Washer fluid for rear tire ballast question

[George2615]

I'm considering loading my rear tires with washer fluid. They will require about 35 gallons each for an approximate weight of 280 lb per tire. (560 lbs for both)

My local NAPA store sells windshield washer concentrate in 32 oz bottles for $1.99 per their site. Each 32 oz. bottle makes 15 gallons by adding water. Buying 5 of these for $9.95 would make 75 gallons of washer fluid. Enough to fill my tires and top off the cars too.

Buying 70 individual gallons at $2.39 per would cost $167.30

A 55 gallon drum costs $109.00 so I'd still need an additional 15 gallons ($35.85) to have 70 gallons or $144.85 total.

It seems if I buy the premixed ready to use WW fluid that I'm basically paying someone else about $134.90 for the 55 gallon size or $157.35 for individuals to mix it for me.

Anyone else used concentrate to make their own?

 

[ovrszd]

Nope, no concentrate here. I kinda cheated. Son works at the local auto dealership. Bought 3 55 gal barrels for just under $200. When it gets right down to it, what difference does it make. The advantages are worth whatever it costs.

 

[George2615]

Nope, no concentrate here. I kinda cheated. Son works at the local auto dealership. Bought 3 55 gal barrels for just under $200. When it gets right down to it, what difference does it make. The advantages are worth whatever it costs.

It's a big difference to me. $10 bucks to make my own 70 gallons or $145.00 minimum for the ready made stuff.

Either way, I would be the one installing the fluid into the tires. No matter what I use, I have to pour 35 gallons into a barrel then pump it in each tire. I'm really leaning toward the concentrate. For about $64.00 I can buy the concentrate, marine pump, hoses, and quick fill fill attachment. I just wondered if anyone else had done it this way. Maybe it's the cheap in me that thinks this way.

 

[k0ua]

I'm considering loading my rear tires with washer fluid. They will require about 35 gallons each for an approximate weight of 280 lb per tire. (560 lbs for both)

My local NAPA store sells windshield washer concentrate in 32 oz bottles for $1.99 per their site. Each 32 oz. bottle makes 15 gallons by adding water. Buying 5 of these for $9.95 would make 75 gallons of washer fluid. Enough to fill my tires and top off the cars too.

Buying 70 individual gallons at $2.39 per would cost $167.30

A 55 gallon drum costs $109.00 so I'd still need an additional 15 gallons ($35.85) to have 70 gallons or $144.85 total.

It seems if I buy the premixed ready to use WW fluid that I'm basically paying someone else about $134.90 for the 55 gallon size or $157.35 for individuals to mix it for me.

Anyone else used concentrate to make their own?

What exactly is in the "concetrate" Is it pure methanol?.. If it was pure methanol, that would still only be 1 gallon in 60 gallons of water.. 4 quarts in a gallon. so a 1.66 percent mix? so you would be safe according to the charts to about 28 degrees F. and that would not do you any good at all.
I can tell you what is in that "concentrate".. some surficants, and some dye, and maybe just a little methanol.. you do not want to do this.

Now on to the washer fluid..washer fluid is not all washer fluid.. It comes in various grades. The various grades contain more or less methanol as an active ingredient. With freeze points at +32 degrees 0 degrees and -20 degrees and -25 degrees. With probably some in between and some stronger.

Another thing you can do is skip the washer fluid, and buy pure methanol and mix your own with water for the strength you want and need for your area. Wear rubber gloves when handling the methanol. Contact your local oil distributor and ask them if they carry it, or another industrial supplier.

Sorry to stomp all over your good plans.

 

[George2615]

Thanks for the info James. I've attached the MSDS for it and a pic. From what I can see it looks like the only ingredient is methanol (colored blue). Is this what you saw on the NAPA site? What are your thoughts? Is this any good? It's listed as NAPA part# BK7654201 Xtreme Blue

 

[LazyHRanch]

I found this quote on another forum.

Has anyone looked at Xtreme Blue Concentrate? It is a 16oz bottle that is intended to be diluted. Looking at the mixing chart, it suggests that to make a -20 degree fluid, you would mix 16oz of concentrate with 8 oz of water. If we assume the resulting mixture is the typical -20 Xtreme Blue fluid at about 35% by weight (38.9% by Vol), that means this bottle undiluted is about 52% by weight (58% by Vol).

If the above statement is correct then it might take more than 10 bucks of that stuff to get the mix right depending on how cold it gets where you live.

 

[k0ua]

I found this quote on another forum.

Has anyone looked at Xtreme Blue Concentrate? It is a 16oz bottle that is intended to be diluted. Looking at the mixing chart, it suggests that to make a -20 degree fluid, you would mix 16oz of concentrate with 8 oz of water. If we assume the resulting mixture is the typical -20 Xtreme Blue fluid at about 35% by weight (38.9% by Vol), that means this bottle undiluted is about 52% by weight (58% by Vol).

If the above statement is correct then it might take more than 10 bucks of that stuff to get the mix right depending on how cold it gets where you live.

yep, it looks like it is 3/4 methanol, but there just isn't enough of it to do any good.. You are going to have to buy a lot of bottles of this stuff

 

[k0ua]

Without actually sitting down and doing the math, you are going to need about 25 gallons. of this mix, so 100 containers approximately. So about $200 of this stuff.

 

[George2615]

Thanks for the replies.

 

[DavesTractor]

I'm considering loading my rear tires with washer fluid. They will require about 35 gallons each for an approximate weight of 280 lb per tire. (560 lbs for both)

My local NAPA store sells windshield washer concentrate in 32 oz bottles for $1.99 per their site. Each 32 oz. bottle makes 15 gallons by adding water. Buying 5 of these for $9.95 would make 75 gallons of washer fluid. Enough to fill my tires and top off the cars too.

Buying 70 individual gallons at $2.39 per would cost $167.30

A 55 gallon drum costs $109.00 so I'd still need an additional 15 gallons ($35.85) to have 70 gallons or $144.85 total.

It seems if I buy the premixed ready to use WW fluid that I'm basically paying someone else about $134.90 for the 55 gallon size or $157.35 for individuals to mix it for me.

Anyone else used concentrate to make their own?

Just as a reference point, 70 gallons of Rim Guard is about 770 lbs. and about $300 installed in your tires by a dealer, plus/minus as dealers charge different amounts. Interesting idea you have on using concentrate, we've never tried that. Might be a cheap way to go if 560 lbs is adequate and you don't mind mixing and pumping the stuff.