Black stuff in screen wash

[kevster184]

I've noticed what I can only describe as black stuff/bits coming from the screen wash liquid.

It's a bit like flat chippings of rubber that drys flat, but more like dirt when you try to remove it. Stays flaky if you rub between fingers.

I thought it was coming from the wipers that were on their last legs but these have now been changed.

The car was in for service yesterday and where they have tried the washers including the headlight washers it has been sprayed all over the bonnet and window.

It's doing no harm but curious as to what and where!

The only thing I can think of of is a few weeks back when we had that cold weather it was -6 and with the car outside it froze the screen wash and pushed the headlight washers out about an inch/25mm at worst case.....could something like a seal or seals be breaking down?

Currently running the standard pistol spray jets, due to put on some fan type but found this.

 

[Copra68]

Sounds like mould, what have you been filling the screenwash bottle with just water or cheap screenwash?

 

[JimH]

Sounds like mould, what have you been filling the screenwash bottle with just water or cheap screenwash?

Yep - mould - happened to a half-bottle of screenwash I forgot about in the garage too....

 

[kevster184]

Interesting.

I've only ever used Seat screen wash, Quantum for the last two years.

Looked fine when it went in. It wasn't as strong as it should have been for winter but it was also very cold.

Maybe this stuff goes off in the car.....?

 

[Copra68]

Interesting.

I've only ever used Seat screen wash, Quantum for the last two years.

Looked fine when it went in. It wasn't as strong as it should have been for winter but it was also very cold.

Maybe this stuff goes off in the car.....?

Probably just the water stagnating has caused it. I'd get it drained and the bottle washed out. When you fill it back use less water and use your washers regularly so that it's getting fresh stuff more often. I tend to use good quality ready mixed screenwash and definetly never the cheap stuff that is mainly water.

 

[Copra68]

This stuff is the business and this website sells it at a fraction of the price of petrol stations. I just buy a few bottles at a time http://cpc.farnell.com/unipart/ucc5rtu16/screen-wash-crystal-clear-5-litre/dp/CP07855

 

[kevster184]

Probably just the water stagnating has caused it. I'd get it drained and the bottle washed out. When you fill it back use less water and use your washers regularly so that it's getting fresh stuff more often. I tend to use good quality ready mixed screenwash and definetly never the cheap stuff that is mainly water.

Yep looks like it. I shall look to clean it out and flush.

In all honesty I don't use much at all and make sure the lights are off or it uses gallons.

I used to use Halfords in a Golf for years in the same way and had no issues.

Can't see it being the car so must be the screenwash not liking low use and low concentration.

 

[kevster184]

This stuff is the business and this website sells it at a fraction of the price of petrol stations. I just buy a few bottles at a time http://cpc.farnell.com/unipart/ucc5rtu16/screen-wash-crystal-clear-5-litre/dp/CP07855

Thanks for the recommendation, I'll look at that next time.

 

[leonisis]

Yep looks like it. I shall look to clean it out and flush.

In all honesty I don't use much at all and make sure the lights are off or it uses gallons.

I used to use Halfords in a Golf for years in the same way and had no issues.

Can't see it being the car so must be the screenwash not liking low use and low concentration.

You can code the headlight washers using Obdeleven. Either to every 10th pull of the stalk when lights are on or only if you hold the windscreen washer on for 2 seconds or more. I've set mine to the latter. Works really well.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

 

[kgp280]

Have had the similar problem on a few vehicles. Screen wash also smells like cats p*ss. On an old Ford Focus it even effected the AC will the smell being drawn into the car when it was running.
Found that emptying and then refilling with just water and dropping a couple of Milton tablets,the stuff you sterilise babies bottles with and leaving it for a day or so did the trick in getting rig of the smell etc.

 

[kevster184]

You can code the headlight washers using Obdeleven. Either to every 10th pull of the stalk when lights are on or only if you hold the windscreen washer on for 2 seconds or more. I've set mine to the latter. Works really well.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

I love the idea of that, it works on first pull at the moment!

 

[kevster184]

Have had the similar problem on a few vehicles. Screen wash also smells like cats p*ss. On an old Ford Focus it even effected the AC will the smell being drawn into the car when it was running.
Found that emptying and then refilling with just water and dropping a couple of Milton tablets,the stuff you sterilise babies bottles with and leaving it for a day or so did the trick in getting rig of the smell etc.

Good thinkin, however I don't have any smell.

 

[kevster184]

A bit dusty on the windscreen but this is what I get left, and from light washers...
It really is like flakes of rubber.

Will look to get wheel off and look at washer bottle contents!

 

[kevster184]

Remembered I have one of those usb camera probes, and this proved I needed to clean the bottle out!



What a game getting that bottle out was but after a few hours and a bottle brush all was back in and fan washers is installed too. Just a few cuts and scrapes!