Q: One more item to add to your list of things to do to prepare a car for use in a cold state like South Dakota. Make sure the windshield washer fluid isn't plain water or diluted washer fluid. Had that happen to me once. Bought a used car from a dealer that had water in the fluid tank, which froze once the weather got cold. It was a real nuisance until it warmed up enough and I could drain and refill the tank. Even then, I had to squirt the washers several times to get the water out of the hoses that connected the tank to the washers.
J.Y., Minneapolis
A: Good advice. Did you know that despite being blue, windshield washer fluids are different for cold and warm climates? Many fluids for warm climates are formulated to be safe to freezing: 32 degrees Fahrenheit. In cold climates it is formulated to -20 degrees. Any Vegas fluid in the jug may freeze in Sturgis.
