Windshield washer fluid

I have been told by several mechanics to never pour alcohol into the glad hands of a trailer in an attempt to rid the trailer airlines of moisture. The alcohol supposedly does more harm than good to the braking components. So I don't think I would pour alcohol into the washer fluid mix, either.

 

You poured alcohol into the glad hand was to remove ice in the lines of the trailer.

 

As far as wipers icing up, back when trucks used air for the wipers all you had to do was bump them a couple of times to knock the ice off.

 

It works along the top sides too. It's not a defeat all situation by any means but it does work better then keeping visors up.

Any little bit helps. RIGHT???

 

Oh. Don't get me started on those crappy air-driven wipers. I don't miss those but I sure remember them.

 

It's the celebrity diet of cold weather trucking.

 

Only pour it into supply line. I'm provided with brake line antifreeze which is designed for this application as it has some lubricants not found in methyl hydrate which is commonly used in air line or for deicing fuel in tanks/fuel lines.

 

I have no doubt that drivers and techs from Canada should be much better informed on cold weather issues than drivers and techs from the South. There was a cold snap last week in Oklahoma. Temps dropped down to 14 F. I actually had trailer brake issues. When temps rose above freezing, there were no more trailer brake issues. While discussing this with a Service manager from the midwest, he said what I have been told all my career. "Never add air line additive or alcohol to the trailer airlines". But I will yield to the Canada drivers advice.

 

Theoretically ice in system should not be a issue as all our trucks are equipped with air dryers but theory fails occasionally. Usually brake issues are frozen drums which requires crawling around under trailer wailing the crap out of drums with a 4lb knockometer. Frozen drums of course can be avoided by taking appropriate action.

 

But mobile repair guys will be glad to come out, crawl under for a bit, make some noise, come out, and charge you $200 for "de-icing your trailer air system"



I'd hazard a guess 3/4 of "frozen air systems" are nothing a shop hammer to a drum or two won't fix