First Hard Freeze - Ford Designers Will Make You Pay a Hard Price

[RWT]

An excerpt from page 84 of my owners manual:

"WASHER PRECAUTIONS"

"WARNING: If you operate your
vehicle in temperatures below 41°F
(5°C), use washer fluid with antifreeze
protection."

This makes me mindful of a saying I once heard. It went something like this: In the early days of automobiles the owner's manual had instructions on how to adjust the valves. Now, they come with warnings not to drink the liquid contained within the battery.

FWIW, I use winter rated windshield wiper fluid (0 Degrees F) all year and I live in S.E. Georgia. It's hard to find here because we rarely slip below freezing but I get it at Tractor Supply and it's pretty cheap. I'd rather have the protection and not need it, than need it and not have it.


JMHO
No expertise implied or expressed.

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[sajohnson]

I found a good thread on the subject, here:
https://www.fordedgeforum.com/topic/20653-part-number-for-the-blue-water/

 

[RDS40]

When it comes to cold temps, northern Canada can be extreme. I am in Yellowknife. It was -36F (-38C) a few days ago.
No issues with the washer fluid freezing (winter grade). However the wiper heater caused the windshield to crack.
A day before that, the engine was super sluggish. It felt like the turbo system stopped working or the engine was running on 2 cylinders. This issue fixed itself after having the car in a heated garage for a few hours.

I get cold just watching Ice Pilots....

 

[BSBB4Les]

Sorry for asking a dumb question, but here goes. Where would the washer fluid go if the rear window washer hose broke due to freezing?

 

[Glamdring70]

Sorry for asking a dumb question, but here goes. Where would the washer fluid go if the rear window washer hose broke due to freezing?

Into the liftgate and then out onto the bumper. I can't recall the thread title, but someone had this issue from the factory and posted pics here. Maybe it was "adding washer to camera"??

 

[BSBB4Les]

Into the liftgate and then out onto the bumper. I can't recall the thread title, but someone had this issue from the factory and posted pics here. Maybe it was "adding washer to camera"??

Thanks for that! I'm in Northern Colorado and we had daytime temps below 0 for a couple of days! I didn't drive my BSBB during this time and it was garaged. But I did drive it on the first day that the temp went above 0 and the roads were pretty icy and there was a bit of a wind which caused me to have to use the wipers and fluid. I honestly didn't think either would work due to said weather but to my surprise they both did! The rear one had a higher pressure than it had in the past. So I just wanted to know what it would be like if the line broke. Thanks again for the info. BTW, my BS ran great that day.

 

[sajohnson]

I'd be very surprised if Ford does not use windshield wiper fluid that's rated to at least 40-50 below zero. After all, any given BS could end up in an area that sees temps of -40*F and even lower.

 

[Bucko]

When it comes to cold temps, northern Canada can be extreme. I am in Yellowknife. It was -36F (-38C) a few days ago.
No issues with the washer fluid freezing (winter grade). However the wiper heater caused the windshield to crack.
A day before that, the engine was super sluggish. It felt like the turbo system stopped working or the engine was running on 2 cylinders. This issue fixed itself after having the car in a heated garage for a few hours.

Minus 36 degrees? No way for me.

 

[Rogerthat898]

I'd be very surprised if Ford does not use windshield wiper fluid that's rated to at least 40-50 below zero. After all, any given BS could end up in an area that sees temps of -40*F and even lower.

I would bet Ford uses a low temp washer fluid from the factory.
With that being said, you never know what the dealership or smaller car shops are using to top off fluid. I am sure there are some places out there that top off with just water. You do this a couple times and the freeze protection goes away pretty fast.

 

[Arcee]

All of the windshield washer fluid I've ever seen for sale -- regardless of brand -- has been rated to -20*F or lower. And we're in Maryland -- not ND or AK.

If there is fluid that freezes at +32*F, I hope it's only sold in SoCal!

In about 25 years of reading car forums, this is the first I've hear of washer fluid freezing and damaging parts.

There must be more to this story.

Here in PA, the local Walmarts switch out the Winter Formula (-20*F) washer fluid to Summer Formula (+32*F) around May. Then around Sept/Oct they take the Summer Formula off the shelves and put the Winter Formula back on the shelves. One just has to be really careful if stocking up to make sure they are buying the correct one. Every now and then they even get in fluid that can withstand -25* to -30*F.

I had a dealer one time top off with diluted washer fluid, and the first cold snap the stuff froze. Luckily no damage when the fluid froze and expanded. When it thawed, I immediately emptied the reservoir and refilled with the -20*F washer fluid.

 

[mdwheaton]

All of the windshield washer fluid I've ever seen for sale -- regardless of brand -- has been rated to -20*F or lower. And we're in Maryland -- not ND or AK.

If there is fluid that freezes at +32*F, I hope it's only sold in SoCal!

In about 25 years of reading car forums, this is the first I've hear of washer fluid freezing and damaging parts.

There must be more to this story.

I truly wish there were more to this story.
They sell a summer and a winter formula for the washer fluid here in Texas.
Says right on the label +32F.
I bought a few gallons of the summer mix (it was probably less expensive), and had filled the reservior with the last of it by fall.
I didn't even think to cycle it out as I've never had this issue happen either.
We had a very hard freeze here last week (single digit).
The driver's side spray nozzle mounted on the hood split right down the middle.
That didn't just happen coincidentally the same night of the freeze.
Best I can figure, the design leaves fluid in the nozzle from the last spray, I suppose, to keep the line primed.
Like I said in the beginning, I get it, I should have changed the fluid.
Lesson learned, and I will never buy the summer formula again.
It's a bit annoying they sell a diffence at all.

 

[BourbonRunner]

Maryland here, too. I always make sure I use all-season fluid. Was at Costco yesterday and they had 2 gallons of Rain-X All season, good to -25 for $7.49. Stock up.

 

[<<<synthpulse>>>]

My front camera sprayer leaks badly, and empties my coolant reservoir onto the ground, so I guess that “no coolant-no freezing”.

 

[sajohnson]

Here in PA, the local Walmarts switch out the Winter Formula (-20*F) washer fluid to Summer Formula (+32*F) around May. Then around Sept/Oct they take the Summer Formula off the shelves and put the Winter Formula back on the shelves. One just has to be really careful if stocking up to make sure they are buying the correct one. Every now and then they even get in fluid that can withstand -25* to -30*F.

I had a dealer one time top off with diluted washer fluid, and the first cold snap the stuff froze. Luckily no damage when the fluid froze and expanded. When it thawed, I immediately emptied the reservoir and refilled with the -20*F washer fluid.

That's like selling "summer oil" and "winter oil" -- with winter oil being too thin for summer and causing excess wear and cylinder scoring. Granted, the potential damage is not as serious but still -- why do they sell washer fluid that freezes at 32*F?!

Even in SoCal, and the gulf coast, cars are driven to other areas of the country where it's cold.

Unless I'm missing something, that's monumentally stupid, and just asking for trouble.

 

[sajohnson]

I truly wish there were more to this story.
They sell a summer and a winter formula for the washer fluid here in Texas.
Says right on the label +32F.
I bought a few gallons of the summer mix (it was probably less expensive), and had filled the reservior with the last of it by fall.
I didn't even think to cycle it out as I've never had this issue happen either.
We had a very hard freeze here last week (single digit).
The driver's side spray nozzle mounted on the hood split right down the middle.
That didn't just happen coincidentally the same night of the freeze.
Best I can figure, the design leaves fluid in the nozzle from the last spray, I suppose, to keep the line primed.
Like I said in the beginning, I get it, I should have changed the fluid.
Lesson learned, and I will never buy the summer formula again.
It's a bit annoying they sell a diffence at all.

I know that I could easily forget that I have 32*F fluid in the reservoir. I mean, that's not gonna be 'top of mind' for most people. So I wouldn't beat yourself up over it.

I'd say the lesson here is either a) do NOT ever use 32*F fluid, period (as you said) or b) if you do, create a reminder to drain it all out, refill with "winter" fluid, and flush out all lines.

I'm amazed that washer fluid that freezes at 32*F is sold anywhere in the U.S. It gets below freezing in Hawaii!

Personally, I plan to continue to use the -20*F (or below) stuff.

I gather the summer fluid is supposed to be better a removing bugs. In my experience it's best to NOT try to use the wipers to clean bugs off the windshield. That usually just makes it worse. My 'magic' bug removal trick is to use nylon window screen or fiberglass stucco mesh. Spray the glass cleaner on and let it soak for a few seconds, then use the screen or the mesh to break up the bugs -- THEN use paper towel.

Presto!

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