With the threat of cold weather (and see the other recent thread in here about wipers), don't forget as a Fabia owner to put lots of lovely neat screen wash with anti-freeze additive in the washer reservoir to stop the pipes falling off and also to stop the washer pump blowing the fuse if it gets frozen up.

Other advice here:

http://www.theaa.com/aboutaa/features/fea_wintersafety_oct2004.html

Excellent advice. VAG's windscreen clear (PN G 052 164 A2) is not only the right stuff for fan jet washers, but protects down to -70 degrees C used neat, or -16 degrees if used in the ratio of one bottle (litre) of windscreen clear to 2 litres of water.

Out of interest - what kinda damage would 'normal' screenwash do? The usual blue stuff that you grab from your local petrol station ?

Main reason I'm asking is I've never bothered with anything else and not had trouble with it, but fan jet washers were never a feature on my (older) cars...

I think the VAG one has some anti-bacterial agents in it too. If you use non-anti-bacterial screenwash, the jets can get a little mouldy, let water in and you end up with a nasty-smelling screenwash. I've never experienced it myself, but then again, I've only used the vAG stuff. It's not that expensive.

I just let the dealer fill it up... they always give me the rest of the bottle.. its only a few quid.

VAG stuff was 2 quid or so a bottle last time i bought any...

2 capfulls per tank is all i use in winter and it hasn't frozen yet, though tomorrow morning will be a test...

VAG stuff was 2 quid or so a bottle last time i bought any...

I was buying any old stuff at the petrol stations... Maybe I'd be better to pop over to the dealers and pick up a bottle of decent stuff!

I was buying any old stuff at the petrol stations... Maybe I'd be better to pop over to the dealers and pick up a bottle of decent stuff!

It comes in 1 litre bottles, so you might think it's expensive compared to the usual stuff...

However for normal (non winter) use you only need 1 capfull per tank of water, so it lasts ages.

I bought 2 bottles just over a year ago and still have 3/4 of the second bottle remaining

Excellent advice. VAG's windscreen clear (PN G 052 164 A2) is not only the right stuff for fan jet washers, but protects down to -70 degrees C used neat, or -16 degrees if used in the ratio of one bottle (litre) of windscreen clear to 2 litres of water.

-70C?

I think some of the castings would shatter at that temperature!

Phil

Hmmmm... I'd better make the transfer from Holts screenwash to some VAG stuff, better to be safe than sorry

Well after spending the seekend covered in snow, the washer jets worked with no problems this morning, so it's for VAG screenwash

It didn't help me get through the standing traffic on a half-closed A19 though...so i came back home and put the fire on

VAG screenwash rocks! picked up a bottle at the weekend and it is definitly better than the common blue stuff you get everywhere else. Can't see that you would ever need more than a cap full or two in a mix unless the weather gets very bad. Well worth the money.

I think[/i'] the VAG one has some anti-bacterial agents in it too.

I'm pretty sure that most preparations will contain a fair percentage of alcohol (don't tell Father Pete), and not much likes to grow in concentrated alcohol

I'm pretty sure that most preparations will contain a fair percentage of alcohol (don't tell Father Pete)

He prefers meths to Screenwash

I'm pretty sure that most preparations will contain a fair percentage of alcohol (don't tell Father Pete), and not much likes to grow in concentrated alcohol

Funny you should say that, when I did have VAG screenwash in my car everytime I used it I turned to the missus and said

"smelling that makes you want to have an alcoholic beverage"

That explains it

Good reminder.

Kept blowing the fuse for the wipers on the last fabia everytime it was cold and the washer jets had frozen.Called the AA first time it happened thinking the wipers had gone.Apparantly it was a fault but very frustrating to lose the use of your wipers :(

Will top up with the right stuff tonight!

Surprised the wipers are linked to the washer jets fuse though :| Suppose I'd better keep a spare fuse in the car