Hello, I run a 2013 Fabia estate TSI. I only use the genuine   Fabia screenwash  from the main dealerand mix it very carefully using a calibrated jug  with ratios I part  concentrate to 4parts  water. That is supposed to be good down to minus 16degrees C. it is  never anywhere near as cold as that, here on the Wirral it was plus  3 degrees C on the display this morning when I started up this morning at 11.30am and there was still frost on roofs and cars as such but the washers still froze. They did this last winter soon after I bought the car and I had added nothing screenwashwise mixture  wise, it was still on the mix put in by the main dealer when they serviced the car,   I used the forums a lot when this first happened and I know the 4:1 ratio is correct for down to minus 16. I took advice from the dealership and they said it wasnt the fluid in the container  as such    that had frozen, it was the fluid in the nozzles. I do not have  the heated washer nozzles on my car. I do not want to start changing the ratio to more concentrate because it could well result in it then  being too thick to go through.... and then I  am back to Square One! I have experienced this with other makes of car but I really did think using the genuine concentrate and the correct ratio would stop it happening on the Fabia ... but it hasnt. I really did spend a fair bit of time on Briskoda last winter and the 4:1 ratio was the overwhelming  consensus for  down to minus 16C. I have never seen anything approaching minus 16degrees where I live on the Wirral, the coldest I haveseen here in 37 years living here has been minus 4degrees C. I would welcome any advice on this as its driving me mad!

You might find this ratio ok in theory, in a container. I.E. The reservoir won't freeze but in the very narrow pipes and in the jet or on the screen, where the wind-chill factor could make the temperature much lower anyway, the ratio is far from ideal! I often see concentrated windscreen wash that will mix at the ratio you mentioned for normal use but the colder it gets, the stronger you will need the mix, even down to neat. If you buy ready mixed, again, the extreme wind chill etc may make it freeze even though you think its not that cold. Many vehicles have heaters fitted either to the reservoir or in the jets themselves as this is often the freeze-zone. Underneath the bonnet, the reservoir will be protected from extreme chill but as the spray comes out the nozzle, in a fine jet, it will be exposed to a much greater amount. It often even freezes once it contacts the cold windscreen, despite spraying ok out of the jets. I have had this a little on very cold mornings but it does stop once the glass is warmer. Never had a frozen washer bottle though. I usually mix my own concentrate.

The vag screen wash I get from the dealers has on it in pictogram form 4 :1 for summer use 2:1 for -16*c 1:1 -35*c so you may want to take another look at your bottle. My washers don't freeze using the recommended mixes.  

Edited 8 January, 20188 yr by seriesdriver

Quote

 I only use the genuine   Fabia screenwash  from the main dealerand mix it very carefully using a calibrated jug  with ratios I part  concentrate to 4parts  water. That is supposed to be good down to minus 16degrees C. 

 

 

Yup, wrong mix! Pull the front label on the bottle open to see instructions

 

4+1 -> Summer use

2+1 -> -16 deg C

1+1 -> -15 deg C

 

Plus also bear in mind that on the move, with a strong air flow, latent heat of evaporation comes into play and can lower fluid temp further in the fine spray.

Edited 8 January, 20188 yr by xman

You can use the best Winter wash in the world and still the nipples will freeze.

 

As to the VW stuff, not the best in the world, not Vodka, still the nipples can freeze.

The actual H2o on the nipples which freezes at 0*oC.   

 Heated nipples great, washer fluid hitting an Unheated screen, still not good often.

46 minutes ago, AwaoffSki said:

 Heated nipples great,

 

 

Never made a great deal of difference on our Alhambra, still prone to freezing in East european winters, I think they only heat when rear window heater is on.

Edited 8 January, 20188 yr by xman

I've always used a 3 to 1 ratio for that Prestone stuff which is what Costco sell now instead of Holts stuff.  Noticed someone the other sorting out a new Mondy's nipples with hot water from the coffee place, handy places now that most of the filling stations have a coffee outlet!

Factoid.

Hot water freezes harder than cold water, and if pouring hot water in temps like here for the past few days / nights -7*oC and lower and -4*oC day, 

then that H20 in the Air Intake and on nipples does freeze again.

 

Remember and open Skoda doors and let that H2o out when not frozen, as day on day more might get in as the sun is on the car and freezes in the seals and the doors.

With reference to AWAYOFFSKI"S picture-post......

 

"A quantum of screen wash"!  

Any other "Bond" Related silliness, as the thread is now more or less sorted? (Licence to chill being the most obvious).

Edited 9 January, 20188 yr by mrgf

BTW, also, I have heard of peeps adding methylated spirit to screen wash to help prevent freezing. Not sure as to the effect it may have on paint and wipers etc, though so best to check first and go easy! Don't want the wash jets turning into flame-throwers!

'Licensed to chill'.

cold finger

23 hours ago, AwaoffSki said:

 

 Heated nipples great, 

 

 

Best to keep 'em warm.....................

 

 

 

................or they'll freeze

 

 

 

Edited 9 January, 20188 yr by Auric Goldfinger

7 hours ago, mrgf said:

BTW, also, I have heard of peeps adding methylated spirit to screen wash to help prevent freezing. Not sure as to the effect it may have on paint and wipers etc, though so best to check first and go easy! Don't want the wash jets turning into flame-throwers!

 

That used to be part of my "mixture of choice", added generously after water and sachet of that white powdery stuff called Clearalex, used to buy it at the local chemist because they sold it in very useful/robust plastic bottles - but I kept needing to explain that it was for cleaning, burp!

 

On the puns/jokes front, I almost posted something in response to the post about someone draining their battery using a vacuum cleaner, I think that they sucked the power out of it?

"For Your Ice Only"!

"The man with the frozen bum"! "A view to a chill"!