What should you pay attention to when choosing windshield washer fluid? Windshield washer fluid is a mixture of compounds…
Summer windshield washer fluid concentrate – which one to choose?
(photo Moje Auto)
During summer car trips, dirty windows are a nightmare for drivers. Insects, dust and tree pollen are quite a problem. They significantly reduce visibility when driving against the sun and in the dark. Now you can put an end to it! We show you how to easily deal with dirty windows.
From the article you will learn:
- What is the difference between summer and winter windshield washer fluid?
- What are the features of a good windshield washer fluid?
- How to prepare a solution from concentrate and water
The Moje Auto brand has one in its offer concentrate. It is a summer fluid concentrate that is effective in the fight against dirt, insects and road sediment accumulating on car windows. It comes in four fragrance notes: jabłko, orange, lemon and forest. Provides good visibility while driving. Does not damage paint and rubber seals. The design of the bottle allows for accurate dosing of the appropriate amount of concentrate when diluting it.
To prepare a liquid solution, you only need water and dilute the concentrate. It doesn't have to be distilled water, just tap water. The concentrate contains hard water softeners, so you don't have to worry about limescale deposits in the liquid container or pipes. For this reason, we should not use only water for sprinklers, especially if we have hard water. The water also does not contain preservatives that prevent bacteria from multiplying, especially on warm days. The water will then contaminate the entire system and streaks will appear on the windows. The concentrate contains such preservatives. We must also remember that plain water does not contain special cleaning substances that can easily remove dirt or insects, and therefore is simply much less effective than windshield washer fluid.
Summer and winter windshield washer fluid – it matters!
Just like you change your tires as temperatures drop or rise and other road conditions change, you should change your windshield washer fluid. Summer and winter products have different compositions and properties, so they work differently. Ingredients are selected taking into account weather conditions at a specific time of year. One of the key features of sprinklers is the crystallization temperature. In winter fluid it is at least -20°C, in summer it will not be so low. Winter is resistant to freezing at low temperatures and effectively cleans windows from mud, snow and street salt. It also protects the wiper blades by preventing them from freezing. Summer windshield washer fluids are primarily intended to remove dust, dead insects and rain streaks from the windows. Less requirements are placed on them, but using them in winter is ineffective and even harmful to the vehicle. The liquid may freeze due to its different composition and properties.
(photo: My Car)
It's not worth the risk of using dishwashing liquid!
Some people try to replace windshield washer fluid with dishwashing liquid. We also advise against this method. Dishwashing liquid has a different base of raw materials that can cope with greasy dirt, but not with road dirt such as dirt, dust, insects. Dishwashing liquid also contains emollients that protect our skin against degreasing. They may cause streaks to appear on the glass surface. Once diluted, it will contain an insufficient amount of preservatives, this amount will not protect the solution from spoiling for the time the solution will be in the tank.
Features of a good summer windshield washer fluid concentrate
The key aspect when choosing a windshield washer fluid concentrate is its composition. The effectiveness of its operation, as well as the safety of use and contact with the glass, wiper blades and bodywork depend on it. It must not contain methanol. Too high a concentration is harmful to human health. However, the risk of its appearance in the fluid exists in the case of winter windshield washer fluids. This is due to the properties of methanol that make the product more resistant to freezing. When choosing a concentrate, pay attention to its efficiency. We combine it with water, but it is important in what proportions. Taking into account this feature and the effectiveness of the fluid, you can assess whether it will be a profitable purchase. It should not leave streaks that limit visibility, which translates into reduced road safety. Moreover, streaks are not aesthetically pleasing, and as we know, clean windows have a better effect on the overall image of the vehicle.
(photo: My Car)
What about the smell?
Has it happened to you that the windshield washer fluid you purchased did not smell very good and each time you applied it to the windshield, it was not a pleasant experience? Many windshield washer fluids have a very intense smell and our sense of smell does not fully accept it. Moje Auto summer windshield washer fluid concentrate has a delicate, but pleasant scent. The available variants include juicy apple, refreshing lemon, exotic orange and a calm, universal forest scent.
(photo: My Car)
How to dilute windshield washer fluid concentrate?
STEP 1: Shake the container before use so that the active ingredients contained in the product are distributed throughout its entire volume, which will allow the product to work better.
STEP 2: Unscrew the cap slightly to allow air to escape from the inside of the dosing tank. Do not unscrew the cap completely, as this could result in the contents being thrown out of the bottle.
STEP 3: Squeeze the bottom of the bottle until the dosing cup is filled. The bottle is designed so that the container measures exactly 25 ml of liquid. This makes it very easy to prepare the solution, no additional vessels are needed to measure a portion of the concentrate.
STEP 4: Now we can completely unscrew the cap and pour the contents of the dosing tank into the car windshield washer tank. The design of the bottle makes it impossible to pour more liquid into the tank than what is in the dispensing container.
STEP 5: Fill the car washer tank with water (2,5 L). When diluting the concentrate, strictly follow the manufacturer's recommendations. Using too low a concentration of the solution will result in too little active substance in the solution. The washing effect will not be satisfactory because the solution will be incorrectly prepared. The concentration of softeners will be too low - therefore, there will be too many carbonates in the solution, which will cause water hardness and may precipitate in the tank and spray nozzles, which will cause them to become clogged. The concentration of preservatives that prevent bacteria from multiplying will also be too low. However, if we use a solution with too high a concentration, detergents will be deposited on the glass surface and streaks will appear.
The concentrate is sold in 250 ml bottles, because this is the perfect amount needed by the user. Therefore, by diluting it according to the manufacturer's recommendations, we are able to prepare as much as 25 L of windshield washer fluid solution. A bottle of concentrate will not take up too much space in the trunk, unlike ordinary windshield washer fluid sold in several-liter canisters. Also, the cost of the concentrate is lower than the cost of 25 L of ready-made windshield washer fluid.
Summary
- We dilute the concentrate with water in appropriate proportions, because this is necessary for the correct operation of the substance. In the case of Moje Auto summer windshield washer fluid concentrate, it is 1:100 (concentrate: water). We use 2,5 ml of liquid for 25 liters of water.
- We never use summer liquid in winter because it has different properties and there is a high risk of it freezing.
- A good summer windshield washer fluid concentrate does not contain methanol, is efficient, safe for rubber and plastic elements and does not leave streaks.
- The scent of the fluid should not be intense, but delicate, but noticeable, as in the case of Moje Auto summer windshield washer fluid concentrate, which is available in the orange, lemon, apple and forest scent versions.
