Frozen winshield wiper fluid

sjg

Member
:
2009 CX-9 Touring AWD
A couple times each winter when the temperature dips to the teens and below, the washer fluid in my CX-9 freezes up. The first time I took it to a shop (needed a clean windshield for a road trip) and they defrosted the reservoir and pump. It's happened a few times since including right now as it's pretty cold in the Northeast. I typically buy fluid that is rated for -10 or -25 but I don't know how truthful those claims are. I'm just wondering if others have this problem and if there's anything about the CX-9 that makes the washer fluid system more susceptible to freezing?
 
A couple times each winter when the temperature dips to the teens and below, the washer fluid in my CX-9 freezes up. The first time I took it to a shop (needed a clean windshield for a road trip) and they defrosted the reservoir and pump. It's happened a few times since including right now as it's pretty cold in the Northeast. I typically buy fluid that is rated for -10 or -25 but I don't know how truthful those claims are. I'm just wondering if others have this problem and if there's anything about the CX-9 that makes the washer fluid system more susceptible to freezing?

I had the same thing happened to me just last week, turned out the nozzles up front had gotten frozen shut, I think the "hidden nozzles" (under the hood lip) of the CX-9 is slick and nice but susceptible to having freezing rain/water come over the lip and freeze up the nozzles. I keep a bottle of those compressed key lock de-icers during winter and just spray the nozzles until they are cleared and the system works again.

PS. I avoid those windshield fluids at the 99 cents store, maybe just me but I think they're watered down and will freeze up, LOL
I just buy from Walmart or Target, a little more but at least I'm sure they won't freeze up.
 
Last edited:
since we're on the subject ...... anyone no how to adjust the spray nozzles positions ? mine is spraying too low , is it as easy as getting a needle and sticking it into the nozzle and adjust ?
 
When I first bought my Cx9 it came with a nice frozen reservoir of washer fluid. Dealerships only put in the really cheap stuff. It was -22 in MN when I got it so of course whatever the dealership put in was either watered down or not rated for -20+. There was a little room in the reservoir so I put some better fluid in to hopefully defrost the rest. I then took it on a reasonably long drive and it thawed out on it's own. I flushed it out just by using it for a lot on the drive and then added more of good stuff, it didn't freeze again. Now I generally decline using either the dealership or the oil change place to put fluid in for me. Over the years of getting cheap stuff and having a lot of it freeze in the garage on it's own I've found that getting the purple, orange, or Yellow stuff seems to be a better bet for not freezing. You will pay $3-$5 but generally the stuff seems to clean better and doesn't freeze when the temp gets below zero. YMMV of course.
I'm not sure how to adjust in the cx9 but in the past I've done that using a needle or very light nail in the nozzle to adjust.
 
Just ran into this in my other car. I had filled it up with cheap antifreeze that certainly wasn't good for the -35c it was rated for. It was only -10c overnight at best. A long warmup in the driveway to thaw it, siphoned most out, and refilled with a name brand rated to -45. Pumped a few times to clear the lines of the cheap stuff.
 
Jack Daniels? or maybe Vodka? LOL

LOL (drunk) good one vinyl , Absolut Vodka in the reservoir would be nice for when I break down and wait for the tow truck.

just get a passenger or bystander to hold a cup by the windshield while I pull and hold the washer stalk back and let the good times flow. LOL
 
Last edited:
since we're on the subject ...... anyone know how to adjust the spray nozzles positions ? mine is spraying too low , is it as easy as getting a needle and sticking it into the nozzle and adjust ?

ok, I just checked this morning, nozzles can't be adjusted at all, they are fixed angles, I tried everything, the nozzles won't budge at all, there's no way to adjust the angle, looks like the nozzles are just snapped in place with no adjustments and also using a paper clip to try to adjust the nozzle angle was futile , if anyone has been successful in adjust the windshield fluid spray angle please let us know, thanks !
 
Last edited:
I typically buy fluid that is rated for -10 or -25

Glad to have started the conversation but I've learned that I wasn't giving an accurate description of the problem. It's true that I always use fluid with low temperature ratings. But I've learned that the shop that does my oil changes has been topping off the fluid and it seems they used stuff that freezes right around 32. I waited for the temp to rise and basically emptied the system. With new fluid it's OK.
 
I am new to my 2023 Mazda CX-9 and in Wisconsin I have to say that never in my 36 years parked outside (no garage) with my Subaru Forester, Ford Taurus(s), Volvo S80, S60, XC-90, Lexus 330 have I ever had the windshield washer freeze up, BUT with the new CX-9 it has frozen up every time this winter at temperatures in the teens. I will investigate further but it feels like a design flaw...unless the Dealer is using "Dollar-Store" blue water.
 
For the price of some decent washer fluid I'd say you'd be better off buying your own and topping it off vs. whatever the dealer is using.
 
I would blame the washer fluid. I am in Canada and my washer fluid isn’t freezing at 0 F in my 2018 CX-9.

Your volvo’s and Lexus may have had heated washer fluid though, which the Mazda doesn’t.
 
I am new to my 2023 Mazda CX-9 and in Wisconsin I have to say that never in my 36 years parked outside (no garage) with my Subaru Forester, Ford Taurus(s), Volvo S80, S60, XC-90, Lexus 330 have I ever had the windshield washer freeze up, BUT with the new CX-9 it has frozen up every time this winter at temperatures in the teens. I will investigate further but it feels like a design flaw...unless the Dealer is using "Dollar-Store" blue water.
Add some 92 percent isopropyl alcohol
 
I am new to my 2023 Mazda CX-9 and in Wisconsin I have to say that never in my 36 years parked outside (no garage) with my Subaru Forester, Ford Taurus(s), Volvo S80, S60, XC-90, Lexus 330 have I ever had the windshield washer freeze up, BUT with the new CX-9 it has frozen up every time this winter at temperatures in the teens. I will investigate further but it feels like a design flaw...unless the Dealer is using "Dollar-Store" blue water.

I chuckled a little.
What design flaw would cause car A vs. car B to freeze washer fluid if the vehicle sits outside (assuming using same fluid)? And 'teens' (assuming F) is not really cold.

99.9% chance it's the fluid.
As Mazdiod2 mentioned, get some high concentration isopropyl alcohol and once it's thawed out, only use the -20F fluid (or -30F if you want to be extra safe).
 
Back