Top Tips for topping-up Screen Wash & diluting Concentrate (ECO-Safe)

Описание: Some ‘easy when you know how’ tips on topping-up a screen wash reservoir & diluting a screen wash concentrate to Winter strength - ‘ECO-Safe’.

Intended as information only for L-Drivers/first car owners with no previous experience.

The Highway Code: ‘windscreens and windows MUST be kept clean and free from obstructions to vision’.

* IMPORTANT - any engine compartment activities can be DANGEROUS ⚠️

Consult your own car’s Manual for specific guidance, and seek help from a competent/qualified person. ⚠️ In particular, be very careful not to mistake the engine COOLANT reservoir for the screen wash tank; mistakenly removing the cap from the coolant reservoir when the engine is hot can cause serious burns & scalding injuries. *

0m TIP 1: The importance of topping up screen-wash reservoirs, & increasing concentration to Winter strength, to avoid the DANGER ⚠️ of a ‘dry wipe’ where empty or frozen washer bottles mean the wipers smear road muck across the windscreen without any screen wash to clean it. This is potentially a very dangerous situation, particularly when combined with low winter sun! Similarly, frozen pipes & washer bottles can crack as ice expands, fuses or washer pump motors can be blown.

1m Tip 2: Consult your car’s manual for correct screen-wash specification for your car’s washer system e.g. ‘Fan Jet’. Some Concentrates specify dilution with DE-MINERALISED (De-Ionised) water to avoid nozzle clogging & watermark spots being left on the screen & car bodywork; while other Concentrates are formulated to offset the mineral content in TAP WATER (see back of packs for detail).

1m50s Tip 3: Identifying the screen wash filling cap - the universal symbol.

2m15s Tip 4: Pour from 5 litre canisters turned on their ‘side’ to allow air to evacuate more easily, thus avoiding ‘glugging’ which splashes the fluid all over paintwork & engine bay components/electrics. A funnel may also be helpful.

3m33s Tip 5: Reservoirs on modern cars are often located in wings & bumper recesses, so not visible to check how full they are. Reservoir sizes on most ‘first cars’ are typically between 3.5 and 5 litres. Brimming the reservoir full during the weekly F.L.O.W.E.R. checks is generally best practice; or brim daily if you are travelling particularly long or messy routes!

5m TIP 6: ‘ECO-Safe’ & cost benefits of using a screen wash concentrate rather than a pre-mix whenever feasible; this avoids ‘shipping water’ unnecessarily around the country, thus reducing delivery lorry emissions.

5m40s We explore potentially confusing ‘DILUTION RATIOS’ and Winter minus temperature protection levels.

6m10s Reg Local, Driving in Siberia:    • Видео  )

7m10s TIP 7: Calculating how much screen wash concentrate your car requires.

To ‘do the maths’, simply divide the the capacity of your car’s screen wash tank (see Car’s Handbook for details), for example 3.5L (3500ml), by the total number of ‘parts’ in the Screen Wash Concentrate dilution ratio for either summer or winter (see back-of-pack). For example, a 1 : 3 ratio has 1 + 3 = 4 parts.
So: 3500ml / 4 parts = 875ml of concentrate (3500 - 875 = 2,625ml of water).

10m10s Concentrate calculation example shown.

10m35s TIP 8: marking your mixing container, water first, for Summer & Winter ratios; & demonstration of diluting.

TIP 9: pour the water in first, before the screen wash concentrate, to avoid frothing/foaming which can occur if filling from a fast flowing tap or hose.

TIP 10: mix in original packaging with child-proof caps & Health & Safety labelling.

TIP 11: use screen washers for a few seconds after changing from Summer to Winter strength in reservoir to purge the summer fluid in the washer tubes to avoid it freezing.

TIP 12: using a concentrate, rather than pre-mix, enables you to increase the concentration/strength in your reservoir if extremely cold weather warnings are issued.

13m05s TIP 13: In-car testing at minus 3 degrees C. The car’s temperature display relates to outside AIR temperature, the ROAD surface temperature may be several degrees below this; hence why the dashboard *ICE warning typically displays from +3 degrees C (Air) rather than zero.

13m30s TIP 14: ensure both front AND rear wiper blades are not frozen to the screen before operating the wash/wipe system. Tepid water or chemical de-icer can be used to free rubber wiper blades without damage.
Demonstration of Ford’s electric heated front screen de-icing.

17m25s TIP 15: Highway Code Rule 123: ‘You MUST NOT leave a vehicle engine running unnecessarily while the vehicle is stationary on a public road’.
BUT ALWAYS ENSURE YOUR WINDOWS ARE FULLY CLEARED BEFORE SETTING OFF

TIP 16: Find a screen wash that delivers what it promises functionally, & that you like the smell of. Then stick with it to avoid mixing chemicals & smells!

Quality screen wash keeps your EYES ON THE ROAD!

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