Heated Washer Jets

[GranpaB]

Is it me or are heated washer jets a pointless idea?

If you have your fluid diluted properly so that it doesn't freeze, then surely the lines and jets wont be blocked with ice?

I was out early this morning in -3 degrees in my banger which doesn't have them and my washers worked perfectly!

[untakenname]

The outside of the nozzles can ice over even if there's neat screenwash in the tank, I had the issue with my cars last month when it was -7c where I had to defrost the nozzles before they would start working.

[MustangGT]

GranpaB said:

Is it me or are heated washer jets a pointless idea?

If you have your fluid diluted properly so that it doesn't freeze, then surely the lines and jets wont be blocked with ice?

I was out early this morning in -3 degrees in my banger which doesn't have them and my washers worked perfectly!

Minus 3C I assume? Try minus 14C and wind-chill of 20-25mph windspeeds. Even with washer solution rated to -20C we can get frozen slush stopping the washers. I have now moved to -38C fluid in an attempt to keep them working. Heated nozzles would be very useful indeed.

[Fastpedeller]

Better off not putting fluid onto the large, cold surface of the windscreen because it will freeze on contact anyway!

[GranpaB]

I agree but it's not east when on the motorway with salt spray coming off the road by cars in front.

[Plastic chicken]

When I were a lad the washer jets worked independently of the wipers, so you could test them without running the risk of motor damage caused by blades frozen to the screen, or the wipers sweeping across a dry, gritty windscreen.
In cold conditions I carry a spray bottle filled with lukewarm water and a squeeze of screenwash. I can hop out every so often and give the screen a quick skoosh.

[sixor8]

The only car I've ever had with heated washer jets was a 1990 BMW 525i SE 'shed' that I owned for a short time in 2005. One of the few things on the car that worked properly. They were actually helpful.

[SkodaIan]

Fastpedeller said:

Better off not putting fluid onto the large, cold surface of the windscreen because it will freeze on contact anyway!

Unless you're driving along in the car with the heater off and the windows open (or have only just set off and the car hasn't warmed up yet), the windscreen is likely to be significantly warmer than the liquid in the washer bottle.

Usually it's the opposite problem, the salty water sprayed from the car in front hits a warm windscreen and dries before the wipers wipe it off. Not sure I've ever had washer fluid freeze on a windscreen when the car is warm, even when it's minus 15 outside - though I have had the whole washer bottle freeze before now.

Heater washer jets were more needed when they were fitted on the top of the bonnet - in most cars now, they are well protected tucked under the back of the bonnet

[gt40steve]

Plastic chicken said:

When I were a lad the washer jets worked independently of the wipers, so you could test them without running the risk of motor damage caused by blades frozen to the screen, or the wipers sweeping across a dry, gritty windscreen.
In cold conditions I carry a spray bottle filled with lukewarm water and a squeeze of screenwash. I can hop out every so often and give the screen a quick skoosh.

Two good points.

[Whataguy]

I have them on my Golf, but think they're not much point.

With the concentrations of screenwash I use in winter I've never had the nozzles freeze on other cars.

There is a bit of a delay before the nozzles spray, I expect due to them only being heated just before the fluid comes out after you have pulled the lever.

Heated nozzles wouldn't stop the fluid freezing in the pipes in other places if you had no screenwash.

[Rough101]

They do work.

The alcohol in the screen wash can boil off through the nozzle overnight leaving a plug of frozen water that the heater melts, especially if they are exposed.

[normalbloke]

Rough101 said:

They do work.

The alcohol in the screen wash can boil off through the nozzle overnight leaving a plug of frozen water that the heater melts, especially if they are exposed.

This is exactly what they’re for.

[Krikkit]

CheesecakeRunner said:

Heated washed jets are an attempt by poor manufacturers to make up for the fact they didn't license heated windscreens from Ford.

My L322 has both a heated screen and heated washers.

[Krikkit]

CheesecakeRunner said:

Who used to own Land Rover?

Yes I know, but your point was you wouldn't fit heated screen and washer, the answer is they have different functions. Hence why LR put both in despite having free access to fit a heated screen before the patent limitation expired.

[Pica-Pica]

Plastic chicken said:

When I were a lad the washer jets worked independently of the wipers, so you could test them without running the risk of motor damage caused by blades frozen to the screen, or the wipers sweeping across a dry, gritty windscreen.
In cold conditions I carry a spray bottle filled with lukewarm water and a squeeze of screenwash. I can hop out every so often and give the screen a quick skoosh.

You can still wash the screen first on a few cars, just use a slight pull on the washer lever, stopping before the wiper activation, which is sometimes a lever-position point or a time-activated point.

[jamieduff1981]

CheesecakeRunner said:

Heated washed jets are an attempt by poor manufacturers to make up for the fact they didn't license heated windscreens from Ford.

I love how absolute statements get made by people who appear to have zero practical experience of driving in winter. Come drive here. You'll have no choice but use washer jets on the move at sub-zero temperatures but with roads wet with salt. With any other traffic - even a HGV going the opposite direction - your windscreen is white and opaque in very short order.

[GranpaB]

Ok so maybe i am wrong about them being pointless.

Just speccing a new car online and saw them as part of a pack with heated seats etc, and wondered how useful they would be and never realised it was still an issue with the correct ratio fluid in the bottle!

[texaxile]

CheesecakeRunner said:

Heated washed jets are an attempt by poor manufacturers to make up for the fact they didn't license heated windscreens from Ford.

What difference does a heated screen make if it's filthy and can't be washed due to frozen jets?.

[littleredrooster]

GranpaB said:

Is it me or are heated washer jets a pointless idea?

If you have your fluid diluted properly so that it doesn't freeze, then surely the lines and jets wont be blocked with ice?

I was out early this morning in -3 degrees in my banger which doesn't have them and my washers worked perfectly!

I think you're overlooking the wind-chill factor.

With air moving quickly over the jets, the temperature rapidly drops due to wind-chill - for example if the temperature is -5degC and you're travelling at 65mph, the temperature at the washer jets is -18degC. Linky

If the ethanol in the fluid has started to evaporate, it isn't long before the jets will be frozen solid. Ergo, heated jets are rather a good idea!

[cerb4.5lee]

Krikkit said:

CheesecakeRunner said:

Heated washed jets are an attempt by poor manufacturers to make up for the fact they didn't license heated windscreens from Ford.

My L322 has both a heated screen and heated washers.

Both my XR4x4s had both too.