Window Washer Fluid Level

Superman23

Registered User
Joined
Mar 26, 2011
Messages
25
Reaction score
1
Points
3
Location
NULL
Stupid question really but how do you know what level is in the window washer bottle and how much do you put into it to bring it back up?
 
It's usually impossible to tell how much is in there either by electronics or by manually looking. It will warn you on the screen when it's running low (assuming it's the same as my current Q3)
 
Yep, you get a warning when it runs low. You put enough it to fill it up again...
 
  • Like
Reactions: Silky-S3
Yes you get a low level warning, I have just thought it my be on the cars fitted with xenon head lamps only. Someone please correct me if I am wrong
Cemerson do you think it's only with the xenon lights?
 
Doesn't state that it is fitted only with the HID's in the Saloon brochure...
 
Filled mine up for the first time the other week and takes about 1 gallon (4.5 litres - or two 4 pint plastic milk bottle containers) to top it right up, and before anyone says I did not fill it up with milk

It warns you with a symbol on the DIS and a beep which is ****** annoying and kicks in every 1 - 2 miles on the road and annoyed me so much I pulled off the road and topped the level up with the remains of a bottle of water I had in the car until I got home.

P.S My 8P with standard Halogens also had the low level indicator in the DIS....but without the beep
 
Yes you get a low level warning, I have just thought it my be on the cars fitted with xenon head lamps only. Someone please correct me if I am wrong
Cemerson do you think it's only with the xenon lights?

No, I think the warning is with all models. I hadn't thought about it before, but I guess it could be a legal requirement to have the warning when Xenons are fitted - it would make sense. Probably cheaper just to make the one way of doing it in the factory, the sensing equipment is probably cheap enough to include on everything - variations cost money at the end of the day!
 
  • Like
Reactions: adityamatharu
Filled mine up for the first time the other week and takes about 1 gallon (4.5 litres - or two 4 pint plastic milk bottle containers) to top it right up, and before anyone says I did not fill it up with milk

It warns you with a symbol on the DIS and a beep which is ****** annoying and kicks in every 1 - 2 miles on the road and annoyed me so much I pulled off the road and topped the level up with the remains of a bottle of water I had in the car until I got home.

P.S My 8P with standard Halogens also had the low level indicator in the DIS....but without the beep

I've had the warning pop up a couple of times now, not noticed the repeated beeping though, but the symbol stays there until you do something about it.
 
Do you fill up with any standard screen wash. or use the VAG stuff? Been told to use VAG stuff due to the fact of the it contains oil for some sort of motor and that it will keep the VAG fan spray design working throughout the life of the car.
 
Ok, think about it, does spraying oil mixed with water onto your windscreen sound like a good idea?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Silky-S3
Ok, think about it, does spraying oil mixed with water onto your windscreen sound like a good idea?

Ok lubricant then :p

Just had a quick google, loads of stuff on there about it! Some say it basically myth other say the opposite. So I guess it down to personal choice and what you believe in.
 
Last edited:
Screen wash will contain some sort of detergent and therefore will have surfactant properties and therefore have inherent lubrication properties.

If VAG are saying use there own highly priced stuff to maintain the pump then the pump must be pretty cheap in the first place, which I doubt, so expect it is VAG BS to sell more highly price inflated screen wash.

i suggest buying a screen wash for it's ability to clean the screen not lubricate the pump!!!
 
I can't see how the washer fluid would be allowed near the bearings anyway, even if it has 'lubricant'. I think the recommendation to use their own is more to do with the spray jets getting blocked...
 
I can't see how the washer fluid would be allowed near the bearings anyway, even if it has 'lubricant'. I think the recommendation to use their own is more to do with the spray jets getting blocked...

Yup.

Their screen wash stops crud and crystals building up that blocks the washer jets.

I think its got something in to to help protect chrome trim as well.
 
Ok, think about it, does spraying oil mixed with water onto your windscreen sound like a good idea?

But oil doesn't mix with water. The oil would just float on top in the reservoir unless you used an agent to make an emulsion. Then you're likely to get gunk building up in the system and clogging the jets.
 
But oil doesn't mix with water. The oil would just float on top in the reservoir unless you used an agent to make an emulsion. Then you're likely to get gunk building up in the system and clogging the jets.

Well of course, that's another reason that it is absurd...
 
In Finland we have it (low level warning) as a standard even on the 20years old toyota corollas. Is this feature only on the cars in the nordic countries with the sleety muddy roads where u have to fill it up several times during the winter? And ofc we're always adding some antifreeze fluid mixed with the water, do you do this in the UK?
 
In Finland we have it (low level warning) as a standard even on the 20years old toyota corollas. Is this feature only on the cars in the nordic countries with the sleety muddy roads where u have to fill it up several times during the winter? And ofc we're always adding some antifreeze fluid mixed with the water, do you do this in the UK?

I'm not sure how other marques determine what trim level or model level has the washer fluid sensor fitted. My 20 year old Ford Sierra had this feature as did my BMW of the same age and both was not really high trim level. The Lander Rover and Toyota never had it and they was semi decent trim levels.
In work at the moment we got a 12 plate basic level Golf and that does not have it or does the new transit.
I guess its safe to say that a van won't really have this feature but part of me is shocked that not every car is fitted with it, its not as if its the height of technology any more.

I most car guys/gals will add a mixture of water and screen cleaner which normally has a basic level of anti-freeze in it.
I've always used the Audi stuff and mix 50%50. Apparently its good to -20 and it does a pretty good job at cleaning the screen.
 
Hi all,Have used Morrisons cheap stuff in my A1for 2 and a half years with no detriment.Also the A1has a warning as to low water level.
 
I just use the carplan pre-mixed stuff that you buy in 5l bottles and just pour it straight in. Works well.
 
To be honest I like the VW stuff. Works well and is not the expensive, about £3 for a 1 ltr of concentrate. With pre mixed stuff aren't you paying for water mainly? I guess that could be good if you live in a hard water area.
 
Yeh, but £2 for 5l pre mixed vs £5 for 1l concentrate? I'm not complaining.
 
Yeh, but £2 for 5l pre mixed vs £5 for 1l concentrate? I'm not complaining.

Where was that from?

I paid £3 for 5 litres concentrate from Audi.
Bought 20 litres, mixed it 50%50 got 40 litres of -20 screen wash. :)

Apparently its good for WMI cars as well due to its high levels of meth.
 
  • Like
Reactions: gneera

Similar threads

Replies
9
Views
884
Replies
9
Views
8K
Replies
13
Views
1K