Windshield washer fluid question

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I'm in Oregon and it seems that Capitol Chevrolet in Salem tells me to not use 20-10 in my windshield washer plastic container. I've been using it mixed with water. They tell me it's soap based and will cause the motor to fail as it did. They tell me to use GM Opti clean or Opti clear
ONLY. BUT they also tell me they can't sell it over the counter. But they will put it in when I get a LOF. The problem is they want close to
30 bucks for a lube oil filter and Cascade Tire does an LOF for $18.95 and is open on Saturday. I need to schedule 2-3 weeks in advance to get a Sat. appt. so I figure they are good. Once they did a cv boot for me.
But when it came time to do a cooling flush and replace the thermostat they recommended I go elsewhere as they didn't feel up to doing the thermostat. They seem honest. So I'm content to have our '81 Citation and '86 Celebrity get lofs done there and pay ten bucks less than
Captitol Chevrolet. BUT if I do that what do I use in the windshield washer reservoir as Capitol Chevrolet tells me Oregon environmental laws prohibit the sale of GM Opti Clean or Clear to the public as it's a hazardous material and every other over the counter windshield washer fluid will be soap based and clog the pump and make it fail.
So.........if I want to save on lube oil and filters what kind of fluid do I use in my windshield washer reservoir. I have no idea what Cascade tire uses when it tops off a fluid. Also if the GM Opti clean or Opti clear is a hazardous material why can only Capitol Chevrolet put it in but not the customer. The environment has no idea who poured it.

This sounds like total BS by the dealer to me, but I wonder why you are so worried about the motor failing in your washer pump? Is this a chronic problem, or did it only happen once? If only once, in cars that old it could have simply worn out due to use and had nothing to do with the fluid used. If you got 15 or more years out of the original pump, you got your money's worth. I certainly wouldn't go to any great effort to get the GM stuff just because the dealer wants you to use it.

No, not usually, ONLY when an independent garage tells me there might be a parts problem as was the case here. I try to avoid dealers as much as possible.

Actually this is the 2nd time on the '86 so I got 10 on the 1st motor and 7 on the 2nd. My gut tells me the dealer, which I don't really trust, is fibbing a bit. I do know they have lousy customer service compared to the 3 AAA approved independent garages. I've always used
20-10 and never had problems. This is the 1st I've heard of Opti Clean.
I bought the cars new and had never been told to only use opti clean. I guess I'll stay with it.

GM won't honor warranty claims for repairs to the windshield washer system if non-Optikleen fluid (dyed red) is found in the tank or lines.

Wouldn't surprise me to learn they used system materials incompatible with standard fluid expressly so as to sell expensive Optikleen, but can't prove it.

But if your car's off warranty, there's NO reason to use Optikleen. The standard ordinary blue stuff will do fine, and 20/10 won't hurt it -- washer pumps fail from time to time.

Total horseshit, every bit of it. They are lying to you.

...You take your '81 and '86 Chevrolets...to the DEALER?!!!

I already posted the following question elsewhere but this looks like where I should have posted.

I overfilled my car's washer tank, right up to the brim.

How can I get level down to normal?
Would driving it as is damage anything?

Thanks for any info.

Bart

Bart, hello and welcome to the forum

I always thought that after overfilling the car would, on its first time you get it up to temperature purge the excess. Have you already driven with your car since overfilling it?

Jeffie

Thanks for the welcome even tho I'm probably asking a not too bright question.
No I have not driven it since overfilling w/w tank. Water level is now 1 inch below brim thanks to evaporation.

I'd like to know if I can damage something by driving it as is.

Bart

Well Bart, I am hesitant to give you any firm advise on this since I never experienced it myself but from hearsay (of people who did encounter this) I'd say it's safe to do so. Still, if you are not sure you could always wait another day or 2 and let it evaporate some more

The problem with these is probably some washer fluids have too much foam / suds. The washer pump is very small and depends on liquid going through to cool it properly. If a lot of foam or suds are trying to go through the pump will burn out proabbly as you have already found out.

You can make a pretty good washer mix with alcohol and dish washing liquid. The dish washing liquid has anti sudsing, don't use regular soap. Mix enough alcohol to give yourself a good mixture at -20F. I use around 70 / 30 in PA.

By law the dealer can't claim against a warranty repair if it's illegal to use what they are recommending in your area.

bartbarney wrote:

I already posted the following question elsewhere but this looks like where I should have posted.

I overfilled my car's washer tank, right up to the brim.

How can I get level down to normal?
Would driving it as is damage anything?

Thanks for any info.

Bart

HOw can a over fill WASHER tank hurt???
use the washer once it wont be overfilled??
squirt your friends car..squirt the cat they love water

if u mean a radiator reservoir again no problem
it is made to allow overflow ... just dont put
washer fluid in radiator res.