screen-wash argh!

[jonda]

I am successfully confused now.
Just picked the old (56) Golf up from VW, warranty runs out at the end of the month so thought I'd treat her to her first MOT. Only problem being a phone call about an hour after I'd dropped it in, saying they would have to fail it on the MOT unless they changed both front washer jets cos they were blocked, and they weren't covered under the warranty as i had voided it using non-VW screen-wash. very interesting i thought.

Is this VW hype or does this enforce some people's suspicion that Halfords screen-wash contains small ferrets that block ur pipes (no pun intended!)
Doesn't look like anyone else has had the same problem, although some mention has been made on the ability to use other screen-wash.

BTW i've had the car since new, and only ever used Halfords blue pre-diluted stuff.
we need a chemist to do some analytic CSI esk stuff me thinks.

am tempted to ask Halfords for some new washer jets... ya rite!

[percymon]

Gelling of screenwash is quite common actually - you could probably unblock the jets yourself with a needle, flush the tank through with a hose pipe and refill without any issues.

Porsche owners also seen to have the same issue, again Halfords screenwash was thought to be a contributor. I guess a lot depends on how much you use, light users will increase the risk of gelling.

I've never had an issue on any car (Porsche included), but then i do tend to consume about 1l/week or more.

[lanciamug]

I had this same problem with my previous car, a 1999 Ford Mondeo, but the tech was more honest. "Have you used non-Ford screenwash" he said. I told him I used Halfords, he said that wouldn't explain the probem as the Halfords stuff is good! It turned out, I was buying concentrate and diluting in a 2L bottle. Any unused I was saving until next time and this was allowing some biological slime to grow in the diluted stuff. Making it up fresh each time cured the problem. By the way, it was not the jets themselves that blocked in my case but a screening filter on the outlet of the washer reservoir. This required the unit to be stripped from the car for thorough cleaning.

[richard@thebrae]

Hi I have used Halfords diluting screen wash for the last 5 years along with 2 of my collegues we share a 5lit puchase. dilute it always 50/50 have used it in two different Jaguars, my Passat and my Golf, a Vauxall and two escorts and a Diahtsu with never a problem.

[radox]

I don't think this is VW hype and I don't think there is anything wrong with Halfords screenwash. However, the washer jets on the Mk V golf are the "fan" rather than "jet" type. (That is my terminology). The fan type sprays the water across a wide area of the screen. The jet types spray in a single jet. I think the fan types used on the Golf are more effective but it sounds like they also block more easily if the wrong type of screenwash is used. Hence the need to use the special VW screenwash.

Another point is the correct VW screenwash really isn't too expensive when bought from a dealer (in my opinion).

Stuart
http://www.stuartdalby.co.uk/vwgolfmk5

[BenR]

Just wandered in from the Passat forum because I saw your post - this story about unsuitable screenwash is of course the usual VW b*ll*cks. The stuff is just a surfactant with some methanol or ethanol or glycol as a co-solubiliser and anti-freeze, in water. There's some colour and more expensive products might include some perfume. The costliest ingredient is the bactericide/fungicide so that's what gets cut down first in a cheap screenwash. Bacteria and fungi just love a soupy surfactant in water mix especially if the ambient temperatures are warm, about blood heat will do. You might as well give the bugs an olympic swimming pool and invite them to "get with it".

If you are not using your screenwash very often what's probably happening is (as somebody wrote above) mildew is growing in the nozzles, pipes and filters and blocking them. Upgrade to a better quality screenwash or use it more often - I wash my windscreen several times a day and have never had a problem with el-cheapo screenwashes apart from one summer when I got a bad odour in the reservoir. Emptying and refilling with a stronger mix sorted that out.