How to stop windscreen wash fluid freezing?
Discussion
Any of you chemists out there know what I could add to the already concentrated windscreen wash I'm using to stop it freezing? I'm thinking meths or somesuch but don't want to use something that might damage paintwork.
Maybe it's just that Homebase's 'concentrated' is not as concentrated as others? Anyone else had this problem?
Maybe it's just that Homebase's 'concentrated' is not as concentrated as others? Anyone else had this problem?
eldar said:
Big bottle of water inside the car, just need to stop to apply it. Doesn't freeze unless you leave it in the car overnight
I've had to resort to stopping and rubbing fresh snow on the windscreen a few times because my wash jets are just crap this time of year. I've topped my washer tank up to the brim but I have only seen the very mildest of squirts from the jets in the past few weeks. In the last week they haven't worked once! Next year I'm going with the most heavy duty winter screenwash I can get and I'm using it neat!eldar said:
Big bottle of water inside the car, just need to stop to apply it. Doesn't freeze unless you leave it in the car overnight
I left a brand new 5 litre bottle of Ready Mixed Screen Wash, bought from a service station, in my car overnight.Came to open it the next morning and it was like a blue slushy! WTF!
redstu said:
This was not recomended by me because it would be foolish!
Engine antifreeze , ie ethylene glycol but used more dilute than you would use in your engine.
I've used diluted used fluid in mine as a way to get rid of it. Although the temps around here are only about -7.
It can be potent stuff, but it does actually show up in the ingredients of some washer fluids, although at lower concentrations, and alcohol tooEngine antifreeze , ie ethylene glycol but used more dilute than you would use in your engine.
I've used diluted used fluid in mine as a way to get rid of it. Although the temps around here are only about -7.
GuinnessMK said:
eldar said:
Big bottle of water inside the car, just need to stop to apply it. Doesn't freeze unless you leave it in the car overnight
I left a brand new 5 litre bottle of Ready Mixed Screen Wash, bought from a service station, in my car overnight.Came to open it the next morning and it was like a blue slushy! WTF!
t that they re-package in different brands. Whatever you buy is unlikley to prevent jets freezing.Mines got neat '-25c' fluid in and it was frozen solid yesterday. Eventually defrosted about 20 miles into a 100 mile journey, but was still freezing on the wiper blades when squirted.
Froze again overnight and never defrosted doing 20 miles of short journeys today, I've got heated washed jets so it's either a frozen lump in the pipework or the bottle itself.
Get some funny looks opening the sunroof and pouring water out at the lights!
Froze again overnight and never defrosted doing 20 miles of short journeys today, I've got heated washed jets so it's either a frozen lump in the pipework or the bottle itself.
Get some funny looks opening the sunroof and pouring water out at the lights!
What sort of temperatures are you guys seeing? I see that the OP is in Northern Ireland according to his profile which I know has seen some extreme weather, but is it getting below -10 regularly?
I noticed the diluted wash (albeit 'winter' mix) had turned a bit slushy in my daily driver. Saw that we were forecast -5 temps even in the Thames Valley and picked up some -9 rated wash from Tescos. Tipped it in straight and its been fine in the bottle. Stopped the nozzles freezing up too which I had suffered. Lowest temp I've seen on the dash is -9.5 briefly driving home one evening, where I work in Luton was -4 or -5 each morning for a week or so.
Seems to me that there may be some very duff screenwash out there that simply does not do what it says on the bottle.
I noticed the diluted wash (albeit 'winter' mix) had turned a bit slushy in my daily driver. Saw that we were forecast -5 temps even in the Thames Valley and picked up some -9 rated wash from Tescos. Tipped it in straight and its been fine in the bottle. Stopped the nozzles freezing up too which I had suffered. Lowest temp I've seen on the dash is -9.5 briefly driving home one evening, where I work in Luton was -4 or -5 each morning for a week or so.
Seems to me that there may be some very duff screenwash out there that simply does not do what it says on the bottle.
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