Can Adding Alcohol to Car Windshield Washer Fluid Prevent Freezing?
2 Answers
Simply adding alcohol to car windshield washer fluid cannot prevent freezing. Principle: The presence of alcohol and ethylene glycol in windshield washer fluid can significantly lower the freezing point of the liquid, thereby preventing freezing and quickly dissolving frost. Alcohol does have some antifreeze effect, but it is also a highly volatile liquid. Since the engine operates at high temperatures and the washer fluid reservoir is located in the engine compartment, it is not recommended to add alcohol to the windshield washer fluid. Windshield Washer Fluid: High-quality windshield washer fluid is made from deionized water and various environmentally friendly additives, offering functions such as cleaning, antifreeze, anti-static, and anti-corrosion. Some premium washer fluids even have features like rapid snow and ice melting, anti-glare, and anti-fogging, which play a significant role in enhancing driving safety.
Adding alcohol to windshield washer fluid in winter can indeed prevent freezing, and I used to do this as well. Alcohol lowers the freezing point of water, and after mixing, it generally won't freeze until temperatures drop below -10°C. However, don't be tempted to pour in too much for convenience, as excessively high alcohol concentration can corrode rubber wiper blades and may also cause the spray nozzles to deteriorate. Moreover, it evaporates too quickly and runs out after just a few sprays. Last year, my neighbor's car had its wiper motor damaged due to improper alcohol addition, costing over 500 yuan to repair. If you really don't want to buy professional antifreeze washer fluid, it's advisable to use isopropyl alcohol instead, as it is less corrosive and offers longer-lasting effects.
