I have just taken my 1.9tdi for its first variable service (18000miles 18 months old.) When I was asked to sign the acceptance sheet before the service I noticed that they were going to charge me for a bottle of screen wash. I told them I had just topped up the screen wash with a Halfords own brand. I was informed that if they didn't drain the system and replenish with skoda screenwash I wouldn't be covered by warranty if the rear pipe blew off. (apparently a well known problem.) I declined feeling I was being ripped off. Are they right and should I be worried? How big a DIY job is it if it does come off? Your comments would be appreciated. Thanks.

It is VAG policy as the fan jet washers can get blocked if incorrect screnwash isn't used.

Fabia-vrs.com - Repairs to Rear Washer Pipe - Fabia and Octavia (A4 / A5).

Thanks for swift reply. Great link. For peace of mind I will have the fluid replaced when I take the car back to change the brake fluid at 20000miles

I personally would just use up what you have, let it get all the way down and then refill with the propper stuff. Its prety cheap and smells of lovely lemons.

Brake fluid needs to be done every 2 years, no mileage interval.

Isn't there VAG a standard that screenwash has to meet like there is for oil?

Does VAG have a monopoly on the stuff?

Is there no independent supplier?

Its like £2 a litre from your local VAG dealer so they are hardly charging the earth for it anyway.

Its like

I don't think the £2.40 each sold in litre bottles is expensive compared to halfrauds own £3.50ish per litre stuff.

However when you start buying 5l tins of screenwash the discount is usually sizeable, eg about £7 for 5l. It is just very frustrating the VAG don't do a 2.5 or 5 litre bottle of the stuff as the little bottle take up a lot of shelf space.

Aye but it does go a long way if mixxed at the correct ratio.

I agree it is pretty concentrated, but when you have a 5.5l tank and it is down to -6 you have to make it up at 1 bottle for every 2 bottles of water so that's about 2 bottles per tank :(

In the summer of course it still works much weaker

It is VAG policy as the fan jet washers can get blocked if incorrect screnwash isn't used.

Fabia-vrs.com - Repairs to Rear Washer Pipe - Fabia and Octavia (A4 / A5).

No reflection on original poster but typos like this brighten up my whole day.

Yes, I am a bit of a sad git.

the grey bottles for fan jets has a 4 screenwash to 1 water, personally i use 3 to 1.5. I bought some last week 1.96 a bottle plus vat. If you buy a box (10 in a box) ask for bulk discount and they should knock off 10-20 % then it will work out quite cheap.

the grey bottles for fan jets has a 4 screenwash to 1 water, personally i use 3 to 1.5. I bought some last week 1.96 a bottle plus vat. If you buy a box (10 in a box) ask for bulk discount and they should knock off 10-20 % then it will work out quite cheap.

You have that backwards Paul.

I've got a bottle infront of me and it goes down to -70 degrees:

• -70 = Neat
  
• -40 = 2 screenwash to 1 water
  
• -20 = 1 screenwash to 1 water
  
• -16 = 1 screenwash to 2 water
  
• Summer = 1 screenwash to 4 water (I'm told this is ok to -3ish)
  

Should help you get through a lot less

I find one to four more than adequate for me, never used any higher concentration than that yet even in this weather! Have noticed that I'm having to fill up far more regularly than I used to but I'm guessing it's the headlight washers that are increasing the ammount I get through.

I hadn't until this week when things started to get a little bit slow out of the jets, but then the temp gauge was showing -6.

Added a bottle of wash and a bottle of water and it's all flowing freely once more.

I've always used Halfords screenwash. I've done 120K miles in 2 Octavias and never had a problem.

Has anyone using Halfords own make actually had a blocked jet etc?

My dad's passat (which was mine before) suffers from badly blocked jets. I can only assume this is because we both used halfords screenwash for years. I now only use VAG screenwash, but despite what is said above, it isn't all that cheap I don't think. Even bought in bulk (I bought 10 bottles) it wasn't that cheap, but I'm only halfway through that purchase that I made a year ago so I'm not that bothered. Just annoying to see all the expensive washer fluid being thrown everywhere by the over zealous headlight washers.

Incidentally, the rear washer pipe used to blow off quite a few times on my fabia yet I was using VAG stuff. I think the rear washer pipe has more to do with if the liquid freezes (due to poor ratio of fluid to water) or if the jets get so blocked they allow the pressure to build up in the pipeline.

I've always used Halfords screenwash. I've done 120K miles in 2 Octavias and never had a problem.

Has anyone using Halfords own make actually had a blocked jet etc?

My MK I had really nasty white skuzz build up on the top of the Jets from the Halfords Advanced stuff.

Not auite sure why as it contains water softeners, but it required a good session with a toothbrush to get it off.

For that reason I just buy a case at a time of the VAG stuff and live with the slightly higher cost.

The pipe on my Octy has come off - water coming down inside the trim on the inside of the boot. It looks like it's come off near the join with the actual washer part...

Any tips on how to remove the trim so I can stick it back on - My dealer's 230 miles from where I am at the moment and I'm fussy with who I trust to play with my car!

Check out Octavia-vrs.com Stu put pics up.

I firm pull of the cover downwards at the tail lock side then pull the Window side in the direction of the window.

Edited, link here, Octavia-vRS.com - Tailgate Cover Removal

for those that are interested, you can buy a 5 litre bottle of pre-mixed screen wash for an RRP of

The VAG stuff does work out expensive with it's very low dilution ratio's.

With the mileage I do, I was getting through more than a tank of screen wash a week at the beginning of the month.

I use the Halfords advanced, but you must use the advanced (grey bottle as opposed to the blue bottles) as it has water softeners in it.

I used it for two years and 75,000 miles in my previous Leon with no problems at all, and I live in Lincolnshire with very heavy water.

I pre-mix it myself into a 25l drum I have in the garage, so I can say with accuracy that I got through 75l (3 drums full) in those two years, and as I say, not a single issue of blocked, slow, or popped off washers.

Check out Octavia-vrs.com Stu put pics up.

I firm pull of the cover downwards at the tail lock side then pull the Window side in the direction of the window.

Edited, link here, Octavia-vRS.com - Tailgate Cover Removal

Cheers

Not managed to give it a go yet, but I guess there cant be too much to it!

Cheers

Not managed to give it a go yet, but I guess there cant be too much to it!

It can be awkward to put back on, but take your time and go easy on it

ARCool C is on the right lines I think.

Surely blockages are due to water hardness in conjunction with the wash.

Better quality wash might compensate for really hard water.