- Location
- Scottish Highlands
Yes, I think that's exactly what I got. I bought a gallon from a good industrial supplier that usually supplies workmanlike kit. They'll be getting some workmanlike comments from me next time I am in town!
Frozen windscreen washers.
- Thread starter hindmaist
- Start date
Yes, I think that's exactly what I got. I bought a gallon from a good industrial supplier that usually supplies workmanlike kit. They'll be getting some workmanlike comments from me next time I am in town!
- Location
- Scottish Highlands
ThatsSomeSheep
Member
I was driving from Duns to Dumfries on a freezing winters night almost 20 years ago.
I had to stop in a pub to buy a double vodka to try to get the washer nozzles defrosted - it worked!
Have to run with the blue fluid pretty much undiluted to have any hope when cold weather hits these parts.
TSS
I had to stop in a pub to buy a double vodka to try to get the washer nozzles defrosted - it worked!
Have to run with the blue fluid pretty much undiluted to have any hope when cold weather hits these parts.
TSS
Grassman
Member
- Location
- Derbyshire
You can put on your profile where "these parts" are for the benefit of those who are interested in your post.
Paddington
Member
- Location
- Soggy Shropshire
I think every car I have ever owned has had the washer bottle sat next to the engine block to keep it warm. On the Discovery 2 it's in the worst possible place behind the bumper. 
- Location
- northumberland
Tell her to be careful and not slip off the bonnet [emoji13]
glasshouse
Member
- Location
- lothians
And switch the dashcam off !
- Location
- northumberland
If you read the 1st line of his last post he said “driving from Duns to Dumfries”
- Location
- northumberland
Na you would get £200 off harry hill for the clip [emoji23]
Philip Watkins
Member
- Location
- Back in Shropshire
It does but that doesn't mean he's from there.
ThatsSomeSheep
Member
TSS
- Location
- Scottish Borders
And he lives nowhere near either place !
I was going to Bonchester Bridge to pick up “Kevin” the patterdale pup for my sons xmas, and passed his farm while the aforementioned gentleman was getting some ewes into a pen , in the field behind his house ! But as my fffing screen wash had been frozen from Kilmarnock, I was to busy trying to peer through the shite on the windscreen to offer any verbal assistance !
ThatsSomeSheep
Member
And he lives nowhere near either place !
I was going to Bonchester Bridge to pick up “Kevin” the patterdale pup for my sons xmas, and passed his farm while the aforementioned gentleman was getting some ewes into a pen , in the field behind his house ! But as my fffing screen wash had been frozen from Kilmarnock, I was to busy trying to peer through the shite on the windscreen to offer any verbal assistance !
Christ! Those were straggler lambs @Bill dog !
Either your windscreen really was frozen or your own yowes aren't up to much?
TSS
- Location
- Scottish Borders
As said, all I could see was you, a dog on a string, and you bent over chasing some woolly things into a pen . Thought you had stopped that sort of nonesense since you got married and had kids !
Get 50p off readers wives.
landslave the 2nd
Member
- Location
- near the zoo (m42 j11) east mids
Your defo showing your age with that one LOL
- Location
- Scottish Highlands
OK guys, today's experiences with frozen screen washers has got me angry, so I've been doing some research.
Apparently, heating the washer fluid doesn't work because it's the washer jets that freeze due to 'wind chill'. Some deny wind chill causes the problem but fast moving air certainly will convey heat away (which is why you blow on your porridge to cool it in the morning!).
I found a thread where one contributor was a very amused Canadian. He stated that he is used to driving in temperatures below minus 40 and has never had his screen washers freeze. They simply have stronger washer fluid over there. Our's is, basically, crap. We need to get the stronger commercial stuff from motor factors and dilute it or not as required.
An alternative is apparently to mix methanol (methylated spirit) in with the regular screen wash in the proportions on this chart. I think I'll be doing that. Can you still buy meths over the counter?
Apparently, heating the washer fluid doesn't work because it's the washer jets that freeze due to 'wind chill'. Some deny wind chill causes the problem but fast moving air certainly will convey heat away (which is why you blow on your porridge to cool it in the morning!).
I found a thread where one contributor was a very amused Canadian. He stated that he is used to driving in temperatures below minus 40 and has never had his screen washers freeze. They simply have stronger washer fluid over there. Our's is, basically, crap. We need to get the stronger commercial stuff from motor factors and dilute it or not as required.
An alternative is apparently to mix methanol (methylated spirit) in with the regular screen wash in the proportions on this chart. I think I'll be doing that. Can you still buy meths over the counter?
Anonymous...
Member
Meths is/ was available, I used to get it in 5 ltr tubs from decorator centre, used it in backpacking stove
I use screenwash from Costco never had it freeze yet , but it smells very strong
- Location
- East Sussex
Errr, post #17 would have saved you a load of hassle.
As it happens, at our local smarket garage premixed wash is cheaper than the concentrate, go figure
And it actually does what it says on the tin.
beltbreaker
Member
- Location
- Ross-shire
During the freeze of 2010/11 a local haulier was carting malt to a well known Skye distillery. It was down to -20 most nights for a fortnight. When he got to the distillery he asked if he could get some hot water for the washers. One of the lads came back with a warm liquid, He duly pored it in the tank and drove home, with no hassle. He continued to take malt to the distillery and while the freeze was on got his tank filled. 3 weeks later he had a bill for £700 as the washer system doesn't like a smokey island whisky (like most people) the pump failed and the joints haemorrhaged. Don't know if meths will do the same??
Cheers BB
Cheers BB