Citroen C5 - Windscreen Washer Sprays don't work below 0 degrees C

[shine_moon]

Hi everyone.
New poster here. I have a 2013 C5 wagon that I love.
Only problem is - I can't drive the car in temperatures below 0 degrees C because the windscreen washer sprays don't work. Using the washer stalk activates the wipers but no spray. When a truck in front of me sprays up road debris, I have no way to clean the windscreen. I've had to pull over a couple of times on the highway to manually clean the windscreen.
I've tried various anti-freeze wiper fluids with no luck.
The wipers and spray work flawlessly from 1 degrees C upwards.
The car is currently with me in Poland where I'm working on a project. Any tips on solving this without having to drive the car back to the UK for a service?
Many thanks!

[myglaren]

The recommendations here are Bluecol and Halfords ready mix - I will admit to not having tried either.

As a temporary solution try adding half a litre of either meths or isopropanol. Should stop it freezing but will take time to work through the system.

[GiveMeABreak]

That will simply be a matter of the brand of screenwash you use!

You need to buy a brand that protects to minus temperatures. I would of suggested the Halfords 5 lt extra protection stuff as I’ve been using that for over 10 years without it ever freezing.

If possible get some that you don’t dilute that provides protection down to -5 to -10 or better and get that circulated through the washer system. Problem solved.

[white exec]

Probably not a Halfords in Poland.
Advice is good, though - choose a brand of screenwash that provides below 0degC protection.

Some cars are fitted with heated screenwash jets - check yours out, and whether they are working.
Doesn't stop the fluid in reservoir and pipework from freezing, though.
The jets are the most vulnerable, as they are in the icy airflow while driving.

[myglaren]

Probably best to ask the Poles what they use as they will be used to low temperatures.

[GiveMeABreak]

Probably not a Halfords in Poland.
Advice is good, though - choose a brand of screenwash that provides below 0degC protection.

Some cars are fitted with heated screenwash jets - check yours out, and whether they are working.
Doesn't stop the fluid in reservoir and pipework from freezing, though.
The jets are the most vulnerable, as they are in the icy airflow while driving.

I realised he was in Poland Chris - but just forgot to qualify that!

There are no heated washer jets on the C5s though.

[white exec]

Shame they're not heated.

[GiveMeABreak]

I've actually only ever had an issue with the washers freezing once - and it was in a bitterly cold winter where even the Halfords stuff had issues - but as a rule, this stuff is pretty good - you use it neat and as long as you like the smell of blackberries, it does a great job of degreasing the screen too. It's never really let me down and that's saying something about Halfords - although it's guaranteed to be made by a proper company.

[Stickyfinger]

Mix in Russian Vodka, I bet it is cheaper than Screen Wash. Really however, I used to use isopropanol 50-50% with standard Screen wash as you can get that in 25ltr barrels dirt cheap.

[milleplod]

I use this stuff - https://www.screwfix.com/p/no-nonsense- ... GwodDe4P5w

Diluted 50/50, we had -6 here the other night and no sign of freezing. Although I appreciate that Poland probably doesn't have Screwfix either!

Pete

[myglaren]

I use this stuff - https://www.screwfix.com/p/no-nonsense- ... GwodDe4P5w

Diluted 50/50, we had -6 here the other night and no sign of freezing. Although I appreciate that Poland probably doesn't have Screwfix either!

Pete

Just bought 5x5L of that for £19.95 - got a bulk discount

[milleplod]

I use this stuff - https://www.screwfix.com/p/no-nonsense- ... GwodDe4P5w

Diluted 50/50, we had -6 here the other night and no sign of freezing. Although I appreciate that Poland probably doesn't have Screwfix either!

Pete

Just bought 5x5L of that for £19.95 - got a bulk discount

I do the same, as soon as they do it at the special price, best stuff I've ever used!

Pete

[Mandrake]

I have undiluted -10 degree rated screen wash in my Peugeot Ion and in the last week when we had temperatures down to -4 to -7 degrees both front and rear jets stopped working completely until the temperature was above about -2 again. Very annoying when the windows were getting filthy but I couldn't clean them...

It occurred to me that even though the screenwash itself might freeze below -10, when there is a good overnight frost you could still get precipitation forming on the outside of the spray nozzle that is pure water and thus freezes below zero and then blocks the tip of the nozzle... (hence the need for heated nozzles)

Anyone else see this problem ? I was meaning to get a hair dryer outside to warm the nozzles to see if this was indeed the case but didn't get around to it before the low temperatures abated.

As its an EV there would be no engine bay heat to help warm the spray nozzles.

[GiveMeABreak]

I also think the concentration and quality of the washer fluid makes a difference - however some might consider fitting one of these:



And a demo compared to a car with a heated windscreen (apparently)

[crapday69]

I also think the concentration and quality of the washer fluid makes a difference - however some might consider fitting one of these:



And a demo compared to a car with a heated windscreen (apparently)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HEATSHOT-HEAT ... SwcRNZqBK5


£49 on ebay with a make an offer, so might get it for around the £45 mark. Might get one after I buy a new battery.