Dan110 Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 I guess this isn't strictly Land rover related but with the amount of screen wash I get through in my 110, it seems relevant... Just wondered if anyone has used any alternatives to proper screen wash that has the same properties but isn't so expensive - £6 for 5 litres seems like silly money to me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedLineMike Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 halfords have there screenwash for £3.99 for 5L Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GBMUD Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 Stop buying it pre-mixed and use concentrate! Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retroanaconda Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 Also, the cheap stuff tends to freeze I have found. It doesn't freeze in the bottle under the bonnet, but on a cold morning like we've had the last few days, if I am unfortunate enough to need to use the washers it just freezes as soon as it hits the screen! At which point I end up with a big smeary freezing mess and can see literally nothing! This is the pink stuff from Halfords. Next batch will be some decent branded concentrate stuff, and I'll mix it up as Chris suggests above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 I buy mine in bulk and just dilute into 5L bottles for the 'fleet' a 25L bottle will last over a year spread between 4 cars and over 30k miles. Jason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 I nearly always use Halfords [green coloured] screen wash concentrate, never had it freeze in the container. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonr Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 Avoid the 'concentrate' from Sainsburys. Used neat it is freezing as it hits the screen even though the bottle claims it's good for -60C undiluted. Worse, it recommends 2:1 dilution for winter use - and at that it works out more expensive per litre than their ready-mix! Tomorrow I'm going to add a bit of Antifreeze to it - which has proven effective in the past. Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GBMUD Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 Avoid the 'concentrate' from Sainsburys. Used neat it is freezing as it hits the screen even though the bottle claims it's good for -60C undiluted. Worse, it recommends 2:1 dilution for winter use Might it work like ethylene glycol antifreeze and have a lower freezing point once diluted 2:1? Edited to add: Thinking about it, I had some Sainsbury de-icer which just froze straight to the screen at only -2. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve 110 Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 And avoid the yellow concentrated cr*p from hellfrauds even during summer (comes in a 5L blue container), smears like hell. Pretty dangerous stuff, should be banned Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orgasmic Farmer Posted February 3, 2012 Share Posted February 3, 2012 and whatever you do avoid mixing different types in the washer bottle as certain combinations turn to a snot-like goo. Make sure the bottle is completely empty and clean before switching brands/types of antifreeze. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NegevLandRover Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 Freezing is a rare problem in these parts but for cleaning I add a little vinegar (half a cup to a filling) to the water - it cleans the pipes and nozzle and wipes away very well. Not sure what it does to the paint. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wettstuff Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 Just watching bbc breakfast and they've got a chap from the aa who recomends putting meths in the washer bottle. I recently bought 10 litres of screenwash from a pound shop in aberystwyth (unbranded as far as i can remember) and so far its been spot on, having said that the spray from my washers on the 110 have a job reaching the screen let alone freezing on it Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UdderlyOffroad Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 Also, the cheap stuff tends to freeze I have found. It doesn't freeze in the bottle under the bonnet, but on a cold morning like we've had the last few days, if I am unfortunate enough to need to use the washers it just freezes as soon as it hits the screen! At which point I end up with a big smeary freezing mess and can see literally nothing! This is exactly what the cheap stuff from Lidl does - avoid. It was only -7 for crisssakes! I honestly don't know why we in the UK can't have proper stuff sold to us unlike in Europe (surely pikeys attempting to drink it is just natural selection at work?) Last time I was in Poland, I went into the local Tesco (really - largest supermarket chain over there) and poured own-brand into the car, and it was quite happy at -10 and below. Do that with Tesco's own-brand here and washer jets will freeze. /rant Has anybody used the 'Four Seasons' stuff from GSF successfully? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve King Posted February 5, 2012 Share Posted February 5, 2012 I always use Lidl's finest!! :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g&t Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 This is the pink stuff from Halfords. Next batch will be some decent branded concentrate stuff, and I'll mix it up as Chris suggests above. That's strange, I've used Halfrauds 'pink' for several years (best bought in summer when you can get two for the price of one) in a variety of cars without a problem, though it has to be said that ambient temps don't usually fall below around -7 around here but then of course you still have the wind-chill on the jets when the car is travelling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan110 Posted February 6, 2012 Author Share Posted February 6, 2012 The Halfords concentrate stuff makes for better value in summer but when you're diluting it 2:1 for winter I don't think it represents any better value for money than the pre-mix. I've been wondering about a meths/water mix - has anyone done any experiments? Maybe I should just be less stingy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brighouse shed Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 i use costco s and never had it freeze even at -12 when younger i worked in a lab and used to mix 10% iso propyl alcohol into washer bottle, never froze in my mighty sierra, so i could always see out the front window as the back end sailed majestically past the front end or pedestrians walked past as my rear wheels spun uselessly on the ice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g&t Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 i use costco s and never had it freeze even at -12 when younger i worked in a lab and used to mix 10% iso propyl alcohol into washer bottle, Back in the 'eighties when I was a tanker driver (chemicals) we used to put a 'high' concentration of methenol into the washer tank, never had frozen washers even when doing 60 on motorways! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmgemini Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 What am I doing wrong here ? I use Decosol, no problems.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exmoor Beast Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 I use whatever is cheapest and can't remember ever having a problem. The 110s washers don't have jets just tubes extended onto the wiper arms so I get a big short burst of water above the blade, this seems to work well for me to shift clods of mud offroad. Day to day I keep the screen rainX'd since having a new screen last year and its rare that I need to use the washers onroad at all. Will Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wack61 Posted February 9, 2012 Share Posted February 9, 2012 I use the £5.99 for 5 litres -60 stuff from lidl at 4-1 and so far it's ok Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratty43 Posted February 9, 2012 Share Posted February 9, 2012 I live at the far end of Cornwall, a much neater solution (excuse the pun) a bit of washing up liquid in it keeps it liquid although we have had three frosts this winter.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V8 Freak Posted February 10, 2012 Share Posted February 10, 2012 I'm sure I've read somewhere that some if not most washing up liquids will help degrade your wiper blades faster... http://www.autowinds...s_and_tips.aspx " Never add washing-up liquid to your windscreen wash. It could damage your windscreen wipers and leave a potentially dangerous film on your windscreen. " http://bladesdirect.co.uk/Wiper-Blade-Maintenance.html Neil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratty43 Posted February 10, 2012 Share Posted February 10, 2012 Well you learn something new every day. Screen wash for me as well then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonr Posted February 10, 2012 Share Posted February 10, 2012 Washing up liquid contains a lot of Salt - it's the salt that gives it the 'squeaky clean' thing and it makes it mildly abrasive. Liquid hand cleaner and some shampoos are better - if you are really stuck for something. However Meths plus a little bit of white vinegar is supposed to be about the best alternative. Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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