 Poster: A snowHead
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This was debated last year and now is the time to sort out the screen wash since we drove down France without actually being able to see last year because the whole system just froze up
Do I go for the proprietary brand for my XC90 - says it will do down to -20? or try and source one that will do a lower temperature?
We don't have a Costco which seemed to be a favourite last year and I haven't been in to Lidl which also seemed to be a choice last year
Over to you
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I get a pre-mix one good for -60c neat - bottle I have here, ready to pour in is branded "Nigrin"
Any ski resort is likely to go below that -20c overnight
More likely to find a lower temp one in France, Germany etc. I'd expect?
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Tollpepper, Lidl's stuff is pretty good BUT check because they do two one only goes down to -20c which is OK but the other goes down to -40c. If the forecast is bad put it in neat. You can always add water when you get home.
Dont forget to keep the nozzles clean, if they are dirty the liquid clings to them and freezes them over!
Check how much the washer reservoir takes and if neccesary take a small bottle in the boot for an emergency top up, don't be tempted to pay motorway prices for it!
Last edited by Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see? on Sat 27-11-10 13:01; edited 1 time in total
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When I drove out to France last winter, there was no screen wash available at any of the service stations, take a supply with you. I recon that what ever they state on the container as the lowest operating temp. you need to half, ie -20 is good for -10.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Gosh there's some nonsense talked on here at times. 
The screenwash we habitually buy here is marked as being good for -20°C and is more than adequate.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Lizzard, maybe because the French know that the stuff is likely actually to be used at that temperature - not true for most Brits. I remember back in the 80s my Air Force base experienced -20°C. The diesel fuel we had was supposed to be good for that; in practice, it waxed. No doubt the supplier didn't expect the claimed freezing point to be tested in use.
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My -20c pre-mix stuff froze at -6c. Drove most of the way from frankfurt to calais having to make use of spray being flicked up by trucks to keep my screen clean enough to see. Melted somewhere between brussels and gent. Hence the -60c stuff now.
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Just buy the cheapest bottle of VODKA you can find and just put that in your washer bottle,that will never freeze.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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livetoski, When I had my old Ford Anglia and meths was easily obtained I used it but with todays modern paint finishes and lacquers I would worry that the meths eat into the top coat?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I've been and stocked up on the Lidl down to -40 (I thought it was -60) one, it's good slosh!
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Megamum, It's good but does pong a bit 
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Go to any Motorworld shop and they sell it, its pink and a carplan product, says -36 on the bottle i think.
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You know it makes sense.
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Halfords Super-Concentrated screen wash is good if used neat. Alterntively go to your local chemist and buy de-natured alcohol (rubbing alcohol), or ethanol. Add about 10% to water
Just make sure your not smoking whilst using it neat
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Boredsurfing, it's all liable to all pong if its got enough glycol in it to do the job!
Last edited by Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name: on Sat 27-11-10 23:15; edited 1 time in total
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Poster: A snowHead
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Be very carefull using neat screenwash... it can perminently mark the paintwork.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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My paintwork looks like hell anyway. The local seabirds see to that.
Megamum, I don't think they put glycol in screenwash. that's antifreeze, not good for the health.
Hmmm... rubbing alcohol. Iso propanol, I used ot get that from the chemists, not that they sell anything decent these days.
Carplan seem to produce different grades for different markets. Polish websites show it down to -36, but I'm hard pressed to find it here. Was it Ricklovesthe powder who was offering the decent stuff last season ? I'm up for it, frozen jets twice already this year. If my car was a bit more old fashioned, I'd seriously think about running a line off the cooling system to heat the washer bottle and accoutrements.
I could do without the flipping nightmare I had last year on a drive to Edinburgh in the forst of theheavy snowfalls. The wife's Corsa froze up and I could only clear the screen when the salt got thick enough for the wipers to scrape it off on lumps.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Isopropanol is great for getting the sticky bits from plasters off your skin. Smells like ether too 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| thirty06 wrote: |
My paintwork looks like hell anyway. The local seabirds see to that.
Megamum, I don't think they put glycol in screenwash. that's antifreeze, not good for the health.
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The screenwash products we are talking of are antifreeze screenwashes - so maybe they do.
BTW, I have been using the Lidl one for the last year, and even at quite low dilutions, it still sprays at -5 or lower. I'll check the bottle tomorrow to see if it says it contains glycol.
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I could do without the flipping nightmare I had last year on a drive to Edinburgh in the forst of theheavy snowfalls. The wife's Corsa froze up and I could only clear the screen when the salt got thick enough for the wipers to scrape it off on lumps. |
It was that type of situation last winter that made me go out and get the Lidl one.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I have the carplan screenwash. BOGOF from eurocarparts just now. However, the good one I got last year from them was called bluecol. Goes down to -36 (well -15 at aviemore) no problem. And about £5 for 5 l
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B.t.w in case anyone is interested the Lidl one def. says -60C.
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Our lidl's didn't have any so ended up buying one at Halfords - not their own that says -63C on it
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Megamum, is so right about making sure the good stuff is in the lines. I topped my reservoir up with Lidl's finest on Saturday. This morning I start off and can't clear the windscreen as no screenwash is coming through as it still contains the low strength stuff. Even with heated washer jets (that I didn't know I had until I saw the cables and read the manual....) fluid didn't flow from the main reservoir until the journey was nearly over.
More Megamum top tips welcome here!
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Tollpepper, I use Holts high performance goes down to -36c, or halfords own check they do two types one goes lower, never had a problem when driving down to the alps.
Megamum,in addition to your sensible suggestion also permanently have fleece, waterproof / windproof jacket and trousers and head torch.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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radar, I'm off to HH to ski tomorrow - assuming the weather lets me get there - I'm taking all my ski gear for a day in the fridge. So I should be OK for warm clobber should the need arise!! I should have added that I always carry a couple of torches, a spare bulb set and a mobile phone!! I also lobbed the other half of the Lidls screenwash bottle that I didn't use in the boot!
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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I was down at LIDL last week and didn't buy any, darn it. Luckily it's not that cold, just snowy. For some reason Halfords have bunged fluorescein in their screenwash, it's an eery green.
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Megamum, a new addition to the kit, a couple of tea lights and some matches
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You know it makes sense.
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i can vouch for Holts -35 degree used neat. It does not freeze in the lines or nozzles and actually defrosts the screen in a couple of blasts. Pongs a bit though. Got mine from costco. Well worth the few quid to keep safe on motorways.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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I had Holts and it froze at about -7.
Got some from BMW dealers, it was about £3.25 for a litre and is good down to -36 neat and about -15 at 1:1.
Just topped up what was in their with neat BMW stuff and its been fine.
Suppose its designed for Bavarian winters, so should be good enough....
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Poster: A snowHead
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I live in Aviemore and up til this year I used Bluecol - however, a pal recommended Frostex and its my choice now
http://www.eurocarparts.com/concentrate-screenwash/searchkeyword/frostex
Undiluted it has a freezing point about minus 50. I usually have a couple of mixes on the go - 50:50 with water when its really baltic (like minus 20) and 30:70 for when its 0 to minus 15
Hasn't let me down so far. Always spray some through the jets last thing at night onto the windscreen to stop everything (windscreen included) freezing
Top stuff, not that expensive (when diluted) and free delivery 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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ItsSnowJoke,
seems to depend which blend you buy (true for all makes)
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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that frostex stuff is the danglies , i have it in mine - 11 outside one night over xmas
jumped in a couple of squirts and off i went ( whilst the brother in law who thinks screen wash doesnt work )
caried on scraping his windscreen
well worth it
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| gazza2 wrote: |
| jumped in a couple of squirts and off i went... |
Ha, love it.
Getting back on point, screenwash i bought from Lidl last year was great. Drove back from Oxford - Newcastle in late Jan, conditions were terrible and it worked a treat. They should have drenched the A19 in that stuff!
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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The BMW stuff is -67c neat and -37c at 66%. Its mid-high -20's at 1:1
The Holts was out of Costco, £3-4 for 5l.
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FAQ
Meths 
(Methylated Spirits) just add to normal screen wash has never frozen on me yet.
