Windshield wipers — switch to winter washer fluid before a freeze

Wiper size

Windshield wiper tip: top up with winter-rated washer fluid before the first freeze so the spray works and your wiper blades are not dragging on dry glass.

Windshield wipers: switch to winter washer fluid before a freeze (related household photo)
Photo: Hamedog at English Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Your windshield wipers need fluid to clear road spray. Summer washer fluid can freeze in the lines, leaving the blades to scrape dry glass.

Top up winter fluid for your windshield wipers

  1. Check the label on your current jug. Look for a winter or de-icer rating with a low freeze temperature.
  2. Run the washer a few times to use up most of the summer fluid in the reservoir.
  3. Fill the reservoir with the winter-rated fluid to the full line.
  4. Spray once to make sure the new fluid reaches the glass before the first cold night.

That is the beat: winter fluid before the freeze, so the windshield wipers always have something to work with.

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