siggy Posted November 18, 2005 Share Posted November 18, 2005 If one was too, theoretically, run the screen washer piping around, near (surface contact) or through heater matrix to heat the water. For obvious screen cleaning! would it be a good idea I would be worried if super hot water hit a frozen screen but I’m convinced that the water wouldn't get that hot and would lose some heat before getting to the screen.................... Or am I wrong on the above discuss Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
02GF74 Posted November 18, 2005 Share Posted November 18, 2005 fine and dandy idea. this was discussed many moons ago in my MGB days. maybe I remember incorrectly but the job was to use a length of hose coiled around the washer reservoir; my question is what are you trying to achieve? If you want warm water squirting over your sceen then fine. if you think this will help in winter then think of the following. 1. water will be frozen in the jets and tubes so the washers won't work 2. squirty amounts of warm/hot water will freeze immedialtely when contacting a very cold windscreen 3. the washer water will get warm once the main coolant is up to temp (if using the MGB solution), by whcih point you have a stream of hot air to heat the screen on the inside. Now a small thermostacially controlled electric heater inside the washer bottle is the way to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siggy Posted November 18, 2005 Author Share Posted November 18, 2005 The idea is that warm water with washing up liquid cleans pots better than cold so warm water with screen wash should clean screen better than cold! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
02GF74 Posted November 18, 2005 Share Posted November 18, 2005 (edited) Your logic is sound. So the MGB solution (sic!) meets your requirement. I'll bet the funky xc70 that many derided the other day has heated windcreen jets!!! Edited November 18, 2005 by 02GF74 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siggy Posted November 18, 2005 Author Share Posted November 18, 2005 Right As a non smoker I'm off to borrow a fag packet to start the initial design stage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterW Posted November 18, 2005 Share Posted November 18, 2005 RightAs a non smoker I'm off to borrow a fag packet to start the initial design stage Get a coil of copper brake line wound round the exhaust manifold... Steam powered washer jets...!!! Cheers Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ltwt1981 Posted November 18, 2005 Share Posted November 18, 2005 A kit is available to fit MGF, engine in the back so no warmth to thaw washer bottle. Could be worth a look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dollythelw Posted November 18, 2005 Share Posted November 18, 2005 Jet warmers may work over here but in the proper cold its useless, the water loses the meagre heat gains long before it hits the glass, its a bit less aggro to just use decent low temp screenwash, we used to use neat rum but now use a eastern european screenwash thats 80% by volume. never freezes and almost melts bugs off in the summer, 40p a gallon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jules Posted November 18, 2005 Share Posted November 18, 2005 My disco and my old Range Rover LSE have heated jets anyway and I have never had a bottle freeze in them I have had others that do but never with those two cars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonb Posted November 18, 2005 Share Posted November 18, 2005 There is a bloke on Ebay sellling a pipe that replaces the long metal heater pipe that goes across the cyl head. It has a coil round it to heat the washer water. Now we all now how long it takes a TDi to get up to temp...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ex Member Posted November 18, 2005 Share Posted November 18, 2005 You guys are funny. It doesn't get cold enough in the UK to need such things. Come on over and try -40 C and we can start talking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LR90 Posted November 18, 2005 Share Posted November 18, 2005 You guys are funny. It doesn't get cold enough in the UK to need such things.Come on over and try -40 C and we can start talking. Had to stop of at Halifax one winter for water to see us across the back across the Atlantic. Yep, that was COLD!! Your right though and living within a stones thow of the sea I don't recall even having to scrape ice from the screen in the 5 or so years I've been here. No snow though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffbeaumont Posted November 18, 2005 Share Posted November 18, 2005 Your right though and living within a stones thow of the sea I don't recall even having to scrape ice from the screen in the 5 or so years I've been here. The worst I've had was up in Aberdeen (in the city itself - it was colder in land). I think it was about minus 18 or 19degC - in any case, I made the mistake of trying to wash the screen... The screenwash was the best we could get and neat, but only rated for -15degC - it partly froze in mid air and arrived on the screen as foam, which promptly set solid and rock hard. Took me ages to chip it off. I had deicer in the car, but it was an aerosol and they don't work at that temperature Minus forty must be a real pain... Heated windscreen and washers on the rangie means I don't have that problem any more Although I've already had the washers on the escort freeze up, and it was only just freezing. Takes ages to heat up and demist as well - I want my V8 back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ex Member Posted November 18, 2005 Share Posted November 18, 2005 Halifax, paw... They don't get cold. In Saskatchewan, they don't say "minus" when telling the temperature after mid-October. It is just assumed. So the forecast will say todays high is 10 and the low is 25. Seriously. Heated jets are just to keep them from freezing over. Here is a serious product..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffbeaumont Posted November 18, 2005 Share Posted November 18, 2005 Heated jets are just to keep them from freezing over. Here is a serious product..... They don't actually say much about what it does...but it looks like it achieves pretty much that same as siggy is planning? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LR90 Posted November 18, 2005 Share Posted November 18, 2005 Halifax, paw... They don't get cold. Your right, it was a warm -16 when I went Still cold enough for me though in boiler suit and duffle coat, brrrr. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muddyplugger Posted November 18, 2005 Share Posted November 18, 2005 Halifax, paw... They don't get cold.In Saskatchewan, they don't say "minus" when telling the temperature after mid-October. It is just assumed. So the forecast will say todays high is 10 and the low is 25. Seriously. FANTASTIC!!!! I'm off to Canada! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ex Member Posted November 18, 2005 Share Posted November 18, 2005 They don't actually say much about what it does...but it looks like it achieves pretty much that same as siggy is planning? It is a thermostatically controlled, electrically powered washer fluid heater. The problem with using coolant to heat it is the washer fluid will evaporate.... You see in places that are cold, you don't use water in the washer tank but an methanol based fluid that doesn't freeze. It also evaporates easier. A possible good cheap solution would be to run a little tubing in the air ducting after the heater matrix. This shouldn't be too hot and will only be hot when the heater is going. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LR90 Posted November 18, 2005 Share Posted November 18, 2005 On a defender isn't the simple answer just to fit a heated screen? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siggy Posted November 19, 2005 Author Share Posted November 19, 2005 Yes!!! But more expensive unless I somehow manage to smash it whilst offroading driving home and then maybe the insurance will cover it and the AA will give me 30% off the cost so maybe worth a try Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roman Posted November 19, 2005 Share Posted November 19, 2005 (edited) You guys are funny. It doesn't get cold enough in the UK to need such things. Oh, I was waiting for quibble like this! Right, that's called "local perspective". I think the easiest way to overcome the problem is to increase the concentration of alcohol in the cleaning solution. That's what the funny people do in those remorte parts of the world. Edited November 19, 2005 by Roman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted November 19, 2005 Share Posted November 19, 2005 Aparrently there's a device like that HotShot fitted to new caddilacs (sp?), you can buy them on eBay for not much $$$ (well, less than that hotshot thingy) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niall_CSK Posted November 21, 2005 Share Posted November 21, 2005 I'm sure I saw something mentioned in Autoexpress not long ago that did the job as you say. Can't remember who made it though, might have been Holts. There used to be a product that was a small cannister in series with your pump that stuck to the block with a magnet but I haven't seen that in years, not much good with a V8 though I did the thing with the long heater pipe on the Rangie when it had a Perky in it, 15mm copper pipe, slide a 15-22 adaptor on, slide a length of 22mm pipe to taste, slide on another adaptor, drill a couple of 6mm holes at either end and stick 6mm copper stubs in. Solder the whole lot up plumb it in and away you go. It does work and is very effective, particularly during the summer for removing bug splat. I keep at least 20% antifreeze wash even in the summer. Heated jets work very well too. Any temperature of water will freeze when it hits a screen that is below freezing due to the large cold surafce Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niall_CSK Posted November 21, 2005 Share Posted November 21, 2005 (edited) This might have been the one I was thinking of. Opti-Wash I think this is the one FF was talking about. US HotShot Which seems to be distributed by Webasto HotShot in Europe, can't see a price though. Edited November 21, 2005 by Niall_CSK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvr-racer Posted November 23, 2005 Share Posted November 23, 2005 Guy what you need is two sets of keys...use one set to start the car and then the other set to re-lock the door...go inside in the warm for a nice cup of tea and when you come out again warm car and clean windscreen....works every morning with my transit at 6 am Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.