There have been a lot of threads recently related to rear and/or front windscreen washers not working due to liquid in compression joints in the associated pipework freezing and coming apart in the cold weather, I learned this lesson the hard (and expensive) way a few years back.

The solution (if you'll pardon the pun) is to use VAG screenwash/antifreeze, which neat protects down to -70DegC. This is available from most VW/Audi/SEAT/Skoda dealers, however, I ordered a box of 10 from site sponsor Jabbasports' online store on Wednesday afternoon and it arrived this morning.

http://www.jabbasport.com/store/index.php?app=gbu0&ns=prodshow&ref=jsscreenwash&sid=c9jw2r8vvv47432qkn7100f6xr144p56

Using this should stop any freezing in pipes and joints coming apart.

Edited 31 December, 201015 yr by weezb

Was going to order a few then saw the postage and packaging costs more than the actual items! Must be fairly heavy!

Edited 31 December, 201015 yr by chrispyvrs

Holts super concentrated screenwash c.£4.50 - £5.50 per 5l. Good for -37 neat or -16 at a 1:1 mix!

This doesn't solve things though as the alcohol/amine content evaporates at the nozzle themselves still leading to frozen nozzles. I have Comma screen wash at more than 50% strength and the nozzles still froze for the whole length of a 1.5 hour journey at -8°C on Christmas day, even after squirting antifreeze at the nozzles at the start. They worked on the way back, presumably due to heat soak from the engine whilst parked and as the ambient temperature had increased to around -2°C. A better option is heated nozzles, I'm not sure if this is possible as an after market fit? The other thing I suppose is to seal up where the rear pipe pops off around the back seat area and hope that it just pops off in the engine bay if it is going to so that it is easier to get at.

I would disagree, using vag screenwash I have never had frozen nozzles, even in the latest minus 12 they worked on start up (with a rough minus 16 mix). On the downside this did freeze momenterialy after hitting the screen.

using VAG stuff ive never had it freeze, i always stock up on it for the winter, its amazing stuff

Holts super concentrated screenwash c.£4.50 - £5.50 per 5l. Good for -37 neat or -16 at a 1:1 mix!

Yup, I've been using that stuff for the past 15 or so years with no problems on cars with both heated and unheated nozzles. Mixed (pre-mixed) 2:1 in winter and 4:1 in summer.

Thanks for that, knew I should have used anti freeze in there. It came with anti freeze too >.<

Oh well, now I gotta sort out where the leaks are.

......... knew I should have used anti freeze in there. ........

Anyone who has done any lengthy drives on motorways in the recent bad weather is only too aware of the problems caused by having no screen washers due to frozen-up containers and connecting pipes.

Motorway service areas were cluttered with drivers trying to clean their windceens, which would have stayed clean until they were overtaken by the first car which passed them when they returned to the motorway.

Service area shops added to the annoyance with hugely inflated prices for weak solutions of pre-mix screen-wash.

And the most aggravating factor of all was knowing that this scenario was completely un-necessary.

Back in the 80s VW fitted a screen-wash system to their Transporter Vans which never, ever suffered from frozen water bottles no matter how cold it got, simply by locating the water bottles and pipes INSIDE the cabin instead of in the airflow underneath the bonnet.

Simple. Effective.

And damned annoying that nobody sees fit to design a modern equivalent for today's cars.

Maybe there is too much profit in branded anti-freeze and screen-wash!

Bob A.