[SteveC]

Originally Posted by doughboy

It's absolutely fine neat. That's what most of Europe does,
we're just too stingey.

Actually neat is not a great idea unless your in Antarctica. If you use neat you'll find that on a long journey your windscreen actually gets hot from the car heating and neat washer evaporates far too fast, leaving the windscreen very dirty and streaky. Also fills the car with very strong fumes. If your washer contains methanol then those fumes are toxic. A minimum 2:1 (of BMW's fluid) will work perfectly in any UK winter and will contain enough water to actually wash before it evaporates.

[xenon]

I've used it neat for years and never encountered such problems. Each to their own I guess. I love the smell of the BMW stuff too.

[335DEE]

Originally Posted by gIzzE

Fluid usually gunges up when you mix different brands.

Stick with one brand and it should be fine.

This is absolutely true , My filter got blocked by little white gungy balls that looked like semolina. Done by scrimping on whatever was cheapest at the time and therefore mixed solutions.

It's a pain to clean too as the filter is situated behind the drivers front wing.

Once it's cleaned out as long as you stick to one brand it's fine.

[PaulR]

Originally Posted by Rudz

this appears equally good, very well reviewed

ebay item no: 370733923982

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5L-COMMA-X...item565176be8e

has anyone used this ?

ian_m uses it in post #10 above.

I also use it, albeit in the ready-mixed form which is on sale in Halfords at £9.99 for 5l. In that mix it protects down to -26C.

I've had no issues with it.

[Dragon88]

I am paranoid now.

Ran out of screenwash last night, I only had Car Plan Ready Mix Screenwash in my garage so stuck 2 litres in. Having done some research, reviews say it's pretty crap and I want to empty the reservoir.

Any other simple method of draining apart from spraying it all out?

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by SteveC

Actually neat is not a great idea unless your in Antarctica. If you use neat you'll find that on a long journey your windscreen actually gets hot from the car heating and neat washer evaporates far too fast, leaving the windscreen very dirty and streaky. Also fills the car with very strong fumes. If your washer contains methanol then those fumes are toxic. A minimum 2:1 (of BMW's fluid) will work perfectly in any UK winter and will contain enough water to actually wash before it evaporates.

Even neat concentrate is still around 50% water, add any more and i find it still freezes on contact with cold glass until the screen warms, after its been wiped the micro thin film of water left just freezes over instantly - makes some lovely ice crystal patterns, but not ideal when you can't see!

I've never had the issue you describe, TBH whatever you use its all gone with one wipe of the wipers (thats what wipers do, err wipe) so you have to keep spraying over three or four wipes, and over 40mph it just flies off the car with each wipe too.

Originally Posted by xenon

I've used it neat for years and never encountered such problems. Each to their own I guess. I love the smell of the BMW stuff too.

I loved this morning, spray the frozen and snowy screen from cold, wiped it all off, no bother.

Originally Posted by Dragon88

I am paranoid now

Any other simple method of draining apart from spraying it all out?

shouldn't be long till its empty this time of year, a week at most?

[davyk31]

Its nothing to do with mixing brands that makes it go lumpy and gungy, I have had some in a watering can in the garage that went all horrible, think it was a Halfords brand. The issue comes from cheapo brands.

[ram33]

lidl do some that goes to - very cold (cant remember how cold) about £7 for 5 ltrs
never had a problem with it

[bandyboi]

Having recently removed my tank to clean my filter, I'd reccommend doing anything you can not to have to do this - major pain in the a**e!

I think the general reccomendation is stick to one type, not too strong, and preferably BMW. Never use water alone as it lets mould/mildew grow, which then blocks the filter.

[Dragon88]

Just emptied the Car Plan crap and stuck 5 litres of Halfords -20C in

[davyk31]

Halfords stuff was what I always used in my car ............. it gunked up and I had to remove and clean the filter.

[sohlman]

I use rainex screen wash it's very good and yellow in colour. Its a bit more exspensive then the really cheap stuff at £5.99 for 4litres, but is ready mixed. I keep a tub in the boot ready for when i run out.

[ian_m]

the comma stuff pongs of apples

quite pleasant,

[Dragon88]

Originally Posted by davyk31

Halfords stuff was what I always used in my car ............. it gunked up and I had to remove and clean the filter.

How do I monitor this? Is there an easy way to inspect the filters?

[davyk31]

No easy way to inspect them, you should notice a bit of a loss of pressure in the jets which eventually ends up only giving a trickle out of the jets.

Its not too bad a job to strip out the bottle and clean the filters, there are two, one for headlight washers and one for windscreen. Once clean if you use decent screenwash you shouldn't have any more issues.

[Dragon88]

I'll keep an eye out then cheers!

[Jules59]

Originally Posted by doughboy

General Traffic stores have a great offer on now.

5L concentrate (box of 4 = 20L) for £9!!

So I bought 40L, great stuff, smells nice too.

I use it neat now so it never freezes (well at -37, so should be ok)

Great to just spray straight onto frozen / iced glass and drive away, headlight sprayers never freeze either.

Must be NEAT concentrate though.

Cant find it on their website . Can you show us the link.

[Jules59]

Originally Posted by Rudz

this appears equally good, very well reviewed

ebay item no: 370733923982

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5L-COMMA-X...item565176be8e

has anyone used this ?

Used it for years in all sorts of cars. Works very well and you can often find bulk discounts on Ebay.