Can you add alcohol if the car windshield washer fluid is frozen?
2 Answers
You cannot add alcohol if the windshield washer fluid is frozen. Alcohol can prevent freezing, but it cannot thaw the fluid. Here are the solutions if the windshield washer fluid is frozen: 1. If it's not frozen too badly, wait until noon when the sunlight is strongest, drive the car into the sun, open the hood, and let it bask in the sun for a while to thaw. 2. Start the car and go for a short drive. Once the engine gets hot enough and the temperature rises, the frozen washer fluid will naturally thaw. 3. Use auxiliary tools such as de-icing windshield washer fluid or professional antifreeze agents. There are many such tools available now, which are effective and convenient. Just add them to the washer fluid reservoir and wait a little while for the ice to melt.
Last winter, I also encountered a situation where the windshield washer fluid froze. Trying to save trouble, I poured half a bottle of Erguotou (a strong Chinese liquor) into it, but it only made things worse. While alcohol can indeed lower the freezing point, adding too much can corrode the rubber wiper blades—I ended up spending 200 yuan to replace them later. Moreover, the residual alcohol after evaporation can clog the nozzles, requiring tedious unclogging with a needle. I've learned my lesson now: if it freezes, I just turn on the heater and blow warm air at the engine for half an hour, or buy dedicated -25°C windshield washer fluid to mix in—much better than reckless experimentation. In winter, try to park in underground garages whenever possible. When temperatures drop below -10°C, avoid using ordinary tap water to dilute washer fluid; switching to antifreeze-type fluid in advance is the safest bet.