Good point, most normal cars with the motor up front get enough heat off the motor to keep the washer fluid liquid while the car is moving. With the motor in the rear, I could see the washers freezing up. I didn't have any trouble with mine freezing last winter but it was a warmer winter than normal.I usually use the standard blue stuff they sell everywhere on my other cars and it only froze once on my truck. A few well aimed breaths of warm air thawed it so I suspect it was caused by snow melting into the tips.
I have used the Prestone Deicer for the last ten years as well, for a very good reason.
While we live in godforsaken Texas and seldom have to deal with sub-20° weather, we do make trips up to the real world (Illinois and Missouri) for a variety of reasons, including hockey tournaments and family visits. So, I have worried about this very problem.
One time, we drove up in the van through Oklahoma and Missouri during a sleet and snow storm, part of a cold front that caught just about everyone by surprise. As we started east from Tulsa, the fluid in the vehicle started freezing up.
Having the washer working was critical during this storm, since the filth kicked up by other vehicles would rapidly make the windshield a mess. Without the ability to spray clean fluid on the glass, the wipers would not clear this out of the way.
The tank was located in the rear of the vehicle, and the line apparently ran up to the front through the roof or upper body of the vehicle. While the rear heater could thaw out the line if the van sat still for a while, after a half hour of driving it would freeze up again.
We worked our way across the state of Missouri, stopping every half hour or so to scrape and wait for the line to thaw. Once in Saint Louis, I dropped off the boys at the rink and went looking for the low temperature stuff. which is not normally available down here in Yee-Haw Land, as noted below.
I then parked the van in an underground parking garage, waited for the washer tank to melt while the heaters were going full blast, and then pumped the tank down to next to nothing, following which I topped up with the -20° stuff. I then went and bought a case of the Prestone, figuring that I could get it down in Texas when that ran out.
Four winters later, I was planning another trip up north, but had used the last of the -20° fluid. No problem, thinks I - I'll just go to the local Auto Zone and buy another case.
Wrongo. None of the Texas stores (of any of the chains) stock the -20° stuff, as they see no need for having it in inventory. Bummer.
So, I took a chance, had no bad weather, and forgot about picking any up on that trip. The next trip up (in warm weather), I figured that I could get it then.
Wrongo, again. They don't stock the stuff in summertime!
Since that time, I have worked out a system where the local Auto Zone special orders me a case whenever I need it.
I didn't see any good place to ask so I'm just going to ask now. We're not in winter yet but heading there. I just wanted to know what washer fluid I should get to protect my smart. I've always bought the junk cheap stuff and but I'm afraid that stuff will freeze in the winter (where I'm at it doesn't freeze too much but does some). I was looking to get a recommendation (commendation) on a good winter ready fluid (flatulence).
While some folks recommend you get -20F fluid, in your part of the U.S. that's a bit of overkill unless you're planning on driving to Alaska:
We base all our needs on what it can get down to. So every thing around here is designed to work at -20F
The Good news is the roads are never wet at anything bellow 0 f and usually not wet below 10F. The salt just doesn't work at those temps so everything that would spray up is frozen.
Hey Jet, on that warning light mod, will you be able to make it more accurate than the Gas gage?
OK, jet (not to derail the thread, but...) Modding mode? Come ON Already! Give us a bit... we deserve it!!
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I thought by F-Page calling this the Craziest thread ever he was asking for derailment
For all vehicle models from Mercedes>Benz and smart
The item numbers "001 986 4471" and "001 986 4571" are decisive for the releases. The supplementary codes printed on the containers (11th and 12th digits of number) essentially have logical functions. This does not affect the product release.
After a little sleuthing today and notwithstanding what 371.0 currently says, the above numbers are not in use by smartUSA nor M-B USA. smart centers are supplying locally procured, ordinary blue pre-mixed fluid. M-B dealers are stocking M-B p/n 001 986 80 71 17, a 40ml bottle and used in a concentration of 1:100. For summer use (above 32F) the 40ml is mixed with 4 liters (1 USg+) of plain water. For winter use (below 32F) the 40ml is mixed with 4 liters of commercial, blue, pre-mixed winterized washer fluid.
The mixing instructions in the smart OpMan seem to be referring to something else which is not identifed (maybe the 001 986 44 71 and 001 986 45 71 above). I have queried smart HQ, Bloomfield.
Last edited by Old smart; 09-18-2009 at 01:06 PM.
Reason: new info
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1999 Ford Expedition
Smart
1 - LT N FLFY
2 - Forests ride
3 - Little Blue
4 - Big Red
I thought by F-Page calling this the Craziest thread ever he was asking for derailment
Today
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