Screenwash

[Shox Dr]

What's everyone using. The stuff you buy at the garages I notice is frozen solid


Brother in law while on duty in Germany used Vodka as it was cheaper than ethanol.



But what can we use here?

 

[frankf]

I use methanol,can be bought from hgv motor factors ,add to cheap screen wash 50/50.Be very careful methanol is toxic and not to be confused with ethanol.

 

[Welderpaul]

Yeah, HGV stuff is what we use. It smells seriously strong, not sure it does the plastic bottle much good - just use it in winter.

 

[Stereophoney]

Being a mechanic I always go to a motor factors and get it from there, half the price of garage stuff and a miles better product

 

[bigbadbugga]

The lemon stuff in halfords goes down to -18 when mixed 50/50, its never frozen on me yet.

 

[Hitch]

I acquired a big box of VAG issue stuff, neat it suposedly stays alright for -70
Not sure my blood would stay liquid enough to find out if thats true or not.
So i go to about 50/50, squirt it on and use it to deice the windscreen

 

[Nimbus]

What's everyone using. The stuff you buy at the garages I notice is frozen solid


Brother in law while on duty in Germany used Vodka as it was cheaper than ethanol.



But what can we use here?

We used Dutch gin in our cars. Wouldn't drink it on a bet... On aircraft we used isopropyl alcohol (IPA). Worked fine in -40.

 

[Uniqueusername]

Best commonly available seems to be Helfrauds yellow stuff, i buy it when i see it on offer.
At work we're using Astral chemicals clear screen, doesn't knacker the wipers like most HGV type stuff

 

[Shox Dr]

Managed to empty the washer bottle today, and filled it with a 50/50 mix of screen wash concentrate and Meths. It was -10 this aft, and the washers are still going strong

 

[busastars]

I'm not sure what my company uses but all our Buses seem to have frozen washers, would have guessed its some kind of industrial bulk bought screen wash.

 

[Emmsy]

GM opticlean screenwash - about £5 for 5L of concentrate from vauxhall , 2:1 for -30C, 1:1 for -20C etc

 

[steeo]

Anti-freeze 50/50 with water.

 

[dai]

Anti-freeze 50/50 with water.

muppet
hows your paintwork

 

[Emmsy]

lol, next he will be trying brake fluid

 

[Shox Dr]

Well I've just driven 270miles up to a Scotland with temps dropping to below -9 so god knows what the wind chill is at 50-60mph.

And the washers never froze

 

[tux]

Shox Dr, I did the same journey on Tuesday and then back again yesterday, was no fun at all with no washers as mine have been frozen solid for weeks!
How did you empty your washer bottle?

 

[Shox Dr]

I took the pump out of the bottom of the res, Filed it with Boiling water and then ran Boiling water over the outside, until water started to melt inside, as soon as that happened, it emptied quickly

Edit I've just been out in it, -10 as I got in the car, washers cleared the screen in moments

 

[tux]

Cheers dude. I was hoping you wouldn't say something like that as mine is buried in the wing! I'll give it a try anyhoo.

 

[Shox Dr]

yup mine is too. right at the front where it gets the wind the most.

 

[Luke]

god knows what the wind chill is at 50-60mph.

It doesn't matter, it won't affect the washer fluid.

Wind chill is the perception of cold to humans (or animals in general if you wish). The nearest comparison is increased cooling of something warm by drafts, but that's not 'wind chill'