has anyone ever mixed their own anti freeze chemical solutions using antifreeze, ethanol, windshield washer solution, etc. added to chemical. we have in mid atlantic area and typically dont have more than 15-20 days per year sub 30 and its mainly at night. we have already had 10 or so nights this year already and several below 20-25 degrees. appreciate any creative solutions there might be out there. this is mainly for my foam brush system and presoak on auto. we weep our hp systems and dont have much problem down to about 15-20 degrees. appreciate help.
antifreeze solution
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Bubbles Galore
Active member
Look up an MSDS online for windshield washer solution. That's what I did and that is what I will be using next year for purging out my high pressure lines in the winter.
Good Luck
-Just be glad you're not in MI! Single digit nights the next 2 weeks!
Good Luck
-Just be glad you're not in MI! Single digit nights the next 2 weeks!
I am also in the Mid Atlantic and do in fact use a methonal / soap mixture. I mix 2 1/2 gallons of Brush With Ease Simoniz into the 55 gal drum of methonal. It is good for -10 F to 0 F. I send it out at ~ 6-1 using a 511 hyrominder. The brushes never freeze. To make it more economical, I created a reg FB to methonal mix FB switch over system using my existing weep mizer from Dixmor. At 29 F the methonal solution is purged for ~ 1 1/2 min thru all FB's. If a customer then uses the FB, they get the methonal mixture. When the temp rises above 29 F it just switches back to the reg FB mixture. Most people do NOT use the brush when it gets below 25 - 30 F, however if they do, I am covered. I have saved a tremendous amount on my wtr bill and swr bill. Even if you just change over to a methonal mixture at the beginning of the winter season without a change over device, you can still save $.
Earl Weiss
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Since I am lazy and don't like to reinvent the wheel, I would (and do) take the easy route. By 5 Gallon pails of Kleen Rite or some other brand Winter foam brush formula. If cold weather is expected switch the pre soak and foam brush (I only do the foam brush) to this product at the reccomended dilution for the lowest expected temp. When temp rise to above 30 degrees or so switch back to the regular product.
cantbreak80
Maybe I need new clubs
CO gets cold…a lot.
I was never happy with the quality/price of winterized products so my customers get my regular FB soap year round. I created a FB purge system that injects washer fluid into all FB lines when the temp drops below 35 and into the individual FB line after each use.
The washer fluid freezes at about 10 degrees and I don’t really care if the system doesn’t work under those conditions. The occasional customer “inconvenienced” by a frozen FB at those temps doesn’t justify the expense to keep them working.
I quit worrying about the floor heat keeping the bays ice free at 10 degrees, too. In fact, in my next life, the car wash will automatically close itself down between midnight and 5am or anytime the temp is 10 degrees or lower…the revenues don’t justify 24/7 operation and the water/energy cost savings will be significant.
I was never happy with the quality/price of winterized products so my customers get my regular FB soap year round. I created a FB purge system that injects washer fluid into all FB lines when the temp drops below 35 and into the individual FB line after each use.
The washer fluid freezes at about 10 degrees and I don’t really care if the system doesn’t work under those conditions. The occasional customer “inconvenienced” by a frozen FB at those temps doesn’t justify the expense to keep them working.
I quit worrying about the floor heat keeping the bays ice free at 10 degrees, too. In fact, in my next life, the car wash will automatically close itself down between midnight and 5am or anytime the temp is 10 degrees or lower…the revenues don’t justify 24/7 operation and the water/energy cost savings will be significant.
cantbreak80
Maybe I need new clubs
Average consumption per winter season is 140 gallons of washer fluid at approx. $1.55/gal. ...$215.00 for the 8 bays.
The purge works when the temp drops to 35 degrees. If the FB goes unused, no additional purge occurs. The heavist consumption of fluid occurs when the sun is shining and the temps hover at 30-35. An hour before dusk the wash empties, the last purge for used brushes occurs and the system awaits the next sunny day. During cold, snowy days the system may go unused for several days.
The purge works when the temp drops to 35 degrees. If the FB goes unused, no additional purge occurs. The heavist consumption of fluid occurs when the sun is shining and the temps hover at 30-35. An hour before dusk the wash empties, the last purge for used brushes occurs and the system awaits the next sunny day. During cold, snowy days the system may go unused for several days.
