High-quality windshield washer fluid should have such performance characteristics as a low freezing point, cleaning and antistatic properties.  Every windshield washer fluid will contain two main components such as the solvent and surface-active substances.

The monobasic alcohols and glycols act as the solvents that lower the freezing point of the washer fluid and dissolve oil compounds.  The surface active substances are needed to remove fats from the windshield.

The composition of the windshield washer fluid

The basic components of washer fluid are ethyl, methyl, and isopropyl alcohols.  The choice of the components of the washer fluid is greatly determined by their cost.  For example, methyl alcohol is cheaper than isopropyl alcohol but its performance characteristics are not as good.

Companies that have years of experience will prefer high-quality raw materials despite the fact that they can be confronted with such difficulties as acquisition of additional licenses, quotas, permits, and certificates.  It is worth noting that in some countries. the production and the realization of windshield washer fluid, based on some alcohols, is prohibited because of the risk to human health.

The surface-active substances remove oil and soot residues, dirt, and fats.  They are so active that between 1-2% of these substances may be enough to make the windshield crystal clean.  There also may be some other additives as components of the windshield washer fluid.  For example, there is a component that covers glass with a thin film.  The latter can change the refraction angle of sunlight that keeps the windshield clear for two weeks.  Additionally, windshield washer fluid can include aromatics that are used to render a fluid a marketable state and subdue the smell of alcohol.  And the last, but not least important, component of the washer fluid is water.

All high-quality windshield washer fluids are made on the basis of  water drawn from artesian wells, or just distilled water. Tap water cannot be used in  most windshield washer fluid production because of additives placed in the water by municipal water systems.

Safety Measures

It is not recommended to use the windshield washer fluid in a traffic jam.  If the vehicle is not moving, the harmful vapors can easily penetrate into the passenger compartment.  If there are some symptoms of poisoning, the driver should shut down the engine, leave the car and breathe fresh until he stars to feel better.  Keep in mind that some alcohols can be accumulated in the human body and cause poisoning over time.

The Performance Characteristics of High-Quality Windshield Washer Fluid

Not every washer fluid factory is able to produce a high-quality product.  If the driver decided to buy the windshield washer fluid, he has to know how to distinguish high-quality washer fluid from low-quality fluid.

Here are the main performance characteristics of high-quality windshield washer fluid:

(1) The surface-active substances. Shake the container with fluid.  The stable foam on the surface of the fluid means that there are active-surface substances.  If the foam does not appear, it is better to select a different brand to purchase;

(2) Transparence.  If the windshield washer fluid is of high quality, there will be no sediments on the bottom of the container;

(3) Packaging.  It is recommended to buy washer fluid only in transparent containers with high-quality labels and caps; and

(4)  The label. The label should include such points as:

(1) the composition of the washer liquid;

(2) freezing temperature;

(3) the manufacturer’ s address; and

(4) the number of the sanitary and epidemiological inspection report.

This report ensures that the product has no risks to human health and does not contain the poisonous substances such as methanol.

Sometimes, it may be troublesome to use water in order to wash the windshield at low temperatures.  When being frozen, water may damage the windshield washer unit and leave runs or frozen water droplets that significantly obscure road view.

How to avoid such situations?

The special non-freezing washer fluids may stand the drivers in good stead.  They do not freeze even when it’s bitter cold.  The freezing point of such fluids ranges from  -5 to -50 ºC (sometimes up to -65 ºC) and depends on the alcohol strength.  If the fluid is of poor quality or is kept improperly, it may turn into jelly.  If this should happen, the washer system will fail to work.  While choosing the windshield washer fluid, always take into account the climatic conditions of the region you reside in.

Typical windshield washer fluids are based on the mixture of monobasic alcohols.  Most every type of alcohol is proved to have a negative impact on human health, but methyl alcohol is considered to be the most dangerous out of all alcohols.  Even five grams (5 gr) of methyl alcohol in the human body can cause the loss of vision.

In common, the producers of windshield washer fluid use different fruit flavorings to subdue the smell of alcohol, but they do not affect the quality of the product.

While choosing the washer fluid, particular attention should be paid to its composition and expiration date.  The remarkable thing is that the expiration date is valid only if the product is kept in a proper way.

The majority of drivers think that the cost of the washer fluid at wholesale or retail is not justified.  The wholesale purchasing of washer fluid requires some simple rules to be followed:

(1) If you are going to buy a few boxes of the fluid, it is necessary to focus on the package.  Many manufacturers save on the packaging materials.  The most durable and cost-effective packaging is considered to be plastic cans and bottles.  But it should be born in mind that if the washer fluid is kept cans, some its useful properties may be lost;

(2) Such negative factors as high humidity, or solar radiation may cause deformation of the container and its loss of tightness.  As a result, the washer liquid loses its properties because the alcohol starts to evaporate from the non-freezing liquid;

(3) If the container is not tightly-capped, the freezing point of the fluid may be significantly reduced. It is therefore, the drivers that have to be careful when filling the car windshield washer with fluid; and

(4) It is recommended to buy the windshield washer fluid in specialized stores to eliminate the risk of improper storage.

Every year thousands of people die as a result of road traffic accidents.  It is therefore, road safety that is one of the overriding priorities in most developed countries of the world.

The state policy is aimed to ensure road safety that consists in the following principles: (1) the development and the enactment of laws and technical guidance; and (2) implementation of standardized road signs and road markings.  Drivers  contribute to road safety by following standrd rules ensuring good visibility by keeping their windshiled and windows clean and unobstructed while driving on the roads.

In summer, the windshield may be washed by water. But in winter, many drivers must face the difficulties of freezing water and the windshield becomeing ice-encrusted causing an obstructed view.

It is however, windshield washer fluid that can keep the windshield crystal clear even at low and freezing temperatures.

The businessmen, who want to start up their own business, can become interested in windshield washer fluid production.  It is desirable to create a business plan before starting the washer fluid production.

The “Business Plan” is an essential roadmap for business success and helps to set business goals and plans for reaching them.  The following is a discussion of the basic principles of the business plan for windshield washer fluid production.  The basic structure will help the beginner businessman to catch the idea of how to write such a plan and what documents are required to successfully complete the plan.  So, the goal of our business plan is to establish a company that deals with windscreen washer fluid production. The beginner businessman may become the industry leader in the manufacture and sale of washer fluid because of the potential for mass marketing and consumption.

The business plan should include  such  points as: (1) financial investment analysis; (2) the description of the equipment used in the production process (water purification system, molding machine, the UBS blending equipment,  storage tanks, and pipelines); (3) the list of production departments; (4) the list of permission  documents; (5) a detailed description of the production process; (6) unit cost calculation; (7) and staff list.

A separate point of the business plan should be dedicated to the analysis of the existing market environment, namely the major competitors and the prospects for business development.  The schedule of investments and return credit funds should be included in the business plan as well.  While writing a business plan, special attention should be paid to the sales plan, cash flow statement and the break-even point of production.  The installed machine capacity and seasonal fluctuations in demand for the product should be taken into consideration while defining the points, listed above. The  basic investment indicators such as internal rate of return (IRR), net present value, and payback period are to be calculated.

Windshield washer fluid is used while cleaning the windshield with the windshield wipers when the vehicle is being driven.  In summer, drivers use water to clean the windshield, but in winter they have to seek other options.  The use of non-freezing washer fluid is considered to be the best option in winter.

Since good driver visibility is essential for safe driving, many drivers are concerned about the principles of windshield washer fluid production.   It is no wonder because the faster the product is sold, the more attention is focused on its production  technology.

The following is a discussion of the core principles of windshield washer fluid production.  First, there will be a need for specially purified water to produce windshield washer fluid.  Particular attention therefore, should be paid to the water supply.  There are powerful reagent filters that used for cleaming the water that is used in making the fluid.  These powerful filters are very good at removing the different additives, mineral salts and bacteria from the water.

The next stage is decontamination and purification.  The water is distilled in the course of the filtration process.  The typical factory requires between five to ten square meters (5-10m3) of water a day to produce windshield washer liquids in commericl quantities.  Additionally, there also may be needed the surface-active agents.  Theses surface active agents are special chemical compounds that can collect all the dirt from the windshield.  Commonly, the typical factory produces both winter and summer windshield washer liquids.  If the other kind of windshield washer fluid is going to be produced, the storage tanks should be washed.  In such a way, the quality of non-freezing fluid will be preserved.

Almost all processes need to be automated in order to reduce labor costs and time consumption. These processes include:

(1) molding of containers, caps, and skeeps;

(2) bottling;

(3) capping;

(4) labeling; and

(5) warehousing.

While designing the container for windshield washer fluid, the producer should think first about the user:  it should be easy for the user to fill  the washer reservoir.  Such technology as vacuum shaping has been used to form containers.  The special equipment, known as injection molding machines, provide for the production of caps and skeeps.  Each item is produced by a specified molding tool as there is no such a machine that can produce caps and skeeps at the same time.

At the next stage, the containers are filled with  washer fluid  and  then capped. While traveling along the conveyor, the capped containers are labeled.

Each label must contain the following information:

(1) date of manufacture;

(2) expiration date;

(3) name of the manufacturer; and

(4) conformance certificate.

Usually, the quality of the products are controlled by the testing laboratory that has an internationally recognized accreditation.  The basic components of the washer fluid such as alcohol, glycol, and flavoring agents are measured by the refractometer.  Each batch of alcohol is tested directly at the factory where it is produced.

There is no doubt that clean car windows are of much benefit to unobstructed visibility and safe travel.  In summer, the windshield may be washed with water, but in winter drivers run into difficulties using only water because water freezes.

In order to avoid undesirable situations, the application of a special non-freezing fluid will be needed.  Drivers can use these fluids even in summer to provide more effective cleaing of dirt and splattered bugs the car’s windshield.

High-quality non-freezing fluids should possess such characteristics as:

(1) low freezing point;

(2) good cleaning ability;

(3) no negative impact on paint coatings, rubber and plastic parts of the car;

(4) no risk to human health.

Requirements for Windshield Washer Fluid

Nowadays there are no special technical documents that regulate the requirements for windshield washer fluid.  But, there are howerver,some well known  unwritten specifications.

First of all, non-freezing fluids should cope with the following tasks:

(1) remove dirt from the windshield at low temperatures;

(2) not leave runs, iridescent films or incrustations on the windshield;

(3) have no effect on the parts of the car (body, windshield wipers, or weatherstrip windscreens);

(4) remove splattered insects in summer;

(5) provide no risks to human health.

There is a great variety of  non-freezing fluids.  But, only some of them may be used for washing a windshield.

Such monobasic alcohols known as ‘methyl alcohol‘, ‘ethyl alcohol‘ and ‘isopropyl alcohol’ are used as a basis for windshield washer fluids.  The alcohols, listed above, have gained a widespread acceptance in many industries.

Information On Alcohols

Ethyl alcohol, also known as ethanol or drinking alcohol,  has a distinctive odor and pungent taste.  Ethyl alcohol is widely used in the food industry, or while degreasing the contacts of electrotechnical and mechanical parts.

Methyl alcohol, also known as carbinol, methanol, or wood alcohol, is used in the paint and varnish industry to dissolve various substances.  It is methanol that has the best detergent properties among all monobasic alcohols.

Isopropyl alcohol (isopropanol) is used in the acetone production.  The non-freezing fluid should contain alcohol, surface-active agents, corrosion inhibitors, and coloring agents.

Methyl alcohol is considered to pose the most serious risk to human health.  The severity of methyl alcohol exposure is determined by its concentration, the individual peculiarities of  a person, and/or its route of entry into body.

By its very nature ethanol is considered to be a drug, but only if it is taken regularly will it become addictive.  In this case, methanol provides adverse effects on human nervous and cardiovascular systems, the digestive system, and the liver. Additionally, ethanol vapor inhalation sometimes may result in poisoning.

Methanol is a highly toxic substance affecting the vascular and nervous systems.  This type of alcohol can accumulate in the body: 5-10 ml of methanol can lead to severe poisoning and thirty milliliters (30 ml) of such alcohol may be fatal.

The characteristics of isopropyl alcohol and ethanol are almost the same, but the first one is more toxic.  Isopropanol is not accumulated in the body.  In many parts of the world, the production and selling of isopropanol-based windshield washer fluids is prohibited as it is the most toxic of all alcohols.  Although ethanol constitutes a relative degree of safety, it is rarely used in windshield washer fluid production because of some difficulties in its licensing.  This alcohol is widely used in producting fake vodka therefore, ethanol is usually under the strict control of state and national governments.  In this respect, the producers find it easier to use isopropanol.  Foreign windshield washer fluids, as a rule, are made of  ethanol  though isopropanol and ethanol may also be included as components of the fluid (no more than 1%).

How to Choose a High-Quality Windshield Washer Fluid?

While choosing a winter washer fluid, drivers should pay attention to the label on the container that specifies:

(1) name of the manufacturer;

(2) description of the product;

(3) usage tips;

(4) manufacturer’s address;

(5) release date of the product; and

(6) a list of ingredients.

Drivers should avoid windshield washer fluids with a strong or acetone-like smell.  The design of the container should also be easy-to-use.

Safety  is the main concern of any  successful trip.  There is no doubt that  good vision and clean car windows benefit the safe road trip.

When Automatic windshield wipers first appeared on the modern car, they just operated just with water.  Though this windhield cleaning system was considered to be a breakthrough in the high-tech market, it was  unable to cope with the problem of windshield icing in freezing temperatures.

A few years after the introduction of on board windshiled washers, special washer fluids appeared on the market.  Nowadays they are called by different names such as windshield wiper fluid, wiper fluid, screen wash (in the UK), or washer fluid.  Depending on the peculiarities of usage, there are summer and winter fluids.  While choosing a summer washer fluid, special  attention should be paid to the smell of the fluid.

The fact is that there are a lot of producers of automobile chemical goods that are offered in the marketplace.  The main difference among all these liquids is normally determined by smell or fragrence.  In order to provide a safe and effective product, the experienced producers make windshield washer fluids only from components that do not harm human health.

If you detect a strong and unpleasant smell of liquid, it is better to avoid buying it.  If you dare however, to buy such liquid, you may face some health problems or damages to your car’s painted surfaces.  It is more difficult to choose winter washer fluid, as not only the smell is important, but also cold resistance should be taken into consideration.

High-quality Winter fluids not only clean the car windows, but should help prevent them from icing due to special de-icing components in the fluid.  Drivers should be also careful while choosing winter washer liquids, as they differ depending on the temperature limits.  For example, one windshield washer fluid may clean the window at minus 10 ºC / 14 º F, and another one at minus 20 ºC / minus 4ºF.  Some brands offer liquids that may be used even at minus 40 ºС / minus 40 ºF.

The washer liquid will not work if you use it at a temperature that is lower than that specified on the container.  If this is the case, this liquid will turn into jelly and will not flow though the piping and hose system to protect the car windows from icing.  Drivers should also know how to use the windshield washing liquids.  It is not recommended to dilute these washer liquids with water as the useful properties of liquids will be lost.  In the market, there are a lot of non-freezing liquids as well as concentrates.

If concentrates are used, it is usually necessary to dilute them with distilled water (the proportion is specified on the container).  Commercial alcohol is the main component of the washer fluid that prevents windshields from freezing.

The producers of cheap windshield washer fluids use methyl alcohol, that has strong and unpleasant smell and is very hazardous to human health.  Avoid these fluids.

Here are some tips on how to choose the proper windshield washer fluid.

First, do not neglect the quality of  the label on the container.  The leading manufacturers attach only high-quality labels to their goods that provide useful techincal data and usage instructions.

The label should provide the following information:

(1) the company logo;

(2) the name of manufacturing company;

(3) product release date;

(4) expiration date;

(5) the list of product ingredients; and

(6) the manufacturer’s return address.

Secondly, do not forget to check the smell of the fluid.  If you detect the smell of acetone, it is better not to buy this fluid.  And trite, but true: pay attention to price!  The low-quality washer liquids, as a rule, cost much less than tried-and-true products, nut they are not a bargan.

It is therefore, better to spend a little more money on the better product in order to protect your health, safety, and operating conditions of your car.

Remember: a cheapskate always pays twice!

And last but not least!  It is recommended to use the windshield washer liquid only when necessary.  Do not spray the fluid on the screen if the car sits in the garage unused.  The vapours of commercial alcohol are very dangerous.  They vanish faster if using washer fluids while driving.  Otherwise, you have to air out the garage for a long period of time.  By following these rules, you can benefit from windshield washer liquid.