Member Since: 14 Jan 2020
Location: West Yorks
Posts: 1505
Winter screenwash
Hi
We're heading off to the Alps at the end of the month and wondered what screenwash is best for colder climates? I've seen the Prestones one which looks good, but looking for genuine recommendations.
Cheers PaulDiscovery 4 GS 2009 Auto Stornoway Grey
Discovery 3 s 2005 Auto Bonatti Grey Gone
Discovery 3 SE 2005 Manual Zambezi Silver Gone
Range Rover Sport HSE 2006 Black
Aston Martin DB7 VV
2nd Dec 2023 11:14 am
markate
Member Since: 17 Sep 2011
Location: England
Posts: 704
I always use Prestones Concentrate and it's as good as any I've tried.
2nd Dec 2023 11:26 am
eightfoot
Member Since: 12 Apr 2015
Location: sunny essex
Posts: 806
ive always used the audi/vw screen wash as its for fan type jets so does not go all lumpy and block the jets if left unused for a long time its expensive compared to others but never had a problem with it like cheaper types also does not destroy the plastic/rubber trims if used neatplease excuse any grammer/punctuation mistakes,i'm thick,thankyou
current vehicles 2005 d3 2013 d4
2nd Dec 2023 12:14 pm
Moo D3 Decade
Member Since: 13 Aug 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 14429
I use the VW screen wash. Very good. Lidl also does a very good German screen wash.D4 HSE EU6 (Known as Jeeves)
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2nd Dec 2023 1:23 pm
stick
Member Since: 13 Jan 2010
Location: hants
Posts: 604
This is good. I have had everything block up in the nozzlesd4 HSE
2nd Dec 2023 2:00 pm
Bardley
Member Since: 02 May 2018
Location: Hertfordshire
Posts: 471
A tip for screenwash is to add a few capfuls of Milton every now and again. It's stops the gel like algae forming that blocks the system up.
Milton is the sterilising fluid.. can be found on the baby aisle at the shop.2011 MY D4 HSE
Previously 2001 D2 TD5, 1996 D1 300Tdi, 1985 90 2.2 petrol.
Bikes! KTM, BMW, British, Classics and others.
2nd Dec 2023 2:20 pm
Worms
Member Since: 24 Sep 2023
Location: Highlands
Posts: 403
Milton is simply a fancily-branded hypochlorite bleach, so if you want to use bleach to keep algae at bay in your washer bottle, you might as well use cheap supermarket bleach.Previously:
2010 FL2 TD4e GS
‘93 Defender 110 200TDi CSW - still got this, non-runner on SORN.
‘87 Defender 90 4 cyl Petrol
‘83 110 CSW V8 - best ever!
Range Rover 2-door V8 (not sure of year - 4-speed box and vacuum diff switch)
Series III SWB Diesel
2nd Dec 2023 2:25 pm
eightfoot
Member Since: 12 Apr 2015
Location: sunny essex
Posts: 806
can't imagine that bleach would do the paint and plastic trims a lot of good quality screenwash has everything in it to kill germs and keep algae at bay so as not to block the fan jets please excuse any grammer/punctuation mistakes,i'm thick,thankyou
current vehicles 2005 d3 2013 d4
2nd Dec 2023 3:31 pm
Worms
Member Since: 24 Sep 2023
Location: Highlands
Posts: 403
In the days before fancy, low temperature screen-washes were widely available, we used to add meths to the washer bottle. Gave the car an interesting smell and tended to leave a white residue, but was good for degreasing the windscreen and keeping the jets free of ice. Probably didn't do a lot of good for the wiper blades, but since you could buy a roll of blade rubber and just cut it to length, it wasn't a big issue.Previously:
2010 FL2 TD4e GS
‘93 Defender 110 200TDi CSW - still got this, non-runner on SORN.
‘87 Defender 90 4 cyl Petrol
‘83 110 CSW V8 - best ever!
Range Rover 2-door V8 (not sure of year - 4-speed box and vacuum diff switch)
Series III SWB Diesel
2nd Dec 2023 5:17 pm
Bardley
Member Since: 02 May 2018
Location: Hertfordshire
Posts: 471
So disregard the well meaning thoughts of putting a mild Milton in your screen wash bottle.
I did not say bleach. I said Milton.
It's on the baby aisle for a reason, and is used to sterilise infant bottles.
Carry on discussing screenwash.2011 MY D4 HSE
Previously 2001 D2 TD5, 1996 D1 300Tdi, 1985 90 2.2 petrol.
Bikes! KTM, BMW, British, Classics and others.
2nd Dec 2023 5:42 pm
Worms
Member Since: 24 Sep 2023
Location: Highlands
Posts: 403
I totally accept that you are well-intentioned with your suggestion of Milton and I make no comment on the wisdom or other wise of adding it to a screenwash solution. But Milton is Sodium Hypochlorite, which is bleach. It may be in the baby aisle (and I used to buy it for sterilising baby bottles) but chemically, it is still bleach and would be equally at home in the cleaning aisle. All I am saying is that if anyone wants to use sodium hypochlorite in screenwash, then it is much cheaper to buy it as a cleaning product.
The COSHH document for Milton makes interesting reading...https://www.milton-tm.com/sites/default/fi...010421.pdfPreviously:
2010 FL2 TD4e GS
‘93 Defender 110 200TDi CSW - still got this, non-runner on SORN.
‘87 Defender 90 4 cyl Petrol
‘83 110 CSW V8 - best ever!
Range Rover 2-door V8 (not sure of year - 4-speed box and vacuum diff switch)
Series III SWB Diesel
2nd Dec 2023 5:57 pm
kajtzu
Member Since: 10 Aug 2017
Location: Helsinki
Posts: 6756
I bought a 10 liter can of winter screen wash. Contains mostly ethanol. Undiluted good to -40, diluted 1:1 with water it’ll be ok in -17.
2nd Dec 2023 8:03 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73092
Just stop at a Carrefour or similar on the way down, ISTR they sold suitable premix stuff.
2nd Dec 2023 8:11 pm
kajtzu
Member Since: 10 Aug 2017
Location: Helsinki
Posts: 6756
And regarding the algae thing…. If you add (enough) real screen wash, rather than only water, you’ll never have any issues with any algae or other growths in the tank.
2nd Dec 2023 8:13 pm
ronp
Member Since: 29 Nov 2006
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 15264
markate wrote:
I always use Prestones Concentrate and it's as good as any I've tried.
Me too.
Just filled up the three motors with neat Prestones in order to strengthen the weaker Summer solution already in the screen wash bottles....... always on the road less travelled 🚧
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quality screenwash has everything in it to kill germs and keep algae at bay so as not to block the fan jets 
Gave the car an interesting smell and tended to leave a white residue, but was good for degreasing the windscreen and keeping the jets free of ice. Probably didn't do a lot of good for the wiper blades, but since you could buy a roll of blade rubber and just cut it to length, it wasn't a big issue.
