So the D.O. install is almost complete (wiring done, just gotta mount the pump) and I've run into an unexpected obstacle. I was planning to run washer fluid in the 20-25 percent methanol range, ie: 0 degree blue washer fluid. This being december and all I thought maybe my chances of finding some would be ok, and that I'd basically just empty the shelf at whatever store I located it at- a year's supply or so.

Except that I live in north San Diego county.

So far, I've been to Pep Boys, Kragen, Western Auto, Wal-Mart, Target, most of the local supermarkets, several gas-station convenience stores, etc. The only thing I can find is the +32°F variety, which is <1% methanol.

Has anybody down here seen 0°F fluid anywhere?

 

Don't hesitate to just run bottled water and give us an initial impression.

 

Last resort is having one of us Utah/Colorado guys ship some to you, but that could get pricey. Take a drive up to Tahoe or somewhere it gets that cold in Cali.

 

Actually, what makes this all even stranger is that I know you can buy 0 degree washer fluid somewhere around here, because I have a bottle of it (Peak brand) sitting on a shelf in my garage, about 95% empty. I've been living out here for two years, and I can't imagine that I'd have carried a bottle of washer fluid with me when I moved out here from Ohio- I travel light.

I will probably try to get the system finished up this weekend and do some initial testing, using distilled water unless I can find something better. For starters, I've got an ignition map stored in the EMU that makes some serious power, but pings like crazy. I figure if I can load that map and make it run without pinging, then the WI system is doing its job.

 

Well, from San Diego to anywhere cold is a bit of a drive...

Worst-case scenario is that you can buy 5 gallon drums of 99% pure meth from McMaster-Carr for about $48, plus shipping.

 

I would be willing to bet just water eliminates your ping and leaves you some headroom.

 

Try Lowes.

I just bought -20F from a Lowes here in Phoenix. -20F should be around 30%~36% Methanol.

I asked them if that was a seasonal item and it is available all year round. It was $1.47 per gallon.

 

Windshield washer fluid at Lowes? As in the hardware store? Never even thought to look there. I'll be down around one tomorrow at lunchtime, so I'll check into that. What section of the store was it in?

And if not, WideOpen's probably right about just running straight water. If all goes well, I may have the system up and running this weekend.

 

Also, fuel line antifreeze is methanol also, I use the 20 degree stuff and add some of that to it now.

 

Well, no luck at Lowes- they looked at me like I was crazy (perhaps they wandered why a guy in full motorcycle leathers wanted windshield washer fluid.) Also stopped by NAPA on the way back, and while they had it in their flyer, it's not avaliable in CA, OR, TX, Phoenix, or Atlanta. Couldn't even order it. (The fact that PHX and ATL are excluded specifically makes me think perhaps this is an environmental legislative issue?) But it wasn't a total loss- they just opened up a Chick Fil-a restaurant in San Marcos, first one of those I've ever seen out here. Stopped in for a sandwich and man, I'd forgotten how good those things are.

So that's that. I'll run distilled water for now, and if worst comes to worst I'll either order the 5 gallon barrel from McMaster-Carr or load up the car with it the next time I have to do a road trip. I go through Yuma a lot, perhaps they have it there...

Makes me wonder though- what do they fill their washer bottles with in those parts of TX where it actually gets cold?

 

It's about 20 or 30 bucks just to ship a gal of Syrup to FL from here, so I guess sending you a case of W/W from VT might be prohibitive...

 

Heet Gasline antifreeze is a quick and dirty way to some methanol.....if they sell it in TX

 

San Diego's in Cali, Kelly

 

Yup, that Lowes.

It is called Krystal Kleer WW Fluid and it is blue in color. It was right near the Customer Service counter on an endcap display. I was there again yesterday and they had at least 3 cases stacked near the endcap.

Again, I asked if it was a seasonal item and the clerk told me that if it was, the SKU number would have a special code - and it didn't.

As an alternative, you can go to Walmart and get small bottles of HEET brand of fuel line anti-freeze. It comes in a yellow bottle and it is 99% Methanol for $0.99 each.

 

I have absolutely no idea where I got Texas from Myself

 

Texas, California, no worries Kelly. We’re all too laid back out here to care.

So a little research reveals that this is in fact a legislative restriction. California Code Title 17, Section 94509 prohibits the sale of washer fluid consisting of more than 10% VOC outside of “Type A” areas (places where it has been legally determined to be cold). So that’s that. Makes me start to wonder where the heck that bottle in my garage came from. Maybe I did carry it all the way out here from Ohio after all...

But, with thanks to Kelly, I’ve learned the secret of Heet brand fuel additive. According to the MSDS, the yellow bottle is 99% methanol, and it’s $1.12 at Wal-Mart. (Avoid the red bottle – that’s isopropanol)

So, I think I’ll be running Joe’s Old-Timey Recipe 0°F Bootleg Windshield Washer Fluid:

Two 12oz bottles of Heet: $2.24
104 ounces distilled water (~4/5 of a gallon): $0.54
One drop of blue food coloring: $0.01
Total cost: $2.78 per gallon.
Advancing your timing just a little bit more: Priceless.

Disclaimer:

If you live in California, do not make this recipe and put it into your windshield washer bottle and/or inject it into your intake plumbing. If you do, then you will immediately die and go to hell, where members of the Sierra Club will recite poetry at you.

 

Just pick up a gallon can of 100% denatured alky at ACE for 13 bucks. Common meth replacement for running alky kits. It's what I run in my Suby. 50/50 denatured/distilled.

Frank

 

VP sells Methanol in 5 gallon cans for $25. You could use the 12 oz bottles of Heet as well, pure methanol.