Car Talk - WW Fluid in the Old Days.

[Canadave]

Up here in northern climes, we use a product in our windshield washer tank that has anti-freeze in it. In comes in 4 litre (~1 g) jugs.

In my youth, we used this stuff year round. Now there is a summer bug wash product that I believe, contains no anti-freeze. Most people, however, continue to use the chemical-laced winter version.

OK, so here's the question. What washer fluid did they use in the old days before they had newfangled chemicals? Did they make it themselves?

What do you use in your windshield washer tank? A purchased product? A home-made concoction? Plain water? (In the UK, I saw a concentrated product in a small bottle that was mixed with water. From a convenience standpoint, this made good sense.)

Thanks for your help.

 

[bigshoe]

neither my 55 gmc p/up or my 57 pontiac had a washer. The first car I owned that had one was a 63 volvo:eusa_doh:
Tom

 

[drafttek]

Back in the day it was straight water with an alcohol additive. In my Father's '63 Impala the additive was kept in a triangular shaped glass bottle in a bracket on the inside fender under the hood.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Does it mix well with Coke?


.

 

[Flivver]

Windshield washers are a relatively modern invention. This feature didn't become popular until after WWII.

But, after doing some digging I found that the wiper blade manufacturer Trico claims to have introduced the first windshield washer system in 1936. It was called "Two Little Squirts" and was first offered on the 1937 Studebakers.

In an attempt to distinguish themselves from their larger competitors, independent manufacturers like Studebaker were often first to offer some of the features that we now take for granted.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

wish i could help ya, but i havent used washer fluid of any sort since november 07, what with the fiberglass hood & all.

 

[drafttek]

Does it mix well with Coke?


.

Why, yes it does, though I was blind for three days.