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Frozen windscreen wiper fluid

10K views 17 replies 14 participants last post by  Smitten 
#1 ·
Yes I know you can get special antifreeze fluid but I ran out last night and refilled with fairy liquid/water. Just done an hour on the motorway and urgently needed to spray windscreen.

You'd think after an hour the heat from the engine could be utilised to unfreeze it?! I know it's probably all cars but if I designed cars I'd heat the water or the exposed jets
 
#4 ·
Probably best to flush through with plenty of water when you next get chance and refill with the proper winter grade stuff, maybe keep one in the boot for emergency next time.

Are the nozzles not heated on our cars? Or was that extra as well?
 
#5 ·
I appear to have a similar issue
I am using proper commercial antifreeze liquid (even some sold in petrol stations in Norway & Sweden for the winter)
The washers work on until -5
After that nothing
I hear the pumps (front & back) turning so the liquid is not frozen (I even left a bottle out overnight diown to -20 and it was ok) but still nothing comes out of the washers as if they were blocked by some pasty liquid and not water mixed with alcohol
Any clues any one ?
Regards
 
#6 ·
Renesis said:
Probably best to flush through with plenty of water when you next get chance and refill with the proper winter grade stuff, maybe keep one in the boot for emergency next time.

Are the nozzles not heated on our cars? Or was that extra as well?
Heated washer jets aren't standard but are included in the optional Cold Climate Pack.
 
#7 ·
I have heated washers (winter pack) but still have freezing problems even with the ultra low temp washer fluid. The main problem is that the washer fluid bottle is located in the drivers side wheel arch and not in the engine compartment therefore not benefitting from engine heat. I believe that more recent F-pace models have updated washer nozzles so if I have any more issues this winter I'm going to try and convince my dealer to upgrade under warranty.
 
#8 ·
Hi Catmad

This feels like a design fault
A car without windscreen washing in winter is not good. This is the time one needs to be able to wash the screen.
Let me know how you get on with your request with your dealer.

Still I wonder why the nozzle get blocked
The liquid remains liquid and I can hear the pump turn. It is that it is becoming a little bit like a gum/paste and too thick for the nozzles to spray?

Regards
H
 
#9 ·
Are you using Pre-Mixed or are you diluting the fluid yourself as over dilution of can cause issues.

To try to unblock the jets try pouring warm water over them, of course do not tip boiling water just warm and see if that frees them up.
 
#10 ·
I am using the pre-mix liquid they sell in petrol stations in Norway
Works for the locals but not me :-(
Regards
 
#12 ·
The packaging claims -30
At the moment temps are between -7 and -12
I have used -30 rated liquid in other cars without issues
Could it be that the Jag nozzles have smaller holes that get clogged easier when the liquid becomes less"fluid"??
 
#14 ·
I had my window jets replaced under warranty. The first ones would spray but mainly under the wipers. They would tend to block quite easily. The replacement jets will give three jets up and onto the window screen. These are 100% better and are more powerful and do not block ??
 
#15 ·
The new washers are far better , mine came with the new washers in Feb 2018.

To test your fluid , pour some in a plastic bottle and stick it in your freezer. Not all windscreen wash does what it says on the bottle. I use autoglym , expensive but never freezes.

Once it freezes , it could block the tubes to the screen ,( not the bottle) , really bad on tubes to rear screen as it takes time to thaw , you risk blowing the push connections of the tubes appart in the bodywork getting internal leaks.
 
#17 ·
I worked for a company 20 years ago which produced screenwash.
Common practice from other suppliers was to print on bottles tested down to -30 what they didn't tell you was it froze at -5
So was basically water with a small amount of antifreeze and detergents.

Most cars freeze I have found even with 70% at the nozzles if not heated or in the pipes from the reservoir to the nozzle and the bottle stays liquid.
 
#18 ·
They teach not to use windscreen wash in freezing conditions in Scandinavia as it might freeze on contact with the screen and cause a crash at temperatures well below freezing....failing that Prestone seems to work well. Use neat (undiluted) for winter conditions ie minus 20C - any water in the mixture will freeze.

www.autoexpress.co.uk/accessories-tyres/65265/best-car-screen-wash-to-buy
 
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