Washer Fluid...

cuke2u

cuke2u

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First time I have ever had the low washer fluid warning come on but does anyone have any preferences on what to use and where to purchase? I am wary of any concentrated fluid as I do not wish to mix it with tap water, however purchasing deionised water to mix can be an option.

Cheers guys and girls..,
 
Seems pretty extreme adding deionised water for washer fluid? Don’t think I’ve heard of anyone having had issues using tap water before?


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Tap water in harder areas can be quite corrosive, leave deposits and reduce the cleaning properties so much so that I am even considering purchasing a water filter so I can perform rinses on the car without having to dry the bodywork using a cloth.
Deionisied water is relatively inexpensive until I do unless the washer fluid contains softeners...
 
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cuke2u said:
Tap water in harder areas can be quite corrosive, leave deposits and reduce the cleaning properties so much so that I am even considering purchasing a water filter so I can perform rinses on the car without having to use a cloth.
Deionisied water is relatively inexpensive until I do unless the washer fluid contains softeners...
Click to expand...

True enough, I had washer nozzles clog before using tap water/screenwash mix in a very hard water area.

Have a water softener now... but for screenwash the ready mixed stuff is excellent.
 
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Well if it makes you all feel better about using normal water, I’ve refilled mine three or four times since September using tap water and have no issues or signs of any build up. I’m in Scotland so I don’t know if the water is extra soft up here or something though as it sounds like you folk down south have some serious issues with it!


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I've used the Autoglym screen wash concentrate for years. I've found it good at cleaning and low smear. Always used tap water as I lived in soft water areas but just bought 5 litres of distilled water from Halfords for my next mix as I'm now in a hard water area.

Edit - oh, and it smells quite nice as well
 
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Unfortunately I have to say this but you're all just too soft in scotland ;-)
Screenshot 20180731 174840
 
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I use the quantum screenwash from TPS its vw approved so should be basically the same as whats in there now

I pay just over £2 for the big 5l concentrate. Its more expensive list price but the guy puts it through trade on one of his big accounts so larger discount
 
I use the Audi (VAG) screen wash from the dealer
Some of the cheap stuff can block the jets.
I don't use deionised water and never had a problem but it won't hurt that's for sure.

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cjp2k said:
I use the quantum screenwash from TPS its vw approved so should be basically the same as whats in there now

I pay just over £2 for the big 5l concentrate. Its more expensive list price but the guy puts it through trade on one of his big accounts so larger discount
Click to expand...
How do you purchase from TPS? The nearest branch to me is nearly 30 miles away. Can I arrange home delivery?
 
no_idea said:
I use the Audi (VAG) screen wash from the dealer
Some of the cheap stuff can block the jets.
I don't use deionised water and never had a problem but it won't hurt that's for sure.

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Click to expand...
How much do you pay and for what quantity?
 
Original Audi screenwash concentrate is pretty good, and it smells lovely too lol

However the best one I've found is a German one called Sonax Xtreme Nanopro, its super concentrated and comes in a small bottle. Just a couple of 25ml squirts is all you need in your washer reservoir. I always keep a bottle in the boot. Probably cheaper to buy from Amazon.de rather than amazon.co.uk

Link
 
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cuke2u said:
How much do you pay and for what quantity?
Click to expand...
I normally get 8 or 10 1 litre bottles at once, the price varies, I get on fairly well with my local dealer and if I'm buying other bits normally they will throw this in.
I am not sure what the normal price is £5 a litre I guess.
Recently they had a special offer on 5 litres of Castrol Edge Professional and that was £20. They bought quite a few cases of it and got it at a very good price. The RS4 needs 9.5 litres for an oil change so that was a big saving.

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psychopomp1 said:
Original Audi screenwash concentrate is pretty good, and it smells lovely too lol

However the best one I've found is a German one called Sonax Xtreme Nanopro, its super concentrated and comes in a small bottle. Just a couple of 25ml squirts is all you need in your washer reservoir. I always keep a bottle in the boot. Probably cheaper to buy from Amazon.de rather than amazon.co.uk

Link
Click to expand...

^this is what I started using a few weeks back, really recommend. Lasts long too as super concentrated as mentioned
 
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cuke2u said:
How do you purchase from TPS? The nearest branch to me is nearly 30 miles away. Can I arrange home delivery?
Click to expand...

Not sure on delivery as the branch is 5 minutes away from my office so i just call in on a lunch time when i need to
 
This is the problem then, they don't seem to give prices online and don't advertise delivery so any savings would be offset by the almost 60 miles round journey.
I feel a trip to Halfords, 10 mins away, is on the cards today...
 
psychopomp1 said:
Original Audi screenwash concentrate is pretty good, and it smells lovely too lol

However the best one I've found is a German one called Sonax Xtreme Nanopro, its super concentrated and comes in a small bottle. Just a couple of 25ml squirts is all you need in your washer reservoir. I always keep a bottle in the boot. Probably cheaper to buy from Amazon.de rather than amazon.co.uk

Link
Click to expand...

What is the plan for covering periods of colder weather, like in winter as that stuff while being an excellent summer window cleaner does not claim to protect against freezing - unless I missed that bit out?
 
There was a case in Auto Express on another German marque where the windscreen jets stopped working and the car was still under warranty however as the owner did not use the manufacturers screen wash the works were not covered under the warranty.
 
The clogging and blocking occurs when you mix two different brands of screen wash sometimes, I ran the original Audi fill down then flushed with a clean tank of water then use my preferred Screen wash that I've used for years which is Autoglym, can be bought cleanly on eBay

I've sued this on about 6 different cars and never had a problem, my advice is just don't mix different brands in the same tank, it's rare that is blocks it but it can happen, I also use a water softener at home as I live in a hard water area so use softened water too, hard water scale can block the jets too.
 
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I use the VW stuff from the local dealer round the corner from me, rated to -70C neat, using it 1 to 4 at the moment during the summer, works a treat.
 
I’ve used Morrisons standard screenwash for as long as I can remember - well, for as long as I’ve been able to afford proper screenwash rather than a squirt of washing up liquid in the reservoir. Never suffered blocked nozzles in all that time. The answers on this thread have been a true revelation!
 
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The Audi stuff, or rather VAG stuff, is available at any Audi, VW, Seat, Skoda dealer and is fantastic in the winter. As said above it will go down to -70 neat and though I dilute it its the only screenwash I've never had freeze on me (North East Scotland). But in the summer I'm not fussy and something from Tesco / Halfords does the trick.
 
audi upgrades
cuke2u said:
Tap water in harder areas can be quite corrosive, leave deposits and reduce the cleaning properties so much so that I am even considering purchasing a water filter so I can perform rinses on the car without having to dry the bodywork using a cloth.
Deionisied water is relatively inexpensive until I do unless the washer fluid contains softeners...
Click to expand...
Hadn’t thought of using in the screen wash I have bought a DI cylinder and resin to do final rinse after washing the car
 
ub7rm said:
The Audi stuff, or rather VAG stuff, is available at any Audi, VW, Seat, Skoda dealer and is fantastic in the winter. As said above it will go down to -70 neat and though I dilute it its the only screenwash I've never had freeze on me (North East Scotland). But in the summer I'm not fussy and something from Tesco / Halfords does the trick.
Click to expand...
It is however the nearest audi dealer is also a 30 mile round trip which I may, like yourself look at that for the winter like yourself and I should be able to collect when the car is in for its second service in october...
 
I'm in Scotland so mixing with our lovely water isn't an issue

I usually buy the VAG stuff from my local VW dealer at 3x 1 litre for a tenner. Also seen it on Ebay at 10 litres for £40. Great stuff, it's never frozen in the winter and clears really well

Failing that Autoglym is pretty good

I use EZ Care Care 'Gecko' glass cleaner which is hydrophobic which helps keep the screen clear too
 
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Well I have 5l of deionised water and some Sonax sitting here ready to be premixed. In the end I got both for free from Amazon as the delivery driver just left them on view in the porch. So I complained and got a refund.
Happy bunny...
 
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Good work. I have never used DI water, but makes sense, especially as I have a vessel...Doh! Nice one on Sonax, and the fact it is free :icon thumright::rockwoot:
 
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Wonder best way to drain out current water in the bottle? Syphon ??
 
LO, I was thinking more along the lines of dismantling the front grill/bumper assembly, removing the drivers side wheel and inner wheel arch then the whole wing before removing the washer tank.
But then....
 
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Ok all done. Removed the filter and filled it with ordinary water and flushed it all out a few times first....
 
Nice one @cuke2u you will wonder how you coped without one. 0ppm just beads, and falls off the car so much better too.
I bought replacement resin from here , but 15+ final rinses in, original resin still going strong. Tested yesterday, and still reading 0ppm.

When I had the aquaglaze one, only lasted about 10 rinses!!
 
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Thanks q5man, I already have that resin supplier in my favorites ready to order when needs be. Actually our water around here isn't too bad, although it seems to have gone up to 40ppm recently from the 34 it was at the begining of the summer. Still it isn't in the hundreds so not as bad as some:
Screenshot 20180806 121843
 
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