Fabia winter tip...

maffwilson · 25-01-2004, 15:45

From my experience last winter the Fabia washer & wipers system doesn't like 'extreme' cold - last winter two recurring problems:

1. The system's pipes fall off, leading to sudden total loss of screen wash ability, which with the amount of salt the Highways Agency is promising to chuck about, is not a nice situation to be in as the salt thrown up by others sticks on the windscreen.

2. The pump system ices up easily, which leads to a fuse blowing should it try and move ice through it when you activate the washers. This then leads to very strange behaviour on the windscreen wipers, where they only work on intermittent when you move the stalk 'forward', which normally activates the rear wiper (which doesn't function at all with the fuse gone). Again, not great in poor weather.

So before this cold weather we've been promised strikes, make sure you put plenty of screen wash that contains an anti-freeze (not diluted too much), in the washer reservoir and pump it through (dealer's suggestion to the probs outlined above).

andy ellis · 25-01-2004, 19:10

Use VAG screenwash 750mls in the2.5l standard tank gives you protection down to -16!

Quinten · 25-01-2004, 20:13

Which costs £2.37 inc vat from my local Skoda garage. They could have explained the dilution a bit better though... Thanks K

AndyC · 25-01-2004, 20:16

Its down to -37c in Canada at the moment, I wonder what they use for screen wash there??

Andy C

andy ellis · 25-01-2004, 21:56

Ah now if you use VAG screenwash I've calculated for a 2.5l furby tank.......
...................water (ml)......screenwash (ml)
summer..........2000.................500
-16...............1750.................750
-35...............1250................1250
-40................750.................1750

flyingscot · 26-01-2004, 19:43

Apparently no screenwash in Canada at -37 as it would break the water bottle! Think of all the zealous cops dishing out £60 fines if that was here! Diesel in your tank would be frozen at that temp!

***DGW*** · 26-01-2004, 20:21

Berlin temperatures went down to circa -20ºC in winter. I used a hefty dose of vodka as antifreeze in the washer bottle. It only cost a couple of dollars for a large (4 pt?) bottle from the American BX so was cheaper than the 'proper' stuff.

redbaron · 26-01-2004, 20:25

so thats why your such a windows licker is it Denis...

rich1068 · 26-01-2004, 20:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyingscot

Diesel in your tank would be frozen at that temp!

I don't know where but I've seen pictures of Russian truck drivers keeping fires lit under their trucks to keep the diesel from freezing. I know diesel has different ignition properties to petrol but

none the less.

roo · 26-01-2004, 20:49

Just a tad, diesel gives off a vapour at 70oC (hence glow plugs and compression ignition to get it to ignite) whereas petrol gives off a vapour at +45oC. In theory you can use diesel to put out petrol fires but i would not do it (although i heard somewhere that is what they do on the oil rigs).

Steve vRS · 26-01-2004, 20:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by rooboy

Just a tad, diesel gives off a vapour at 70oC (hence glow plugs and compression ignition to get it to ignite) whereas petrol gives off a vapour at +45oC. In theory you can use diesel to put out petrol fires but i would not do it (although i heard somewhere that is what they do on the oil rigs).

I think you mean -45degC

I was at a lecture once where the lecturer explained that the ash on the end of a cigarette acted in the same way as the mesh in a flame arrestor. He then demonstrated this by putting out a Marlboro in a cup of petrol

Steve

rich1068 · 26-01-2004, 20:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve vRS

I think you mean -45degC

I was at a lecture once where the lecturer explained that the ash on the end of a cigarette acted in the same way as the mesh in a flame arrestor. He then demonstrated this by putting out a Marlboro in a cup of petrol

Steve

Did you get your coat?

roo · 26-01-2004, 21:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by rich1068

Did you get your coat?

no but i'll get mine, i pushed the wrong button (so much for two years learning car mechanics and having to take a fire course every year on the underground eh)

flyingscot · 26-01-2004, 21:44

A guy gave a demostration of a CO2 fire extinguiser at 2pm on a hot day on a fire safety course. It really scared the **** out of me!

spinndrift · 27-01-2004, 12:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by rich1068

I don't know where but I've seen pictures of Russian truck drivers keeping fires lit under their trucks to keep the diesel from freezing. I know diesel has different ignition properties to petrol but

none the less.

Had my mate Pug Deisel Turbo freeze up in the Scottish Highlands a few years back. We didn't bother lighting a fire under it - just stayed in and drank lots instead of coming home.

25-01-2004, 15:45	#1
maffwilson Off we go Mo Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Sussex Coast Posts: 735 Thanks: 5 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Fabia winter tip... From my experience last winter the Fabia washer & wipers system doesn't like 'extreme' cold - last winter two recurring problems: 1. The system's pipes fall off, leading to sudden total loss of screen wash ability, which with the amount of salt the Highways Agency is promising to chuck about, is not a nice situation to be in as the salt thrown up by others sticks on the windscreen. 2. The pump system ices up easily, which leads to a fuse blowing should it try and move ice through it when you activate the washers. This then leads to very strange behaviour on the windscreen wipers, where they only work on intermittent when you move the stalk 'forward', which normally activates the rear wiper (which doesn't function at all with the fuse gone). Again, not great in poor weather. So before this cold weather we've been promised strikes, make sure you put plenty of screen wash that contains an anti-freeze (not diluted too much), in the washer reservoir and pump it through (dealer's suggestion to the probs outlined above).

25-01-2004, 19:10	#2
andy ellis Briskodian Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Warrington Posts: 1,289 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Use VAG screenwash 750mls in the2.5l standard tank gives you protection down to -16! __________________ Fabia TDI PD100 "Q" and driving school car. Citroen C4 Coupe 1.6hDi+EGS with disability adaptations.

25-01-2004, 20:13	#3
Quinten playing dadsie Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: fast lane Posts: 10,023 Thanks: 19 Thanked 40 Times in 37 Posts	Which costs £2.37 inc vat from my local Skoda garage. They could have explained the dilution a bit better though... Thanks K __________________ Awooga!!!

25-01-2004, 21:56	#5
andy ellis Briskodian Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Warrington Posts: 1,289 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Ah now if you use VAG screenwash I've calculated for a 2.5l furby tank....... ...................water (ml)......screenwash (ml) summer..........2000.................500 -16...............1750.................750 -35...............1250................1250 -40................750.................1750 __________________ Fabia TDI PD100 "Q" and driving school car. Citroen C4 Coupe 1.6hDi+EGS with disability adaptations. Last edited by andy ellis; 25-01-2004 at 21:58.

26-01-2004, 19:43	#6
flyingscot Briskodian Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Jammed up on her majesties highways Posts: 2,249 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Apparently no screenwash in Canada at -37 as it would break the water bottle! Think of all the zealous cops dishing out £60 fines if that was here! Diesel in your tank would be frozen at that temp! __________________ Colin To come second is to be the first of the losers!

25-01-2004, 20:16	#4
AndyC who...? Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 412 Thanks: 3 Thanked 10 Times in 10 Posts	Its down to -37c in Canada at the moment, I wonder what they use for screen wash there?? Andy C

26-01-2004, 20:21	#7
*DGW* BRISKODA Staff Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Cambridgeshire Posts: 17,133 Thanks: 49 Thanked 172 Times in 129 Posts	Berlin temperatures went down to circa -20ºC in winter. I used a hefty dose of vodka as antifreeze in the washer bottle. It only cost a couple of dollars for a large (4 pt?) bottle from the American BX so was cheaper than the 'proper' stuff. __________________ Denis 2002 Octavia 1.8T 4X4 turbo Estate - rebreathed on by Jabba ... 31.93mpg 2007 Fabia vRS - CC, ESP and full leather trim by Seat Surgeons ...48.09 mpg...

26-01-2004, 20:25	#8
redbaron Briskodian Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 9,464 Thanks: 13 Thanked 65 Times in 57 Posts	so thats why your such a windows licker is it Denis... __________________ ________________________________________ Some times I just feel like smiling.

26-01-2004, 21:44	#14
flyingscot Briskodian Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Jammed up on her majesties highways Posts: 2,249 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	A guy gave a demostration of a CO2 fire extinguiser at 2pm on a hot day on a fire safety course. It really scared the ** out of me! __________________ Colin** To come second is to be the first of the losers!

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