corrosion from blue -20F washer fluid

speedjunkie · 11-04-2015, 02:18 AM

I wasn't really sure where to put this, so if it gets moved I'll know why lol.

Has anyone else had this issue?

I ran blue -20F washer fluid through my FJO water injection kit for a few years, and I was injecting it right around where the power steering pump is. Overall it was fantastic, and I noticed when I broke the engine down that for once I didn't have little cracks next to the spark plug holes on the inside of the housing.

However, I did notice deposits in the throttle body, like a blueish-white powder from the fluid pooling and evaporating, along with some pitting over time. Also, it got into the threads of the air bleed screw and seized the screw. I ended up breaking the throttle body trying to get that screw to move. I replaced the throttle body and haven't run WI again until I figure out a solution.

For a while now I've been using the washer bottle. I've thought of having a separate tank made and getting a new washer fluid bottle, because I'd like to keep the wipers and fluid functional. But I'd also like to just keep using the bottle. I'm planning on starting to mix my own water/meth and see if it still leaves deposits. I'm also wondering if I can use that mix on the windshield so I can keep using the washer bottle.

Does anyone have any experience with using a homemade water/meth mix as washer fluid and/or have issues with blue washer fluid or homemade water/meth mix leaving deposits and corroding anything?

RICE RACING · 11-04-2015, 02:33 AM

Can not comment on 'pre made' stuff.....

I make my own WM50 *by weight*
Methanol (racing from 44gal drum)
Water (rain water) out in country, not shit from a town water supply etc.
Never ever any deposits, evaporates clean, stays in suspension and totally clear (batch done for ~ 6 years) as a test.

I would never 'trust' something pre made as you don't know what grades of products they are using to make the concoction.

p.s. white residue is typically calcium, lime, flouride etc put into town water supplies.

Whizbang · 11-04-2015, 01:19 PM

The blue is just the dye. The corrosiin is probaly due to commerical washer fluid being basic, typically ph 8 to 10, which will dissolve Al forming an aluminum oxide, which is white and powdery. Al + OH + H2O = AlOH4 +H2.

speedjunkie · 11-04-2015, 11:50 PM

Alright, thanks Peter and Alex for your input. Here's to hoping my own meth/distilled water mix won't leave deposits. Now, what do you guys think about using it as washer fluid too? Lol

Whizbang · 11-05-2015, 01:22 AM

should be fine. they dye it because of government regulations. Pure methanol is spendy though, I wouldn't waste it on the windshield

speedjunkie · 11-09-2015, 01:03 AM

OK cool. Well I'm not planning on going all willy nilly on the windshield, just if I have to use it haha.

My only concern is since water and meth are pretty much the only two ingredients of the washer fluid I was using, I fear that my homemade mix will still leave the same deposits resulting in the same corrosion.

Fendamonky · 11-09-2015, 08:57 AM

Just be sure to use distilled water, I *had* been running a home mix of 50/50 distilled water to meth for years and never noticed issues.

speedjunkie · 11-11-2015, 02:41 AM

Maybe that's the problem, maybe they aren't using distilled water in their washer fluid. I'll give it a shot. Thanks!

Whizbang · 11-14-2015, 01:43 AM

50/50 H20/MeOH is still very different than washer fluid. The pka of methanol is about the same as water so your not really dealing with the issues you have of the stronger base of washer fluid. not to mention all the other stuff that is in it.

speedjunkie · 11-16-2015, 10:06 PM

Copy that. Once I get a bung welded back into the piping for the injector I'll get some meth and try out a home mix. Thanks guys!

11-04-2015, 02:18 AM	#1
speedjunkie RCC Loves Me Not You Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 2,089 Rep Power: 19	corrosion from blue -20F washer fluid I wasn't really sure where to put this, so if it gets moved I'll know why lol. Has anyone else had this issue? I ran blue -20F washer fluid through my FJO water injection kit for a few years, and I was injecting it right around where the power steering pump is. Overall it was fantastic, and I noticed when I broke the engine down that for once I didn't have little cracks next to the spark plug holes on the inside of the housing. However, I did notice deposits in the throttle body, like a blueish-white powder from the fluid pooling and evaporating, along with some pitting over time. Also, it got into the threads of the air bleed screw and seized the screw. I ended up breaking the throttle body trying to get that screw to move. I replaced the throttle body and haven't run WI again until I figure out a solution. For a while now I've been using the washer bottle. I've thought of having a separate tank made and getting a new washer fluid bottle, because I'd like to keep the wipers and fluid functional. But I'd also like to just keep using the bottle. I'm planning on starting to mix my own water/meth and see if it still leaves deposits. I'm also wondering if I can use that mix on the windshield so I can keep using the washer bottle. Does anyone have any experience with using a homemade water/meth mix as washer fluid and/or have issues with blue washer fluid or homemade water/meth mix leaving deposits and corroding anything?

11-04-2015, 02:33 AM	#2
RICE RACING Don Mega Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Utopia Posts: 1,688 Rep Power: 18	Can not comment on 'pre made' stuff..... I make my own WM50 by weight Methanol (racing from 44gal drum) Water (rain water) out in country, not shit from a town water supply etc. Never ever any deposits, evaporates clean, stays in suspension and totally clear (batch done for ~ 6 years) as a test. I would never 'trust' something pre made as you don't know what grades of products they are using to make the concoction. p.s. white residue is typically calcium, lime, flouride etc put into town water supplies. __________________ www.riceracing.com.au Worlds best Apex Seals Coil on Plug Water Injection ECU Calibration

11-04-2015, 01:19 PM	#3
Whizbang Respecognize! Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Δx = ħ/2Δp Posts: 3,190 Rep Power: 20	The blue is just the dye. The corrosiin is probaly due to commerical washer fluid being basic, typically ph 8 to 10, which will dissolve Al forming an aluminum oxide, which is white and powdery. Al + OH + H2O = AlOH4 +H2. __________________ For current updates and event coverage check out Follow on Twitter! @WhizbangRally Whizbang Rally's Webpage \| Facebook

11-05-2015, 01:22 AM	#5
Whizbang Respecognize! Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Δx = ħ/2Δp Posts: 3,190 Rep Power: 20	should be fine. they dye it because of government regulations. Pure methanol is spendy though, I wouldn't waste it on the windshield __________________ For current updates and event coverage check out Follow on Twitter! @WhizbangRally Whizbang Rally's Webpage \| Facebook

11-09-2015, 01:03 AM	#6
speedjunkie RCC Loves Me Not You Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 2,089 Rep Power: 19	OK cool. Well I'm not planning on going all willy nilly on the windshield, just if I have to use it haha. My only concern is since water and meth are pretty much the only two ingredients of the washer fluid I was using, I fear that my homemade mix will still leave the same deposits resulting in the same corrosion. Last edited by speedjunkie; 11-09-2015 at 01:30 AM.

11-04-2015, 11:50 PM	#4
speedjunkie RCC Loves Me Not You Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 2,089 Rep Power: 19	Alright, thanks Peter and Alex for your input. Here's to hoping my own meth/distilled water mix won't leave deposits. Now, what do you guys think about using it as washer fluid too? Lol

11-11-2015, 02:41 AM	#8
speedjunkie RCC Loves Me Not You Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 2,089 Rep Power: 19	Maybe that's the problem, maybe they aren't using distilled water in their washer fluid. I'll give it a shot. Thanks!

11-14-2015, 01:43 AM	#9
Whizbang Respecognize! Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Δx = ħ/2Δp Posts: 3,190 Rep Power: 20	50/50 H20/MeOH is still very different than washer fluid. The pka of methanol is about the same as water so your not really dealing with the issues you have of the stronger base of washer fluid. not to mention all the other stuff that is in it. __________________ For current updates and event coverage check out Follow on Twitter! @WhizbangRally Whizbang Rally's Webpage \| Facebook

11-16-2015, 10:06 PM	#10
speedjunkie RCC Loves Me Not You Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 2,089 Rep Power: 19	Copy that. Once I get a bung welded back into the piping for the injector I'll get some meth and try out a home mix. Thanks guys!