Keeping windscreen clean when driving in temperatures below zero.

[imusthavebrokenamirror]

It is currently well below zero and will stay that way for a few days.
The gritters are doing a great job keeping the roads clear. My car has been parked up under cover for a few days and the windscreen water is frozen,
I am back to work tomorrow and have a 15 mile drive at 6.30 am on a motorway busy with cars and Lorries even at that time.
Do you have any tricks to keep your windscreen clean from the salt thrown up by other vehicles? Is it just a case of stopping and cleaning off?
The motorway is actually only one junction but it is about 8 miles so I would have to stop and clean windscreen before I get on it.
Is there anything I can spray or rub on my windscreen to prevent salt build up?

I hate driving with a dirty windscreen and normally clean it with the washers and wipers regularly on any journey.

Fill it with washer fluid which doesn't freeze. After 5 or 6 mins of the engine running it should defrost anyway.

Not helpful, but if your washers don't work then your car isn't really roadworthy.

Screenwash shouldn't have frozen in these temperatures. Have you just been adding plain water to the tank?

I end up using undiluted screen wash in these temperatures, or buy specialist winter screen wash.

Make sure you’re using good quality screen washer fluid. My DF is ex-motor trade and has always insisted that Decosol is best so that’s what I use. The ready-mixed one is effective down to -3 degrees but if you use the concentrated one (neat), that’s effective in temps down to -24 so you will be fine!!

You use screenwash suitable for lower temperatures.

E.g.

https://www.halfords.com/seasonal/winter-essentials/halfords--20%C2%B0c-concentrate-screenwash-5l-260563.html?_gl=1m6y2cd_upMQ.._gsMQ.._gaMTM3OTc1MjUwNi4xNzY3NTI1Njgy_ga_VK44BRER97*czE3Njc1MjU2ODIkbzEkZzAkdDE3Njc1MjU2ODIkajYwJGwwJGgw&gclid=Cj0KCQiAvOjKBhC9ARIsAFvz5lgWq6RLJ14Ht4MgfCiEkoIH4XiNkb7Fur86APeC0CeT3Ko1qMT0iw8aAqpOEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds&gbraid=0AAAAADrJx6zaTuCIJGta0G8Cr4oWeQW7y

Lots of the supermarket stuff has been reduced in concentration so it only works down to -4 so then if you dilute it it's hopeless.

Sounds like you need to get your screenwash bottle de-iced and put some suitable screenwash in which doesn't freeze. Your car isn't roadworthy if the windscreen washers aren't working.

Buy concentrated screen wash and don’t dilute it. Alternatively a big slosh of vodka will also stop it freezing up (in the screen wash reservoir, not down your neck).

Try putting some hot water in your screen wash bottle to start thawing what is in there already. Similarly hot cloth on the actual wiper blades and water pipes to the wipers to thaw them.

Once you have got it thawed run it all out through the wipers and refill with concentrated screenwash that will withstand cold temps and again spray through the wipers so they dint freeze overnight. . You will probably need to put it in neat - you can dilute it again once the temperature warms up .

Off to put hot water in now.
It is a pre mixed screen wash that I put in. I think there is some concentrated stuff somewhere. If I put that in, will it definitely not freeze when it hits my freezing cold windscreen?

I have a screenwash you dilute to different ratios depending on weather. For winter it is 50/50 and never freezes even when driving at below 0. Dh left the house this morning to go to the gym and it was -3 here.

I always make sure it is filled up especially if driving for a long time so I can clear the windscreen all the time. It takes a couple of minutes to retrieve it, pop the bonnet, fill it and put it back. You need it for visibility which is essential. If I am filling mine I also do Dh's too and he does that for me as well so we are always topped up all the time.

Screen wash - the concentrated stuff and dilute in less water than normal and it shouldn’t freeze especially when the engine has been running a while

Also try not to stop unless absolutely necessary when driving in snow, you’ll get stuck in snow drifts at the side of the road or lose momentum and not be able to get going again. Also the safety risk of cars skidding and crashing in to you

I have never diluted screen wash - had no idea there were different types or read the instructions 🫣
Consequently my screen wash has never frozen as I’m clearly putting it in undiluted!!

It’s the first Winter in this car, so I obviously put diluted stuff in over Summer.
It’s the first time it’s frozen in any car I’ve had which has been parked under cover. Must be the position of the water holder. It’s right at the front of the engine in this car.

Crazy as this sounds. My car heats the fluid and gas heated jets and wipers. Weird!! Never knew this until someone told me. Perhaps I should read the manual.

Sometimes there can be ice on the part the water comes out, so make sure that’s clear before driving.

You need to get the right screenwash for winter and read the instructions about freezing temperatures to make sure it's suitable well below zero.

But often the windscreen isn't that cold because its warmed by the higher temperature inside the car.

Just make sure your wipers aren’t frozen to the screen before using the jets.
I use a windscreen cover and I cut one in half to put over my doors. Ziploc bags work for mirrors if yours aren’t heated. They’re a faff to take off when covered in snow but quicker than the alternative, I shove a waterproof poncho over myself so I don’t get covered in snow while doing it at 7am.
I’m feeling smug because I’ve found a big bag of rock salt in the garage so a load of that’s gone down for the morning between the front door and my car.