Stinky Washer Fluid
Discussion
My god it smells like something has died in my washer reservoir!
I drained the system completely, washed reservoir as well as I could with a hose, and ran with the washers running until it smelt clean. I then topped back up with fluid. But now the smell has come back!
Anyone else experienced this, or have ideas how to cure it?
NOT good with the roof down!
I drained the system completely, washed reservoir as well as I could with a hose, and ran with the washers running until it smelt clean. I then topped back up with fluid. But now the smell has come back!
Anyone else experienced this, or have ideas how to cure it?
NOT good with the roof down!
) I'm trying to give the info below a wide circulation, so I have copied and pasted it from one of my own posts. If you use a suitable solution, which need not cost much, bacteria don't have a chance to grow.
...This subject comes up every year. Every motoring website has a similar thread. I have seen lots of overpriced screen wash for sale everywhere from Halfords to Tesco & various filling stations.
The only ready-mixed screen wash that seems to be good value is the stuff from Lidl: If you can get it. Alternatively you can mix your own.
The information below will hopefully help those who are prepared to help themselves.
I have read over & over again that German screen wash products are very good, so that’s either the ready-mixed type in small bottles from Porsche or VAG or the concentrated type that has a vessel at the top to measure the required quantity. Two appear to be very good value:
Sonax
Einszett Kristallklar
BTW they both come in 250ml bottles; there is an error in the Einszett webpage.
Either product works out about 30 pence per litre when mixed with water which is fine for summer use.
When it comes to winter, all you have to do, when you mix up a load in your 5 litre container, is add some Ethanol / IPA / Isopropyl Alcohol / Isopropanol (Chemists will explain the difference, I’m pretty sure for the purpose of screen wash they are all fine). See below for suitable concentrations.
I got mine from eBay & it worked out about £2.50 per litre, so even at 40% concentration, when combined with Sonax Clear View or Einszett Kristall Klar it’s around £1.30 per Litre. That would be good down to -23 oC
10% Ethanol = Freezing point of -4 oC
20% Ethanol = Freezing point of -9 oC
30% Ethanol = Freezing point of -15 oC
40% Ethanol = Freezing point of -23 oC
50% Ethanol = Freezing point of -32 oC
60% Ethanol = Freezing point of -37 oC
I hope this info helps folk avoid paying excessive amounts for that blue water...
Original thread is here
PS the Einszett Kristallklar page seems to be down but any concentrate will work.
...This subject comes up every year. Every motoring website has a similar thread. I have seen lots of overpriced screen wash for sale everywhere from Halfords to Tesco & various filling stations.
The only ready-mixed screen wash that seems to be good value is the stuff from Lidl: If you can get it. Alternatively you can mix your own.
The information below will hopefully help those who are prepared to help themselves.
I have read over & over again that German screen wash products are very good, so that’s either the ready-mixed type in small bottles from Porsche or VAG or the concentrated type that has a vessel at the top to measure the required quantity. Two appear to be very good value:
Sonax
Einszett Kristallklar
BTW they both come in 250ml bottles; there is an error in the Einszett webpage.
Either product works out about 30 pence per litre when mixed with water which is fine for summer use.
When it comes to winter, all you have to do, when you mix up a load in your 5 litre container, is add some Ethanol / IPA / Isopropyl Alcohol / Isopropanol (Chemists will explain the difference, I’m pretty sure for the purpose of screen wash they are all fine). See below for suitable concentrations.
I got mine from eBay & it worked out about £2.50 per litre, so even at 40% concentration, when combined with Sonax Clear View or Einszett Kristall Klar it’s around £1.30 per Litre. That would be good down to -23 oC
10% Ethanol = Freezing point of -4 oC
20% Ethanol = Freezing point of -9 oC
30% Ethanol = Freezing point of -15 oC
40% Ethanol = Freezing point of -23 oC
50% Ethanol = Freezing point of -32 oC
60% Ethanol = Freezing point of -37 oC
I hope this info helps folk avoid paying excessive amounts for that blue water...
Original thread is here
PS the Einszett Kristallklar page seems to be down but any concentrate will work.
After draining system fill with a weak BLEACH solution.
Disconnect the washer tubes from the jet assemblies. Use a length of suitable hose to divert the open washer fluid tubes away from the car and it's paintwork.
Operate the washer Motors to run through a couple more of Bleach Solutions.
Flush with clean water a couple of times and then refill with decent washer fluid diluted to suit use of car. That should clean up the system and no more nasty smells.
Those smells are usually present if the system has not been used for a while in warm weather and microbes or algae self-generate in the system. That rots and then the smells appear. That can also completely block up the jets in time too.
Disconnect the washer tubes from the jet assemblies. Use a length of suitable hose to divert the open washer fluid tubes away from the car and it's paintwork.
Operate the washer Motors to run through a couple more of Bleach Solutions.
Flush with clean water a couple of times and then refill with decent washer fluid diluted to suit use of car. That should clean up the system and no more nasty smells.
Those smells are usually present if the system has not been used for a while in warm weather and microbes or algae self-generate in the system. That rots and then the smells appear. That can also completely block up the jets in time too.
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