What to Do When Car Windshield Washer Fluid Freezes?
3 Answers
Methods to deal with frozen car windshield washer fluid: 1. Park the car in the sun to allow natural thawing; 2. Pour warm water into the washer fluid reservoir to help melt the ice—never use boiling water. Note that after thawing, the water should be replaced to prevent re-freezing the next day; 3. Utilize engine heat to melt the frozen washer fluid. While driving, the engine generates sufficient heat to thaw the frozen fluid. Car windshield washer fluid, commonly known as windshield cleaning liquid, provides a clear view when the front windshield transparency is poor—just spray it for a bright and unobstructed vision.
After driving for so many years, what I fear most in winter is the windshield washer fluid freezing. Last time it froze, I foolishly poured hot water on it, and ended up with a crack in the windshield, which cost me a lot to repair. Now I’ve learned my lesson: don’t rush to spray water—first turn off the washer system, park the car in a warm place, and let the sun or the heater slowly melt it. It’s best to use winter-grade antifreeze washer fluid, the concentrated kind, rated for -20°C. For regular maintenance, replace it with fresh fluid before winter starts—don’t try to save money by using summer-grade fluid. If it freezes mid-drive, use a towel to wipe off dirt as an emergency measure. Remember, safety comes first—a cracked windshield is really dangerous.
I once had a close call with frozen windshield washer fluid. The wipers suddenly couldn't spray water, and the blurred vision was terrifying. I immediately pulled over to avoid driving dangerously. My usual approach is to park in a garage or warm place for a few hours, waiting for it to thaw naturally. Never use hard objects to scrape the ice, as scratching the windshield would cause bigger problems. When refilling washer fluid, always choose the antifreeze type with a low freezing point and avoid using tap water. Summer washer fluid tends to freeze easily, so it's best to replace it before winter arrives. Safety comes first - avoid driving at night if possible.
