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OEM Windshield Washer Fluid vs. Aftermarket

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Urmil

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2019 XLE Hybrid
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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Hi All,

This may be a silly questions but is their any value in using OEM windshield washer fluid vs. aftermarket? I found the below online which appears to be an OEM concentrate.

0047500WWF - Toyota Windshield Washer Fluid Concentrate - Genuine Toyota Part

Genuine Toyota Part # 0047500WWF (00475-00WWF) - Toyota Windshield Washer Fluid Concentrate
parts.toyota.com

I'd prefer using a pre-mixed aftermarket fluid, does anyone have recommendations? I live in the Northeast and the weather ranges between 20F-95F. Cost is not a concern because I rarely use the windshield washer fluid in general and I'm sure whatever I buy will last a long long time.

Thanks in advance.
 
#3 ·
As others have suggested use whatever is on sale at that moment. I'm sure Toyota buys their windshield washer fluid in bulk and simply repacks and resells it at a profit.
Any time my cars have gone to the dealer for any service they have always come back with no name fluid in the reservoir. Not a single time have any of my cars come back with OEM fluid.
 
#4 ·
OEM is just generic stuff, it has no magic to it. OEM matters a lot
with ATF or tranny fluid (Toyota WS) but for windshield fluid ? nope, it's
pretty generic. kinda horrible too if you are a rain-x user.


day 1 when I picked up the rav4, it rained, and I was horrified how 'normal fluid'
works in rain. I was friggin blind in comparision. first thing I did when I got home was drain all
that OEM stuff and toss in rain-x. also I rain-x'ed the glass by hand next day.

I only use rain-x orange... 24/7/365
'cuz it works as self-applying rain-x, won't freeze at -20F, and I don't mind the
dried smears of rain-x on the sides and parts around the glass. doesn't harm anything
and I don't polish my cars to a sheen nor fret about buffing and waxing. rav4....it's a tool, not
an ornament to me..... so a little smear dont matta us
 
#6 ·
Eldorado19h said:
I was advised on this forum that orange rain x tends to coat sensor in the reservoir and then washer fluid icon stays on permanently making it a costly repair

Just google rain-x orange fluid level sensor
Click to expand...
Toyota does not seem to have a problem with RainX. The German cars and Chrysler have picky sensors.

www.classaction.org

Maker of Rain-X Facing Class Action Over Washer Fluid Sensor Problems

The maker of Rain-X has been hit with a class action that says the windshield wiper fluid causes problems that cost hundreds to repair. Learn more.
www.classaction.org www.classaction.org
 
#7 ·
Eldorado19h said:
I was advised on this forum that orange rain x tends to coat sensor in the reservoir and then washer fluid icon stays on permanently making it a costly repair

Just google rain-x orange fluid level sensor
Click to expand...
I've never heard that before in 15 years of using rain x.

Also had no idea there was such a thing as OEM washer fluid, so...
 
#8 ·
Eldorado19h said:
I was advised on this forum that orange rain x tends to coat sensor in the reservoir and then washer fluid icon stays on permanently making it a costly repair

Just google rain-x orange fluid level sensor
Click to expand...
this has not happened to me I have one car with similar sensor type
and use rain-x orange for 10 years now...

but if it did happen it's easy to fix. (well, easy but a pain at the same time)
 
#9 ·
SO it is fine to use the Orange Rain X? I used it on my older Honda for years with no problems. Now I just bought a new Rav4 LE with the OEM washer fluid still in it. I was going to use the orange stuff but now Im double guessing lol
 
#10 ·
303Rav4 said:
SO it is fine to use the Orange Rain X? I used it on my older Honda for years with no problems. Now I just bought a new Rav4 LE with the OEM washer fluid still in it. I was going to use the orange stuff but now Im double guessing lol
Click to expand...
yes it's fine to use it. real world, pouring it in all 4 my toyotas with washer fluid low level sensors, never had a problem

if you do have an issue I'll promise to give you +1 internets back.
 
#11 ·
303Rav4 said:
SO it is fine to use the Orange Rain X?
Click to expand...
crisps said:
yes it's fine to use it. real world, pouring it in all 4 my toyotas with washer fluid low level sensors, never had a problem
Click to expand...
Older cars in general and older Toyota had floats in their washer fluid reservoirs. It was perfectly OK to use RainX orange in them. Newer cars and our 5th generation RAV4s have an electrical sensor with exposed filaments in the reservoir. It has been well established (see BOB is the Oil Guy forum among others) that the filaments DO get gummed up by Rain X orange. There are lots of photos on line of a white scum covering these sensors. When that happens the wiper fluid warning light stays on. Yes you can fix it if you do use RainX orange. You have to remove the fender liner and access the reservoir and remove the sensor and wipe and clean it off and then hope it works properly and does not need to be replaced. Why have the hassle? Just use any other brand of blue or green wiper fluid that is rated for sub zero temperature. Anyone who has used RainX orange in
a sensor (not float) equipped car without problems is just living on borrowed time. I ALWAYS used RainX orange for twenty years in my cars (which had the float system) but I tossed it out when I got my '21 Rav XLE. It just ain't worth the risk and aggravation in my opinion.
 
#12 ·
Tazio Nuvolari said:
Older cars in general and older Toyota had floats in their washer fluid reservoirs. It was perfectly OK to use RainX orange in them. Newer cars and our 5th generation RAV4s have an electrical sensor with exposed filaments in the reservoir. It has been well established (see BOB is the Oil Guy forum among others) that the filaments DO get gummed up by Rain X orange. There are lots of photos on line of a white scum covering these sensors. When that happens the wiper fluid warning light stays on. Yes you can fix it if you do use RainX orange. You have to remove the fender liner and access the reservoir and remove the sensor and wipe and clean it off and then hope it works properly and does not need to be replaced. Why have the hassle? Just use any other brand of blue or green wiper fluid that is rated for sub zero temperature. Anyone who has used RainX orange in View attachment 192672 View attachment 192673 View attachment 192674 View attachment 192675 a sensor (not float) equipped car without problems is just living on borrowed time. I ALWAYS used RainX orange for twenty years in my cars (which had the float system) but I tossed it out when I got my '21 Rav XLE. It just ain't worth the risk and aggravation in my opinion.
Click to expand...
Hmm, i assume it's that special rain x water repellent mix that causes the issues? Anytime I use a non rain x fluid I don't get the water beading effect. Is there another washer fluid that has that water beading effect that doesn't cause sensor issues?
 
#13 ·
Urmil said:
Hi All,

This may be a silly questions but is their any value in using OEM windshield washer fluid vs. aftermarket? I found the below online which appears to be an OEM concentrate.

0047500WWF - Toyota Windshield Washer Fluid Concentrate - Genuine Toyota Part

Genuine Toyota Part # 0047500WWF (00475-00WWF) - Toyota Windshield Washer Fluid Concentrate
parts.toyota.com

I'd prefer using a pre-mixed aftermarket fluid, does anyone have recommendations? I live in the Northeast and the weather ranges between 20F-95F. Cost is not a concern because I rarely use the windshield washer fluid in general and I'm sure whatever I buy will last a long long time.

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
I just get mine at Walmart. Just be sure to use "winter formula" so it doesn't freeze up in the tank and lines. Some places ban winter formula sales in the summer; I just stock up and use it year round.
 
#14 ·
crisps said:
I only use rain-x orange... 24/7/365
'cuz it works as self-applying rain-x, won't freeze at -20F, and I don't mind the
dried smears of rain-x on the sides and parts around the glass. doesn't harm anything
and I don't polish my cars to a sheen nor fret about buffing and waxing. rav4....it's a tool, not
an ornament to me..... so a little smear dont matta us
Click to expand...
I all of a sudden started convulsing! :D :D
 
#15 ·
I have a new 3 camera borescope on the way

1) I will look down my 2022 rav4 hybrid LE raised plastic roof rails to show
what my May built 2022 4-vin has for plugs and seals as some have asked about
is the fix in or not (I really am not worried about any leaks....and more interested
in the borescope and what it can fit down into)

2) I will shove it down my fluid tank to see if I can find washer fluid sensor (again, what
can my new borescope do, not worried about rain-x messing with it)

FFS if it did gum up and stop working from rain-x I can throw straight isopropyl/water or methanol/water
or just blue stuff in there and it will...get ready...self clean. I've checked the MSDS all I need is
more concentrated solvent to clean off any rain-x mung if it did exist. rain-x is mostly methanol anyway

3) will stick borescope up the MGR connector for a 'current braid and corrosion status' sometime later this spring
when I get around to ACF-50 it the next time
 
#16 ·
crisps said:
FFS if it did gum up and stop working from rain-x I can throw straight isopropyl/water or methanol/water
or just blue stuff in there and it will...get ready...self clean.
Click to expand...
Maybe the sensor will self clean--maybe not. Also who wants to wait weeks or months for the RAINX scum on the sensor to melt off and have to live with a warning light glowing at them all the time. Why bother? There lots of other brands of sub zero wiper fluid that don't cause needless problems. If you want rain to bead and blow off on the windshield there are also many brands of stuff you spray on or buff on the windshield itself and don't put in the reservoir. RainX was a good product that has outlived its usefulness.
 
#17 ·
Is it possible that mixing RainX Orange with the generic blue stuff (ex. an non-emptied tank) could be causing the fouling issues? So in some cases it works without issue and in others it doesn't.
 
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#18 ·
JFox562 said:
Is it possible that mixing RainX Orange with the generic blue stuff (ex. an non-emptied tank) could be causing the fouling issues? So in some cases it works without issue and in others it doesn't.
Click to expand...
From what I have read online, it is the chemicals in RAINX that causes water to bead on the windshield that causes the scum fouling on the sensor--not an interaction with other brands of fluid that may already be in the reservoir. It may be that if the RainX is heavily diluted with distilled water, alcohol or other brands of wiper fluid then the concentration of the RainX fouling chemical is lowered so that sensor scum fouling is slowed or prevented--but if you dilute the RainX the water beading effect on the windshield is also reduced. Again, why bother with the needless aggravation from using RainX wiper fluid?
 
#20 ·
everyone. It's fine.

how many rain-x washer fluid low level indicator incidents have been posted on rav4 forums
about it happening on a rav4 ? show me please, rav4 problems with it...because I am having a hard time finding them

so far I've only seen noise about other makes of vehicles and not rav4

I've been using it exclusively since it was invented, have 4 toyotas, and zero issues.

at any rate when my tank on the rav4 gets low enough to trigger the light, I will send a borescope
down there and take pics of what my sensor looks like
 
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