Heated Washer jets

[The Polisher]

So, does my car have heated washer jets?

The handbook says it might have, but no indication of how they work.

Do they just come on like the heated door mirrors when its cold, or only with heated rear window or what?

even with 50% screenwash in, jets still frozen up and its getting annoying.

If they are heated, I'm not sure they are working, any way to check?

[simfin]

If they are heated, I'm not sure they are working, any way to check?


From the Owners Manual...



"The windscreen washer jets are heated when the ignition is
switched on if the outside temperature is low."

[robtt09]

My car outside all the time .Live near North York Moors and washer jets work well.But give them time and use at low speed if you can then water will not freeze on windscreen.Quattro has been brilliant as usual especially with all weather tyres.Amazing how many people have commented on how well car gets about (we have masses of snow/ice) and are surprised when I tell them it is four wheel drive.Audi really do not sell this feature well

[NickH A4]

Quattro has been brilliant as usual especially with all weather tyres.Amazing how many people have commented on how well car gets about (we have masses of snow/ice) and are surprised when I tell them it is four wheel drive.Audi really do not sell this feature well

Totally agree, had to head out today along the south coast, slight dusting of snow, heavier in places, car was superb. One particular section the 4wd just entered a league of it's own where others were really struggling.

To be treated with respect but clearly advantageous in these chilly conditions.

Nick:beerchug:

[ScottyUK]

For those new to quattro don't forget these few things :

[1] it's always 'quattro' and never 'Quattro' ;)
[2] it only helps you when you have the power on
[3] don't get lured into a false sense of security. You effectively have the same brakes as everyone else
[4] Audi's are often massively "over tyred". Wide large wheels don't help at all in the snow.

I hope this doesn't come across as patronising. It's not mean like that. It's just every year new quattro drivers end up thinking they're invincible .... not that I'm including any of the posters in this thread in that group :beerchug:

Oh and my washers and fluid have been perfect so far :)

[The Polisher]

I think mine may be not working then. Constantly frozen up, despite using screen wash, but it they are heater, they should unfreeze pretty quickly, but they don't.

[ScottyUK]

Maybe it's something else that's frozen and not the heated jets .... although I'd have thought the screen wash and the engine bay temp should have sorted that out. :(

[NickH A4]

For those new to quattro don't forget these few things :

[1] it's always 'quattro' and never 'Quattro' ;)
[2] it only helps you when you have the power on
[3] don't get lured into a false sense of security. You effectively have the same brakes as everyone else
[4] Audi's are often massively "over tyred". Wide large wheels don't help at all in the snow.

I hope this doesn't come across as patronising. It's not mean like that. It's just every year new quattro drivers end up thinking they're invincible .... not that I'm including any of the posters in this thread in that group :beerchug:

Oh and my washers and fluid have been perfect so far :)


Completely agree, once traction is lost you can have as many wheels as you like turning or computer systems intervening, it isn't going to stop you sliding into the central reservation or worse....

I also have a mid engined lightweight rwd sports car and have learnt to drive this over the past 6 years, makes you very aware of braking and throttle application.

Good advice Scotty:drive:
Oh and my washer bottle and jets are fine too :beerchug:

[vwawudi]

Out of curiosity, can I use bog-standard screen wash (e.g Tesco) or does it have to be a certain spec a la engine oil?

[Big Bird]

[3] don't get lured into a false sense of security. You effectively have the same brakes as everyone else
[4] Audi's are often massively "over tyred". Wide large wheels don't help at all in the snow.



Good advice, but not Audi unique!! My Impreza STi PPP on 18'S was a nightmare in the snow!!!!!

[ScottyUK]

Out of curiosity, can I use bog-standard screen wash (e.g Tesco) or does it have to be a certain spec a la engine oil?

I've stuck with the Skoda/VW/Audi mix for a couple of reasons :

[1] It's not that expensive - oh and don't bother trying VW or Skoda as it's the same price....then again I've not checked that for years so maybe you should! ;)
[2] My previous two Audis (TT and B6 S4) had "fan type washers" and although I'm not sure if the B8 has, this forumula is less bitty and hence there's less chance of it blocking the jets like people have had on the previous models.

[theblacksurge]

I think mine may be not working then. Constantly frozen up, despite using screen wash, but it they are heater, they should unfreeze pretty quickly, but they don't.


Me too, I always garage my car overnight but haven't been able to use the washer jets for over a week now, completely frozen. I know I definately have heated jets I can see the wiring for them under the bonnet.

[The Polisher]

so, should the body of the jets be warm then?

Its -4 here, had the car running for about 20 minutes, jets frozen and icy cold to the touch........... hmmmmm.

[Zenerdiode]

so, should the body of the jets be warm then?

No. A bit like the 'heated rear windscreen' doesn't get hot - or even warm. It's all relative. The jets just need to maintain their temperature above zero. It's not a hot wash for the screen... :)

The reservoir is located in the front inner wheel arch so there's a metal bulkhead between the engine and the reservoir. Once frozen, water takes a lot of energy to melt again (latent heat for the scientists) and ice is a poor conductor of heat. You can blast a blowtorch at a block of ice and the whole thing doesn't quickly melt.

With a few screenwash additives you need a really good whack of it to get it's anti-freeze properties - some as much as a 50% mix.

[ScottyUK]

No. A bit like the 'heated rear windscreen' doesn't get hot - or even warm.

Errrm mine does. I was wondering if the rear side windows in my Avant should clear the ice/snow (they didn't and shouldn't as the lines are aerials and breakage wires for the alarm) but in checking it out I touched both the side and the rear glass. The rear was warm to the touch.

[Zenerdiode]

Errrm mine does.

I'll erm, I'll get me coat... :o

[swalker]

Hello - i am a bit late to the party lol

re quattro it does have a little bit more breaking power, but as said don't get over confident - as all wheels are connected if one gets grip it stops the others from going into a skid.

the heated thing as said its all relative - where as it appears "warm" its probably still pretty cold but got more heat than the surrounding area that is not heated.

mine were well froze on the hour journey this morning - i had to depend on my headlight washer splash at low speeds to clear my screen.

out with the ohm meter to see the craic I think

edit where as my screen wash was coming out the headlight washer ok i have found out that the Wurth screen wash i use under the summer section....

[Boy]

FWIW, I believe it is mostly down to the screen wash in the system. Most Summer wash will be useless in Winter and should be squirted out in the Autumn before topping up with real Winter stuff undiluted, which claims not to freeze down to -20ish. The jets being heated will not be enough to produce a spray if the reservoir and any of the pipes are frozen. Many Winter screen wash bottles only claim to be good down to -5 but if it has mixed with a bit of Summer fluid that will easily freeze.

[swalker]

agreed - the fact that my headlight washers were working could be a curve ball - bigger pipes and jets not as susceptible to freezing.

step one for me is maybe get some winter wash in there, although again i also use it in the wifes motor ( F Pace) and if it was freezing there i would know about it lol

I was in Montreal one winter and drove to Niagara falls - the screen wash undiluted that was good to -40 was working but also freezing on the screen!!