What's the proper washer fluid additive that makes it kind of soapy?

Long stroy shot, I finally got my wiper act together. For several years I've put on new wiper assemblies (you know, the whole clip on thing). They were the Bosch "Mercedes quality" replacements. They worked OK but were just passable. I had saved the original wiper assemblies (stamped with 124 and 202 part numbers) from years ago. I finally wised up and ordered the replacement rubber for the orginal assemblies (000-824-36-27 for both 124 and 202) and man what a difference. This wiper set up rocks. It took me most of a bottle of wine to figure out how to slide those suckers in there, but dang they work GREAT.

So... what's the proper additive that make the washer fluid kind of soapy?

Local dealer had a one or two ounce bottle for $5 that looked like soapy water. I asked the gentleman at the parts counter how many drops per gallon of washer fluid. He said to dump in the whole thing. I had to laugh. I use about two gallons of wiper fluid a month. That's ten bucks for soap! Is there a "proper Mercedes" "soapy" wiper fluid alternative? What am I missing here?

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Michael

1988 300 SL (5 Speed)
1994 E320 Wagon
1997 C230

Maybe I should change my question to "does anyone add soap to their wiper fluid?"

I found this from Mr. Gilly...

...You are supposed to use "commercially available", aka "store-bought" washer solvent of your own choosing, and they want you to add this "Concentrate S" (there also used to be "Concentrate W" also, but they are both now replaced by a single product, "VR" and 4 numbers.....9022?). MB doesn't sell washer solvent, just this concentrate, which is basically a soap product which they say will improve the cleaning of the wipers.

So then my questions become:

-is it really one tube of the concentrate per gallon of wiper fluid, or should it be just a few drops and,

-assuming the MB stuff is not cost efficient, what soap is good to add to the wiper fluid?

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Michael

1988 300 SL (5 Speed)
1994 E320 Wagon
1997 C230

I could make fun of this as being over the edge but then, you'd make fun of me - my 500SL doesn't leave tha garage unless its bone dry out and no forecast of rain for two days (Houston) LOL

That being said, in my other cars, I just use some (gasp!) dishwashing soap... you gotta have something that will cut the road oil that flies up.

It may affect the wax job a little but if you're using your washers that much you're probably waxing pretty often anyway aren't you?

Kevin

I just run distilled water in my washer tank. It's what the car washes spray on "spot-free" setting and works great for me. Here in Dallas it doesn't freeze very often, though; if you live up North this won't work.

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08 W251 R350
97 W210 E320
91 W124 300E
86 W126 560SEL
85 W126 380SE Silver
85 W126 380SE Cranberry
79 W123 250
78 W123 280E
75 W114 280

Yes, I'm going overboard on this, but I figured if the correct wiper blades made such a dramatic difference, then maybe a correct, or close to correct, soap additive could help even more. I put in a few drops of liquid dish soap, dawn I think, it and seems to work well. I'm sure it's hell on the paint, but damn, that windshield is clean.

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Michael

1988 300 SL (5 Speed)
1994 E320 Wagon
1997 C230

Greetings,

I have used the "Rain-X" glass treatment with regular wiper fluid on several cars the past few years. It creates a waxy barrier on the windshield that repels water (and other debris) -- and yes, you really can drive through a rain storm at 55mph without using your wipers. Not that I encourage anyone to try.. ;-)

Late last year, Rain-X released a line of wiper fluid in a variety of neon colors. My first reaction was to point and laugh, my second was to read the label. I purchased a few gallons of the "premium de-icer" variety and topped off the reservoir in my Merc two months ago.

After field testing during a storm, I was convinced it works and is worth the extra cost. Purchased enough to top off the wife's car as well. Several folks have positive feedback at the usual online consumer review sites (i.e. epinions). I no longer use the squeegee at the gas station - that should say it all ;-)

If you can live with funky neon colors under your hood, I encourage you to check it out.

Best luck,
-DM

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1995 E420 SE black/black
2004 Volvo V70R AWD

Rain-X. Cool. I've always been leery of Rain-X, but maybe I should change my mind. My understanding is Rain-X products put a film over the glass and this film would trap the glass' natural oil... thereby causing smearing. I've got a Mercedes OE PPG windshield. Any thoughts on this?

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Michael

1988 300 SL (5 Speed)
1994 E320 Wagon
1997 C230

I use the MB concentrate, and you do use the entire bottle of it per gallon of store-bought washer fluid. I think it makes a big difference, but my dealer sure doesn't charge $5 for it. I think I pay around $2 for them and buy a handful at a time. I also don't get the cheap blue crap, I prefer the Prestone de-icer. Connecticut winters get pretty sloppy, but I no longer have any windshield problems. It's a few dollars well-spent.

Tried RainX - hated it. Others love it; matter of opinion I reckon.

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2002 E320 4-Matic
2008 Subaru Outback
2009 Subaru Forester

One thing to know before you use rainX....once you use it, you must keep using it, or it will eventually turn into a orange peel like coating on your glass. A friend had a car that the original owner had used it. He got the film, and there was no way to get it off. We tried everything you would ever try on a windshield, and some stuff you would never try. Talked to an auto glass guy, he knew it was rainX right away. A fresh application smoothed everything out, and he was fine.

I use Wurth washer fluid concentrate religiously. I swear by the stuff, it is fantastic. Hard to find, but add an 8 ounce bottle to a tank of regular blue washer fluid.

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Ali Al-Chalabi

2001 CLK55
1999 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins Diesel
2002 Harley-Davidson Fatboy
Merlin Extralight w/ Campy Record

I, too, have to give two thumbs up for Rain-X. (Meaning the windshield coating - they make other things). I have used it on a variety of cars, and if you apply it properly (takes over an hour) on a new (or VERY clean) windshield, you will get amazing results. The glass will appear "clearer" during normal use, and normal rain will run off like it doesn't exist. You still have to use wipers for misting conditions (if enough water isn't falling to bead up on the glass). However, if the rain is steady, there is no need to use wipers at highway speeds. (In fact, I would much rather drive with Rain-X and no wipers than perfect new wipers on bare glass).

As for the other products (tint cleaner, deep glass cleaner, etc) - I think these are a little overpriced (pimping the RainX name), but seem to be very good products. RainX windshield coating is a phenomenal product.

-David
93 500sel (Lorinser MonoBlocks, so cool...)
86 560sel (dead, gone)
85 535i (wonderful car, finally sold)
95 ZX11 (so fast, traded this week)
98 Ford F150 (traded MC for it, not nearly as fast...)

I also use Rain-X glass treatment and Rain-X windshield washer fluid on all my cars with great results. I apply the Rain-X glass treatment twice/year when I wax my cars.

Watch out for the bright pink Rain-X, I found out the hard way this winter that it is only good down to 30 Deg. F. It does not state this on the container, I found out through their web site.

The other trick I do is to wash the rubber part of the wiper blade with a paper towel dunked in the windshield washer fluid at the gas station when I fill-up. People needlessly replace their wiper blades when all they need is a good cleaning.

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Ray
1998 Mercedes E320, 200K Miles
2001 Acura 3.2TL, 178K Miles
1992 Chevy Astro, 205K Miles

I have used Rain-X many times, and I stopped using it. Sure, it works great in the daytime, with the rain beading impressively, but at nighttime, NOT. When you run your wipers, as you invairably have to, it leaves a film on the window that catches glare from oncoming headlights and makes it very hard to see. No Rain-X for me thanks.

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On the plains of hesitation bleach the bones of countless millions who at the dawn of victory, sat down to wait, and waiting -- died

See, you don't drive in rain very much. Up here in Washington, especially on the wet / west side of the state, it isn't just the rain falling down that you need the wipers for. You absolutely HAVE to use the wipers for the spray going back UP off the roads and highways, from all the other cars. This spray is grimey. If you don't wipe, and after a while if you don't wash, the windshield gets too grimey to see out of clearly.

This is also why I went and go the proper wipers for my euro lights. Without the headlight washer / wipers, the headlights would get really grimey at night, and then your headlights get dimmer and dimmer.

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On the plains of hesitation bleach the bones of countless millions who at the dawn of victory, sat down to wait, and waiting -- died

My experience with RainX is mostly from driving in Florida and Massachusetts, the two states I lived in prior to Arizona. Granted, we don't get much need for wipers in Arizona.

However, I agree - RainX works great getting rid of clean rain water, but if mixed with mud and grime kicked up by other vehicles, then you need more than just RainX (and scraping at the RainX surface with muddy water probably doesn't help...)

-David