Screenwash?

[chan61922]

Silly question time!

So my ‘16’ golf R flagged up as low screen wash today, just wondering if it okay to top up with Castro’s edge? Lol just messing!!!!

Is it okay to top up with screenwash which may be a year or 2 old? Got quite a few bottles sat i. The garage, pristine and Halfords special brew, would it make a blind bit of difference? My only concern is it loses its cleaning abilities?

Cheers

[GoodCompany]

chan61922 said:

Silly question time!

So my ‘16’ golf R flagged up as low screen wash today, just wondering if it okay to top up with Castro’s edge? Lol just messing!!!!

Is it okay to top up with screenwash which may be a year or 2 old? Got quite a few bottles sat i. The garage, pristine and Halfords special brew, would it make a blind bit of difference? My only concern is it loses its cleaning abilities?

Cheers

Pour it into another container first, as old screenwash can turn to jelly.

[Mr Peel]

While we're talking screenwash, what about manufacturers claiming you have to use their special formula or the system will get blocked up? Mini claim this so I presume BMW do too. I always use Halfords concentrated stuff but the rear washer on my Mini has been getting blocked. Coincidence?

[chan61922]

Thanks will try, glad you mentioned as it makes sense to do so, the garage gets cold in winter and fairly warm in summer, so lots of heating up and cooling down. That’s a good point mentioned with dealers old brand, but think about it, it’s not like the dealers a screen wash manufacture now, even with oils and other fluids, they source from elsewhere and just re-label it basically and add an increased price on it for doing so. Never really been a concern of mine before but I only bought the car in summer and it’s the first time I’m topping it up so still being abit of a school girl with her maintenance-wise anyway lol

[JakeT]

Some manufacturers will deny warranty claims for washer components if they see you've not been using their screenwash. BMW were known for this.

Make sure the tank is totally empty first, and then add your own stuff. Stops them mixing and turning to jelly.

[chan61922]

Ouch! wasn’t aware of that. Seems to be completely empty, bugger all comes out. I’ll have a quick check on VW site, can be more than few quid- surely?

[Pegscratch]

From memory about £3-4 a bottle. Shouldn't need to be any stronger than 1:2 unless you're in the very worst places in Scotland. For the most part 1:4 is OK but it is January so probably about to start snowing!

[chan61922]

Just rang the dealer as looking online was confusing, the biggest bottle they do is 1 litre and priced 5 pound something. I then asked can I use anything, he said yeah long as it from a decent place like Halfords and not to use any cheap stuff as it can block up jets etc. For the sake of a few quid and avoiding blockages etc I’ll just buy a fresh bottle I think, what a palava- lol

[chan61922]

Just rang the dealer as looking online was confusing, the biggest bottle they do is 1 litre and priced 5 pound something. I then asked can I use anything, he said yeah long as it from a decent place like Halfords and not to use any cheap stuff as it can block up jets etc. For the sake of a few quid and avoiding blockages etc I’ll just buy a fresh bottle I think, what a palava- lol

[eltawater]

Just buy a big bottle of prestone screenwash from tesco or wherever is cheapest right now. I've been using that for about a decade across mazda, 2 Seats and a Jag with no ill effects.

[chan61922]

Yeah mate always stock up on the pristine when it’s on offer in Tesco got about 3/4 large bottles all unopened, thing is It’s been that long I don’t know when I bought the bloody things lol

[SkodaIan]

A local motor factors is usually by far the cheapest place to get screenwash. My local one sells the generic branded stuff (Holts I think, but it could be Comma) for aboit £10 for a huge bottle of concentrate.
It's a close battle between motorway service areas and main dealers for the most expensive....
I think a lot of the blocked jets are down to either using just water or too dilute screenwash (can end up with black mouldy slime or limescale depending where you live) There is also the problem of people using washing up liquid, dishwasher tablets etc.

[silverfoxcc]

I just put the concentrated stuff in direct.

Freezes at a lower temp than the diluted stuff and doesn't freeze up on the screen so easily

[opieoilman]

I thought all screenwashes mixed, but apparently not. Seems to be an issue with BMW and I thought it was just going to be a forum myth, until a friend's 1 series washers blocked up. Turns out the previous owner had only used the BMW screenwash and he then put in another and it turned into a gel. I would think the issue is with the BMW stuff as I've always mixed washer fluids, at the moment I know my car has a mixture of Motul and Fuchs screenwashes. Fuchs one is really good, best I've used, but not cheap.

[HarryCrowth]

I think its fine to use the cheap stuff, even if its been in your garage a while, as long as it has anti freeze in it for the winter.

[g3org3y]

opieoilman said:

I thought all screenwashes mixed, but apparently not. Seems to be an issue with BMW and I thought it was just going to be a forum myth, until a friend's 1 series washers blocked up. Turns out the previous owner had only used the BMW screenwash and he then put in another and it turned into a gel. I would think the issue is with the BMW stuff as I've always mixed washer fluids, at the moment I know my car has a mixture of Motul and Fuchs screenwashes. Fuchs one is really good, best I've used, but not cheap.

I think the BMW screenwash has quite a high alcohol content so prevents against mould that can cause blockages. The other issue as you mention is mixing different screenwash types can cause it to gunge up (see below on my E46).





Now that I've cleared the filters on the E46, I'll continue using this stuff because I bought it in bulk on ebay last year (never had any issues on my E36). I typically use quite a concentrated mix.


For my Z4 and 330i Touring, I use the BMW stuff. I can't be arsed with the idea of removing arch liners to get to the reservoir in order to clean filters on the Touring.

[Dogwatch]

Worth sticking an open-ended hose into the washer bottle from time to time to flush out any jelly or even just odd bits which might block the jets. Give it a good blast!

Not so easy with cars where the bottle is under the wing.

[Jag_NE]

I’ve used cheap stuff over the years and never had an issue across numerous cars. That being said I’ve always used a load of it so it doesn’t hang around. I have a classic in the garage however which has screenwash in it, but never pump the stuff. I need to check for jelly! Thanks for the heads up.

[chan61922]

Didn’t realise a screenwash topic could get so in-depth lol seems to be a issue with BMW in particular, funny that my last 3 cars have been BMW’s, I’ve always used pristine and Halfords in all of them an no issue whatsoever, 2 e46s and a e93 being my last car. Never gave it much thought in the past to be honest, just me being over caring and I don’t know how VAG cars go about stuff nowadays, my first car was a golf many years ago now. News to me but apparently my car has a silicia bag in the coolant tank to break down decontaminants etc, this bag can actually burst and cause all sorts of damage, only found this out the other week. What a nightmare. Someone above made a good point in that if it’s got anti freeze in it, which any half decent solution would have it should be fine, even if sat in the garage. Only thing is I’ve now discovered old ones can turn to slush and gel, glad I asked now, wow lol

[g3org3y]

chan61922 said:

Didn’t realise a screenwash topic could get so in-depth lol seems to be a issue with BMW in particular, funny that my last 3 cars have been BMW’s, I’ve always used pristine and Halfords in all of them an no issue whatsoever, 2 e46s and a e93 being my last car. Never gave it much thought in the past to be honest, just me being over caring and I don’t know how VAG cars go about stuff nowadays, my first car was a golf many years ago now. News to me but apparently my car has a silicia bag in the coolant tank to break down decontaminants etc, this bag can actually burst and cause all sorts of damage, only found this out the other week. What a nightmare. Someone above made a good point in that if it’s got anti freeze in it, which any half decent solution would have it should be fine, even if sat in the garage. Only thing is I’ve now discovered old ones can turn to slush and gel, glad I asked now, wow lol

Screenwash Matters.