Windshield washer fluid for winterizing???
 

Anyone ever use windshield washer fluid for winterizing??? The stuff says it's good for -20 degrees and is 1/3 the cost of the pink antifreeze. I've tested the windsheild washer fluid and it stays liquid down to 0 degrees, no slush at all. Going to test with 25% water mixture to see if it still stays liquid at 0 degrees.

We might hit 0 degrees a time or two at best throughout the winter, usually we never see 0. I'm in the mid PA. area.

I'm winterizing now with the pink stuff, but just got to thinking about how using windshield washer might make this less expensive as I use about 15 gallons. Just a thought.

Re: Windshield washer fluid for winterizing???
 

i don't think its a good idea, it will not have the rust preventatives of antifreeze,

Re: Windshield washer fluid for winterizing???
 

Very good point.... maybe a 50/50 mix of blue and pink..... hmmm..... savings = 1 case of a good beer.

Re: Windshield washer fluid for winterizing???
 

the pink stuff is made for fresh water systems. I don't think it has corrosion preventatives either.......

Re: Windshield washer fluid for winterizing???
 

I've seen two types of "pink stuff" available. One for the fresh water systems and one that claims to have corrosion preventitives. The later is 2 or 3 times the price of the fresh water stuff.

Re: Windshield washer fluid for winterizing???
 

DaveM is right, there are two types of pink stuff. One is specifically for engines. Considering the cost of an engine compared to the anti-freeze, I wouldn't chance it.

Re: Windshield washer fluid for winterizing???
 

Yeah no way chance it!

Re: Windshield washer fluid for winterizing???
 

this whole thing has been discussed before in the past........but just to play devils advocate here......whats the difference between using washer fluid and leaving you boat in the water all season??? lake water doesn't have any rust preventatives!?!?!? :evilb:

Re: Windshield washer fluid for winterizing???
 

Having grown up here in Toledo "Riot Capital of the Midwest" and having had the opportunity to work with many of the Rioter's, I have studied many of there habits and practices .
Windshield washer fluid is also known as NNiiger antifreeze!

Re: Windshield washer fluid for winterizing???
 

I was just curious as I can't seem to freeze the blue stuff. I'm unemployed and have been trying to find ways of saving a few bucks here and there and when I put out the cash for 15 gallons of the pink stuff and saw the blue stuff for a buck/gallon..... hmmmmmm.... plus my boat will be in a non heated insulated garage, so I really don't think the boat will ever see the extreme temps.

Ok, enough beating me up.... I'll stick with the pink....

Re: Windshield washer fluid for winterizing???
 

if your going to go though the chance of using washer fluid rather then risk that, just flush your motor and drain it just dont forget the coolers Id trust doing that way before id trust using "washer fluid"......As a marine tech I dont recomend either but have done the drain before on boats we knew we had to seatrial and never have had a problem

Re: Windshield washer fluid for winterizing???
 

Why do you even use that much? If you drain the water out of the block & manifolds what is there to freeze? I drain and back fill with 1.5 gals per motor with the drain plugs in. takes care of the coolers and wets the impeller. Then a 1/2 gal ea. in the manifolds. I have used washer fluid, green anti freeze, red anti freeze, rainx de-icer washer fluid, left them dry. 15 years, no problems.

Re: Windshield washer fluid for winterizing???
 

As long as your just doing your engine and not a fresh water tank, automotive (green) antifreeze is much cheaper (2 gallons after mixing for $1.50 a gal.). You have to use pink for biodegradable reasons but does not make a difference in the block.