Washer Fluid Problem - How do I dissolve Rain-X?
 

I have used the Orange Rain-X All-Season windshield washer fluid for years on all my cars and never had a problem until recently. I refilled my 2021 SuperDuty recently and must have gotten a bad batch with way too much Rain-X in it. I got a surprise while towing my trailer down the interstate...hit the washer and it was like I sprayed my windshield with silicone tire-shine. I was blinded....Had to stick my head out the window to see until I could pull over and spray-wipe-spray it off. Fortunately I had glass cleaner and paper towels in the trailer.

Once home I pumped out the reservoir w/ a Harbor Freight suction pump and then stuck a garden hose in it to flush it out...running several tanks worth through the sprayers until the tank was empty...refill and repeat. Then put plain old blue washer fluid in it.

Unfortunately I still have greasy washer fluid coming out. I have read Rain-X is silicone based. Any ideas on how to dissolve the Rain-X from the walls of the tank and hoses? Or should I replace the tank, pump and hoses with new ones?

What a massive PITA. Thanks for any advice you can give me.

Perhaps white vinegar?

I think Rain X uses acetone in it's formula. You'll need that or something similar to remove it from the tank. If'n it was me I'd replace the tank.

edit: oh wait, just realized that it's not the Rain X treatment...sorry

Here is a link for the MSDS of their products:

. These will tell you what solvent is used in the product. If it's not an exotic you could use it to clean the tank.
https://www.rainx.com/heres-how/safety-data-sheets/

Check out the one for the windhield washer additive

Product Name Rain-X Washer Fluid Additive

Product Code 31037
Document SKU: RX11314, RX11806D

It looks like IPA is the solvent.

I'd still opt for a new tank but I'm lazy.

Yeah I saw that online 50/50 water and white vinegar. May be worth a try. I'll say it again, what a PITA. I'll never use this stuff again.

What about rubbing alcohol? Would that cut it?

Or call the number on the washer container...they might help.

That's what the MSDS listed as the solvent.

^^^ I didn't read your link until now...never knew rain-x had that many products.

A couple IPA's sounds like the solution. :D

Any chance someone put antifreeze (or ??) in the washer tank?

I always use the Rain-X additive. Squirt a little in the tank with the water and I'm good to go.

Good luck with getting things clean.

Ethylene glycol isn't good to be dumped....

Alcohol is the go to for lowering freezing point.

So isopropyl alcohol shouldn't leave any residues. Over conc. Shouldn't be an issue.

Acetone is harsh but is good in hdpe. If you have heavy residue and acetone doesn't touch it. I would do some dcm next. But it's a nasty solvent

No. I have owned the truck since new and do all my own maintenance.

I would give Rain X a call and tell them your story . They should be interested if they have/had a bad run of product . They also should be able to answer your clean up questions .

Thanks for the heads up...really dunno why, but I've always grabbed the old 20-10 fluid brand.

Agree. They might even pay for it. I had luck like that years ago for a girlfriend's situation.

Just flush it with acetone then plenty of di water and move on with life.


As they say in the hazmat cleanup world. The key to pollution is dilution.

Tried hot water several times and then 50/50 white vinegar and hot water. Still getting greasy sludge out of it. Have not tried acetone yet, will pick some up tomorrow. Don't really want to spray the truck w/ acetone so will need to flush it out well after directly from the pump. Wonder if acetone will destroy the pump.

Acetone sure can eat rubber or plastic...

Acetic acid is not good with organics. I only use glacial at that.

Acetone is very stable with hdpe. Abs eh.
Your fluid tank is hdpe for sure. Pump is probably the same to be rated for ipa use. .... Disconnect the hose from the nozzle if you do acetone and collect the waste from the hose.

Try IPA first or methanol. Then if it doesn't clean it out go to acetone for the tank and see if the lines could be flushed...

Do you have a picture of the junk in the tank? It would be beneficial to know if you have an organic or aqueous...


Also I know on my 18' 6.7 ram, if you're not paying attention; the washer fluid and power steering fluid containers look very similar and are right next to each other.

Depends on the plastic. ;)

After reading the above I am going to just get a new tank. Only $160 from Ford new (LOL...not Porsche parts prices!).

In order to get to the hoses or the pump to flush through and drain out something like Acetone I basically have to remove just as many parts as I would need to remove in order to replace the tank.

I decided to leave the original lines they probably don't have much in them compared to the tank and can flush out over time. Removing the lines give me a headache as they pass through various areas. Both a front camera sprayer and windshield sprayers. Hope I am right there. If I am not I can change the hoses later I guess as the flow path would not put any residue back in the tank.

Nothing but the cheap blue washer fluid for me from this day forward!!

I hated the stuff. Always smeared when using intermittent wipers.
Did you call them to see if they will correct the problem? Can't just be you.

Called twice and left voicemails yes. Hopefully they will call back. I agree it can't just be me. Maybe that's why they have not called back yet LOL.

I had the same issue. Grabbed a gallon of Rain-X windshield washer fluid from Walmart when I was doing an oil change on the Yukon.

Wipers and washers were unusable.

I flushed the washer tank with a garden hose for 5 minutes.
Emptied tank with washer button.
Added 1 gallon of 50/50 solution of water and 99% isopropyl alcohol.
Emptied tank with washer button.
Cleaned windshield and wipers with ISO.
Added 1/2 gallon of straight ISO and ran half of it through the system.
Added 1/2 gallon of washer fluid to the remaining ISO in the tank and ran all of it through system.
I used the front and rear washers - alternating to let the pumps cool.

Now all is good.

^^^^^


This sounds WAY, WAY WAY better than using acetone.

I hated that Orange RainX just because of the smell.

Yeah, but it makes a good breakfast drink.

Pooping later is so easy!

So removed and replaced the washer tank yesterday. Bottom of the tank was full of Rain-X thick syrupy sludge. I don't think any amount of flushing would have gotten it out as the pump does not completely drain the tank. Removed the accessible hoses and flushed out w/ 50/50 isopropyl alcohol and water using a syringe. Did the same w/ the remaining hoses in the truck placing a rag overtop the sprayers. Installed the new tank. Wiped down the entire truck w/ 25/75 mix of isopropyl alcohol/water to remove the Rain-X that was sprayed all over (since I was on the highway at the time so it got blown everywhere but the tailgate). Installed new wiper blades. All good now.

Nothing but the cheap blue washer fluid for me from now on! What a PITA.

Did the manufacturer ever get back to you?