets, but I don't really see what is the advantage of using them (I guess it takes up less storage space if you have a shop, but that's not really a concern for me given at most I will just have a bottle on hand).
I previously used Rain-X (not the washer fluid, but the coating and glass cleaner). It was neat and worked well during driving (where the wind blows off the water beads), but with the car parked, it made fogging/visibility worse for my security cameras (regular Windex worked a whole lot better to prevent fogging), so I stopped using Rain-X and would avoid their washer fluid (from review above it seems it doesn't work quite as well as the blue anyways).
Looking at this thread, I think I'll just stick with O'Reilly. It's interesting Tesla uses tablets, but I don't really see what is the advantage of using them (I guess it takes up less storage space if you have a shop, but that's not really a concern for me given at most I will just have a bottle on hand).
jabloomf1230
Minister of Silly Walks
The tablets give you some additional cleaning effect over plain water. When a tablet is added to alcohol, you get both cleaning and deicing.
I will never use RainX again. My wipers were stuttering and jack hammering all over the place. It left some kind of grippy film. I had to use soft-soap (the mildest abrasive I could find) to get it off.
I agree. Don't use water in Chicago unless you have a garage to put your car in and wait for the ICE to melt....and then drain it out.
Don't ask me how I know.
RainX washer fluid works better when you run it on top of RainX treated windshield.
For me, one RainX treatment normally lasts about 6-12 months (depending on which car gets driven more in the rain). With RainX windshield fluid, the same application lasts 1-2 years.
YMMV,
a
Storage space is probably the reason a shop or factory would use the tablets.
ucmndd
Well-Known Member
Can’t imagine why everyone wouldn’t, although I admit I didn’t know they existed. Unnecessarily shipping around gallons of water is a ridiculous waste of resources.
Do the tablets keep the water from freezing?
I don't mind paying $1 for windshield washer fluid at AutoZone (that doesn't freeze) every 6 months for both cars.
I don't mind paying $1 for windshield washer fluid at AutoZone (that doesn't freeze) every 6 months for both cars.
The tablets do not have any anti-freeze properties. Seems like the usual suggestion is to add some alcohol to the water and tablet to lower the freezing point if it is necessary due to sub-freezing temperatures.
ok. I suppose I will stick with what I've been doing for the past 40 years. I mean, I spent $60k+ for a car that has no additional maintenance.
$1 washer fluid is just fine.
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TBrownTX
Active Member
fholbert
Active Member
Isn’t the Mercedes Winter Blend and the Kia Winter Blend the same stuff with a different label? Isn’t the Kia blend the same stuff they sell at chain stores for $1.00?
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Just wait till you find out about the potato chips!
jabloomf1230
Minister of Silly Walks
The tablets do not contain alcohol, only sodium carbonate and filler. By themselves, the tablets provide limited cleaning power and no deicing.
ucmndd
Well-Known Member
Potato chips have all of the water removed before shipping
Oh brother, you have a whole new world of "Unnecessarily shipping around XXX is a ridiculous waste of resources" waiting to be discovered.
I don't want to spoil the surprise for you ....
a
P.S.: Hint - it ain't water.
Just saw this today:
www.thedrive.com
Testing The Best Windshield Washer Fluids to Help You See Clearly, Now
The Best Windshield Washer Fluids: See Clearly, Now
Looking for the best windshield washer fluid? Our team of experts examined the best windshield washer fluids on the market. Read this review and save yourself time and money.
www.thedrive.com
stopcrazypp
Well-Known Member
The main recommendation is RainX, but for those of use that prefer not to have Rain-x it's a nonstarter.Just saw this today:
Testing The Best Windshield Washer Fluids to Help You See Clearly, Now
The Best Windshield Washer Fluids: See Clearly, Now
Looking for the best windshield washer fluid? Our team of experts examined the best windshield washer fluids on the market. Read this review and save yourself time and money.
The 303 tablet option is interesting. It's less than $15 for a 25 tablet tube and each one makes a gallon. That means it's much cheaper than buying any sort of liquid washer fluid. I may try that next time.
https://www.amazon.com/303-Instant-Windshield-Washer-Tablets/dp/B000FF76KM?th=1
I already got a gallon of the O'reilly and actually my store only had +32F, I guess because I'm in a California. So the tablet's wouldn't be at a disadvantage (given I would still have to add methanol or a winter booster if I need to travel to colder climates).
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