Suggestions for defrosting a frozen washer bottle?

[doctor_darren]

Hi all,

My T350C screen wash bottle is frozen solid. I don't have Graham's book with me so not sure how easy it is to remove the bottle so was thinking of some in situ ideas for defrosting the washer bottle, hair dryer and/or hot water bottle? It's almost full too to make matters worse.

TIA

Darren

[T350 Al]

It slides out from the bracket vertically, or at least it should! I have seen different water bottle brackets in T350s, but if yours is mounted at the front, just above the fans then it should simply slide upwards. The bottle itself has a wedge shape at the back that lets it sit in the bracket. Once you have it out of the bracket, disconnect the pump electrical connections and the rubber hose that feeds the washers et voila!

[tail slide]

Easiest if you don't want to remove it is a hot water bottle under it, old towel wrapped around it then pour hot water onto the towel, every 5mins or so. Probably take 20mins?

Works well on frozen outside taps as the towel holds the heat on like a poultice


Then mix up concentrate eg Comma not the rubbish Halfords stuff that only protects to -5C. What were they thinking, you can get about -20C just from 60mph windchill at 0C!

[John D.]

Start the engine?

[crackedfinger]

John D. said:

Start the engine?

I was thinking the same, things being too cold is not normally an issue(!)

[madbadger]

tail slide said:

Easiest if you don't want to remove it is a hot water bottle under it, old towel wrapped around it then pour hot water onto the towel, every 5mins or so. Probably take 20mins?

Works well on frozen outside taps as the towel holds the heat on like a poultice


Then mix up concentrate eg Comma not the rubbish Halfords stuff that only protects to -5C. What were they thinking, you can get about -20C just from 60mph windchill at 0C!

Agree with -5 being rubbish, but is there much windchill inside a washer bottle? The temperature being below -5 is what freezes it.

I agree with the idea of using the speed 6 as a heater. Most effective one I own.

[tail slide]

madbadger said:

Agree with -5 being rubbish, but is there much windchill inside a washer bottle? The temperature being below -5 is what freezes it.

Yes, what I meant was that it freezes up in the washer pipes/nozzles sitting in the wind, and after you've sprayed it onto your windscreen.

[LaserTam]

Not helping with the frozen water bottle issue, but I didn't think that 'things' suffer from wind chill, its just our skin that suffers from it. I didn't think that a -20 windchill will make any difference to a water bottle or pipes, as said its just the ambient temparature that causes it....

[madbadger]

I think so too.

Otherwise with 180 leptons of windchill it would freeze even in summer.

[doctor_darren]

Thanks guys, will try removing it first, failing that will try the warm rag method. Just been out to get some concentrated stuff. Saw the Halfords stuff, on the back it says "suitable for down to -4degC" - not really suitable for these conditions.

Curious, drove about 50 miles yesterday and it had little effect, but then most was fast A roads so not much chance to get much heat generated under the bonnet. My starting air/water/oil temps were all -9degC...

[doctor_darren]

Indeed, looks like my washer bottle comes off vertically, but needs the bonnet removing for clearance and my assistant didn't fancy that so plan B and the hot rag trick seems to have done the job nicely. Managed to get it almost ice free and then used a rag to soak up the contents and replace with concentrated screen wash. Suspect some will be frozen in the pipes, but going to wash the car first and then give it a whirl. Thanks again for the tips.

[doctor_darren]

One clean car and working screen wash. Now I can see where I'm going, handy in these slippery conditions!

[willtvr]

doctor_darren said:

One clean car and working screen wash. Now I can see where I'm going, handy in these slippery conditions!

I expect other quality brands are similar but know that VAG product is good to -70C so will also take a little dilution.

[x12yhp]

There are a load of manufacturers which are adequate for low temperature and it is key to remember that you get what you pay for. To protect to low temperatures, the ethanol/isopropanol/glycol concentrations must be high - so it follows that it will be more expensive. So never, ever go buying bargain basement products - they simply wont work when it gets very cold.