Is is possible to drain a washing fluid from the tank rather than forcefully use it to get rid of it? I have a lot of summer fluid left now in the tank, and should have purred winter fluid in already.

 

I dont even know how much summer fluid there is inside.

 

Should I mix it?

 

Yes.

Winter fluid is usually a higher concentration of summer fluid. So just add the winter fluid or add a slightly higher concentration if now ready to use type. This time of year I tend to need to refill every couple of weeks anyway. So yours should soon go down.you used to be able to get the old stuff out by using a long small bore tube. One that will reach the bottom of the bottle, & to the floor at the same time. Lift the strainer from the filler. Push tube down. Suck on the tube until just before the fluid reached your mouth, drop end of tube to the floor. ( use clear tube). Watch it drain. The sort of tube home brewers use.

Isn't all comercial washer fluid basically a mix of water, kind of soap and alcohol? Here in Norway all fluids manages -15 deg celsius. The freezing temperature is dependent of the alcohol prosentage.

What type of washer fluid is available? Consentrate is handy, you simply mix yourself to match your expected lowest temperatures. You can also add a clunk of consentrate in the tank to lower the freezing point. Or top up with "winter type".

It is really just a matter of water-alcohol ratio. It is even possible to make your own from scratch: iso-propanol + water + soap. I'm sure variants can be googled.

Just top it up with some neat concentrate, that'll sort it until you've run it out.

If it helps, the tank holds 5 litres. The low level warning comes on with 1_litre remaining I think.

Isn't all comercial washer fluid basically a mix of water, kind of soap and alcohol?

 

Being T Total I had an idea, got lots of water, a bottle of Fairy Liquid and a cupboard with quite a few bottles of single malt scotch, some around 25 or more years old.

 

What proportions should I be using for a winter mix?

I'll swap the single malt for screen wash and give you a gallon for every litre of the scotch!   :clap:

Keep washing your screen in the dark and the headlight washers will soon empty the tank!

Keep washing your screen in the dark and the headlight washers will soon empty the tank!

 

I've noticed this. I used to top up the fluid 2 or 3 times a year on my old car without headlight washers. I'm now on my 4th filling since July. They certain drain the tank, but it doesn't look like that much comes out from the drivers seat.

Edited 16 December, 201411 yr by Astec123

Winter fluid is usually a higher concentration of summer fluid. So just add the winter fluid or add a slightly higher concentration if now ready to use type. This time of year I tend to need to refill every couple of weeks anyway. So yours should soon go down.you used to be able to get the old stuff out by using a long small bore tube. One that will reach the bottom of the bottle, & to the floor at the same time. Lift the strainer from the filler. Push tube down. Suck on the tube until just before the fluid reached your mouth, drop end of tube to the floor. ( use clear tube). Watch it drain. The sort of tube home brewers use.

Interestingly, I didnt know about this:

Not sure it works with the modern "anti syphon" fuel tanks, but you never know. But defiantly worth a try on the washer bottle...

As its still mild it would be easier just to blend and use up what you have,i use skoda own,the lemon stuff,and wintertime I always just increase the ratio of fluid to water, the stuff dont last long anyway with the headlamp washers, but its fun to spray cyclists as i go past, just the irresponsible ones that dont have lights helmets or bright gear

I tend to turn my headlamps on in daylight to wash them. But only when I can't see the grill of the car behind, It usually results in them increasing the gap, once they clear their windscreen.....James Bond style childish I know, but fun.

I tend to turn my headlamps on in daylight to wash them. But only when I can't see the grill of the car behind, It usually results in them increasing the gap, once they clear their windscreen.....James Bond style childish I know, but fun.

Excellent idea mate il have a go