Sorry if this has been posted before (I couldn't find a Search option)

Are Skoda users restricted to the VAG spec screen wash ?

For years (15+) I've used propriatiry screen wash (Holts, Prestone etc) in many other cars without issues.

Cheers.

I bung any old screen wash in, Halfrauds, Mobil, Lidl's, even Tesco's at one point. It's only screenwash, not oil or anti-freeze.

SWMBO's Golf gets the same stuff if there's any left over and IF I'm feeling generous enough to top hers up!

I still use Volvo screen wash. Undoubtedly not the cheapest but its good stuff. In my experience not all screen washes are the same!

Sarge.

You are right "ljp01". Screen wash is screen wash...but...

I do know that VAG fan jets are designed to spray a foam solution. (Such as the OEM "windscreen clear concentrate".)

Personally I think you just need a screen wash that is naturally quite foamy, which most aren't.

I'm sure there's a cheap concoction out there other than the OEM stuff.

With the rear wash problems on the Octavia (split pipes, blocked nozzles etc.) Skoda have tried to blame it on owners not using VAG approved screen wash.

As above you need stuff that is suitable for 'fan jets'.

Whether you believe this or not is up to you!

It has been reported that the more expensive VAG screenwash contains more ingredients that help to break down the impurities in tap water that can cause some of the issues associated with the Octavia's rear screen wash.

Do the cheaper brands contain the same ingredients? Who knows, not me.

I bought some VAG screen wash in bulk last year (15x 1 litre containers) on eBay for £20 delivered.

It seems a lot more expensive this year though...

http://www.ebay.co.u...=item3cc2fa93fa

Genuine VAG oil is branded Quantum, I've found some Quantum screenwash for sale, its a different colour to the VAG stuff so it's not the same...

http://www.ebay.co.u...=item337cd3e872

Edited 4 November, 201213 yr by silver1011

I ask as I ran out of the OEM stuff and still had a few hours drive home in less than ideal conditions, so I put 2.5l of pre-mixed screen-clean solution from the motorway services, would have used plain water but with frosts etc I had no option.

The result is that the solution/spray barely gets 6" above the wipers rest position - pathetic.

I always thought Screen wash is screen wash but obviously not !!

Reading the above, looks like I'll be flushing it out followed by a good flush with tap water and then topping up with the OEM stuff.

There is nothing worse than a dirty screen.

Edited 4 November, 201213 yr by Led VRS

I always buy genuine screenwash, I don't find it more expensive than other brands.

With similar posts on the GTi forum

It Always makes me wonder why people who have just spent £26K on a car are skint flints for a couple of quid on the screenwash.

I use the costco stuff. Its changed from blue to yellow this year but the blue has been fine for years.

Oh and i used distilled water

Oh and i used distilled water

I think that's important. The more expensive screen wash contains chemicals to reduce the impact of hard water.

Distilled water and cheaper screen wash is probably equally as effective!

Or use water from the top of your water butt.

Anything else but VAG approved and it will void your Warranty and you must inform your Insurance company

http://www.lidl.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg/lidl_uk/hs.xsl/index_35794.htm

I use this for both our VAG cars as it is suitable for fan jets (stated on bottle)

Tesco crap dries out and leaves a red deposit. I'll normally get the vag stuff now. Diluted 4:1 it's no more expensive than anything else. Lidl stuff would be cracking but I've never been lucky to get it in stock.

Holts from Costco does the trick.

Tesco crap dries out and leaves a red deposit. I'll normally get the vag stuff now. Diluted 4:1 it's no more expensive than anything else. Lidl stuff would be cracking but I've never been lucky to get it in stock.

Whenever it's in stock, I get that and another torque wrench and some more wiper blades. Not been tempted by the 'Ultimate Speed' seat covers,,,,,,,,,,,yet :think:

Sorry for stupid question but, I own my car just couple of months, sooner or later I will need to top up screen wash. Where do I buy OEM stuff? Dealership or ???

tbh I had not even thought about this until reading this thread! I would say what I have been using in all my cars for 10 odd years but it might get me into bother lol

I take a bargain where ever I can (provided of course the benefits can be had). The blue Lidl stuff says its suitable for fan jets and works down to -60C, it's dirt cheap for 5 litres of a liquid that can be heavily diluted depending on conditions.

However....I've had two rear nozzles replaced under warranty in the last year, the 2nd time the dealer suggested I switch to VAG stuff instead. I'm still not convinced on the source of the problem, i.e. Lidl screen wash vs water hardness vs nozzle build quality. This winter I'm sticking to the VAG stuff to see if the problem crops up again.

Water up here is as soft as you can get (no limescale on anything ever) and my rear nozzle still blocks regularly. It's blocked right now but I can't be arsed driving 30 mile to the local Skud dealer.

OEM stuff you buy from dealer (Skoda, Audi, VW or Seat) like any other part. No idea if they fettle the price depending if you go to Skoda or Audi. I think I was about £3.50 a liter last year. I bought two and they did the whole winter made up to 5l each time.

Edited 5 November, 201213 yr by Aspman

I found the Halfords blue stuff produced a kind of fluffy build up on the filter, so changed to the Tesco pink concentrate. That seems to work fine and not leave any deposits (and we are in an area where the tap water normally builds up chalk deposits quickly in things like shower heads.)

I use the W5 brand stuff from Lidl

+1 on the Lidl stuff. It's not that cheap any longer, I just bought 2 big containers of it at £5.99 a pop, but my water is pretty hard, so still save on the aqua distillata. I also don't have to faff about looking for unfrozen water if topping up on the go - just tip more in.

I don't know what had been used by the previous user of my car, but it took a while to get the rear wash to work, but does now, perfectly. It may not be the best bug dissolver ever, but I have never had any problems so far with re-icing, even on -10C winter trips to Germany.

No need to keep going back to the dealer for new rear nozzles.

It's dead easy to pop it off and blow any dirt out of them, push it back on and all is good again after no more than 30 seconds!

+1 on the Lidl stuff. It's not that cheap any longer, I just bought 2 big containers of it at £5.99 a pop,

I use this stuff and I dilute it down with water from the condensing dryer in the garage.

+1 on the Lidl stuff. It's not that cheap any longer, I just bought 2 big containers of it at £5.99 a pop, but my water is pretty hard, so still save on the aqua distillata. I also don't have to faff about looking for unfrozen water if topping up on the go - just tip more in.

I don't know what had been used by the previous user of my car, but it took a while to get the rear wash to work, but does now, perfectly. It may not be the best bug dissolver ever, but I have never had any problems so far with re-icing, even on -10C winter trips to Germany.

I picked up a litre of VAG stuff at TPS for a few pennies over three quid. Probably works out cheaper than the Lidl stuff then......