wiper fluid frozen?

[jarviz]

Hit about -10 to 10 degrees the last couple of days in NYC. I tried turning on my wiper fluids to clean the windshield but nothing came out. The wipers still wiped. I thought maybe I used some generic brand that didn't have anti-freeze.

I go home and the bucket I left outside still has fluid in it... not frozen. This wiper fluid pump worked perfectly fine a couple of days prior to it going below freezing.

Has anybody else has this issue?

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by jarviz

Hit about -10 to 10 degrees the last couple of days in NYC. I tried turning on my wiper fluids to clean the windshield but nothing came out. The wipers still wiped. I thought maybe I used some generic brand that didn't have anti-freeze.

I go home and the bucket I left outside still has fluid in it... not frozen. This wiper fluid pump worked perfectly fine a couple of days prior to it going below freezing.

Has anybody else has this issue?

Not really, not in this car.

However, back in the day, I have had the nozzels clog up and I cleared them by sticking a needle in the tips.

You might consider draining the wiper fluid tank and filling it with fresh stuff ..... maybe it got too much water in it along the way .....

humfrz

[JDMenrique]

Its happened to me as of late. Its fairly normal actually.

[frs10]

Originally Posted by jarviz

Hit about -10 to 10 degrees the last couple of days in NYC. I tried turning on my wiper fluids to clean the windshield but nothing came out. The wipers still wiped. I thought maybe I used some generic brand that didn't have anti-freeze.

I go home and the bucket I left outside still has fluid in it... not frozen. This wiper fluid pump worked perfectly fine a couple of days prior to it going below freezing.

Has anybody else has this issue?

same thing happened to me... im pretty sure the nozzles were clogged with ice rather than the washer fluid freezing... unless you have really cheap washer fluid

[Suberman]

Originally Posted by jarviz

Hit about -10 to 10 degrees the last couple of days in NYC. I tried turning on my wiper fluids to clean the windshield but nothing came out. The wipers still wiped. I thought maybe I used some generic brand that didn't have anti-freeze.

I go home and the bucket I left outside still has fluid in it... not frozen. This wiper fluid pump worked perfectly fine a couple of days prior to it going below freezing.

Has anybody else has this issue?

This can happen with any strength of fluid. What happens is the methanol evaporates out of the tiny hole in the jet and the remaining water freezes, blocking the jet. The remaining fluid in the lines and tank doesn't freeze because the methanol only evaporates out of the very end of the system where it is exposed to the air.

Some cars heat their washer jets to deal with this problem. Most rely on the pressure popping the tiny ice plug out. Sometimes the ice plug sticks until the washer jet warms up a little.

Same problem washing a very cold windshield. The washer fluid cleans fine and doesn't freeze while doing so. However, shortly afterwards the methanol evaporates out of the thin fluid film remaining on the windshield and then the water freezes obscuring your view.

Washer fluid is pretty much useless below minus 5C (23F approx) until the car interior warms the windshield. Doesn't matter how strong it is because the more methanol the faster the methanol evaporates leaving some water behind.

Pure methanol would work but it isn't economical. Actually, ethanol also works as does isopropyl alcohol. Each alcohol has a different freeze point and a different antifreeze effect when mixed with water.

[Bad Habits]

Put a little vodka in with the washer fluid. I shit you not.

[FR-S Matt]

Polar Vortex. You really need to wash your windows when its -10 outside?

[Muskokan]

Mines been really good, sometimes it takes a few seconds to penetrate the 5" of ice and snow I was to lazy to wipe off after clearing the windshield, but all good.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by Bad Habits

Put a little vodka in with the washer fluid. I shit you not.

So, that's what ya'll do, down in NC, with a bad batch of shine ....

humfrz

[Bad Habits]

Oh me and the jet fuel do not get along! Last time I touched the 'shine was shortly after I moved here at some bonfire party. I wound up on a four wheeler with an ex stripper from charlotte who was baffled that I didn't know what the hell a pair of "carhartt's" were, confused on why I didn't own anything in "mossy oak" and who tried to educate me on why some guy named brad paisley was an amazing singer. Then I passed out at a waffle house @ 615 in the morning. Not my proudest moment.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by Bad Habits

Oh me and the jet fuel do not get along! Last time I touched the 'shine was shortly after I moved here at some bonfire party. I wound up on a four wheeler with an ex stripper from charlotte who was baffled that I didn't know what the hell a pair of "carhartt's" were, confused on why I didn't own anything in "mossy oak" and who tried to educate me on why some guy named brad paisley was an amazing singer. Then I passed out at a waffle house @ 615 in the morning. Not my proudest moment.

Yep, those Southern bonfire parties can get rough .....

Reminds me of the time, outside of Beckley, West Virginia, .... ahhhhh ...... that's about all I remember .....

humfrz

[jarviz]

Originally Posted by FR-S Matt

Polar Vortex. You really need to wash your windows when its -10 outside?

when there's salt residue and white streaks all over your windshield, impairing visibility especially at night when there's oncoming traffic with their headlights hitting you.... yes washing the windows would be nice.

just noticed your from TX... never mind my whole argument haha

[jarviz]

Originally Posted by Suberman

This can happen with any strength of fluid. What happens is the methanol evaporates out of the tiny hole in the jet and the remaining water freezes, blocking the jet. The remaining fluid in the lines and tank doesn't freeze because the methanol only evaporates out of the very end of the system where it is exposed to the air.

Some cars heat their washer jets to deal with this problem. Most rely on the pressure popping the tiny ice plug out. Sometimes the ice plug sticks until the washer jet warms up a little.

Same problem washing a very cold windshield. The washer fluid cleans fine and doesn't freeze while doing so. However, shortly afterwards the methanol evaporates out of the thin fluid film remaining on the windshield and then the water freezes obscuring your view.

Washer fluid is pretty much useless below minus 5C (23F approx) until the car interior warms the windshield. Doesn't matter how strong it is because the more methanol the faster the methanol evaporates leaving some water behind.

Pure methanol would work but it isn't economical. Actually, ethanol also works as does isopropyl alcohol. Each alcohol has a different freeze point and a different antifreeze effect when mixed with water.

Interesting point... but any reason the same fluid works in my 2003 corolla?

[FR-S Matt]

Originally Posted by jarviz

when there's salt residue and white streaks all over your windshield, impairing visibility especially at night when there's oncoming traffic with their headlights hitting you.... yes washing the windows would be nice.

just noticed your from TX... never mind my whole argument haha

lol, yeah, I don't know what its like. I was curious though. That makes sense. We'd be lucky to have roads ice over. That's about it. Even then, everything gets shut down at that point because people can't already drive here when it rains.