Dreamka

Winter is coming..
Acutally, I live in Canada ( one of the places with heavy snow and the lowest temp.)

So, I am thinking to buy washer fluid for windshield and headlight.
Please give me some tips

1. Do I just go to walmart and buy -40C aftermaket washer fluid or do I go to dealership and buy OEM MB washer fluid?

2. How much for OEM MB washer fluid?

3. Or is it free to top it up under 2year wear-tear warranty, if I go to dealership?

4. One of my friend said that Most benz cars should be used with OEM ones because of being frozen of headlight washer nozzle.
Is it true?

Thank you guys.

mr.mbenz

Dreamka...good planning for winter.

1. I bought Wal-mart's purple jug that is specific for winter conditions. I am sure the Rain-X would be good as well. I am stocking this up for the Corolla, and when my GLK arrives in December, I am stocked for it as well. Not sure of the OEM stuff. Will need to ask the dealer to see if there is any 'real' difference. If you're buying premium at Wal-mart, it should be comparable?

2. Have you called your dealer?

3. Wear and Tear does not cover fluids. If it did, so would premium petrol, the Mobil 1 Synthetic oil....

4.If you have Bi-Xenon PKG, it already includes "high-pressure heated headlamp washers" So if my logic is right, the fluid does stay warm within the engine cabin therefore the fluid does not freeze. Also, the fluid you use is also the 'major' factor.

MBRedux

The problem is not with the washer fluid but more with the *blue-dye* that dries and cakes up on washer nozzles over time. This stuff clogs up the works... buy OEM.

mr.mbenz

thanks MBRedux.

what color is the MB OEM stuff?
And does this come in concentrated formula?

tyglk350

Aren't the washer fluids heated anyway's? I thought I read that somewhere.

Dreamka

Thank you guys...

I know that the washer nozzle will be heated while the engine is running..

But at night time, temp. may go down at least -30~-35c here then it could be frozen inside of nozzle.

My friend has 2005y S class and last year one of headlight washer nozzle was blown out in winter season.
So he paid over $500 + labour cost for replacment.

That's why I am worried little about it.

** Someone said that MB oem fluid has something concentrated in its one.
I don't know it is true or not.

MegGLK350

Guys,

For the record I've never had a problem while using non EOM washer fluid. Also most of the fluid I've seen has had some type of coloring added to it. The nozzles are heated which will prevent freezing and clogging.

MBRedux

Cheap formulations use cheaper dyes... (usually blue, green, etc.) while the more expensive formulations use a less concentrated pale purple. These dyes are in low concentration and will not "cake-up" when heated. One way to test this is to buy a windshield washing agent from where ever you wish, pour a few drops in a white cup and let it evaporate. If there is a lot of blue dye left on the bottom... try another, and another until you find one that leaves very little... if any. (These dyes were mandated many years ago so that kids won't drink them... this law should be revised since Gatorade has many of these same colors now!) Heating elements make these dyes cake-up sooner, not later.

The anti-freezing (alcohol) additive varies and their concentrations do as well, but they all work. However our GLK's are now painted with a new nanotechnology lacquer clear-coat that can be damaged by higher concentrations of Methanol in the formula.... so beware of higher concentration formulas, they’re NOT all mixed in the same proportion.

pipicyx

so which way to go? Always go back to the dealer for winshield fluids?
We do consume 2-4 times more here in Canada than you guys down in the warmer zone!
Plus, i'd believe even the dealer had more choices for GLK, some for winter, some for summer?

supercharged

In my opinion it's too much of a hassle to go to the dealer for something as minor as washer fluid. Just buy the most expensive non-oem brand (about $4) from your local store and don't worry. Also I will say, avoid rain-X brand since it tends to leave a residue film on the windshield.

MBRedux

Well, just buy more when you're at the dealer and store it away until you need it. ... I buy 3-4 gal for the winter, and another two for the summer. I cut it with 50% water during the warmer months too.

pipicyx

ic ic...adding water is a good idea...thanks,

to be honest...i believe my dad just use low% soap water(detergent) for his smaller benz....few years now, hasn't got any complain...also, we kept a small spray bottle with soap water...when it comes the rain season, few spray on the side mirror is good enough for a day...

MB_Owner

Hey MBRedux, since you're a proponent of OEM fluid, what's the answer in really cold weather? The fluid I got from the dealer is rated to -18°C when mixed at 1:1 concentration (1 liter fluid to 1 liter water) and the bottle doesn't list any lower temperature range. Is it OK to use at a higher concentration...i.e., will any paint or wiper assembly damage occur?

My washer froze up last weekend when parked overnight at our ski lodge...-25°C.

It thawed out after driving for 30 minutes or so (I guess the solution is heated when the engine is running) but I'd like to keep it from freezing at all.

RedRover

My relatives up north...Montana.....swear by Prestone De Icer fluid. It's yellow. Good to minus 34F.

Sailorlite

There's only one fluid reservoir, right? And it feeds all nozzles including the rear hatch washer, right? I'd hate to get the formula right but not get it in all the right places.

MBRedux

right..................

mr.mbenz

am I missing something from the above point "right?"...

MB_Owner

Thoughts anyone else to my M-B washer fluid question a few posts above. MBRedux is apparently still researching that one since he posted "right" to a different question further down in the thread.

Or has anyone else had theirs freeze up? Surely you folks up in Canada have had temps below -25° C.

Global warming? Nope, not here.

MBRedux

"Right" is the correct answer to your questions... ... get it now? Ohhhhh rightttttttttt......