How to choose an anti-freeze "washer" for car windows

The content of the article:

1. The choice of an anti-freeze "washer": what to focus on
   
   • Fake or not - how to determine
   • Dangerous fakes - how to protect yourself
   • Clear signs of fake liquid
2. The right choice: what to consider first
3. Frozen "omyvayka": actions of the car owner
4. Famous brands - guaranteed quality
5. Homemade "non-freezing": is it possible to do it yourself

Not every winter is harsh, but even a couple of cold months may well "poison" the life of the car owner, if he does not take specific actions that will ultimately provide him with a comfortable and trouble-free ride in the cold season.

Therefore, it is necessary not only to change the shoes of the car into winter tires and fix the faulty interior heater - you should also not forget about pouring an anti-freeze fluid into the windshield washer tank, because this is no less important than all other measures that need to be taken for the winter operation of the car.

The choice of an anti-freeze "washer": what to focus on

There are two main requirements for an anti-freeze liquid:

• Carry out its functions, that is, really do not freeze in cold weather and provide a 100% clean windshield of the car.
• The liquid must be completely safe for both the driver and passengers.

Fake or not - how to determine

The modern auto chemistry market is flooded with fakes, and, of course, no one wants to pay money for a liquid that freezes almost like water and has an unpleasant odor. How can you avoid this? There are simple ways to visually check:

1. Shake the container vigorously from the "washer", paying attention to the presence of foam. If there is little or it is unstable, there are too few active substances that are so necessary to perform its direct operational function.
2. To control and select the correct “non-freezing”, it is preferable to purchase it packaged in a transparent container in order to see the presence or absence of sediment in it.
3. It is worth paying attention to the quality of the cork and the container itself, since a high-quality product is always poured into an equally high-quality container. The plug should open with a click, and the neck should be sealed with special foil.
4. On the label with a high-quality liquid, its composition is always spelled out in detail, and the manufacturing company with the requisites is also indicated. In addition, a high-quality label is moisture resistant - the text applied to it is not smeared with a damp finger, for example.

Dangerous fakes - how to protect yourself

It is better to buy any product in specialized stores, and not in dubious (spontaneous, for example) markets, from no less dubious sellers who, it seems, are not aware of the existence of a consumer protection law.

When reading the data on the composition of the anti-freeze, first of all it is necessary to pay attention to what kind of alcohol this liquid is made of.

Alcohol types:

1. Ethyl... The safest alcohol, but also the most expensive. It is because of its high price that antifreeze liquid on such a basis is not often purchased, wishing to save money. Not widely used for the production of such fluids.
2. Methyl... It is also called methanol. To say that this alcohol is harmful is to say nothing. And thanks to the extremely favorable price for such a liquid, many drivers acquire it out of inexperience or deliberately ignore the harm of such, in pursuit of unjustified savings. A frivolous attitude to health leads to the most undesirable consequences. Because of such a choice, the whole organism suffers - the work of the brain is destroyed, vision, the nervous system, etc., suffer.

   Strictly speaking, the production of methyl alcohol is prohibited by law, but ... the thirst for profit drives manufacturers and resellers, and the feeling of the notorious "freebie" is not alien to a significant number of the population. This explains the purchase and sale of such a very dubious "washer".

   And as for the performance of this "product", then they do not stand up to any criticism: dirt and snow are smeared on the glass, which in no way contributes to a normal view. In addition, there is a risk of throwing away the wipers in the middle of winter, as they can be hopelessly damaged, despite the excellent quality of the latter.

   Important! This liquid does not have a strong, characteristic odor!

3. Isopropyl... It is the most popular alcohol for the production of anti-freeze, since this alcohol is not harmful to breathing and health in general.

Clear signs of fake liquid

Unfortunately, no one is insured against the purchase of a low-quality "non-freeze", and this circumstance in no way precludes the poisoning of the driver and passengers during winter driving. Obvious signs:

• Cut in the eyes.
• Dizziness.
• Sore throat.

Sometimes there are cases of the most real drug intoxication, which is dangerous in itself, and when a person is driving a car, it is doubly dangerous.

What to do in such cases:

1. Stop the car with caution - an abrupt stop is dangerous for all road users. Turn on the emergency gang.
2. Get out of the car, also taking precautions.
3. Having received a portion of relatively fresh air in the lungs, now you can take care of the ventilation of the machine.

In addition to these very negative signs of poisoning, allergic reactions in the form of a skin rash or itching are also possible.

Important! Not only should you not buy such a “washing machine” anymore, but also try to find out the reasons that led to the listed negative consequences. Perhaps you need to contact the sanitary and epidemiological station with a request to do a chemical analysis of this substance, and then involve the committee on consumer protection.

Most likely, the product turned out to be of poor quality, but personal intolerance to liquids with just such a composition is not excluded.

And, of course, it is necessary to drain this "washer" from the system, replacing it with another one.

The right choice: what to consider first

What parameters should be paid the closest attention to when choosing "anti-freeze":

• Freezing point - it must correspond to the actual crystallization.
• Viscosity. It affects the normal operation of the washer nozzles.
• Type (formula) of alcohol.
• The presence of chemical compounds that reduce surface tension - the property of seeping into the dirt, at the same time effectively wetting the surface.

In a word, it is necessary to very carefully study the composition of the liquid, its performance, which should be prescribed on the container label.

Important! When buying a liquid, you need to require a certificate and a sales receipt!

In addition, the liquid should be sniffed before buying, using the old, like the world, method: waving your palm in front of the neck with the liquid towards your own nose, gently inhaling the vapor. This is how it is taught to do in laboratory work in chemistry.

Frozen "omyvayka": actions of the car owner

So, as it turned out already on the road, the car owner acquired a fake, and the “non-freezing liquid” not only froze in the washer reservoir, but, even worse, in the tubes and sprayers, like plain water. What to do? Actions:

1. Using extreme caution when driving, drive to the nearest well-heated box.
2. Wait until the “non-freezing”, but still frozen liquid is completely thawed.
3. If under the hood of the car the washer reservoir is in close proximity to the engine, you can try to defrost the fluid while the engine is running.
4. After complete thawing, the liquid must be drained from the tank, and instead pour a new one of normal quality.

Correctly chosen liquid will help to avoid such procedures in the future.

Famous brands: guaranteed quality

Experiments related to the guarantee of traffic safety on the roads, and even more so with their own health, have no excuses. Without inventing the notorious bicycle, you can simply purchase a good anti-freeze liquid:

1. Hi-Geer... Manufactured in Russia under the close supervision of the owners of a Western corporation. Isopropyl alcohol used. Easily withstands overboard temperatures of -25 degrees. It is consumed quite sparingly, which is important for the budget, while cleaning the glass with high quality. Flavors are sometimes used. It is better to buy from authorized dealers - this will exclude the possibility of counterfeiting.
2. Liquid Moli... A European brand whose products are manufactured in Russia. The liquid is effective at temperatures up to -32 degrees, therefore it is recommended for the northern regions. Perfectly cleans glass and headlights.
3. "From Russia with love"... At an extremely low price, this "washer" has all the qualities necessary for excellent glass cleaning. Effective at temperatures up to -30 degrees. True, it can only be used on warm glass, that is, you need to wait for at least a little warm up by turning on the interior heating.
4. Net Mile... The manufacturer is also domestic. Affordable price. Does not leave streaks. The maximum operating temperature is minus 37 degrees.
5. E95... Before purchasing this brand, you need to think carefully, because it freezes at temperatures below -15 degrees. However, for the southern regions it is quite suitable.

Homemade "non-freezing": is it possible to do it yourself

Yes, there is such an opportunity and, in addition, it will give the home craftsman the opportunity to produce a quality product and even save a little.

To do this, you need to have on hand:

• Alcohol or vodka.
• Screen wiper (liquid).
• Shampoo or other detergent.
• Concentrate.

The concentrate (liquid that can withstand very low temperatures, up to -50 degrees) can be found both in any car market and in any specialized store. With the seemingly high cost, concentrates are several times cheaper than a ready-to-use solution.
It is better to dilute it with purified or distilled water to avoid clogging (slagging) of the washer nozzles.

You can also use a mixture of vodka and shampoo.

You can also use a mixture of water, alcohol, dishwashing liquid, glass cleaner (the last two are very small amounts!) And a flavoring agent such as jasmine oil. You need to add a drop per liter of the composition. The last component will give comfort in the car, spreading a pleasant aroma (no worse than an air freshener), and also exclude possible traffic police questions about the smell of alcohol in the cabin.

The listed compositions are not at all a dogma, there are a lot of such recipes., and you can even experiment, but you should not forget to leave the finished handicraft product in the cold for some time, thus testing the homemade "washer". This verification method is the most reliable for the control of such compositions.

Of course, for most car owners, such "Mendeleevism" may seem like a strange and unnecessary measure, because a ready-made compound can be bought anywhere.

However, situations are different, and it is not always possible to purchase one, especially when the driver is far from the necessary retail outlets - there are many settlements remote from civilization in the country. It is then that these "recipes" can come in handy, especially if the purchase of the listed ingredients is more realistic (for example, in a local household store) or they are already available.