Technical Stilo Windscreen Washers

[Oakley28]

Hi all,

As you all know the temperatures are pretty grim at the mo, -11 where I live last night.

I park my car under shelter and light at my apartment so its not freezing. However on my commute to work, as its -11 the washers are freezing up and thus I can't wash my windscreen, which gets filthy with all the snow and dirt in the air thus making visibility poor.

Question is; is there anything I can do stop the washer reservoir from freezing whilst driving?

Cheers.

 

[Modette]

I use the concentrated stuff neat and it hasnt frozen so far but it also hasnt got THAT cold here yet!

 

[Shadeyman]

I've been using 5l Holts Screen Wash For all Seasons. -10 here, no problems yet.
http://www.holtsauto.com/products/group/winter-products/screen-wash

 

[johnson550]

Carry a squeezy bottle of water with you when the window gets dirty slow and stick your hand out of the window and give it a squirt.

 

[Argonought]

Carry a squeezy bottle of water with you when the window gets dirty slow and stick your hand out of the window and give it a squirt.

...or (when it's -15°C) just shut your eyes tight to get the same effect

The key is to make sure your water bottle, and most importantly all feed pipes, are well protected BEFORE it freezes using a neat solution if necessary.

 

[Oakley28]

Cheers guys, i thought that would be it just wanted to be sure.

What about sticking De-Icer in it lol

 

[Argonought]

LiDL sell big bottles of the stuff and it works really well as I used it in the Alps with temps down to -17°C

even that was only a 50% mix

 

[Yellow Peril]

I guess the best solution is heated washer jets, that some manufacturers offer as part of a 'winter pack'. I think the Stilo may have been fitted with these in some Scandinavian markets, but they would be a pain to retro-fit.

 

[johnson550]

...or (when it's -15°C) just shut your eyes tight to get the same effect

The key is to make sure your water bottle, and most importantly all feed pipes, are well protected BEFORE it freezes using a neat solution if necessary.

Obviously you havent tried it cause it works quite well for me, I did forget to mention to have some windscreen stuff in the bottle but there again I would have thought a man of your intelligence would have worked that out.

 

[Davren]

I guess the best solution is heated washer jets, that some manufacturers offer as part of a 'winter pack'. I think the Stilo may have been fitted with these in some Scandinavian markets, but they would be a pain to retro-fit.

My JTD has heated washer jets fitted as standard. They don't help if your washer resevoir or pipework is frozen though.

 

[Stilo Nutter]

How does one know or find out if he or she has heated washer jets? Curious to find out if i have them lol.

 

[mzhussein]

I'm going to do some serious looking into retro-fitting this feature....are there any pointers you can throw my way? thinking to have them on the same circuit as heated rear screen, mirrors...cos washer jets freeze up so quickly...what "extra" wiring does your JTD have to enable them? could i just buy heated washer jets and work the wiring back?....

 

[Davren]

Wiring for the heated washer jets goes under the bonnet insulation near the driver's side (for RHD car) bonnet hinge.

I'll check eLEARN later for the wiring diagram.

 

[mzhussein]

im looking on ePER (have no access to eLEARN at work) and can see 4 part numbers for washer jets, im guessing: 2 for left, 2 for right, one variant with heating coil, one without?....i wonder if the bravo with the fan type wahser jets has a heated variant....could kill two mod birds with one stone

 

[johnson550]

The Bravo definately has a heated variant theres a member fitted them to his old bravo although not for the heated element. ADRIAN BRAVO has a guide in Bravo, Bravo and Marea guides.

 

[mzhussein]

yeah i just saw the thread...but no part numbers cos the forum ePER is too old

 

[Argonought]

The fact is if you've taken the time to protect your water reservoir from freezing then nothing else really matters since this solution will also naturally tend to free existing ice from the windscreen.

Spraying any liquid, hot or cold, onto the windscreen is not really a clever idea unless you're sure that liquid isn't going to freeze.

Heated washer jets are a bonus feature and not a replacement for a proper washer solution.

 

[johnson550]

ADRIAN BRAVO has a guide in Bravo, Brava and Marea guides with Bravo heated jets.

 

[mzhussein]

ive got a proper mix, it doesnt freeze when it hits the windscreen (bout a 60% mix of homebase stuff, £3 for 5L BOGOF and 20% off :O), just one or two of the jets will be "open" in the cold at the start of the morning, and 20 mins into the journey the other have defrosted....would be nice to be able to tell them to defrost...

 

[Argonought]

....would be nice to be able to tell them to defrost...

I think you need to up your mix a bit

Many solutions if used neat are good for -50°C