Windscreen washer top up - what to use?

M

mokster

New member
Hi,

After 2 years of having the car and the occasional squirts of the windscreen washer fluid to clean bugs and the likes, the warning message of low windscreen washer level has finally shown up.

So the question is what should I use to top up?

Tap water,
boiled and cooled tap water (reduced scale?),
distilled water (from Amazon/ebay),
Any of the above mixed de-icer (I have some left over from Audi),
Jaguar brand washer liquid,
Or already mixed from Halfords (or similar)?

What do you use?

Thanks!
 
I keep my washer bottle topped up with tap water - it gradually dilutes whatever mix was there to start with, but I've never had any problems with blocked jets, etc. I've only had the F-Type for a month, so too early to tell if it's different from my three previous Jags (2001 XK8, 2004 XKR, 2010 XKR).
 
I've been using the ready-mixed Halfords purple stuff for quite a few years.
Works very well and cheap.
Don't go buying the Jaguar stuff as it's just overpriced and won't clean bugs any better than most common brands.
 
Tap water and screenwash for me too.

I suppose it depends on your tap water though. Very soft water where I am.
 
gasgas said:
fairy washing up liquid cuts all the grim off nicely
Click to expand...

I wouldn't use Fairy Liquid or any other kind of washing up liquid near the car.
The detergents are incompatible with your paintwork/wax/protection as they are too strong even if diluted.

Use a proprietary screenwash as they are designed for the job.
 
PhilB said:
gasgas said:
fairy washing up liquid cuts all the grim off nicely
Click to expand...

I wouldn't use Fairy Liquid or any other kind of washing up liquid near the car.
The detergents are incompatible with your paintwork/wax/protection as they are too strong even if diluted.

Use a proprietary screenwash as they are designed for the job.
Click to expand...

Yes - and contain huge amounts of salt as the bulking agent

Stick to the same make or colour of cleaner too. After time different formulas mix to create a gel that blocks filters and jets. Problem in many little used washer systems
 
I use Gtechniq G1 or before that, Rainex on the glass. Hardly ever need to use wipers or sometimes a single flick when going slowly as the rain blows off at around 30mph. Don't know the last time I used the washers as it annoys me that when my cars come back from a service there is always a bottle of screen cleaner in the footwell. Never use Fairy Liquid as it will strip the polish from the bonnet & roof where it splashes on to.
 
Thanks all! :D

It seems tap water is the way to go and may be ready mixed solution once the original stuff has been diluted enough / completely.

I am in the North East and the water is not soft but not super hard either. I might use boiled and cooled water hoping it would soften the water a bit.

Thanks again for the responses!
 
mokster said:
I might use boiled and cooled water hoping it would soften the water a bit.
Click to expand...

I'm no chemist, but wouldn't boiling the water actually concentrate any chemicals in it? You should condense the steam instead! ;)
 
No idea, tbh. 😋

I find boiled water tastes "softer" and usually see the scale sinks to the bottom. Hence it gives me the impression the water is soften. Condensing the steam would be one solution I guess but would probably easier to buy distilled. 😋
 
Tap water will freeze in the winter. Use a proper windscreen washer fluid, if you can afford to run a car, a couple of pounds for the correct stuff won't bankrupt you :o
 
chicb said:
Tap water will freeze in the winter. Use a proper windscreen washer fluid, if you can afford to run a car, a couple of pounds for the correct stuff won't bankrupt you :o
Click to expand...

+1 :)

The other problem with just water is the nice breeding conditions for bacteria, including legionella. The alcohols in proprietory screen washes prevents or reduces the risk.

Boiling water concentrates the dissolved solids hence scale in kettles.

Fairy liquid. Really? All that care, attention and hard earned spent on detailing and paint protection stripped away at the push of a button.

If you want cheap, Aldi and Lidl sell reasonable concentrate.
 
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