Tarmac_Terrorist Posted May 21, 2009 Report Share Posted May 21, 2009 I believe many if not all screen wash additives contain alchohol or similar. Now in a weak summer dilution (say 1 part screen wash to 10 parts water) this would probably be ok (I assume). The thing is, I look in halfords at these bright pink and blue coloured 'ready mixed' containers and wonder how harmful these are to your wax finish. Fir this reason I avoid them My personal concern is with my Golf which rarely gets the screen squirted, I probably have a much stronger winter solution in there still. I was looking to establish if there was some sort of drain plug which would allow me to refill with a potentially much more 'wax friendly' solution. Fortunately I don't have headlamp washers but I imagine that if this solution can harm your wax finish, these can make a nice mess on your bonnet! Has anyone any experience of screen additives causing an issue? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonC Posted May 22, 2009 Report Share Posted May 22, 2009 Can't say I have, TT. My car's 2.5 years old and in that time I've used the squirty about 5-6 times and only as an absolute last resort - makes too much of a mess, especially as the headlight washers come on at the same time, leaving washer fluid dribbling down the front end of the car Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steelwind101 Posted May 22, 2009 Report Share Posted May 22, 2009 Hi TT YES!! Screenwash will normally strip wax, maybe not in one go but it does wear it down. If you see some are very effective on bugs and will easily remove wax/sealants. My advice is to get P21S Windshield Wash tablets, it wont strip wax yet is still effective! I do no use any antifreezing liquid in my washers either. IME i have never had it freeze, those windshield wiper fluid tanks are very sturdy and thick. Might be a different situtation if you live some where very cold. I would never chance on my car in Salt Lake City but here its fine. Also, talking wipers....CRINGE! I really hate to have the wipers come on and then "dry wipe" that first time and you can hear it push debris across the window and the next thing you now you are looking at micromarring across the screen. Washing weekly and using a glass sealant really does reduce the needs for dry wipes or needing to use alot if any cleaning fluids. There are plenty of window cleaners that now contain a rain-x type product in the cleaner you can spray on after you detail to clean the windows. Just dont use that on the inside....! Geoff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarmac_Terrorist Posted May 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2009 Thanks Geoff, I've just bought some Rain-x glass cleaner which is supposed to add rain ex as you apply. Noce and easy to use but I doubt it will be as durable as the proper concentrate stuff but I don't see that matters as I wash the car weekly and apply then. I'll update here as to how it stands up as I am off to Cornwall tomorrow for a few days so it'sbound to rain I think I will avoid windscreen washer additive, at least in the summer. I find that the fluid can freeze where I am in the winter; i'm not fussed myself about this but wouldn't want Mrs TT to be caught in the winter with no squirters working so will use additive then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steelwind101 Posted May 24, 2009 Report Share Posted May 24, 2009 TT let me know how the RainX works out, i have used the Duragloss one before and it was great! Just dont use it inside....! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarmac_Terrorist Posted May 27, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 27, 2009 Having just completed nearly 800 miles since Saturday, my first impression of the Rain-X windscreen cleaner is very poor. I attempted to clean my screen of flies etc after 300 miles of mainly motorway miles. It smeared badly despite using 2 mf cloths - one to apply / clean and another to buff. It left a bloom on the screen a bot like what you get if you don't buff off the 'proper' Rain X stuff properly. Water just didn't want to fly off the windscreen like it does with a 'proper' coat of Rain X. I would say that Clearkote Quikshine works much better :confused: Wooden spoon award I'm afraid I'll keep trying and report back if I see any improvement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steelwind101 Posted May 27, 2009 Report Share Posted May 27, 2009 Oh this is sad, i thought maybe it would work out. I hope the rest of the trip was good though? I put on that Carplan Nanomeric glass sealant, i photographed it back in Novemeber, i would say by the middle of March it was gone. Not the year they claimed but it was certantly VERY effective. Even the few bugs i could test it on at that time of year rolled off the windscreen. Some very impressive bird crap splats too! Morning dew never looked look so beadie and good! There is a post on Autopia right now where someone is wanting to apply RAINX to there car; will make for an intreasting test! Since the Nano stuff has faded im back using Klasses AIO, pretty impressed it beads nicely and a post wash spritz of QS helps. Geoff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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