Screenwash Test - Post up the good stuff

[Accelebrate]

I went to my local Seat dealership hoping to pickup some of the VW stuff, they'd only got some Nissan branded pink stuff (oddly) which was supposedly rated down to -25c when used neat.

Froze at -12c, my washer bottle is between my wheel arch and front bumper so doesn't really defrost with the engine, did 160 miles on boxing day with no washers.

[BigS]

It's not listed on their website yet, but according to the leaflets in store Lidl are having more of their screenwash in on Thursday 13th Jan, £4.99 for 5 litres.
Think I'll be getting some more of it, Costco in Cardiff had sold out of the Holts stuff when I went there.

[jsg612]

I got a 5L container from Tesco for £2. (Can't remember which brand, but the only one they had in this size.) Cleans the windows really well and streak free in sunny conditions. I mixed it 50/50 with freshwater and it has yet to freeze up.

[plfrench]

I'm using VAG stuff costs £1.13/l for -16C concentration (1 part screenwash: 2 parts water) and hasn't frozen on me down to -13C so far.

I'm currently trying it at £0.85/l (1:3) as it is milder round here at the moment. I don't know what this is rated to, as it doesn't say for this concentration on the bottle, but I'm hoping for -8 ish... I'll let people know if we get some colder weather again. Always fun having a bit of an experiment!

[mmm-five]

Got some more of the Holts stuff from Costco. £3.99 for 5 litres.

[spaceship]

This was the last stuff I bought. Usually by VAG stuff as said before.

http://www.lidl.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg/lidl_uk/hs.xsl/...

Back on sale again next week.

[MUDGUTZ]

This subject comes up every year. Every motoring website has a similar thread. I have seen lots of overpriced screen wash for sale everywhere from Halfords to Tesco & various filling stations.

The only ready-mixed screen wash that seems to be good value is the stuff from Lidl: If you can get it. Alternatively you can mix your own.

The information below will hopefully help those who are prepared to help themselves.

I have read over & over again that German screen wash products are very good, so that’s either the ready-mixed type in small bottles from Porsche or VAG or the concentrated type that has a vessel at the top to measure the required quantity. Two appear to be very good value:

Sonax Clear View

Einszett Kristallklar

BTW they both come in 250ml bottles; there is an error in the Einszett webpage.

Either product works out about 30 pence per litre when mixed with water which is fine for summer use.
When it comes to winter, all you have to do, when you mix up a load in your 5 litre container, is add some Ethanol / IPA / Isopropyl Alcohol / Isopropanol (Chemists will explain the difference, I’m pretty sure for the purpose of screen wash they are all fine). See below for suitable concentrations.

I got mine from eBay & it worked out about £2.50 per litre, so even at 40% concentration, when combined with Sonax Clear View or Einszett Kristall Klar it’s around £1.30 per Litre. That would be good down to -23 oC

10% Ethanol = Freezing point of -4 oC
20% Ethanol = Freezing point of -9 oC
30% Ethanol = Freezing point of -15 oC
40% Ethanol = Freezing point of -23 oC
50% Ethanol = Freezing point of -32 oC
60% Ethanol = Freezing point of -37 oC

I hope this info helps folk avoid paying excessive amounts for that blue water.

[sinizter]

Is there any chance a high percentage of Ethanol could damage the paintwork or the rubber trim ?

[Cyder]

sinizter said:

Is there any chance a high percentage of Ethanol could damage the paintwork or the rubber trim ?

Don't think so, it just evaporates iirc.

OEM's use it in screenwash applied lineside too.

[Maximum Bobs]

Never understand why people don't buy something like this,
http://www.carchem.co.uk/screen-wash-concentrate-2...

I've never used that particular brand but the last 25 litre stuff I bought gets mixed at about 10-1 all year round & it's never frozen.