This is a weird shot out of left field - but does anyone know what windshield washer fluid VW uses from the factory?

[Clint Beastwood]

Every VW I had came with the same washer fluid - it smelled slightly of acetone and was incredibly effective at cutting grime/film/bird poop off the windshield with very little spraying. I have never found an aftermarket equivalent, and VW dealerships no longer have the stuff. Years ago I talked my way into a tech filling a 3 gallon bottle up with the stuff but I was never able to get it again. They didn't know what it was called back then, it just came in a giant jug that said "washer fluid".

I know it's a really weird thing to ask, but I figured I'd throw the question out there in case anyone has a thought. It's like normal blue windshield washer (the ubiquitous PEAK or similar from gas stations) but slightly clearer, it smells slightly of acetone and does not foam up like most windshield washer fluids do and seemed slightly more viscous or "thicker". I haven't experienced it on any other new car, I do not know if it is still the OEM fill for new VW's, but it was the oem fill on new VW's I bought in 2006, 2008, and 2010.

 

[Chaski]

No idea.

Flatlander California restricts the sale of wiper fluids with VOC’s.

Basically in most of the state you cannot purchase any wiper fluid that freezes below 32F...

Some higher elevation counties are allowed to sell wiper fluid that has alcohol or other VOCs in it to lower the freezing temperature to a point where it won’t freeze in the winter- and can actually act as a solvent. Try buying some wiper fluid in the winter next time you head up to the hills and see if you are more satisfied.

Maybe you can become a rum runner of wiper fluid...

I kid you not I have friends that stock up when they come to visit me since I live in one of the counties that allows the sale of low temp wiper fluid in the winter...

California is the ultimate nanny state. https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/our-work/programs/consumer-products-program/faqs-windshield-washer-fluid

 

[RubenZZZ]

Couldn’t you add some rubbing alcohol into the fluid?


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[Clint Beastwood]

Couldn’t you add some rubbing alcohol into the fluid?


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Maybe - I was just wondering if it was a brand that I could find online and add to the garage cabinet of vehicle consumables.

 

[Clint Beastwood]

No idea.

Flatlander California restricts the sale of wiper fluids with VOC’s.

Basically in most of the state you cannot purchase any wiper fluid that freezes below 32F...

Some higher elevation counties are allowed to sell wiper fluid that has alcohol or other VOCs in it to lower the freezing temperature to a point where it won’t freeze in the winter- and can actually act as a solvent. Try buying some wiper fluid in the winter next time you head up to the hills and see if you are more satisfied.

Maybe you can become a rum runner of wiper fluid...

I kid you not I have friends that stock up when they come to visit me since I live in one of the counties that allows the sale of low temp wiper fluid in the winter...

California...

Interesting - I'd assume the "factory fill" of wiper fluid (or the fill @ the docks or wherever they do the fill) wouldn't be with a california-specific wiper fluid, so maybe they come with a worst-case-scenario fluid that doesn't freeze but all the aftermarket stuff we can get doesn't have the low temperature "stuff". An interesting hypothesis. I'll see what I can find thanks! I had never considered that there might be different fluids for different climates - it's just not something I've ever had to deal with.

 

[PunkST]

Different washer fluid temps for climate is a very midwest thing. Lol

 

[Zormecteon]

If you want to cut the grease RIGHT NOW, nothing beats 20/10 wiper fluid. Nothing.

https://www.amazon.com/Windshield-W...&qid=1578768782&sprefix=20/10+,aps,227&sr=8-1

It used to be available in a squirt bottle for instant clean or to mix with your wiper fluid. Now it seems to be only available as concentrate. I bought a gallon of the concentrate a few years back that needs less than 1 TSP per gallon, so I have enough to make 880 gallons. I see this 12 ounce bottle on Amazon is enough for a 55 gallon drum of water. Don't put it on your windscreen full strength or it will suds and foam for quite a while.

When I lived in upstate NY I used to bring this stuff back with me when I went home to the PNW because nothing else works.

Here's another link

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/NCB...y7ezwvgen2f64dgzGxzIN6GeeUBjuFFkaAsqpEALw_wcB

This looks like the bottle you can keep in your door pocket and squirt on as needed or mix with your washer fluid.

 

[Brianmc27]

https://parts.vw.com/p/Volkswagen__/Cleaner/53596041/G052184A2.html

I remember that lovely smell in my GTI!

this is the best I could come up with.

 

[pixelzombie]

I had a '99 Passat and don't recall anything special about the WW fluid, maybe it came after the fact. During the summer I make my own with water, alcohol, and a bit of vinegar or Simple Green.

 

[Clint Beastwood]

https://parts.vw.com/p/Volkswagen__/Cleaner/53596041/G052184A2.html

I remember that lovely smell in my GTI!

this is the best I could come up with.

For some reason I find their header image hilarious lol

Thanks, I may order a bottle and see if it's the same stuff. It just did the best job on the constant pollen I accumulate on my windshields. I think that was what I loved about it, it absolutely *destroyed* pollen.
I used to live on the hill above these fields and my windshields were always *screwed*

 

[Clint Beastwood]

I had a '99 Passat and don't recall anything special about the WW fluid, maybe it came after the fact. During the summer I make my own with water, alcohol, and a bit of vinegar or Simple Green.

From discussions above, I'm betting there was more alcohol in your "cold-area" fluid than we got in socal meaning yours probably cut grime a lot better than our default stuff.
No issues with the rubber hoses from the simple green?

 

[CarGuy]

From discussions above, I'm betting there was more alcohol in your "cold-area" fluid than we got in socal meaning yours probably cut grime a lot better than our default stuff.
No issues with the rubber hoses from the simple green?

Simple Green can not be good for your paint. That stuff kills bugs, centipedes, spiders, etc. At the very least it would strip the wax from the car.

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[Clint Beastwood]

Simple Green can not be good for your paint. That stuff kills bugs, centipedes, spiders, etc. At the very least it would strip the wax from the car.

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That's kinda what I was thinking - also drying of the rubber seal around the windshield. With how effectively simple green pulls oil off surfaces I'd be worried about it plasticizing the rubber.

 

[rallytaff]

When I had my Escort Mexico in Northern Germany, I used boiling water on my frozen windshield and it never cracked (lucky me)! Other people used to use VODKA as washer fluid because it never froze!