Volkswagen Washer Fluid

[Sunny43.5]

With out sounding flippant I just use a windscreen additive that is available at any local auto store , as long as it washes the screen thats all that counts . I remember getting a dealer service invoice and voicing concern at the cost of "additives" when told it was washer fluid I thought oh next time I,ll make sure its full before going in to them for service .

[Tornado T5]

Can you say that in terms that a Year 7 science class would understand?

Sorry, IPA = Iso Propyl alcohol (Isopropanol) which is the most commonly used base for window cleaners that need a lower freezing point.

So if you can source some 100% IPA, make a 70% solution,
in a 5 L bottle add 3.5 L of IPA with a small dash of pH neutral detergent (even dishwashing detergent or hair shampoo will do if stuck) and top up to 5L mark with water. Cheap concentrated washer fluid but it will carry a class 8 flammable liquid DG classification, lol, as would any commercial product and have a freezing point well below straight water.

I would then follow the dilution instructions on the original VW product a I don't think you would use the "home brew" neat in the reservoir bottle.
Edit, from the original post shows a 4:1 dilution into washer bottle for non-freezing climates, so you take dilute 700mL of 100% IPA, dash of detergent and top up to 5L mark and use that as a ready to use home brew straight into washer bottle.

[Sunny43.5]

Explanation accepted from me , you live in Victoria I live in sometimes " sunny" Qld so anti freeze properties would be well needed down south .

[brad]

Thanks Mr Tornado. Now I get it.

[Tornado T5]

Explanation accepted from me , you live in Victoria I live in sometimes " sunny" Qld so anti freeze properties would be well needed down south .

Only in the alpine regions really. The special washer fluids would also aid in cleaning, adding lubricity to the wipers, faster drying rate, etc..

[frozze]

For anyone interested, I got a quote from VW Camberwell on the VAG windscreen fluid. $11.95 for 1L. Price probably gone up?

[Tornado T5]

For anyone interested, I got a quote from VW Camberwell on the VAG windscreen fluid. $11.95 for 1L. Price probably gone up?

Maybe it's on price parity with the Saudi LPG wholesale price ....

[Diesel_vert]

Alternatively for around $9 ~ $10, you can buy a 1 litre bottle of summer concentrate (G 052 184 A2), which makes 11 litres of solution (1 part concentrate for 10 parts water).

Save the anti-freeze laden concentrate (G 052 164 M2) for when the ambient temperature drops below 0°C.

[Mr.B]

$12.65 from Highway Auto Spare Parts.

[markwid]

Tried to get some at my local service dept. No stock but was handed some of these which they use on cars in for servicing.

It is ok but does not smell as nice as the OEM fluid.

[magellan]

I bought a bottle of this stuff and foolishly mixed it as per the label for sunny conditions, ie 1 part fluid to 4 parts water. The guy at the parts counter did say use only a cap full. I should have listened to him as I now have a suds laden wash solution which spits rather than sprays on the window. I am now trying to get this crap out of the system so I can dilute it down with water.

While most of it's rumor, there is some talk that if your washers lines ever clog up your warranty won't be covered unless your using the right fluids.



The Volkswagen washer fluid isn't exactly cheap at $10/L, but then I don't know that there are many parts that are. Since we seem to tear through the stuff I thought I would look a little closer at it. The text on the bottle says:

"Suitable for use all year round for the windscreen washing system. Offers the necessary protection against frost, stops the jets from freezing up, frees the windscreen from dirt and protects both paint and the wiper blades. Can be used in all models, must be used for fan-type jets."

It's listed as being mixed at 1 part fluid to 4 parts water and since our reservoirs are 5L, that's a full bottle to fill it up from empty... or so it would seem.

Last time around I thought I would measure how much I was putting in. The light had come on early in the week and it was continued to be used throughout the week then filled on the weekend. It seems that after putting in 1L of fluid I only got in another 2.5L of water for a total of 3.5L so that light comes on pretty damn early.

I haven't tested running it till it doesn't work anymore to see how low it gets since I assume that most people would want to get rid of that light and re-fill the fluid.


So onto some maths (and you thought you would never need it again). Assuming you started with the right concentration you now have 0.3L of washer fluid and 1.2L of water in the tank. Adding in the full bottle of washer fluid every time will see you end up with a concentration almost double the requirement of about 1 part fluid to 2.5 parts water. This means your good down to almost -16C!

So to keep it 100% on what the documentation says you would need to add in 0.7L and top up with 2.8L water. Saving about 30% on fluid right there (although you then have to measure out the right amount each time. Something in my brain doesn't like this since you keep ending up with 300ml left in the bottom of a bottle...

Plan B would be to get a 5L container and pre-mix it then just top up as needed (although I don't know how well it stores in this fashion).

Plan C is to question the need for that concentration. I note that the various ratio's are all about temps below zero, the second to last one being -16C. I'm guessing a large part of the concentration is about not freezing. Being in SW Sydney I rarely see anything below 0C so freezing in the lines isn't a significant danger.

Moving to a nice neat half bottle (0.5L) per re-fill keeps my OCD in check and means your running at about 66% the listed strength or about 1 part fluid to 6 parts water.


Now maybe I just spend all together too much time thinking about these things. Maybe I just keep pouring a whole bottle in each time I fill up and not worry about it too much since I'm saving about the cost of a cup of coffee at work. That and it's only refilled once every 6 weeks or so anyway

[Diesel_vert]

I bought a bottle of this stuff and foolishly mixed it as per the label for sunny conditions, ie 1 part fluid to 4 parts water. The guy at the parts counter did say use only a cap full. I should have listened to him as I now have a suds laden wash solution which spits rather than sprays on the window. I am now trying to get this crap out of the system so I can dilute it down with water.

Are you sure you got the dosage right? Maybe it will just settle down on its own after a bit of time?

Also, unless you were anticipating temperatures below 0°C, I think you should have bought a bottle of summer concentrate (G 052 184 A2) instead - better value as well.

[Tornado T5]

Probably not worth the hassle however is there any way you can take the outlet side tube of the washer pump and disconnect it so that you can run the liquid say into a bucket, redilute and refill.

---------- Post added at 02:04 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:00 AM ----------

Tried to get some at my local service dept. No stock but was handed some of these which they use on cars in for servicing.

It is ok but does not smell as nice as the OEM fluid.

"insect dissolving"...one thinks I'd prefer to "remove" rather then "disslove" the little proteineous buggers as this conjures up images of slowly melting bugs in an acid mixture, lol.

[markwid]

"insect dissolving"...one thinks I'd prefer to "remove" rather then "disslove" the little proteineous buggers as this conjures up images of slowly melting bugs in an acid mixture, lol.

Hahaha...

I don't know what is the mixture made of but it works quite well to clean the windscreen, insect-bombed or not.

[Transporter]

There is also Wurth Screen wash that is antifreeze. Undiluted it can be used up to -63 deg. C and 1:2 parts water up to -12 deg. C, which should be good enough for our winter conditions anywhere you drive.

It cleans well and smells good too.