Fluids and Oil Archives - Page 5 of 5

Standing in the aisle with all the windshield wiper fluid, you can see that there is practically a rainbow of colors. Does the color of the fluid matter? Will one do something others will not? Why are there so many colors at all? In short, no. Certain brands will differentiate within their own products using different colors. Orange may be for winter, blue for summer, and green will be their special mix for cleaning off bugs and grime. But the colors are not standardized across brands. Therefore, one brand may use orange for their winter mix, but another brand may use orange for their summer mix. And yet another brand may have all their mixes be orange. It is most important to read the label rather than trust the color. What Color Should Windshield Wiper Fluid Be? Windshield washer fluid is pre-dominantly a blue color and will have as similar consistency to that of water or Windex. However, not all wiper fluids will be blue, and this highly depends on the manufacturer and brand of wiper fluid. The most common color you will find at a gas station or convenience store is blue. What Are Common Colors of Windshield Washer Fluids? Some of the most common colors for windshield wiper fluid are: Blue Green Orange Yellow Purple Unfortunately, there is no way to simply stick with one color fits all because the colors will vary among brands. If you like one color more than others, check across different brands to make sure it also fits your driving needs. Also remember that driving needs vary depending on the weather and the location. Winter mixes are especially important for places where the temperatures drop below freezing. Bug mixes are essential for locations with bug activity. These are more important than color. Can You Mix Different Windshield Washer Fluids? Remembering what type of formula you have in can be hard. If you don’t use your windshield wipers or the windshield wiper fluid often, you also might not run out of the previous mix before needing to put in a different one. Mixing different types or different brands does not matter. Most importantly, if you live in an area where it gets cold, you will want to ensure that you have the cold weather mix in when it does start freezing. You can safely mix it with another type so long as it is the predominant type. You can also mix brands all you like, especially because sometimes it can be hard to find the brand you bought last if you are shopping somewhere different. It may also be hard to remember what the last brand you bought was if you no longer have the container. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcSrnBBX_T0 If you are regularly taking your car in for service, you may ask to have the fluid topped off or replaced and the service staff will work with you on the best solution for your car and your driving habits. Can You Mix Blue and Orange Washer Fluid? Yes, you can mix blue and orange washer fluid. Orange washer fluid is almost always going to be an all-season blend which is both good for winter and summer. Blue is usually just a standard dirt/grime remover. Be aware that mixing the two can lower the effectiveness of the orange wiper fluid which is designed to work well in all weathers. Can You Mix Blue and Green Windshield Washer Fluid? Blue and green washer fluids can be mixed together. The green washer fluid is mostly exclusive to a specialized formula for removing and repelling bugs/water. Mixing blue and green washer fluids can reduce the effectiveness of the green washer fluid. Can You Mix Purple and Blue Windshield Washer Fluid? Purple and blue washer fluids can be mixed together. For the most part, purple washer fluid will either be an all-season blend, or a bug repellant blend. Mixing blue with the purple will lower the effectiveness of the purple washer fluid, but it will work to clean your windshield just fine. Can Windshield Wiper Fluid Be Pink? One thing to be aware is that the pink fluid is usually specifically a cleaner or a one-time de-icer. It should not be put into your reservoir or mixed with regular windshield wiper fluid. Oftentimes, it needs to be diluted as well, so read the instructions on the bottle. Is There a Difference in Windshield Washer Fluids? Yes, there is. Different types of windshield wiper fluid include: De-icing or cold weather mixes Summer formula mixes Bug and residue mixes Water beading mixes All-weather or standard mixes We're going to go into detail on each of those options below. De-Icing or Winter Mixes Click Image for More Info Cold weather washer mixes have antifreeze in it, to prevent them from freezing in the reservoir or the lines and causing damage to your car. Use these mixes when the weather will be dropping below freezing, or you will be traveling to locations where that happens. In addition to preventing the mix from freezing in the reservoir, the mix can help de-ice your windshield if it has a lot of frost on it. This can be a lifesaver in the early mornings! Some even work to prevent re-freezes. However, make sure you read the labels on different brands because some of them have a variation in their temperature thresholds. Some work up to temperatures as low as -50°F where some are only good to as low as -20°F. As far as color is concerned, orange seems to be a popular color for the winter mixes. But other brands are known to use yellow or blue. Still others use green because the mixes contain antifreeze. We recommend using a De-Icer like Washer Fluid Booster by Prestone. It's designed for use with any washer fluid and helps improve the melting of light ice and frost Summer Mixes Click Image for More Info Oftentimes, the summer mix is just the basic mix with an addition for water beading or bug removers. They might be labeled as 2-in-1s as well. However, unless the mix specifically states that it contains one of those specialties, just go with the basic formula for cost-effectiveness. We recommend a high quality 2 in 1 mix like Rain X All Season Washer Fluid. It does a great job at removing light snow, ice, grime, and bugs Bug and Residue Mixes Click Image for More Info Bug and residue mixes usually come in green, probably because of the chemicals to repel grime and goo. The mixes advertise being able to assist your windshield wipers remove splattered bugs, sap, and other residue that get stuck on your windshield. Sometimes, these mixes include water beading formulas or can be rated to use during the cold as well. Though, usually bugs and cold are mutually exclusive. These mixes are ideal for removing road grime and increasing visibility. Water Beading Mixes Water beading mixes include a wax like component which makes rainwater form into larger beads and run down to the bottom of the windshield faster. Water beading mixes can also be super useful for cleaning off ice that is frozen to the glass. These mixes are great for areas where there is a lot of rain and are more convenient than adding a special treatment to the windshield separately. All-Weather or Basic Mixes These basic mixes are the least expensive and great for temperate weather and general day to day. If you live in an area where the temperatures never drop below freezing, you can use the summer or basic mixes year-round. Avoid Using Water in Your Wiper Fluid Reservoir Please do not use plain water in your reservoir. This can backfire in several different ways. Water by itself can freeze in your reservoir and ruin it. This can be a cheap alternative in the summer, if you can remember to change it later. It is better to not risk it. Water can also be a harbor for bacteria and grime, negating any cleaning effects. Also, water by itself is not useful at removing tough grime and splatters. It can also leave dirty streaks on your windshield and hinder visibility. This is ultimately dangerous, and you should avoid it. By the time you are adding stuff to water to avoid these pitfalls, you are often spending the same amount of money as you would on basic windshield wiper fluid. Sometimes it is best to spend a little more money at the beginning, then a lot of money later. Final Thoughts Ultimately, the color does not matter as much as what the label says the purpose of the windshield wiper fluid is. Pick the mixture based on your driving habits and local weather, or the weather of where you may be vacationing to. Mixing different fluids does not matter. If though, for example, you like the effects of the water beading mixture, you might not necessarily have the greatest results if you mix. It is also important to know that the cold weather mixture is essential for below freezing temperatures. Lastly, using windshield wiper fluids instead of water is incredibly important for the care of your vehicle and ultimately, your wallet. So go out and find the windshield wiper fluid that best suits your needs and don’t worry too much about the color.