Why are my washer jets freezing?
Discussion
I'm currently staying in Basingstoke a few days a week and using the OHs C class diesel.
It was a bit parky last night (-2C at 6.30am) but not outrageous - that's only 2C below the freezing point of water.
The washer bottle is full of neat washer fluid - the Lidl stuff that is meant to work to -60C.
Got in this morning and started it up, squirted the windscreen and it only came out in short little jets then stopped. Didn't work again until I had been parked up in Woking for half an hour (so 28 miles and the engine nice and warm).
What's going on? Is the alcohol evaporating in the washer jets just leaving water that has frozen? They didn't freeze overnight, only when I used them. It's very odd.
It was a bit parky last night (-2C at 6.30am) but not outrageous - that's only 2C below the freezing point of water.
The washer bottle is full of neat washer fluid - the Lidl stuff that is meant to work to -60C.
Got in this morning and started it up, squirted the windscreen and it only came out in short little jets then stopped. Didn't work again until I had been parked up in Woking for half an hour (so 28 miles and the engine nice and warm).
What's going on? Is the alcohol evaporating in the washer jets just leaving water that has frozen? They didn't freeze overnight, only when I used them. It's very odd.
Its partly due to the pressure drop as the water emits from the nozzles, as the water is forced under pressure by the washer pump through the nozzles, when it comes out of the nozzle the pressure will drop this will cause the temperature of the water to drop lower than the ambient, which is already below feezing. So its a bit of double wammy. If you are just sat warming up the engine and the glass is frozen do not put the washers on, as you found out, let the screen defrost with the warm up of the engine then you`ll not have the problem.
The Lidl's stuff is about the lowest rated screenwash you can buy in the UK. Since filling up with it had you used them eg flushed it through the system? You might have had the previous stuff in the system still.
I use it exlusively in all our cars and not suffered frozen jets evr with it
Read the label btw, if its does'nt say a temp rating its s
t!!!
This was left overnight it was -7 on the thermometer
I use it exlusively in all our cars and not suffered frozen jets evr with it
Read the label btw, if its does'nt say a temp rating its s
t!!!This was left overnight it was -7 on the thermometer
Edited by cptsideways on Tuesday 31st January 11:45
cptsideways said:
The Lidl's stuff is about the lowest rated screenwash you can buy in the UK. Since filling up with it had you used them eg flushed it through the system? You might have had the previous stuff in the system still.
I use it exlusively in all our cars and not suffered frozen jets evr with it
Read the label btw, if its does'nt say a temp rating its st!!!
This was left overnight it was -7 on the thermometer
This is my point - as far as I'm aware the Lidl stuff is the best there is, and yet this has happened. I'm currently doing about 700 miles a week in this car and am going through a fair bit of screenwash so it should be flushed through.I use it exlusively in all our cars and not suffered frozen jets evr with it
Read the label btw, if its does'nt say a temp rating its s
t!!!This was left overnight it was -7 on the thermometer
cptsideways said:
The Lidl's stuff is about the lowest rated screenwash you can buy in the UK. Since filling up with it had you used them eg flushed it through the system? You might have had the previous stuff in the system still.
That's what I was thinking. I use the Lidl stuff and it's never frozen, even last year (-18 degrees one night) when diluted 50/50.KevinA3DSG32 said:
Try the Skoda/Audi/VW stuff, rated to -72C if I remember correctly. I mix it 50/50 with cheaper stuff and have no issues, even in -20C plus added windchill. But you must use up what is in the pipes when you first fill or the old stuff will likely freezein the pipes/nozzles
If the washer just were warm blooded! But as they are inanimate objects windchill has no effect or bearing on them!Pedant hat "off"....
Dog Star said:
This is my point - as far as I'm aware the Lidl stuff is the best there is, and yet this has happened. I'm currently doing about 700 miles a week in this car and am going through a fair bit of screenwash so it should be flushed through.
In my experience it's got nothing to do with what's in the washer system but rather the water that's outside of it. The nozzles freeze from the water outside & the only cure for the bad design is to fit heated nozzles. I have seen a few improvised heated pipes/nozzles using bits of coiled wire etc. 
Dog Star said:
I'm currently staying in Basingstoke a few days a week and using the OHs C class diesel.
It was a bit parky last night (-2C at 6.30am) but not outrageous - that's only 2C below the freezing point of water.
The washer bottle is full of neat washer fluid - the Lidl stuff that is meant to work to -60C.
Got in this morning and started it up, squirted the windscreen and it only came out in short little jets then stopped. Didn't work again until I had been parked up in Woking for half an hour (so 28 miles and the engine nice and warm).
What's going on? Is the alcohol evaporating in the washer jets just leaving water that has frozen? They didn't freeze overnight, only when I used them. It's very odd.
No heated washer jets fitted? Probably an optional extra I guess with Merc.It was a bit parky last night (-2C at 6.30am) but not outrageous - that's only 2C below the freezing point of water.
The washer bottle is full of neat washer fluid - the Lidl stuff that is meant to work to -60C.
Got in this morning and started it up, squirted the windscreen and it only came out in short little jets then stopped. Didn't work again until I had been parked up in Woking for half an hour (so 28 miles and the engine nice and warm).
What's going on? Is the alcohol evaporating in the washer jets just leaving water that has frozen? They didn't freeze overnight, only when I used them. It's very odd.
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