Screen wash

[Bren]

The windscreen/headlamp washers on the 5 series were kaput. A clean of the gauze filters in the system had them working again - full of blue coloured goo.

 

I read that geniune screenwash is the only way to avoid this - I have put some zoflora in for now - it is a disinfectant and it smells nice.

 

What is good screen wash these days?

[Pat Earrings]

That goo is usually caused by people not diluting the concentrate enough. People either put it in neat too, which makes it gunk up like that.

 

I've found the ECP stuff ok, it's pretty weak even as a concentrate and I've not had any gunk issues either

[New POD]

Really. I use it neat from the First Frost to Easter. And then 50/50 mix.in spring and summer.

[Tayne]

I’ve driven a BMW for the last six years and used screenwash mostly from Lidl, that said I’ll buy cheap screenwash from anywhere if I need it.

I’m not sure I’ve gone as far as 100% concentrate even when it’s down to minus 10.

[Tamworthbay]

My Beemer had it from wherever I could get it cheapest, never a problem in three years.

[HH-R]

Yeah I just chuck the cheapest crap I can find at supermarkets in and often can't be bothered to dilute it and never had any issues.

[iainrcz]

I bought a load from euro car parts before Xmas.

I'm sure it was something ridiculous like 5 X 5l of concentrate for a tenner delivered.

Triple qx brand I think.

I'm on the last half bottle.

 

The joys of headlamp washers.

 

Sent from my VFD 710 using Tapatalk

[sierraman]

I get the 5 litres of concentrated stuff from ECP, then let it down into a 20 litre drum. Sees two cars easily through winter.

[Richard]

I've never found a screenwash that isn't rubbish so I mostly don't bother using any. 

[fordperv]

I use the premix Halfords purple stuff and never had issues

[UltraWomble]

Prestone is good to minus bollock dropping off temp but I find it makes the screen greasy so use Dial -8 pink stuff from the local B&Q whorehouse or whatever Aldi is selling.

Not really had any issues with any of them, when its very very very cold the jets freeze up anyhoo so I stick to a fairly liquid bottle with warm water in it.

[Wack]

It amazes me when people buy Ready to use screenwash in a 5l bottle for about 3x what you can buy 5l of concentrate for , they can't be to lazy to dilute it so they must just be stupid

 

In that cold winter a few years back all the ready to use stuff on Woodall services forecourt was frozen solid

 

I use the prestone blue stuff from Costco

[Shirley Knott]

Like many others I find ECP's triple qx concentrated blue stuff ok. It's usually around £3.50 for 5l delivered, 30% concentration for winter so works out at 30p a litre, about half that in summer. I've had no issues using it on any of the fleet.

[tapir]

I use the autoglym stuff, it's cheap from halfords on offer. cleans well and smells nice.

The sonax stuff if also very good and is super concentrated - but only good for summer.

 

Before that I had 5 litres of the lidl stuff (concentrated) that lasted ages and worked great. They don't seem to stock it anymore.

 

The VW TPS trade screenwash is meant to be good and is very cheap if you can find a branch that will sell without a trade account. 

[Noel Tidybeard]

+1 for the prestone stuff from costco--- its got an spout for the bottle for maximum win! i use previous bottle to mix its something daft like 1:19 water so lasts well even with headlight squirters

[stuboy]

years ago used to apply a couple squirts of fairy in the washer bottle

[beko1987]

years ago used to apply a couple squirts of fairy in the washer bottle

I do that in the summer! Now it's getting colder I'm going to have to battle with the shit asda screenwash we have. Tesco have been doing 5l of Prestone stuff for under a fiver recently though...

 

I don't use alot. Well, I do but the screenwash tank in the gooner is the same size as the fuel tank... Compared to the half pint the Zafira holds.

 

After driving to work with frozen screenwash in the snow last year and baiting the wagons to overtake me and spray the windscreen with slushy shit so I could wipe it clear for half a mile I need to step my game up this year

[Tayne]

years ago used to apply a couple squirts of fairy in the washer bottle

 

 

 

There's salt in washing up liquid.

[Tadhg Tiogar]

I mix mine with Rain-X. Seems legit.

[Guest]

I use meths, cleans to a squeak, doesn't freeze and cheap in bulk. Throw some in the bike's tank too, stops carb icing.

[stonedagain]

I've used Asda's own brand concentrated screen wash for years without any problems. Use it neat in the winter, 50/50 rest of the year.

[sierraman]

Using washing up liquid is what causes the motors to clog and then eventually burn out.

[PiperCub]

I use meths, cleans to a squeak, doesn't freeze and cheap in bulk. Throw some in the bike's tank too, stops carb icing.

 

How does it stop carb icing?

[Richard]

It mixes with the water in the fuel.

[PiperCub]

Use Comma all-seasons, very good and doesn't freeze even at lower concentrations. Not the cheapest though. 

 

Agree with ECP QX line as well, good stuff and cheap. Good for the hack. 

[PiperCub]

It mixes with the water in the fuel.

 

Eh? Carb icing has nothing to do with water in the fuel, it's the moisture content in the air. 

[Kiltox]

In the summer I just use premixed stuff from the air/screenwash machine at Tesco because I’m lazy as fuck. Usually fill a bottle after the reservoir is full of the machine still has time because I’m a pikey

 

Winter - the super mega cold stuff from Lidl is excellent and they should be getting it in any time now

 

When I was trading I would buy 20L drums of concentrate from ECP for buttons, worked well enough too

[binhoker668]

Recently I’ve been using a mix of de-ionised water (got a load for pennies at a boot sale) and white vinegar. Cleans great and am dimly hoping that after a prolonged amount of use, it might break down the shite and finally clear the rear washer nozzle. It’s not going to work at all, but I admire my stubbornness in this matter.

[Kiltox]

Recently I’ve been using a mix of de-ionised water (got a load for pennies at a boot sale) and white vinegar. Cleans great and am dimly hoping that after a prolonged amount of use, it might break down the shite and finally clear the rear washer nozzle. It’s not going to work at all, but I admire my stubbornness in this matter.

Just below boiling water and bleach will clear it... mind the paint

 

Although if it’s only mildly blocked a tip cleaner (£1.75 on eBay) will sort too.

[DVee8]

I use the premix Halfords purple stuff and never had issues

This.I bought 4x5tlr from Halfords they were damaged bottles with the tops cracked.For a whole 50 pence each.Blueberry flavor i think.