using anti-freeze as screen wash
Discussion
I'd disconnect the outlet from the pump and try and divert it into a bucket* while operating the 'washers' - keep topping up from the hose and flushing it through until you have water
I'd be wary about just brimming it to flush from the top - it'll take the paint off the engine bay where it spills
* for safe disposal, not down the drain!
I'd be wary about just brimming it to flush from the top - it'll take the paint off the engine bay where it spills
* for safe disposal, not down the drain!
Edited by john_p on Thursday 2nd December 09:44
Dog Star said:
The front pillars and mirror cowlings maybe and the roof - who knows where it has got. Boot lid? To be honest any damage is likely done by now 
although hopefully general snow and crud may have absorbed/diluted it.
although hopefully general snow and crud may have absorbed/diluted it.kambites said:
One other point - the screen wash system will be made of plastic and wont be designed to deal with highly corrosive chemicals, so is it possible that it'll eventually eat it's way through the washer bottle and/or pipes?
This is not good - the paint used by Audi is s
t at the best of times. Any ideas of cost of respraying most of a mk2 TT? 
john_p said:
I'd disconnect the outlet from the pump and try and divert it into a bucket* while operating the 'washers' - keep topping up from the hose and flushing it through until you have water
I'd be wary about just brimming it to flush from the top - it'll take the paint off the engine bay where it spills
* for safe disposal, not down the drain!
can this be done in -6? everything is frozen (well apart from the amount of antifreeze left in the washer bottleI'd be wary about just brimming it to flush from the top - it'll take the paint off the engine bay where it spills
* for safe disposal, not down the drain!
Edited by john_p on Thursday 2nd December 09:44
) and will it involve getting under the car? if it's not easy to get at under the bonnet I've got alot of snow clearing to do! If you can get at any one of the fixings in the system, disconnect it and stuck a longer pipe on the right end which you can redirect to a bucket, then it doesn't matter which one. No idea how the washer system in a TT is laid out, though.
ETA: If it's a the wrong side of the pump, do not try sucking on the pipe to syphon it.
ETA: If it's a the wrong side of the pump, do not try sucking on the pipe to syphon it.
Edited by kambites on Thursday 2nd December 09:50
PKLD said:
kambites said:
PKLD said:
Any ideas of cost of respraying most of a mk2 TT?
Even if it has damaged it, it shouldn't need to the whole car resprayed. Well i'm guessing it's an hour's labour for a mechanic .. I'm all in favour of DIY fixes, but £50-ish as insurance against a respray seems like good value to me, especially if it means you don't need to lie on the floor or mess with trolley jacks, hosepipes and buckets in -6 temperatures
redgriff500 said:
I used blue anti freeze along with Fairy liquid in my winter hack for years.
No problems whatsoever.
I've never tried it with a modern car, but I spilled a few drops of antifreeze (can't remember the colour) onto the paintwork of my MGB one and it was through to the basecoat before I could find anything to wipe it off with. Modern paints may well be better, though. No problems whatsoever.
ETA: Actually that's a lie, I did have a coolant hose go on the Corrado and spray superheated antifreeze all over the engine bay, and it didn't do any noticeable damage to the paint, so yeah, I'd say modern paintwork can deal with it.
Edited by kambites on Thursday 2nd December 10:00
y2blade said:
who the hell let her out of the kitchen?
I suppose it's my fault - I've been saying that since we have a nicer car now that it needs to be looked after. So she's got the hang of checking tyre pressures, parking (but not reversing), and not taking it through a £1.50 supermarket car wash. And during summer she even kept a good eye on washer levels. So she should be commended for trying but still....her:
= me 
PKLD said:
y2blade said:
who the hell let her out of the kitchen?
I suppose it's my fault - I've been saying that since we have a nicer car now that it needs to be looked after. So she's got the hang of checking tyre pressures, parking (but not reversing), and not taking it through a £1.50 supermarket car wash. And during summer she even kept a good eye on washer levels. So she should be commended for trying but still....her:
= me 
Why don't you just top up the screen wash container with water until all the anti-freeze comes out. Then just top up with screenwash again?
I think if you flooded it with water quickly it wouldn't have much time to stain your paintwork.
Or you can do what I did once and use a syringe to suck out the liquid and empty it into a bucket.
I think if you flooded it with water quickly it wouldn't have much time to stain your paintwork.
Or you can do what I did once and use a syringe to suck out the liquid and empty it into a bucket.
Edited by volvoforlife on Thursday 2nd December 10:21
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