Windshield Washer Fluid. 3

[Frank1344]

Hello and Good Day Folks,

Our contractor has asked us using windshield washer fluid as the test media as we are entering the cold season instead of water-glycol solution mixture.

I understand that the windshield washer fluid contains Methanol.

Has anyone had experience doing this? Is there any safety issue involved?

I appreciate your thoughts and comments on this subject.

Take care,
Frank

 

[IRstuff]

What is the application? As a heat transfer fluid, water-glycol is worse, so if someone has a heat problem, changing to a water-methanol would potentially make that go away. Additionally, is this system never going to see cold temperatures? If not, then wouldn't you want to make sure the water-glycol mix works correctly in cold temperatures? Unless you are planning on testing or operating below -30ºC, there will exist a water-glycol mix that works in that temperature range, although glycol will get very sluggish at the low end.

TTFN
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[chicopee]

Sounds to me that both liquid mixtures are to be used as antifreeze but for what application?

 

[europipe]

I understand he means for hydrotest.
Why not?

 

[LittleInch]

Stick to Glycol. See this MSDS for methanol and then tell me it's a good idea to use as a test medium where you presumably need to dispose of it, it might spray everywhere, it might leak and all for saving a few cents.... see

http://kni.caltech.edu/facilities/msds/methanol.pdf

Also a number of components and seals don't like methanol so if it is not anticipated in the process fluid, you could cause damage to rubbers and plastics exposed to it.

My motto: Learn something new every day

Also: There's usually a good reason why everyone does it that way

 

[Frank1344]

Hello Folks and thanks for all the feed backs.
My apology as I was not clear about the application which is Hydro Testing of piping systems.

 

[IRstuff]

Unless you're using propylene glycol, the same disposal concerns exist with ethylene glycol.

TTFN
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[moltenmetal]

Clean-up after an outdoor spill of water/methanol will be far less worrisome in my opinion than after a spill of water/ethylene glycol antifreeze.

The testing is being done outdoors, clearly, as you're worried about freeze protection. Hence ventilation is no doubt good. If the testing is below grade etc., then you have that concern.

Methanol is toxic, but you're not heating it nor are you going to generate a large quantity of methanol vapour if it's a water/methanol solution.

Methanol isn't particularly hard on seals when it's in dilute solution in water. Flush equipment after use with clean water, including pumps and hoses.