Freezing windscreen washers

rmg1

Hi all

Does anyone know of a way to stop windscreen washers freezing up in the cold weather?
I've got screenwash in the water which shoul help but it's not.
I've heard you can out anti-freeze in there but won't that damage any paintwork it comes into contact with?

Any help gratefully received.

agrinnall

Don't use antifreeze. As it gets colder you need to increase the consentration of screenwash, the bottle should give you some idea of what temperature it freezes at (although in my experience here in the Highlands I find freezing in the pipes is the main issue, and I keep a separate squeezy bottle of 50% solution in the car - and in the house overnight - to squirt manually on the windscreen when visibility gets bad). I've also heard that cheap vodka lowers the freezing point, but I've never bothered to try it.

nickcc

Make sure you use winter screen wash not the summer grade. As above 50% mix would be advisable or the screen will re freeze when you start to drive off. Antifreeze will also damage your wiper blade rubbers so is definitely a no no.

stef73

In winter i use triple or double concentrated screen wash its more expensive but my jets dont freeze if you look at this http://www.eurocarparts.com/mobile/concentrate-screenwash it will give you a clue as to how much it cost and what temp it goes down to. I didnt buy from this site its just a google search to show temperature ranges.

Chrishazle

If you look at different bottles of screenwash, you will find they are rated to different temperatures. The "ready to use" stuff in the likes of Tescos is only good to maybe -5C, whereas others are good to -50C if used neat. Last year I found Ultimate Speed screenwash that, used neat, is good to approx -60C, and mixed 1:1 with water is still good to -30C. My car lives outdoors, OK in Kent not Scotland, but since I started using this screenwash I've not had a problem.

savemoney

The bluecol is great I got some from europarts before xmas goes to -36c

http://www.eurocarparts.com/mobile/ecp/p/car-accessories/engine-oils-and-car-fluids/antifreeze-and-screenwash/concentrate-screenwash/?545772190&0&cc5_701

I remember people saying the Lidl stuff is good also but dont have a lidl near me

rmg1

Thanks for the input folks.
I'll check the bottle when I get home and see what it says.
I've got around a 50-50 mix at the minute so I might need to increase that.

hewhoisnotintheknow

lidl have big bottles of the concentrate stuff

just treat it in the same was you would treat drinking squash, the more in the mix the better the protection

forgotmyname

Screenwash now sold with temperatures as low as -60 if used neat.

Your probably using the cheap stuff or ready mixed which is not much better than pure water.

Mines never frozen since using them.

oldhand

Always wondered why car makers dont route the windscreen washer pipe which runs from the washer bottle and put it in a coil round one of the car heater pipes in the engine bay,then when the engines warmed up it would be spraying very warm water onto the windscreen and along with the screenwash antifreeze should stop jets freezing up.

neilmcl

forgotmyname wrote: »

Screenwash now sold with temperatures as low as -60 if used neat.

Your probably using the cheap stuff or ready mixed which is not much better than pure water.

Mines never frozen since using them.

Lidl sell great ready mix which if used neat is good for -60C.