Frozen washer jets

GolfBravo

Inner_Zone wrote: »

Use Lidl screen wash, rated down to -60 deg C and can be diluted. While it won't get that cold don't forget the windchill factor of a car at speed.

Windchill? Windchill applies only to skin exposed to wind. So on a windy day -5ºC may feel like -10ºC, but to your car (and the external temperature sensor) it is still only -5ºC, regardless whether the car travels at 5mph or 65mph.

Back to OP - I use the Lidl -60ºC screen wash (diluted 50/50), and the jet nozzles were fine this morning at -9ºC. Very effective, doesn't smell nasty and doesn't smear.

skivenov

derrick wrote: »

It's not the original defrosting I am talking about, more the cleaning of the screen whilst on the move via the screen washers to clear the salt etc that accumulates at this time of year.

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Tend to find once I've thawed the nozzles with a bit of warm water and given them a blast, they don't normally refreeze. Could be wrong, often am, but if you've got a decent screen wash in, the freezing problem tends to be frost that's formed on the metal nozzle inserts rather than the screenwash freezing.

neilmcl

+1 for the Lidl stuff, I've been using it for the last couple of winters and it's never let me down.

Also, well done for pointing out that nonsense about windchill, I was about to say something myself but you beat me to it.

Hintza

derrick wrote: »

The person I spoke to this morning uses bog standard anti freeze.

He is an idiot.

Antifreeze is nasty nasty stuff.

Ethylene glycol, the main ingredient of all major antifreeze brands, has long been known to be poisonous. Ethylene Glycol has a sweet smell and taste which is attractive to children and pets and is highly toxic. Drinking ethylene glycol will result in depression followed by heart and breathing difficulty, kidney failure, brain damage and even death. Used antifreeze may also contain metals, such as copper, zinc, and lead. All antifreeze, new and used, must be safely stored in order to avoid tragic consequences.

Improperly disposed antifreeze can flow into waterways where it can kill fish and other animals. It can seep through the soil and into the groundwater.

Some frequently asked questions include:

How hazardous is ordinary antifreeze?

Two ounces of ethylene glycol antifreeze can kill a dog, one teaspoon can be lethal to a cat, and two tablespoons can be hazardous to children.

And it trashes your paintwork.

yangptangkipperbang

A method I have used in the past - but is getting very difficult because of the under bonnet layout of modern cars.

Get an extra length of poly tubing, same size as in use on washers, and a couple of joining adapters. Cut the existing poly pipe, insert your new pipe having wrapped the new pipe round and round the "top hose". Once the engine is hot the water in the pipe to the washer nozzles stays warm enough not to freeze.

TRace

skivenov wrote: »

Tend to find once I've thawed the nozzles with a bit of warm water and given them a blast, they don't normally refreeze. Could be wrong, often am, but if you've got a decent screen wash in, the freezing problem tends to be frost that's formed on the metal nozzle inserts rather than the screenwash freezing.

This, its the nozzles that freeze more than the fluid as a rule, if you are using washer fluid.

You gan get a heated washer kit, depending on the car.

But I do as the post above who also keeps a bottle of unfrozen wash in the car for times when things are frozen.

muckybutt

Methylitated spirit (meths) works wonders and wont freeze, ratio 1:5

gord115

If you mix concentrated windscreen wash to the correct ratio shown on the bottle,it wont freeze up.
Never had a problem with either of our cars,and I only use Asdas own make.

Sarah715

I mixed some de-icer with water and this worked initially, but I'm not sure how well it would work for longer journeys, hope this helps!

SLITHER99

I leave my car idle for 5-10 minutes in the morning, that way everything works. It seems if I get in and drive straight away, I'll never have any washer jets on the journey.