The mechanics keep it to themselves: But you can save your view in the car

Winter is coming and with it the daily battle with ice and snow on the windscreen. Many drivers rely on a scraper and some water for the windscreen wipers. But unfortunately, that’s often not enough in winter. There are simple, inexpensive and often overlooked tricks that mechanics may take for granted, but often don’t talk about. And for ordinary drivers, they mean the difference between safe visibility and the foggy windows they normally have to contend with every morning.

The view out of the window is crucial to safe driving. But the windscreen often takes a beating in winter. And even slightly reduced visibility can result in accidents that not only cause damage to property but can also endanger lives. How to avoid this problem?

Why ordinary windscreen washer fluid is not enough

Many drivers fill up their windshield washer reservoir with the regular, conventional washer fluid that is sold for them. But in winter, this can be a big problem. As the handy guide to winter car care points out, the washer fluid can’t just be water, as below freezing temperatures will freeze and render the system inoperable.

Plus, if you stick with a summer mixture and temperatures drop, you risk not only freezing the fluid in the tank or on the glass itself, but also damaging the hoses or washer nozzle. That’s why experts recommend switching to antifreeze (i.e. winter) when the weather turns cold. This contains a higher proportion of alcohol, which lowers the freezing point of the fluid. Many compounds are rated for temperatures down to -20 °C, some even down to -30 °C.

Home-made “recipes” that mechanics rarely reveal

If you don’t want to buy overpriced winter washer fluid, you can make your own mixture from commonly available ingredients. For example, one such recipe recommends adding a little eco-friendly detergent to distilled water. Another advises making a mixture of water and isopropyl alcohol (or other low freezing point alcohol). Such a mixture will remain liquid even at very low temperatures and is also effective at removing frost.

Interestingly, the alcohol not only lowers the freezing point but also evaporates more quickly due to its low boiling point. This means that the mixture does not leave as many streaks or grease stains on the glass. On the other hand, if you’re going to make your own mixture, you always need to go through the ingredients carefully to make sure you won’t harm the car or do more harm than good by adding such a liquid.

When to really change the winter mixture?

Ideally, the change to winter mix should be made just before temperatures regularly drop below +5 °C. If you’re still using summer mix or water, you run the risk of your system freezing at the first frost. It is also important not to underestimate the quality of the mixture. Mixtures down to -20 °C may not be sufficient on days when outside temperatures drop significantly below zero. Sometimes, even if it is only 10 °C below zero, it is advisable to choose a rather thicker mixture.

Another risk is the so-called mixing of summer and winter mixtures. This can reduce the effectiveness of frost protection. And if you have mixed your own mixture at home (alcohol + water + detergent), it is recommended to test it. Simply use it and leave the car outside at a low temperature for a while and check if the liquid starts to solidify.