Decent Screenwash

[John Maddox]

Just had a difficult journey in the wet yesterday evening due to traffic film on windscreen despite recent wiper blades and Screenwash. Can anyone recommend a really good additive that I can add to washer bottle that actually works. Thanks.

 

[jdpef356]

If your screen wash has been the Porsche product be very careful before you mix other products. If you intend to use other than the Porsche Product ensure that you rinse out the current system first by putting in a couple of pints of warm water and flushing through!

I did not do this and the result was that when the Porsche product mixed with another screen wash they emulsified thus blocking the pump. [&o]

 

[John Maddox]

Thanks John - will rinse through first.

 

[Mark Elder]

The Porsche stuff is good and also quite good value for money (as it is so concentrated) but I gave up using it for above reason - too many folk think they will do you a favour and top up your screen wash (with any old brand) = nightmare.

Now use Shell concentrated (and run it at winter level all year) - it seems to work very well.

I also use Rainex on the windscreen every time I clean the car - wish I'd discovered that years ago.

 

[A Ward]

Ditto on the Rainex - makes such a huge difference - you can actually see out the screen when it is raining heavily and you are driving fast; the water just beads up and runs off.

The 993 wipers are not particularly great in the first place even at maximum setting. Nice to be able to see where you are going in the rain and the rainex definitely improves your field of vision.

 

[Chrishazle]

Haven't tried it myself yet, but I've heard that "claying" the screen will remove the film etc so screenwash and wipers work better. Sounds like clay then rainex might be the solution - must try it!

 

[John Maddox]

Thanks - given me a few things to try. Never used Rainex so will be interesting to see how it helps.

 

[clyde]

Well worth claying the 'screen and wiper blades. I don't use Rainex as I don't like the effect on the screen as it wears off but maybe I wasn't re-applying it often enough - certainly not anywhere near every wash as Mark does.

I have always used Porsche screenwash and found it to be very good in all conditions. I did loose a pump once though after my Indi topped it up with something else. Just need to remember to tell him not to fill it.

 

[JB 3.2]

Claying the screen helps, but a better and cheaper option is the use of 'Bar-Keepers Friend available from most supermarkets, just mix a small amount into a paste and use it to clean the screen. I use the VW/Audi screen wash

 

[Stewart Rix]

I've stuck with Porsche's own stuff. Not sure whether they are different, but one solution is yellow and the other is blue (anyone know?). One of them implies it can be mixed with antifreeze. Can someone suggest what antifreeze I should be adding as we head into winter.

 

[clyde]

ORIGINAL: Stewart Rix

I've stuck with Porsche's own stuff. Not sure whether they are different, but one solution is yellow and the other is blue (anyone know?). One of them implies it can be mixed with antifreeze. Can someone suggest what antifreeze I should be adding as we head into winter.

Not seen the yellow stuff, I've only ever been offered the blue at various times of the year, even in the middle of winter. I don't recall seeing anything on the bottle about mixing it with anything but water, so it must be the yellow stuff that you mix with antifreeze? Not that I would recommend that you put the same stuff you would put into a radiator into your screenwash bottle, so presumably you get special antifreeze?

 

[rich mich]

i used the porsche screen wash in the summer ,but i do not use it in the winter as it has no antifreeze in it last winter it froze and started to make my headlight washer leak it needed to be replaced and cost me £42 for a new unit , just before this winter i flushed the porsche washer fluid out and refilled with a winter screen wash from halfords

 

[Stewart Rix]

You've got me worried about freezing pipes now [].

Richard, how did you 'flush' out the existing screen wash? Is it a case of sitting in the car pulling the screen wash/wiper stalk until the tank runs dry or is there a clever way to drain it off?

 

[rich mich]

on my 987 it has the washers that pop up from the bumper when the headlights are on and you press the headlight washer button in the car(i have litronics) i think the 993 just has jets in the bumper ,(i think if these froze all you would have is a split pipe or the pipe would fall off jet unit,) as the washer tank supplies both windscreen washer and head light washer i just operated these till the tank went dry put some water in , run dry again then refilled with winter screen wash then operated again untill screen wash was present at headlight washers and windscreen washers

 

[clyde]

ORIGINAL: Stewart Rix

You've got me worried about freezing pipes now [].

Richard, how did you 'flush' out the existing screen wash? Is it a case of sitting in the car pulling the screen wash/wiper stalk until the tank runs dry or is there a clever way to drain it off?

The quickest way to drain the washer system is to take out the near side headlight and pull one of the pumps out of the bottom of the tank, rinse through with clear water, re-fit the pump, put some clear water in then operate the windscreen and headlight washers to clear the pipework; then fill up with your desired choice of screenwash. To drain it using the screen or headlight washers will take quite some time, possibly overheating the pumps?

 

[John Maddox]

Thanks all - used shell screen wash at high strength. Done the trick.