Frozen Windshield Washer Fluid

[zimagold]

Noticed frozen orange liquid under the Jeep today after the -5F temps at the house. Tracked the leak to the washer fluid pump. The main reservoir did not freeze but looks like the lines and maybe the pump is frozen. Anyone dealt with this before? What's the likelihood I have damage in the system?

I've always used quality fluids and never had any issue with freezing (ignoring rental car antics). Fluid was Rain-X 2 in 1 rated to -25F from Costco. No issues with my other vehicles.

Trying to figure out the reason. My hypothesis is the jeep doesn't get driven much and the alcohol evaporated from the fluid, particularly in the rear wiper line. I can't remember when that would have been run last. I guess maybe I start draining the reservoir in fall and adding fresh fluid since its not cycled out regularly. I also put the partial jug of Rain-X in the chest freezer just to see if its a bad batch.

Suggestions?

[OtterbatHellcat]

At temps much lower than -5, I've seen frozen batteries, fuel(s), and improperly mixed engine coolant....but I've never seen frozen ww fluid.

I'm curious about your chest freezer test, I think it would have to be a very old bottle of fluid for the methanol to have evaporated.

[mb504]

Is it this one that is only rated to 0F?

https://www.rainx.com/product/rain-x...-washer-fluid/



They have other versions that are rated to -20F, -25F, -30F (De-icer), and +32F (Bug remover)

[zimagold]

Says -25F on the jug.

[00tec]

Just checked one of mine. Definitely shows -25. I've never had an issue with it.

[MrPrena]

Most cheap ones are -25.
Those expensive bug wipe or some rainx are rated little higher temp.


Some brand of car pump and sensor hates cheap ones. Some brands hate rainx.

[ray1970]

I?ve spent weeks up in Wyoming when the temperatures (without the wind chill) never got above -15 and didn?t have any issues with any of my vehicle fluids freezing.

Not saying it can?t happen and I have seen washer fluid that was diluted with water and froze and cracked the washer pump.

Should be plenty warm yesterday and today so maybe run the squirters and see what happens.

[zimagold]

I?ll see what happens tonight. Hopefully it will be thawed. Mainly concerned about a cracked pump or split in the rear wiper line that may not be obvious. I guess I?ll just pull up the carpet and run it a bunch looking for a pool forming inside the cab.

Just plain odd, I?ve had the same vehicle parked overnight in -20 up north without issues. It made a nasty racket starting but nothing froze like this.

[BushMasterBoy]

Chemistry. Cheap rubber lines absorbed the methanol. Just my theory.

[.455_Hunter]

Did you use a "summer formula" rated for 32 deg earlier in the year and had significant quantity left in the reservoir?

We have not needed a lot of washer fluid around here this fall.