Cheap summer lifehack for keeping windshields clean could cost drivers thousands as winter approaches

REGULAR car maintenance can quickly add up in cost, and it leaves many drivers looking to cut corners and save wherever they can.

However, one common warm weather hack which drivers may have forgotten about can cost thousands come the freezing nights of fall and winter.

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Household cleaners won’t cut it for your car come winter[/caption]

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Household name brands for windshield wiper fluid are worth spending extra[/caption]

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Plastic reservoirs and more can crack from cheap fluids freezing and expanding[/caption]

Although Windex and soapy water are a good substitute for windshield washer fluid in the summer, fall and winter will see these cleaners freeze during overnight temperature drops.

Even cheap windshield wiper fluids can be susceptible to winter’s chill, regardless of whether or not they claim to be all-season, costing you thousands to replace the system.

When these water-based liquids freeze in the windshield wiper fluid system, they expand and eventually begin cracking and breaking key components.

Plastic reservoirs, sprayer nozzles, hoses, and pumps can all fall victim to this force of nature if the leftover fluid isn’t cleared out.

While prices vary by make and model, it’s common to see the cost of a full system replacement quickly balloon into the four-figure range between parts and labor.

These costs can rise even higher in cars with specialized washer features, such as those which also spray and wipe the front headlights in addition to the windshield.

With low-temperature windshield washer fluid from household name brands like Rain-X costing pennies on the dollar in comparison, this mistake is one drivers will never forgive themselves for making.

The next best option is to keep an eye on the calendar, and make the switch just as summer temperatures begin cooling down in your local area.

Although the best solution is to use these reliable brands year round, ever-tightening purse strings make this more difficult to justify.

Those who push their luck into the first cold days of fall will instead need to prioritize draining their systems of these water-based fluids.

One way to do this is to simply spray it all out onto your windshield in the same way you’d normally use the feature.

However, this can cause unnecessary strain on the pump, which may backfire for those whose pumps are failing and are trying to avoid spending money on repairing it in the first place.

For those owners and the mechanically inclined, it’s possible to disconnect the hoses leading into the pump and/or reservoir, at which point a majority of the fluid should pour out.

What’s left can be drained with a shop vac, siphon, or even a household turkey baster. If necessary, the pump can also be activated at this stage to drain any particularly hard-to-reach puddles.

This warning can also apply to cheap water-based engine coolants. While budget-friendly, they too can freeze and expand, instead causing the engine block to crack rather than a very relatively cheap to replace fluids system.

While using the proper fluids year round is recommended for drivers in areas with distinct seasonal temperature changes, owners should at least be aware of what they need to change and when.

AUTUMN AUTOMOTIVE TIPS

Generally speaking, checking and changing your vehicle’s fluids for the proper seasonal choices is one of the best preparations drivers can make ahead of fall and winter.

Checking tires, brakes, windshield wipers, and other key safety and visibility components is also highly recommended.

Packing an emergency kit for fall and winter travel is also recommended, since breakdowns are unexpected and could leave you stranded for extended periods of time.

Drivers should also familiarize themselves with how to drive in adverse weather conditions, especially heavy snow and rain which require entirely different driving styles to properly manage.