Which winter screen wash will you be using

Ebe_Scrooge

BOWFER said:

Ebe_Scrooge said:

Ganga said:

lemondrops69 said:

i use the Tesco one diluted at 20% and its never frozen, the heated wash nozzles and heated front screen keep the fluid moving.

If you're having issue with freezing maybe check the heated jet nozzles on you car?

How many cars have heated washer jets ? or are you just bragging because you have a new /modern /expensive car.

Slightly off topic perhaps, but this has always puzzled me.  Standard cooling system, you've got roasting hot water circulating around.  Why don't they just have an extra bit of tubing built in to the system that coils around the screen wash bottle?  Hey presto, toasty warm screen-wash water for free.  I know the nozzles themselves could still freeze, but if the water was hot it would help.  Sounds such a simple idea, I'm sure there must be a good reason why they don't do this.  Or should I patent the idea and make a fortune :-)

Even simpler, a small kettle-type element in the water bottle.

Yeah - my idea though is that the heat is already there, so it's "free" (well, would otherwise be wasted).  An electric element needs electricity, so that would come at the expense of burning extra fuel - maybe a teeny-tiny amount, but anything electrical in a car ultimately means more fuel has to be burnt.

BOWFER

Ebe_Scrooge said:

BOWFER said:

Ebe_Scrooge said:

Ganga said:

lemondrops69 said:

i use the Tesco one diluted at 20% and its never frozen, the heated wash nozzles and heated front screen keep the fluid moving.

If you're having issue with freezing maybe check the heated jet nozzles on you car?

How many cars have heated washer jets ? or are you just bragging because you have a new /modern /expensive car.

Slightly off topic perhaps, but this has always puzzled me.  Standard cooling system, you've got roasting hot water circulating around.  Why don't they just have an extra bit of tubing built in to the system that coils around the screen wash bottle?  Hey presto, toasty warm screen-wash water for free.  I know the nozzles themselves could still freeze, but if the water was hot it would help.  Sounds such a simple idea, I'm sure there must be a good reason why they don't do this.  Or should I patent the idea and make a fortune :-)

Even simpler, a small kettle-type element in the water bottle.

Yeah - my idea though is that the heat is already there, so it's "free" (well, would otherwise be wasted).  An electric element needs electricity, so that would come at the expense of burning extra fuel - maybe a teeny-tiny amount, but anything electrical in a car ultimately means more fuel has to be burnt.

But your idea needs the engine to be running.
Mine could automatically come on when a certain temperature is reached and would use negligible battery power.
You're only heating the water to +1C, not boiling it.

roddydogs

£1 From the poundshop.

BOWFER

roddydogs said:

£1 From the poundshop.

I hope you're referring to screenwash and not my idea of a kettle element in the water bottle.

Grumpy_chap

It may be different in the wilds of northern Scotland, but I just use tap water.

Ebe_Scrooge

Grumpy_chap said:

It may be different in the wilds of northern Scotland, but I just use tap water.

Even in Central Scotland we regularly get temperatures well down into the "minus" range in winter.  I think it would have to be going some to freeze the washer bottle completely, but certainly the washer jets themselves do very often get frozen if you've not got any additive in the mix.  Sure, during the summer I just use tap water, 'cos I'm a skinflint, but round here you definitely need something in the mix during winter (unless, I suppose, you've got heated washer jets, which none of my cars do).

Alanp

I remember once extending the washer pipe and coiling it around one of the heater hoses, it worked to a fashion, but obviously the engine had to be warm

forgotmyname

After having a bottle of the cheap ASDA -5ºC stuff freeze whilst in the boot I went to LIDL and purchased their -60ºC
stuff and have used that ever since.

The smell is quite strong when used but it has never frozen.

Bigwheels1111

In the past it was Lidl -60 screenwash.
But not been able to get any.
Last 5 years it’s been Halfords -10 berry and the when it gets colder their -20 Green one.
A few years ago I was in Blackpool during a cold spell, I went to the car and all the door were frozen shut.
Got the boot open and climbed through.
The radio temp gauge said -16.
Got the car started and scrapped the screen clear.
Tried the screenwash, Halfords-20 and was fine.