Screen wash VS "beast from the east"

[OV4]

I use Prestone or Autoglym (5-litre bottles of the stuff, equal parts fluid and water for winter). Not had freezing problems with either, even in the car without the heated washer jets.

[Lexman8]

Originally Posted by kdst5

Wind chill has no effect on the temperature of the washer fluid.

Yes and no. Any 'extra' heat acquired by the fluid while it is in the engine compartment will be lost more quickly after it leaves the nozzles as the vehicle speed increases. Admittedly it's less of an issue with the integrated design of the nozzles and wipers on SPA cars.

Most of us can probably remember when washers would work when stationary or going slowly but freeze up at speed.

[Fliegenpilz]

an old trick is to add methylated spirit. I add about half a litre to my T8 and no freezing. I also add about a cup full of rinse aid for the cleaning benefits.

I heard some people add antifreeze, but I am not so sure about that.

Anybody have any good tips?

[skippyfox]

I go down the IMS route, industrial methylated spirits, add about 1/2 litre when filling washer bottle with a decent screen wash. never let me down yet..

[anotherv60]

Originally Posted by ASt85

NB the most reliable heated washer jets I've ever come across were those in a Vauxhall Carlton CD.

My dad had one of those, it was awesome (not that I ever drove it), Think I liked it so much as the Lotus Carlton was in the top trumps set and the picture was identical to my Dads.

[Petey80]

If you have the shop, Boyes sell this and it's excellent

20belowscreenwashmucoff by Pete, on Flickr

20belowscreenwash by Pete, on Flickr

£3 for 5 litre concentrate.

[ASt85]

Originally Posted by Fliegenpilz

I also add about a cup full of rinse aid for the cleaning benefits.

I have added methanol in the past but I'd never thought to add rinse aid - what a great idea

A very light smear of olive oil on the door seals stops them freezing or even shredding when the doors are pulled open in very cold weather - there again my grandfather swore by Simonize wax (the real stuff in the yellow tin) on all rubber seals - both are better than the more commonly used WD stuff which can damage the seals, he insisted on the use of diesel oil instead of wax on the bodywork of the steel and aluminium bodies of company buses - plus it was a whole lot easier than polishing them with hard wax!

There again, I think modern diesel may have few more additives than that available between the 1930s and '60s.

[ASt85]

Originally Posted by anotherv60

My dad had one of those, it was awesome (not that I ever drove it), Think I liked it so much as the Lotus Carlton was in the top trumps set and the picture was identical to my Dads.

I had three of them all post facelift.... best of the bunch was Mk 2 2.0L 5 speed manual CD (a very rare beast) in white which was an ex Lex rental car - went like the clappers and actually held the road in snow and ice better than many front wheel drives of the time - but like a lot of 80's 90's Vauxhall it got eaten by the rust bug - the last one again a 2.0 CDi had the O/S rear wheel clouted in a supermarket car park which moved the whole rear axle over a couple of centimetres on a Thursday evening which is how I came to buy a Volvo 850 via a preferential trade-in the following morning @ the then local Volvo dealer as I had an 1100 mile round trip to Scotland to do on the Saturday/Sunday.

I had always wanted either the Lotus Carlton or the Senator CDi - very nearly bought an ex-police Senator (ex Chief Constables car....) until I got an insurance quote for the Senator absolutely riotous at the time - needless to say I didn't but it but always wished I had.

I'd intended to trade the Volvo on in the following week but found it so "bullet proof" I ended up keeping it for ten years then followed it with my current now older P2 V70 and added a very low mileage C70 for "luck" last year.

[nu11eaf]

I have just been to Asda and while there I checked their washer fluid, it said it worked to minus 5°c "undiluted" so probably freezes at 0°c at normal 50/50 dilution. I'll be getting mine from Boyes store.

P.S my XC90 heated washers work great, it was minus 5°c yesterday and they worked every time, from start up.

[Deman77]

What’s wrong with Volvo’s own? I know it’s probably overpriced compared to some best value products but it’s still so cheap I don’t care. And I know it will work. You can dilute as needed. I just bought a box of them when I bought the car and only used two so far. I think Volvo must top up at services.
I must say this wiper internal spray design is very economical on screen wash. And it’s considerate to car behind you