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32 degree washer fluid

Damn SoCal

Posted December 26 2008 07:13 PM by Willys 
Filed under: Campfire, Fuuny Jeep Stories, Pete Trasborg

After going to at least 5 different stores trying to find windshield washer fluid that wouldn't freeze, I gave up.


red+blue+green = grey?!?!?

I tried two Walmarts, Target, Kragen, Napa, and Pep Boys... there isn't a place in my area that has windshield washer fluid that won't freeze.

The straw that broke the camel was the Pep Boys... they are the used car salesmen of auto parts... always in your face asking if they can help you.  And, if you are like me, invariably, they can't.  It's not the fault of the kid pushing the buttons on the computer, it's the fault of corporate who doesn't require either a brain or prior automotive knowledge to get a job at the place.

Case in point, an actual exhange from my visit:

Parts monkeydude: "Can I help you find anything?"

Me: "Yeah, I'm looking for windshield washer fluid."

Parts monkeydude: (looks 20 feet behind where I'm standing) "Its right there behind you"

Me: (looks where monkeydude is looking, sees in big bold letters "GOOD FOR +32 DEGREES") "Yeah, I'm looking for some that won't freeze... is good under 32 degrees"

Parts monkeydude: (completely confused look on face) "under 32 degrees????"

Parts monkeydude: (still confused) "Won't freeze????"

Me: "Yeah"

Parts monkeydude: (confused)

Parts monkeychick walks up: "What are you looking for?"

Parts monkeydude: (bewildered look and tone) "He says he wants windshield washer fluid that won't freeze

Parts monkeychick: " Oh, if we have it, it will be straight to the back of the store"

Parts monkeydude: (bewildered tone, talking to self) "Washer fluid that goes below 32 degrees????"

At that point I walk away.  I was glad the chick had a brain in her head.  However, the store, while having easily 50 gallons of washer fluid on display, didn't have a single gallon that was "good" under 32 degrees.

I don't know if the crap they were selling would or would not freeze... but I had 3 vehicles that needed washer fluid and I didn't wanna take the gamble.

Then I saw it: Marine/RV antifreeze... good to -50.

So I figure, 3 vehicles, could use 3 gallons, I grab a gallon of the -50 stuff, a regular gallon of the blue stuff, and since I don't know how well the "antifreeze" really cleans, a gallon of the "bug remover" washer fluid.  I figure -50+32+32/3 means I'm good to 4 degrees...

I mix em all together and end up with a dirty dish water grey.

It got to 38 at my place today, and as of this writing (7:09 pm ) it is 32 degrees.  I wanted the less than 32 degrees stuff for travelling up into the mountains.  I'm glad I went this route.  I bet it gets into the 20s here tonight and the only thing I drove today was the 715 (not one of the Jeeps with washer fluid in it).

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