Washer Fluid in Tire Question - Mix or Not Mix

MFan

Member
I don"t want to start the debate on whether or not to use washer fluid in tires for weight (vs. CaCl or Rim Guard, etc.). I"m still deciding on that issue and reading the many posts on this site.

For those of you who do use windshield washer fluid, do you use it straight or mixed with water? I"m in Wisconsin where -20 to -25 below is common at times in the winter, -40 even possible.
 

I do not use liquid ballast in any form, but if I WERE to use the windshield washer fluid, I would use it straight up. You do not want the liquid ballast to freeze.
 
Water and Methanol will do the same thing as the windshield washer fluid at way less cost. We use it as an anti freeze solution in geo thermo lines with no problems.
 
Yep, had the dealer load the tires on my new Deere last year before they delivered it and they used methanol.
 
in the bulletin they recommend water ( above freezing) if used with rust inhibiter, if its in a tube why bother with the inhibiter? bill
 
Greg, Where did the people put the safety sticker/placard on your new JD? The law requires 1 on the tractor so the fire department knows you are carrying an explosive substance on board. Does your insurance company know about it? I am definatly NOT trying of be a smart A---, just a couple of thoughts as I have dealt with this in the past.
 
Never tried it myself but have any of us tried to set windshield washer fluid on fire? Doubt if it is that flamable
 
Straight up blue windshield washer fluid is only rated to -25. If you dilute it with water, you raise its freezing point.

You kinda *HAVE* to use it straight up.

On the flammability side, while windshield washer fluid won't ignite if you stick a match in it, neither will gasoline.

You're keeping the windshield washer fluid under pressure inside the tire. With the right kind of puncture, the windshield washer fluid can spray in a fine mist. That creates fumes, and fumes ignite much easier than liquid.
 
What I get here is only rated for 20 below but it freezes at 0 so you might as well use plain water as that would not get froze any harder.
 
Thanks guys for the input. Straight up washer fluid is not much of a cheaper alternative to Rim Guard, at least in my area. Even in bulk the -25° washer fluid is up over $2.30 a gallon. Last time I checked it was $1/gallon for CaCl and $3/gallon for Rim Guard.
 
Really? This is Kentucky. We distill flammables in the back yard, no stickers or placards on the jugs.
 
I have not priced it, but check with your local scrap yard for used anti freeze,won t freeze and can t be more than a buck a gal.
 
Why use used antifreeze? If it leaks out do You want it to get into the drinking water that people or pets drink?
 
(quoted from post at 12:17:58 04/22/14) Never tried it myself but have any of us tried to set windshield washer fluid on fire? Doubt if it is that flamable
I never gave much thought about it being flamable either until one day a customer brought in his truck to get a couple of brackets welded onto a storage box mount he had in the back of his pick up.
Just a quick job so I climbed up with the lines for the arc welder and ran a few beads.
Some leaves that had collected in the corner of the box were starting to burn and without thinking about it I grabbed a half jug of washer fluid that was in the box and dumped some of it on the leaves to put out the fire which it did, but a few seconds later when the washer fluid flowed over to the hot weld half of the truck box was covered in blue dancing flames.
It burnt out quickly and no harm was done.
Given the right conditions like a punctured tire spraying fluid on a hot exhaust in a dry field the potential for a big problem does exist.
 

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