using anti-freeze as screen wash

[kambites]

m4rk said:

I wonder if the long distant memories of some members has resulted in anti-freeze being confused with a brake fluid incident?

I think if anyone had managed to put brake fluid in their washer jets, they really would be in trouble.

[zcacogp]

Munter said:

zcacogp said:

Apologies for being slow here, but what's the problem with stopping off to buy some screenwash on the way to wherever you are going? Every petrol station sells the stuff, as does every supermarket and even Halfords may stock some (although expecting them to provide something useful is a bit optimistic.)


Oli.

The problem is his Mrs has already topped up the screen wash with the wrong stuff just because it was the screenwash colour. He's now wondering what the damage is. He's not suggesting it as a good idea.

Ah, OK, sorry - I didn't get that from the original post. (I thought the missis had used all the screenwash on another car!)

Don't pretty much all cars use pink coolant nowadays anyway? I just swapped my 944 over from blue to pink as the blue stuff is getting hard to find.

To the OP: draining it down is the sensible option. You could just pull the pipes off the squirty nozzles and run the pump until the bottle is empty, ensuring that the stuff coming out of the end of the pipe is directed into a bottle (or the radiator header tank.)


Oli.

[FreeLitres]

PKLD said:

Your MPG reading just places you just within the safe PH limits. Make sure it doesn't creep above 20 MPG otherwise we will have to cast you out with the (non-PH) diesel and prius owners.

[FreeLitres]

kambites said:

m4rk said:

I wonder if the long distant memories of some members has resulted in anti-freeze being confused with a brake fluid incident?

I think if anyone had managed to put brake fluid in their washer jets, they really would be in trouble.

It could be a great response to the tailgaiters though!!!

[aka_kerrly]

I have been using Comma screen wash which it claims is suitable to -26*c. Im running a 50-65% mix with water at the moment and (touch wood) even though i have seen -6* the screen wash has NOT frozen even on one of my cars which doesn't have heated washer jets.

Plus- when they say it smells of apples - it really does :-)

http://www.nielsencdg.co.uk/acatalog/Comma_Concent...

dave

[chrislusty]

I sue this http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/... Halfords Double Concentrate Screen Wash, have never had a problem with it, and can apparently go down to -23C

[J4CKO]

Never worried about dilute Anti Freeze getting on paint, not so sure about undiluted but I was thinking people were confusing it with brake fluid, I really doubt it is that corrosive, at worst it may cause you to need to give it a good polish.

[Rags]

zcacogp said:

Apologies for being slow here, but what's the problem with stopping off to buy some screenwash on the way to wherever you are going? Every petrol station sells the stuff, as does every supermarket and even Halfords may stock some (although expecting them to provide something useful is a bit optimistic.)


Oli.

Oli, I am disappointed you didn't read the OP's thread very carefully.

[aka_kerrly]

J4CKO said:

Never worried about dilute Anti Freeze getting on paint, not so sure about undiluted but I was thinking people were confusing it with brake fluid, I really doubt it is that corrosive, at worst it may cause you to need to give it a good polish.

When the header tank on my car exploaded the hot coolant went all over the engine bay there was some evidence of the paint being bleached on the suspension turret nearest the header tank. A quick wipe over with AG super Resin an it was fine, if it was left for a prolonged period it maybe different.

dave

[PKLD]

FreeLitres said:

PKLD said:

Your MPG reading just places you just within the safe PH limits. Make sure it doesn't creep above 20 MPG otherwise we will have to cast you out with the (non-PH) diesel and prius owners.

yeah not bad as it is a 2.0tdi VAG - must be all that wheel spinning in the snow

[Marf]

joebongo said:

Tell her not to use the car, get a 50ml bladder syringe from a pharmacy and find some tubing (if you're near a hospital green oxygen tubing works well), and drain the reservoir down.

I'm sure there are more PH ways to do it

Drill pump!

http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?hl=en&amp...

[monthefish]

Before you get too worried, is it definitely 'engine coolant' she has put in?

Lidl sell this stuff, which is labelled 'anti-freeze' as you can see



But it is definitely screenwash.

Edited by monthefish on Thursday 2nd December 12:43

[redstu]

I use the old diluted antifreeze to top up the screenwash in winter. Too much and it smears but otherwise no problems. Someone earlier reffered to antifreeze as corrosive ! Does it have a corrosive label on the bottle? Answer no.

[kambites]

redstu said:

Someone earlier reffered to antifreeze as corrosive ! Does it have a corrosive label on the bottle? Answer no.

Nor does a bottle of vinegar, but I'm damned sure it's corrosive.

[motorizer]

It wouldn't say "inhibits corrosion" on the bottle if it was corrosive

I think the corrosion inhibitor is a additive. (and may not be in all brands)

Edited by motorizer on Thursday 2nd December 13:24

[PKLD]

monthefish said:

Before you get too worried, is it definitely 'engine coolant' she has put in?

Lidl sell this stuff, which is labelled 'anti-freeze' as you can see



But it is definitely screenwash.

Edited by monthefish on Thursday 2nd December 12:43

not from lidl but it was cheap stuff that was for my old car and worryingly does look like that

hmmmm I think I might be in for a PH frosting*

• which by the way is not a porno related act but it described what the little bds at school used to do when it snowed = trip up the victim and then a group of 10 would kick the snow all over said victim so that you spent the rest of the morning classes thawing it a wet puddle.... bds

[AJB]

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?

Given how much of a modern cooling system is plastic (thermostat housings, reservoirs, water pump impellors, inlet manifolds), I wouldn't worry about that too much... And as someone has just said, antifreeze is designed to inhibit corrosion - that's why you have to use it all year round, not just in winter. I don't see it being particularly corrosive...

[Muncher]

It'll be fine, it has never damaged any of my paintwork at all.

[zcacogp]

Rags said:

zcacogp said:

Apologies for being slow here, but what's the problem with stopping off to buy some screenwash on the way to wherever you are going? Every petrol station sells the stuff, as does every supermarket and even Halfords may stock some (although expecting them to provide something useful is a bit optimistic.)

Oli, I am disappointed you didn't read the OP's thread very carefully.

My sincere apologies, squire. This lesson has been learned, and it won't happen again.

>HangsHeadInShame<


Oli.

[Acehood]

Are we talking about de-icer here, or screenwash, or coolant? I'm confused.