Halfords Screenwash

[cpas]

Boring topic I know, but why have Halfords changed their screenwash? I used to buy the blue 'concentrated' which you dilited 20% and it did down to about minus 10 degrees, and cost around £5 for 5 litres. I've just run out of this, so went to buy some more last week. Their 'concentrated' stuff now (apart from being in several flavours) comes in different concentrations which is effectively ready to use - but you cannot buy the original stuff any more. And this stuff is still nearly a fiver for 5 litres, so effectively 5 times more expensive!! Therefore, where's the best place to buy decent but not too expensive screenwash?

[Shaw Tarse]

Lidl

[cpas]

Is it any good?

[Conscript]

Pretty sure the only difference between halfords concentrated and ready mixed stuff is the bottle.

Was looking at some the other day. Ready mix comes in 5 litres, is poured straight in and offers antifreeze protection to -10. So I picked up the 5l concentrate bottle instead so figuring it would be better value but on the back, to offer the same level of protection it has to be used neat. So why not just but the ready mix for 50p cheaper

[Depthhoar]

Shaw Tarse said:

Lidl

/\ This.

Good down to minus 60 degrees C. if used neat + works out at just under £1 per litre. I use it at 50% solution right through the winter in the Scottish Highlands and have yet to freeze up. Safe to use with VAG fan jet washers, too.

[cpas]

Depthhoar said:

Shaw Tarse said:

Lidl

/\ This.

Good down to minus 60 degrees C. if used neat + works out at just under £1 per litre. I use it at 50% solution right through the winter in the Scottish Highlands and have yet to freeze up. Safe to use with VAG fan jet washers, too.

I've just read good things about it on another forum as well. Might take a trip tomorrow lunch time

[A.J.M]

Lidl stuff for me too. It's only about £5-6 for a 5L bottle as well.

[Shaw Tarse]

Only problem is, they don't always have it in stock

[Sump]

Scania

[M6L11]

I find the Halfords -30 protection concentrate to be decent enough value. It does a decent job of cleaning the screen properly, rather than smearing oily deposits around. I tend to water it down to -10 protection levels seeing as we're having a very mild winter. I also keep a little spray bottle full of neat product, as it's much more effective than de-icer on frosty mornings, and doesn't freeze back up after a few minutes. Before this my favourite screenwash was VAG/Skoda/Audi/etc stuff for £3 a bottle at Skoda. It's superb and protects down to -45 (iirc) but the Halfords stuff is more convenient and comes in bigger bottles.

ETA I think I'll check out the local Lidl to see if they have any in. Sounds decent!

[Mr Happy]

Euro car parts do some Normfest Frostex -70 stuff for a couple quid which is brilliant. I need to find somewhere to get it in bulk.

http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/p/car-accessories/...

Generally I chuck a bottle into the washer reservoir then top off with water, never had a problem yet.

[morgrp]

Personally, I've found most eat my wiper blades over a period of time and scum up my windscreen - best I've used is Shell's mix your own - can't remember how much it is but basically I buy a litre and top up with water from empty. Frankly I don't care about protection down to -60 degrees as I'm not planning any trips to Siberia anytime soon, protection down to -5 is fine for probably 90% of this country.

[monthefish]

Another vote for the Lidl stuff, buy 4 at a time and stock up as and when they get it in.

[joebongo]

morgrp said:

Personally, I've found most eat my wiper blades over a period of time and scum up my windscreen - best I've used is Shell's mix your own - can't remember how much it is but basically I buy a litre and top up with water from empty. Frankly I don't care about protection down to -60 degrees as I'm not planning any trips to Siberia anytime soon, protection down to -5 is fine for probably 90% of this country.

Wind chill means you need a lot lower temp coverage.

[bobby_vimto]

+1 for the Lidl's screenwash. It seems to be readily available in the local stores (last couple of weeks anyway) and well worth £4.99 for 5litres.

Wouldn't mind trying other brands but there's never enough information on the labels to risk it. i.e. does it work with fan jets? How difficult can it be to provide that information on the bottle!

[Conscript]

joebongo said:

Wind chill means you need a lot lower temp coverage.

Wind chill doesn't really apply to inanimate objects - it won't cool the windscreen below the ambient air temperature.

Although I guess it might be possible for the screenwash bottle to be insulated just enough to keep the fluid liquid, but if the exposed windscreen is colder, it might freeze as it's sprayed onto it.

Edited by Conscript on Monday 9th February 09:27

[Toaster Pilot]

I buy 25 litre tubs of it from Euro Car Parts for a stupidly low amount of money, good to about -10 or something I think, does the job

[AngryPartsBloke]

joebongo said:

morgrp said:

Personally, I've found most eat my wiper blades over a period of time and scum up my windscreen - best I've used is Shell's mix your own - can't remember how much it is but basically I buy a litre and top up with water from empty. Frankly I don't care about protection down to -60 degrees as I'm not planning any trips to Siberia anytime soon, protection down to -5 is fine for probably 90% of this country.

Wind chill means you need a lot lower temp coverage.

Wind chill is the perceived lowering of temp. No matter how windy it get's it can't lower the temp of an object to below the ambient air temp.

[Podie]

I'bve been using Comma X-tream from a local autofactors. Pretty good and -25C capable (IIRC).

Might give the Lidl stuff a go!

[Arnage14]

Just sprayed some Halfords de-icer, temp about -1 and it froze on the screen. Totally useless!
Oh well.