Test of automotive windshield washer fluids – clean as a whistle?

Therefore, it is not recommended to pour any other fluids except frost-resistant ones into washer reservoirs. Specialists from the capital's Institute of Consumer Expertise decided to test antifreeze fluids for quality, for which they purchased a number of samples and sent them to certified laboratories.

Selection criteria

Currently, the choice of "washer fluids" on the market is very wide – from ready-to-use mixtures to concentrates. These fluids are made by mixing ethyl and propyl alcohols with the addition of surfactants, which are present in all detergents. The composition also includes dyes to give a marketable appearance and, of course, fragrances.

For the test, experts chose the most popular format – a ready-to-use fluid with a freezing point not higher than minus 20 degrees Celsius. The test samples were mainly purchased at gas stations, since they account for the lion's share of "washer fluid" sales due to convenience for car owners.

Since the choice of fluids is truly huge, experts settled on samples made specifically for large gas station chains (WOG, Socar, Amic, KLO), one sample from the highest price segment (Sonax), and three of the cheapest samples (Organic Purity, Pit ice (VAMP), and a washer fluid with the unpretentious name "Po nashemu"). It should be noted that most of the fluids are made in Ukraine, except for Sonax (Germany) and Socar (Lithuania).

Packaging and labeling

The experts had no complaints regarding labeling for any of the participants; the composition and information are stated clearly and understandably. But in terms of packaging, cheaper samples lose to competitors. The samples Organic Purity, Pit ice (VAMP), and "Po nashemu" are packaged in ordinary plastic bottles, which are inconvenient to pour from. Their "branded" counterparts are bottled in ergonomic canisters, which also have a serious advantage – special filling nozzles are attached to the sides, which significantly facilitate the process of pouring fluid into the reservoir. The experts considered WOG and Socar washer fluids to be the most convenient containers.

Frost won't pass

In the laboratory, the freezing point was first checked. The packages of the tested products indicate different values, from minus 20 to minus 27. The results turned out to be very decent – no one had less than twenty! Nevertheless, there were also discrepancies. The lowest boundary crystallization temperature was shown by the sample from the WOG gas station chain – minus 27 degrees. A solid margin, considering that the container indicates a value down to minus 22. But the windshield washer fluid purchased at the Socar gas station did not reach the values stated on the label – minus 23 with the declared minus 27.

Cleanliness above all

Next, the experts checked the cleaning ability of the samples. For this, a contaminant was applied to a special glass, after which it was washed off with the washer fluid. Then the percentage of cleaned area was calculated. Importantly, this is also a test for economy – because the higher the percentage of cleaning ability, the less fluid needs to be applied to the glass. The ratings for all samples are generally good, but the difference between the outsider ("Po nashemu" – 88.6%) and the leader (WOG – 97.5%) was almost 10 percent! With such a difference, the issue of price is practically leveled, because much more cheap washer fluid is needed to clean the windshield or headlights.

Aromas

Car enthusiasts know firsthand what smells a washer fluid can emit. Sometimes the smell is so strong and unpleasant that after each application to the windshield, eyes begin to water. Such "harsh" aromas appear due to the use of cheap fragrances, which can lead to loss of smell, swelling, and even allergies. Therefore, an organoleptic evaluation of the samples was carried out. And here a clear gradation between price and quality was found. Cheap samples received low scores for their sharp and unpleasant aroma, while WOG, Socar, Amic, and Sonax received the highest scores. These samples smell almost like perfume, and the intensity is very moderate.

Corrosion and foam

Corrosiveness is also an important indicator, because the service life of the wipers and the system itself depends on it. This characteristic was checked in relation to metal and rubber. Fortunately, modern fluids are not aggressive in this regard, and there were no complaints about the tested samples.

But there were questions about foaming. The cheapest samples will have to be poured into the reservoir twice as long, since foam "bursts" from the neck like from expired beer. More expensive samples contain a special additive that reduces the amount of foam, which facilitates filling and increases the service life of the washer pump.

Conclusions

So, what do we have in the end? After analyzing pricing, experts agreed that the optimal choice is the golden mean. There is no point in overpaying for expensive washer fluids, but there is also no reason to save by pouring the cheapest. Although in general, it is worth saying that the quality of the antifreeze fluids tested by our experts (see the summary table for test results) is quite high; there is no outright "moonshine". Well, which specific fluid to prefer is a personal matter for everyone. But it is obvious that when choosing an "antifreeze", at least the freezing point of the fluid and our unstable weather should be taken into account.

Leonid Gribenko