MB-BOB

Has anyone used the blue windshield washer fluid you can buy at Pep Boys/Target/Autozone/Wal-Mart (blah-blah) in place of the super secret sauce washer fluid concentrate the dealer uses? I'm concerned about mixing the two, and whether the blue junk works well with the washer heating system (yes you have one).

I like the genuine MB stuff as it works well, suitably MB snobby and all, etc. But windshield washer fluid is windshield washer fluid... I have to pass by 300 auto supply stores on the 25-mile one-way trip to the dealer... not sure it's worth it.

Opinions welcome.

tommy

I threw some blue stuff in recently (mmm - smurf blood), and really can't notice a difference at all (yes, there was still some in the reserviour, so I'm mixing it it somewhat). Haven't gone through bugs on my windshield season yet, so don't know how well it will do when the sh*t really hits the fan, though.

What's the price difference, anyway? Have never bought the MB stuff.

C43AMG

I use the blue stuff in all 3 of my cars.I also speed shine & wax my windshield after every washing.I also carry microfiber towels in all 3 cars to wipe off the windshield when needed.I guess I am a-hole.

mbz4810

I used to take my car to a particular MB dealer (House of Import, in Buena Park) ... and the wiper fluids have a minty smell to it when I use it. I can smell it in my car......then I went back for more..

I ask an SA(chinese dude named BILL ) to refill my washer fluid, and he replied JUST USE BOTTLE WATER so I got mad and never went back to House of Import Stealer again.


Now I have a way of prolonging the life of the dealer's fluid...

Get the dealer to fill it up with their stuff. after several usages, refill yours with BOTTLE WATER,

This is how I do mine to prolong the usage of it, of course you can do only so many bottle water refills until it becomes H2O. (i've done it 2 times per 1 tank, so Dealer fill, i used to 2/3, i fill back to full, used it to 2/3 again the fill to full, and used till all done. then Dealer fill again.


and when I go in for service, right when I exit the fwy I start to run my washer fluid untill it's gone that way the deler will refill my resevouir with fresh and more concentrated fluids.


Thirdly, I think the dealer do sells the "concentrated" version of the fluid, dont know how much it costs / how to mix it.

bnzct

I use the orange RainX.
I haven't thought about MB spec, mixes etc..
Is there a spec for that?
I hope I didn't void the warranty

vraa

I use BMW washer fluid mainly because it's free.
Bob you're missing out on free maint

MB-BOB

Erm, my 4-year warranty with free maintenance (was it really ever free?) is expired, so I'm on my own.

The topping off with H20 sounds like a novel idea, but it rains so seldom here in Dallas that I use only one reservoir of fluid in a full year. So often times the fluid light would come on just in time for A/B service anyway.

If only I wanted to devote the time to drive to the dealer. My nearest "Dark Side" dealer is no closer, I think. But that's an idea. I bet BMW uses the same stuff.

vraa

Ah my mistake then.
I use whatever cheap namebrand washer fluid I can find at WalMart. It's less than five bucks and it works fine. My wipers don't skip, and if I remember right I buy RainX washer fluid so most of the rain just beads over.

I use my fluid very liberally.

patrick_y

Being in California, and washing the car often, i rarely use the washer fluid (I use the washer fluid more often in the wet seasons than dry).

However, I would never put the blue stuff in my car. I'm afraid of chemical reaction.

The Mercedes Benz window wash concentrate is $16 a bottle I think. Expensive, but it's equivalent to a dozen or so gallons of the blue stuff.

I agree with mbz4810. That's a good idea.

Moviela

It looks like the MB stuff comes in two formulas, Summerfit and Winterfit. Winterfit has an additional antifreeze for protection down to minus 4 degrees F if mixed 1:1. Summerfit is made of Alcohols, C12-14, Ethoxylated, sulfates, & sodium salts for 30 to 60% by weight. The rest is ethanol; ethyl alcohol 10 to 30%. There is a fruity odour according to the data sheet. You mix this little 40ml bottle of clear soapy liquid with 4 liters of water if you read the label, but the WIS says to use 6 liters. You can buy the Mercedes brand in 40ml, 1l, & 20l. If 1l sells for $ 16.00, you get 25 uses at minimum 4l each, makes 100l of product. You could wash from here to Disney World with that!

A very similar product comes from Wurth called "Rapid Windshield Cleaner", (windscreen for our UK friends) it is colored orange and comes 32 ml to the bottle, and you add it after you fill the washer fluid container with water.

http://www.wurthusa.com/project/en/r...21&image2.y=11

I always use distilled water in my washer. A couple of bucks, but it prevents the white powdery minerals from spoiling the nozzles. The hoses in the car have no clamps on the fittings to the pump. Minerals can clog the nozzle and result in higher pressures blowing the hose off the fitting spewing anyplace but the glass. Mercedes even sells a kit of clamps to prevent this.

The blue stuff that sells for a dollar or two is not cost effective. Most list water and blue dye as the number one and two ingredient. The small amount of surfactant in them is usually capable of stripping wax off the paint.

I use the washer frequently, mostly to get the morning mist off my car, or as a tool to repel tailgaters on the road to Vegas. A few drops in the air is quite effective, causes them to brake every time.

nlpamg

I use the headlight washers for that (the car is already dirty b/c of the trip so why not use the headlight washers)... they make a pretty nice "mist/cloud" effect at night to get rid of people behind you...

As for the solution, I've NEVER seen it sold for more than $7. Some dealers, like BH Benz will even give it to you for free if you pull into the service drive and just ask them to check...

patrick_y

Wow, great expertise here. Especially about the clamps.

I don't use distilled water, I use whatever the dealer gives me. Then again, I've never had to fill the thing on my own.

Totally good idea to use the washer to repel tailgaters. And you don't have to worry about the washers not being effective when it's raining since they're far away when it's raining anyways.

MB-BOB

Neat information, thanks.

About washer fluid and tailgaters... When I was younger, I re-aimed the right-hand nozzle on my 300ZX to shoot 4-6 inches over the roof rather than on the windshield. That worked really well.

C43AMG

I like to use that trick when a pack of loud-a$$ Harleys rolls up behind you on the highway......they need a bath anyway.

MB-BOB

I wonder if the dealer uses distilled water to make their bulk washer fluid?

OK, sorry. I realize that's a stupid question...

tommy

Evian, of course.

wassup61

you do know that it says in the manual that the blue stuff is perfectly fine. You can mix it with the summerfit stuff for "weather below 0c" however I use it year around. you can also squirt aobut a 1/4 bottle of rainex concentrate for that rainex effect

MB-BOB

Did you know that even people my age don't need

Type fonts this Large

in order to read them? LOL!

patrick_y

They better not use Evian, Evian is a mineral water (no gas), it's got lots of calcium in it.

I assume that the dealership uses tap water for the window washing fluid mixture.

pookie

I use the blue stuff (78 cents) + prestone bug wash concentrate windshield washer fluid additive with citrus smell (about 2-3 bucks).

Works like the dealer's, without the hassel of going there.

Arn560

I use the cheap blue crap from Pep boys. Even cheaper because I buy by the case for my other 2 cars!

patrick_y

I guess I'm the cheapest, because I hardly use my window washer. And whenever I go to the dealer, they fill it up for me.

Come to think of it, I have the water jet washer for my headlights too, I've never even pressed that button once, not even once, I wonder if it works or if Mercedes gave me a broken one.

Here's a nice joke: Wash your car more often. You might spend more on washing the car, but you'll save money on the window washing fluid.

C230 Sport Coup

Ha, thats funny. I DID notice the bottle said summer the other day when I put it in...
but then supposedly the fluid reseviour is heated.
It in the specs somewhere. At least for 2002.
Might have been cut later (like the 2 rear airbags,
dash vent, passenger side IR sensor, and garage door opener, stock)

So, winter formula would never be needed.
I did buy the blue one gallon bottle once from Pep boys,
it was crap! Streaks, it was a mess. Yuk.
Distilled water? Good idea.