Sunday, November 23, 2008

Windshield Washer Antifreeze

The warning light had been on for some time as we were running the windshield washer fluid (water, in this case) level low in preparation for cold weather. Today I asked Andrei what to put in the car. Only in Ukraine - 1 litre of cheap vodka (40% alcohol) and 1 litre of water. Cost about $3.00 for two liters of windshield washer fluid.

Wonder if I could cut it 1 vodka to 2 water? 20% alcohol vs 13% alcohol? If it got cold, I could just pour another bottle of vodka into the tank? Any chemical engineers out there?

Windshield washer fluid (winter) at Wal-Mart was running $3 to $4 for 4 litres, last time I checked. There must be windshield washer fluid in Ukraine!

2 comments:

  1. I did a google search for freezing points. Here is one example with freezing point by % ethanol.
    http://www.ashland.com/pdfs/technical/AD%20Chemicals%20-%20Freeze-Flash%20Point.pdf

    20% = -9C
    50% = -32C

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  2. Thanks, DC. Figured you might come to my rescue. So half and half it is. And if it gets really cold, pure vodka. What a waste. I am going to look in the big box stores when we go to Dnipropetrovsk next time. Gas stations here don't sell oil either. Just gas. So far. But competition will change all that.

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