The windscreen wash fluid warning light is lit in my 4 month-old Octavia. This is really unexpected as I have hardly used the windscreen wash function. Anyway, I am trying to figure out what fluid I should use to replenish the reservoir. I have read on internet that VAG cars are picky about what fluid is used, because with the wrong type of wash fluid it may cause problem with the wiper motor etc. The owner manual, as expected, recommends using the VAG factory wash fluid, but alas this is not being sold in any of the big auto retail shops here in NZ (Supercheapauto and Repco). I have seen this listed in a couple of online Skoda e-shops at rather quite inflated prices, but my local Skoda dealer does not even have an e-shop and I hate to guess how much it would cost if they have to order it in.

 

My questions are:

1. Do you use VAG / VW wash fluid or third party, if the latter, what are the types of fluid? I read that it has to be alcohol based but none of the wash fluids I see in the big retailers listed their ingredients.

 

2. If you are using third party fluid in NZ or Aus, which brand do you use? Any one use the SCA (Supercheap auto) home brand?

 

3. If you use the VW/VAG factory fluid, Where do you source them from online in NZ?

 

4. How often do you have to replenish the fluid? I cant believe the fluid is running low so quickly as I hardly used that function. it is either that the dealer delivered the car with little fluid in the reservoir, the reservoir is very small, or that there is a leak somewhere -- I hope it is not the latter.

 

Thanks

 

 

In the Skoda I generally top up with water only until the next service, but I rarely even need to do that (fortunately I don't have headlight washers). Other than that, I've used Trico additive for many years in heaps of cars that I've serviced myself. Never had a problem with it, available at all the large auto stores.

PS. if you have HL washers and drive a lot at night in the rain, you might find that's draining the reservoir a little quicker.

@SouthernComfortThank you for the info. I think my Octavia does have headlight wash function, so this may be why the fluid is depleted so quickly. I will look into Trico product you suggested, as it looks like it is Australian and is available at Repco here. I will however also buy a bottle of VW stuff and compare them side by side to see if there are any differences. VAG cars have so many quirks and the more you read on internet the more paranoid one becomes... I never had to worry about wiper fluid warning light lighting up in my previous Japanese car but then it probably did not come with such a warning light anyway...

This data sheet will tell you the fluid's composition, handy if you want to compare against the VW spec.

https://tricoproducts.com.au/storage/files/efb72b09-cad8-442b-acfd-f1063c742b3a/SDS - Trico Windscreen Washer Additive - 20L, 5L, 500ml 1-11-19.pdf

 

To be clear, I'm not advocating the use of Trico for your car specifically. Although I've used Trico in many cars over the years without any problems, I haven't used it with a VAG model. My last VAG vehicle was still under warranty when I sold it and my Skoda is still under warranty, in those circumstances I've only added water or OEM fluid (usually done at the services). It may be fine in our cars, but doing your due diligence in advance is wise.

 

 

@SouthernComfortThanks for the clarification.

 

I looked at the MSDS of Trico and compared it to one that I could find for the VW concentrate (on SCRIBD found by google, cant actually find the PDF).

 

They both have anionic and non-ionic surfactants. The main difference is that the Trico product has 1% ethanol and 95% water whereas the VW stuff has 80% ethanol and 10% water, with the other minor ingredients make up the differences.

 

The Trico solution calls for 50mL concentrate in a 3L tank, whereas VW stuff recommends 1:4 dilution for typical NZ/Aus climate. Therefore, if used as directed the VW stuff will be about 20% alcohol in the tank, whereas the Trico will end up with 0.02% alcohol. The surfactants are of about the same concentration.

 

 

Based on the above calculations, I have decided to pay the higher price of VW cleaner at $30/L (!!!) just in case the alcohol content is important to keep the fan type jets clear. I figure that 1L concentrate can make 5L at 1:4 dilution ratio, which is probably good for topping up the tank twice (not from completely empty but from the time the warning light lit up). By using OEM products I also do not have to worry about bleeding the residual out in the tank before topping up (which is recommended to prevent mixing of potentially incompatible ingredients from different makes), which probably reduces wastage.

 

Based on prior usage (4 months) a 1L concentrate will last 8 months, and I can probably stretch it longer now that I know it like to drink washer fluid and will be using that feature more judiciously.

The OEM alcohol content is extremely high. Assuming there's a good reason, then your decision to stick with it is probably justified. Sometimes you don't know with OEM specs, are they a genuine necessity or an opportunity to empty your pocket? It's an ongoing conundrum! I wonder if those HL washers can be disabled?

I don't think there's a real need to go full OEM on windscreen washer fluid in terms of longevity. In my opinion, you only need to use windscreen washer fluid and top it off with distilled water, not tap water.

 

However, I do seem to notice that the original washer fluid worked really well at dissolving debries compared to other stuff I used.

 

Regarding the fluid level, I don't think that the car came with a lot of fluid. I also had the notification pop up rather quickly. However, the reservoir is quite large, so you can fill it up to the brim and it should last you a lot longer.

I guess a ton of alcohol will dissolve most stuff, but it is an overkill. And yes, distilled water for sure.

I've used Wurth Rapid Windscreen Cleaner ever since I got the car (05/21) and haven't had any issues with it. And technically the big container I have of it is well past its use by date! 

I remember reading on here somewhere that the main thing with the washer fluid was that it had to be polycarbonate safe for the headlight washers.

 

I guess in cold climates anti-freeze qualities would come into play and if fitted with heated washers that might change something, not even sure if they are a thing on Skoda's!

I probably have spent way too much time researching this, but since I have I might as well share my findings. As you can see the VW washer contains >70 < 90% by weight in alcohol. This is significantly higher than all other washers in the market. On the bottle label, it clearly states that it can be used in all models but it MUST be used for fan-type jets. Based on this, My inference, I think the high alcohol content must have something to do with fan type jets. If you car does not have fan type jets, you can probably get away with using any washers on the market. But if your car has fan type jets, I think you may be rolling the dice using something with substantially less alcohol content in it. Other than this reason (to use with fan type jet), I really don't see why VW will formulate something with such a high concentration of alcohol (like 90x more).

 

High purity Isopropyl alcohol is not exactly cheap and I think this is probably why VW can justifying charging substantially more for this. However I think on balance it is a relatively small price to pay for one's peace of mind that if the wiper system is to fault Skoda et al will not be able to blame the fluid used.

 

Once the car is out of warranty, I may see if I can source third party washer fluid of high alcohol concentration to save some $$$.

 

 

Plenty threads over the years on your Fan Spray Nozzles and VW / Audi branded Screen Wash from the Tears of Virgins.

Here are just some. 

70-90% alcohol 🤯

 

Do you really believe that?

5 minutes ago, Ootohere said:

Plenty threads over the years on your Fan Spray Nozzles and VW / Audi branded Screen Wash from the Tears of Virgins.

Here are just some. 

 

Thank you, I have read them all... 

2 minutes ago, J.R. said:

70-90% alcohol 🤯

 

Do you really believe that?

The table is lifted from the Material safety data sheet, supposedly a legal document so I guess it can be trusted. 

Anyway I have splashed out and bought a bottle of the "tears of angel". Lets see how long it will last.

If it keeps getting depleted too quickly, may be I will then switch to cheaper third party ones but "spike" them with some isopropyl alcohol to increase the alcohol concentration.

 

It may contain a small amount of Ethanol but the screenwash is not 70-90% alcohol.

Just another datapoint, this is from the data sheet of Autoglym Screenwash. It does contain 45-75% alcohol of various types. So if I find the VW washers too expensive may be I can switch to Autoglym

 

Quantum as used at many a Main Dealership.  Not a silly price. 

Wow, I'm surprised the alkies dont drink it, Vodka is only 40%.

 

Are they perhaps concentrates for diluting?

 

In which case I mislead myself. I simply could not imagine a screenwash reservoir containing 70-90% ethanol.

 

I've been in France too long, here its all sold as diluted stuff in 5 litre containers at stupid prices, I have never bought any.

Edited 9 September, 20241 yr by J.R.

Edited 9 September, 20241 yr by Ootohere

5 hours ago, HenryNZ said:

High purity Isopropyl alcohol is not exactly cheap and I think this is probably why VW can justifying charging substantially more for this

 

Ex factory price per tonne gives a price per litre of about 75p for isopropanol. Even cheaper if you buy a lot. Pretty cheap stuff and you will not be putting reagent grade isopropanol into screenwash.

 

Fan jets are pretty cheap and easy to swap. Any loss of function is going to primarily be due to the hardness of the water you are diluting the screenwash with. Nothing in the MSDS sheet is tackling that. The denatonium benzoate - tradename is Bitrex - is deliberately put in to stop the jakeys drinking it. Which points to the ethanol concentration stated in the MSDS being accurate. 10% glycol (ethanediol) will have a mild antifreeze action.

 

I bet the gross margin on the VW screenwash is 80% or more. You would be less out of pocket if you bought a home deionising system to provide really pure water for your screenwash.

7 hours ago, inspectorman said:

Fan jets are pretty cheap and easy to swap. Any loss of function is going to primarily be due to the hardness of the water you are diluting the screenwash with.

^^ This! I think hard water deposits would be far more of an issue.

 

That said, having looked at a few fluids that are approved for fan jets it seems to be more of an issue in cold climates.

(Wurth for instance make a product called Windscreen Cleaner Screenwash Plus which they say is recommended for fan jets and quote "Due to the fluid's viscosity, a fan-shaped spray jet can be ensured down to a temperature of -15°C with 1:1 dilution" on their website.

 

I've certainly had no issues using a generic fluid, mind you it's rare where I am to see much below zero temps, maybe -2 to -4 for one or two days of the year.

 

Don't think I'll be changing until my current supply runs out.