Screenwash and cold weather

[MakaveliX]

Past couple of days in the morning if I blast the jets nothing comes out until mid day when it's warmed up a bit.

Is this likely the jets being blocked with ice or the screenwash itself ?

Any advice appreciated

[brisel]

What % of the screen wash is the concentrate? You need around 50% at this time of year but less in the summer. To get yourself out of the current predicament, top up with neat concentrate and work the wash for at least 5 seconds to get it through to the nozzles.

I find VW/Audi screen wash the best for avoiding slime build up in the tank.

[jeremyh1]

your jets and pipe feeds freeze up
In recent years a chemical was removed from screen wash production because it could kill Greta Thunburg this stuff used to stop the liquid from freezing I don't know what it was called though

[Jimmy No Hands]

Yes, just frozen. Some years ago my Audi A6 headlamp washers froze and they extended out and stayed there until they thawed. Looked rather daft driving around but it was because I had far too much water in the fluid. I use the premixed stuff now and it appears to be fairly robust.

[Pica-Pica]

Pour a jug of lukewarm water over the nozzles. From change of clocks (i.e. GMT) put screen wash to winter mix values in.

[Rozzers]

This always happens. The anti freeze additive is alcohol. Being alcohol it boils off through the jet leaving a tiny plug of water. If you want them always working without intervention (warm water) you need heated or well protected jets.

[MakaveliX]

Thanks guys. Will get some warm water handy next time. I'd assume de-icer is no good on the jets ?

Another question. Looking at Halfords etc you can get screenwash -5' -10, -20 etc.
Surely the best one to get is always the one with the lowest freezing point ?

[cuprabob]

MakaveliX said:

Another question. Looking at Halfords etc you can get screenwash -5' -10, -20 etc.
Surely the best one to get is always the one with the lowest freezing point ?

Just buy concentrate and dilute to the temperature as per the label.

[Riley Blue]

cuprabob said:

MakaveliX said:

Another question. Looking at Halfords etc you can get screenwash -5' -10, -20 etc.
Surely the best one to get is always the one with the lowest freezing point ?

Just buy concentrate and dilute to the temperature as per the label.

If only there was a thread about how easy that is: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[WindyCommon]

MakaveliX said:

…Looking at Halfords etc you can get screenwash -5' -10, -20 etc

Marketing in action….

[Mr Tidy]

None of them seem to work!

Back in the 80s I used to jump out of my MK2 Granada, grab some slush, smear it over the screen and use the wipers.

Still do the same even though my BMWs claim to have heated screen-washers - but they freeze. Useless ornaments even with OE washer fluid.

[jeremyh1]

Riley Blue said:

If only there was a thread about how easy that is: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Yes here I frustratingly give my breakdown on some the hopelessness of some of the people on this site

That's why I love the home Mechanics section
Only the members with brains use it