Screen wash

[crashdesk]

Pribably one of the silliest questions asked here but does it matter what screenwash you use. When I bought my car it had green screenwash and arrived at halfords and they had premixed green an d blue. Does it make any difference?

Also how do I know when the screenwash is low or near empty? First time under bonnet and noticed that you can't see the whole bottle.

Thanks

[Tfsi_Mike]

You should have a warning on your dash that tells you it's low.

There was a thread on here before suggesting only using Vw fluid so not to block tue jets up.
Mine probably has Vw in it now but only due to a recent visit to the dealer.

Have you done a search?

I normally try the premium aftermarket brands

[stealthwolf]

You should be topping it up on a weekly check at the very least and apparently should be checked and topped up before every drive!

I just use the VW stuff and dilute it to 1:2-3

[hugh jass]

 I go for the ones that smell nice Halfords Apple and the one from Lidl which looks like the einzsett bottle.
  Jets never been blocked yet..

[stealthwolf]

I find the Halfrauds ones just make a mess of the windscreen rather than clean them! 

[B3n]

I go for the ones that smell nice Halfords Apple and the one from Lidl which looks like the einzsett bottle.
  Jets never been blocked yet..

+1 Never had a problem with blocked jets, smells nice and is cheap as chips

[crashdesk]

Cheers for not rubbing me. Will go for the cheaper stuff. Got a local Lidl so will pop out shortly.

[Gene Hunt]

Cheers for not rubbing me. Will go for the cheaper stuff. Got a local Lidl so will pop out shortly.

.........i've used the cheap 5 litre stuff from the supermarkets with no problems.Got the genuine VW stuff at the moment but i have to say it's no better than the cheap stuff.

[ub7rm]

Used to use the VW stuff when I was near the dealer but sod doing a 60 mile round trip for screenwash now.  No problem with whatever I pick up from a garage from a blocking the jets point of view and if they do block its an easy job to take them off and unblock with hot water. 

The VW stuff used neat is good to -70 iirc whereas a lot of the cheaper stuff doesn't go anywhere near that low so maybe worth it from that pov.  That said the dealer stuff isn't expensive so if its convenient would probably use it over the winter.

The warning on the dash is only on cars with the winter pack - possibly on xenon equipped cars too? Was standard fit on the mk4's but the accountants got involved...

[Tfsi_Mike]

Used to use the VW stuff when I was near the dealer but sod doing a 60 mile round trip for screenwash now.  No problem with whatever I pick up from a garage from a blocking the jets point of view and if they do block its an easy job to take them off and unblock with hot water. 

The VW stuff used neat is good to -70 iirc whereas a lot of the cheaper stuff doesn't go anywhere near that low so maybe worth it from that pov.  That said the dealer stuff isn't expensive so if its convenient would probably use it over the winter.

The warning on the dash is only on cars with the winter pack - possibly on xenon equipped cars too? Was standard fit on the mk4's but the accountants got involved...

-70    Using neat -20 stuff from Shell atm but may aswell top up with OEM next 

[rich83]

VW stuff aint too expensive, I bought 4L last winter and ive got 1L left!

[RS6BRIT]

Good god, -70 !! i dont think most anti freezes go down that low, well at least when your engine blocks cracked and the water in the rad is solid as a rock you know you'll be able to see where your not going. 

on second thoughts, at -70 i think the water in the battery will be frozen as well so that buggers that too 

[Tfsi_Mike]

Good god, -70 !! i dont think most anti freezes go down that low, well at least when your engine blocks cracked and the water in the rad is solid as a rock you know you'll be able to see where your not going. 

on second thoughts, at -70 i think the water in the battery will be frozen as well so that buggers that too 

True lol, Norweigan screen wash

[ub7rm]

1:1 its -35.  The trouble is the screen wash bottle is in a prime position for some wind chill effect and the heat from the engine takes a long time to melt it if it freezes.  Apparently BMW screen wash is pretty good too...

[RS6BRIT]

I know what you mean about the wind chill, but id guess the Rad would be a prime candidate for that too I had a look and most major brands of anti freeze only go down to -35 on a 50-50mix which is the strongest they recommend.

personally i buy what ever i see when i know i'm low, never had an issue yet